Kosse, Gunter (32712417) - Revision history

Admin: Enrich from Zekelman Holocaust Center oral history

2026-09-17T02:13:38Z

Enrich from Zekelman Holocaust Center oral history

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:13, 17 September 2026
Line 16:		Line 16:
	\|birth_place=Berlin, Germany		\|birth_place=Berlin, Germany
	\|rank_final=Capt		\|rank_final=Capt
			\|birth_date=14 August 1922
			\|birth_year=1922
	}}		}}

	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''Gunter Kosse''' was a ~~United States Army Private who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in~~ [[Class 9]].		'''[[Kosse, Gunter (32712417)\|Gunter Kosse]]''' (born 14 August 1922 in Berlin) was a [[Class 9]] Ritchie Boy who served with IPW Team 4 of the 8th Infantry Division and interpreted at Nuremberg discovery interrogations of senior Nazis.
	</div>		</div>

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	Kosse ~~11-38 Father escaped arrest (with help from~~ the ~~Nazi accountant who~~. He ~~Graduated with the 9th Class (IPW-Ge)~~. ~~He worked for~~ his father~~) and travelled~~ to Cuba. ~~Frank Brandstetter~~, ~~who was previously~~ a ~~Captain~~ in ~~the German Army~~, ~~was an instructor~~ at Camp Ritchie ~~teaching German Army organization~~. ~~As one example~~, ~~Kosse served as interpreter~~ in the ~~interrogation at Nuremberg~~ of ~~General Werner von Blomberg~~, the ~~former~~ German ~~Minister of War~~. ~~Just after the war ended~~, Kosse ~~was sent to~~ the ~~Russian zone (somewhere~~ in ~~Poland) to try to get~~ intelligence ~~about the Russians. Later he served as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials where he uncovered facts about Russians used as slave labor~~ in ~~Bavaria; they were required to be repatriated to the USSR~~.		Gunter Kosse was born on 14 August 1922 in Berlin, Germany, the son of Leonard and Stephanie Kosse. His father owned a textile business and apartment buildings. Evicted from Gymnasium as a Jew, He continued in a Jewish school. Friends warned his father before Kristallnacht; Leonard fled to Cuba, and Gunter and his mother followed in February 1939. He attended a Quaker boarding school in Cuba, then the family reached New York in December 1940, where He apprenticed as a diamond cutter.

			Drafted in January 1943, Kosse trained at Camp Lee, Virginia, then at [[Camp Ritchie]] in [[Class 9]] (IPW-Ge). After further “Cattle Alert” / