Goldarbeiter, Fritz Francis (32001874) - Revision history

Admin: Goldarbeiter: Glenn Godart follow-up (landing dates, Clark/Crittenberger, Pemsel/Schlemmer/Rauff, Vienna return)

2026-09-24T02:15:01Z

Goldarbeiter: Glenn Godart follow-up (landing dates, Clark/Crittenberger, Pemsel/Schlemmer/Rauff, Vienna return)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:15, 24 September 2026
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	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''Fritz Francis Goldarbeiter''' (later '''Fritz Francis Godart'''; 22 September 1917 – 3 July 1986) was a Vienna-born Ritchie Boy who trained with [[:Category:Class 9\|Class 9]] and [[Team OB 6\|OB Team 6]]~~, then~~ served ~~as an order-of-battle analyst and interrogator~~ with Fifth Army and IV Corps in ~~the Italian Campaign. He received~~ the Bronze Star Medal.		'''Fritz Francis Goldarbeiter''' (later '''Fritz Francis Godart'''; 22 September 1917 – 3 July 1986) was a Vienna-born Jewish refugee and Ritchie Boy who trained in prisoner-of-war interrogation and Order of Battle with [[:Category:Class 9\|Class 9]] and [[Team OB 6\|OB Team 6]]. He served with Fifth Army and IV Corps in Italy — including high-level surrenders and interrogations in Milan — earned the Bronze Star Medal, and returned to occupied Vienna in U.S. Army uniform seven years after fleeing the Anschluss.
	</div>		</div>

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	Fritz Francis Goldarbeiter (later Fritz Francis Godart) was born on 22 September 1917 in Vienna to a Jewish family. After the Handelsakademie he worked as an intern at the Bank Brüll and Kalmus with his uncles and as an amateur photographer. Hired in January 1938 to prepare for taking over the bank, he fled ~~to France~~ after the Anschluss, studying ~~at universities~~ in Grenoble and Paris. In July 1939 he sailed from Le Havre to the United States and worked in New York as a sandal ~~seller~~ and for a family friend.		Fritz Francis Goldarbeiter (later Fritz Francis Godart) was born on 22 September 1917 in Vienna to a Jewish family. After the Handelsakademie he worked as an intern at the Bank Brüll and Kalmus with his uncles and as an amateur photographer. Hired in January 1938 to prepare for taking over the bank, he fled Nazi-controlled Austria after the Anschluss, studying in Grenoble and Paris. In July 1939 he sailed from Le Havre to the United States and worked in New York as a shoe / sandal salesman and for a family friend.

	Goldarbeiter entered the U.S. Army in January 1941 in New York and trained with the 174th Infantry Regiment at Fort Dix, New Jersey. After basic training he specialized as a field scout in the S-2 section of the regiment’s 2nd Battalion, took part in a maneuver with the 44th Infantry Division, and later served as a clerk-typist in the battalion and personnel section. Stations included Camp Claiborne, Louisiana; Fort Lewis, Washington — where he became a U.S. Citizen in December 1942 — and Ojai, California.		Goldarbeiter entered the U.S. Army in January 1941 in New York and trained with the 174th Infantry Regiment at Fort Dix, New Jersey. After basic training he specialized as a field scout in the S-2 section of the regiment’s 2nd Battalion, took part in a maneuver with the 44th Infantry Division, and later served as a clerk-typist in the battalion and personnel section. Stations included Camp Claiborne, Louisiana; Fort Lewis, Washington — where he became a U.S. Citizen in December 1942 — and Ojai, California.

	In May 1943 he volunteered for the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie. ~~With~~ [[:Category:Class 9\|Class 9]] ~~he trained~~ as a German ~~prisoner-of-war~~ interrogator ~~(IPW) and as a~~ clerk, linguist, document examiner, and Order of Battle specialist ~~on the structure of the Wehrmacht; he also completed~~ Order of Battle work associated with Class 6. In November 1943, as a German analyst with [[Team OB 6\|Order of Battle Team No. 6]], he ~~shipped from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to the Mediterranean Theater and~~ joined the 2680th Headquarters Company of the Military Intelligence Service~~. He was detached to Fifth Army headquarters and, from May 1944, to the intelligence service of IV Corps near Lago d’Averno outside Naples~~. His son Glenn Godart ~~later~~ recalled that ~~after finishing Ritchie training in October 1943 his father deployed on~~ 23 November 1943 ~~to North Africa and then fought for some twenty~~-~~three months with Fifth Army~~ and ~~IV Corps~~ in ~~Italy~~ as ~~an Order of Battle, interrogation, and translation specialist~~.		In May 1943 he volunteered for the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie. He completed both the eight-week prisoner-of-war interrogation course and the eight-week Order of Battle course — training with [[:Category:Class 9\|Class 9]] as a German IPW interrogator, clerk, linguist, document examiner, and Wehrmacht Order of Battle specialist, and finishing Order of Battle work associated with Class 6 by October 1943. In November 1943, as a German analyst with [[Team OB 6\|Order of Battle Team No. 6]], he joined the 2680th Headquarters Company of the Military Intelligence Service. His son Glenn Godart recalled that he shipped from Newport News two days before Thanksgiving (23 November 1943), missing the holiday meal: he reached Algiers in mid-December and disembarked at Naples on 31 December 1943 in a snowstorm, having missed Christmas dinner as well.

	~~As chief clerk of the Order of Battle section at IV Corps and assistant~~ to ~~his superior officer~~, Goldarbeiter ~~did analytical~~ enemy ~~intelligence work~~ and ~~also interrogated~~ prisoners. He was in Rome around the city’s liberation in June 1944 ~~(and again that August)~~. In ~~April~~ 1945, as a German translator, ~~he took part in~~ the bloodless surrender and disarmament of the SS garrison in Milan, a Wehrmacht mountain unit~~, and the questioning of high-ranking German officers~~ — service for which he received the Bronze Star Medal. After ~~the war in Europe ended~~ he served at 15th Army Group headquarters and ~~with~~ the 6695th Headquarters & Headquarters Company / MIS in the U.S. Occupation of Vienna. Separated in October 1945 at Fort Dix as a Technical Sergeant (ASN 32001874), he settled in the New York area~~, anglicized his surname to Godart (also spelled Godardt in some records)~~, worked as a toy importer/exporter, and with his wife Suzanne raised four children — Jill, Glenn, and twins Jeffrey and Thomas. He died on 3 July 1986 in New York City.		Assigned to Fifth Army G-2 under General Mark Clark, Goldarbeiter supported Allied operations through the Naples–Foggia, Rome–Arno, North Apennines, and Po Valley campaigns as an intelligence analyst and interrogator — studying enemy movements, examining captured documents, and questioning German prisoners. After the liberation of Rome he transferred with IV Corps under General Willis D. Crittenberger (intelligence near Lago d’Averno outside Naples). He was in Rome around the city’s liberation in June 1944.

			In April–May 1945 he was in Milan as a German translator and interrogator when the war in Italy ended. Family and Austrian research credit him with work tied to the interrogation of General Max Pemsel, the surrender of General Hans Schlemmer, and the arrest of Colonel Walter Rauff at the Hotel Regina, as well as the bloodless surrender and disarmament of the SS garrison in Milan and a Wehrmacht mountain unit — service for which he received the Bronze Star Medal.

			After VE Day he served with 15th Army Group headquarters and the 6695th Headquarters & Headquarters Company / MIS in the U.S. Occupation of Vienna — returning to the city he had fled in 1938, almost exactly seven years later, in an American uniform. He found a hollowed-out, soot-stained capital carved among Soviet, American, British, and French zones: he photographed the burned shell of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the skeletal State Opera, and saw familiar streets choked with rubble after dozens of Allied bombing raids, including the leveled block where his parents had lived. Separated in October 1945 at Fort Dix as a Technical Sergeant (ASN 32001874), he changed his name to Fritz Francis Godart the following month. He settled in the New York area, worked as a toy importer/exporter, and with his wife Suzanne raised four children — Jill, Glenn, and twins Jeffrey and Thomas. He died on 3 July 1986 in New York City, at age 68.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
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	* December 1942 — Naturalized as a U.S. citizen at Fort Lewis, Washington.		* December 1942 — Naturalized as a U.S. citizen at Fort Lewis, Washington.
	* February 1943 — Clerk-typist with the same battalion.		* February 1943 — Clerk-typist with the same battalion.
	* May 1943 — ~~Volunteered for transfer to~~ Camp Ritchie~~, Maryland~~.		* May 1943 — Arrived Camp Ritchie for eight-week PW interrogation and Order of Battle courses.
	* 18 August 1943 — Graduated [[:Category:Class 9\|Class 9]]; ~~classified Document Examiner /~~ IPW (German) and ~~Order of Battle~~ training.		* 18 August 1943 — Graduated [[:Category:Class 9\|Class 9]]; IPW (German) / Document Examiner and related training.
	* 23 September 1943 — Graduated Class 6 (Order of Battle).		* 23 September 1943 — Graduated Class 6 (Order of Battle).
	* October 1943 — Completed Camp Ritchie ~~training~~ (family account).		* October 1943 — Completed final Camp Ritchie class (family account).
	* 13 November 1943 — Released from Camp Ritchie as T/3.		* 13 November 1943 — Released from Camp Ritchie as T/3.
	* 23 November 1943 — ~~Deployed via Hampton Roads /~~ Newport News ~~toward North Africa and the Mediterranean as German analyst,~~ [[Team OB 6\|OB Team 6]], 2680th ~~Headquarters~~ Company, MIS; ~~attached~~ to Fifth Army.		* 23 November 1943 — Shipped from Newport News (two days before Thanksgiving) with [[Team OB 6\|OB Team 6]] / 2680th HQ Company, MIS, toward the Mediterranean.
	* ~~May 1944~~ — ~~Assigned to IV Corps intelligence near Lago d’Averno (Naples)~~.		* 31 December 1943 — Disembarked Naples in a snowstorm; assigned to Fifth Army G-2 (General Mark Clark).
	* June 1944 — In Rome at the liberation ~~of the city.~~		* 1944–1945 — Italian Campaign service including Naples–Foggia, Rome–Arno, North Apennines, and Po Valley operations.
	* April 1945 — German translator in the surrender/disarmament of the SS garrison in Milan and related high-level interrogations; ~~awarded Bronze Star Medal~~.		* June 1944 — In Rome at the liberation; afterward transferred to IV Corps (General Willis D. Crittenberger).
	* May 1945 — After VE Day, service with 15th Army Group headquarters and 6695th HQ & HQ Company / MIS in occupied Vienna.
	* October 1945 — Separated at Fort Dix as Technical Sergeant.		* October 1945 — Separated at Fort Dix as Technical Sergeant.
	* 3 July 1986 — Died in New York City.		* November 1945 — Changed name to Fritz Francis Godart.
			* 3 July 1986 — Died in New York City (age 68).
			* Mid-December 1943 — Arrived Algiers.
			* April–May 1945 — In Milan: interpreter/interrogator work including General Max Pemsel, surrender of General Hans Schlemmer, arrest of Colonel Walter Rauff at the Hotel Regina; SS garrison / mountain-unit disarmament; Bronze Star Medal.
			* May–October 1945 — Occupation duty in Vienna (15th Army Group / 6695th HQ & HQ Company, MIS); photographed wartime damage including St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the State Opera.
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	* Glenn Godart (son), family account of Fritz Francis Goldarbeiter / Godart’s Camp Ritchie training, Fifth Army / IV Corps Italian service, Bronze Star, and postwar occupation duty in Austria		* Glenn Godart (son), family account of Fritz Francis Goldarbeiter / Godart’s Camp Ritchie training, Fifth Army / IV Corps Italian service, Bronze Star, and postwar occupation duty in Austria
	* [[:File:Fritz_Francis_Goldarbeiter_1944_Glenn_Godart.jpg\|Portrait]] — © Glenn Godart (higher-resolution copy via Austrian Soldiers biography)		* [[:File:Fritz_Francis_Goldarbeiter_1944_Glenn_Godart.jpg\|Portrait]] — © Glenn Godart (higher-resolution copy via Austrian Soldiers biography)
			* Glenn Godart (son), additional family details: dual eight-week Ritchie courses; Newport News / Algiers / Naples landing; Mark Clark and Willis Crittenberger; Milan work with Pemsel, Schlemmer, and Rauff; return to ruined Vienna seven years after 1938 flight; name change November 1945

Admin: Soften research note (drop Salemi name)

2026-09-24T01:50:04Z

Soften research note (drop Salemi name)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:50, 24 September 2026
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	* Also completed Class 6 Order of Battle training (roster / timeline research).		* Also completed Class 6 Order of Battle training (roster / timeline research).
	* Later surname Godart (family); Austrian Soldiers project also includes spelling Godardt.		* Later surname Godart (family); Austrian Soldiers project also includes spelling Godardt.
	* ~~Gallery previously mixed in unrelated Salvatore Salemi~~ images ~~— removed;~~ unlabeled Bronze Star duplicate ~~dropped~~.		* Unrelated Facebook gallery images and an unlabeled Bronze Star duplicate were removed during 2026 cleanup.

	== Gallery ==		== Gallery ==

Admin: Enrich Goldarbeiter/Godart (Austrian Soldiers + Glenn Godart); HQ portrait; remove Salemi contamination and Bronze Star gallery duplicate; expand Francis

2026-09-24T01:49:08Z

Enrich Goldarbeiter/Godart (Austrian Soldiers + Glenn Godart); HQ portrait; remove Salemi contamination and Bronze Star gallery duplicate; expand Francis

Show changes

Admin: Expand documented full name in infobox and lead

2026-09-24T01:49:02Z

Expand documented full name in infobox and lead

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:49, 24 September 2026
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	\|surname=Goldarbeiter		\|surname=Goldarbeiter
	\|first=Fritz		\|first=Fritz
	\|middle=F.		\|middle=Francis
	\|class_section=5D		\|class_section=5D
	\|class_rank=Private		\|class_rank=Private
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	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''[[Goldarbeiter, Fritz F. (32001874)\|Fritz F. Goldarbeiter]]''' (born 1917) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Catholic) who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 9\|class 9]].		'''[[Goldarbeiter, Fritz Francis (32001874)\|Fritz Francis Goldarbeiter]]''' (born 1917) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Catholic) who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 9\|class 9]].
	</div>		</div>

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	Salemi was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division from N. He returned to the Italian theater in Tuscany in the fall of '44 before coming home to the U.S. His new duties included reconnaissance/observation of enemy positions, followed by written reports and interrogations of thousands of refugees and prisoners in the Cutigliano and Rocca Pitigliano areas in northern Italy that served as hideouts for Axis troops.		Salemi was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division from N. He returned to the Italian theater in Tuscany in the fall of '44 before coming home to the U.S. His new duties included reconnaissance/observation of enemy positions, followed by written reports and interrogations of thousands of refugees and prisoners in the Cutigliano and Rocca Pitigliano areas in northern Italy that served as hideouts for Axis troops.

	During the Po Valley campaign (Feb.–May '45), he earned both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was a contemporary of fellow Ritchie Boys who served with the G-2 operation in Italy, including Alex Sabbadini, [[Goldarbeiter, Fritz F. (32001874)\|Fritz Goldarbeiter]] and Bill Galen.		During the Po Valley campaign (Feb.–May '45), he earned both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was a contemporary of fellow Ritchie Boys who served with the G-2 operation in Italy, including Alex Sabbadini, [[Goldarbeiter, Fritz Francis (32001874)\|Fritz Goldarbeiter]] and Bill Galen.

	After settling in the New York area after the war and anglicizing his name, Godart became an importer/exporter of toys, including some made in Germany.		After settling in the New York area after the war and anglicizing his name, Godart became an importer/exporter of toys, including some made in Germany.

Admin: Admin moved page Goldarbeiter, Fritz F. (32001874) to Goldarbeiter, Fritz Francis (32001874) without leaving a redirect: Expand documented middle name: Francis

2026-09-24T01:49:00Z

Admin moved page Goldarbeiter, Fritz F. (32001874) to Goldarbeiter, Fritz Francis (32001874) without leaving a redirect: Expand documented middle name: Francis

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:49, 24 September 2026
(No difference)

Admin: Sort Timeline bullets chronologically

2026-09-23T04:17:45Z

Sort Timeline bullets chronologically

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:17, 23 September 2026
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	<div class="soldier-timeline-body">		<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
	* Born 22 September 1917 in Austria.		* Born 22 September 1917 in Austria.
			* January 1941 — Basic training with 174th Infantry Regiment (?).
	* 15 January 1941 — Drafted into Army in New York City as Pvt (ASN:32001874).		* 15 January 1941 — Drafted into Army in New York City as Pvt (ASN:32001874).
			* August 1942 — Served as Scout (Pfc) with same Regiment (S-2 staff).
	* 18 December 1942 — Became naturalized citizen.		* 18 December 1942 — Became naturalized citizen.
			* February 1943 — Served as clerk-typist (Pvt) with same Battalion.
	* 18 August 1943 — Graduated Class 9. Classified as Document Examiner.		* 18 August 1943 — Graduated Class 9. Classified as Document Examiner.
	* 23 September 1943 — Graduated Class 6 (OB).		* 23 September 1943 — Graduated Class 6 (OB).
	* 13 November 1943 — Released from Camp Ritchie as T/3 (Technical Sergeant).		* 13 November 1943 — Released from Camp Ritchie as T/3 (Technical Sergeant).
	* January 1941 — Basic training with 174th Infantry Regiment (?).
	* August 1942 — Served as Scout (Pfc) with same Regiment (S-2 staff).
	* February 1943 — Served as clerk-typist (Pvt) with same Battalion.

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Admin: Link Camp Ritchie class and team mentions in lead/biography

2026-09-18T23:59:35Z

Link Camp Ritchie class and team mentions in lead/biography

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:59, 18 September 2026
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	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''[[Goldarbeiter, Fritz F. (32001874)\|Fritz F. Goldarbeiter]]''' (born 1917) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Catholic) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 9.		'''[[Goldarbeiter, Fritz F. (32001874)\|Fritz F. Goldarbeiter]]''' (born 1917) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Catholic) who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 9\|class 9]].
	</div>		</div>

Admin: Remove research notes now confirmed on the profile

2026-09-18T22:42:43Z

Remove research notes now confirmed on the profile

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 18 September 2026
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	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
	* Also Class 6 OB		* Also Class 6 OB
	* See Timeline
	* 1917-1985?		* 1917-1985?

Admin: Remove photo 1478472944316961.jpg — caption does not identify this soldier

2026-09-16T17:32:07Z

Remove photo 1478472944316961.jpg — caption does not identify this soldier

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:32, 16 September 2026
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	1465345948962994.jpg\|Goldarbeiter being decorated with the Bronze Star.		1465345948962994.jpg\|Goldarbeiter being decorated with the Bronze Star.
	1478472787650310.jpg\|Salvatore Salemi with future wife Libby Previti, December 1944.		1478472787650310.jpg\|Salvatore Salemi with future wife Libby Previti, December 1944.
	~~1478472944316961.jpg\|Cpl. Salemi, at left, with fellow Ritchie Boys Lts. Bill Galen and Nick Sottile, Trapani, Sicily, 1943.~~
	1478472960983626.jpg\|Salemi was an amateur boxer before entering the Army.		1478472960983626.jpg\|Salemi was an amateur boxer before entering the Army.
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Admin: Expand exact roster rank codes (class_rank: Pvt -> Private)

2026-09-16T05:50:08Z

Expand exact roster rank codes (class_rank: Pvt -> Private)

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:50, 16 September 2026
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	\|middle=F.		\|middle=F.
	\|class_section=5D		\|class_section=5D
	\|class_rank=~~Pvt~~		\|class_rank=Private
	\|birth_year=1917		\|birth_year=1917
	\|nativity=Austria		\|nativity=Austria

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:32, 16 September 2026
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	1465345948962994.jpg\|Goldarbeiter being decorated with the Bronze Star.		1465345948962994.jpg\|Goldarbeiter being decorated with the Bronze Star.
	1478472787650310.jpg\|Salvatore Salemi with future wife Libby Previti, December 1944.		1478472787650310.jpg\|Salvatore Salemi with future wife Libby Previti, December 1944.
	~~1478472944316961.jpg\|Cpl. Salemi, at left, with fellow Ritchie Boys Lts. Bill Galen and Nick Sottile, Trapani, Sicily, 1943.~~
	1478472960983626.jpg\|Salemi was an amateur boxer before entering the Army.		1478472960983626.jpg\|Salemi was an amateur boxer before entering the Army.
	</gallery>		</gallery>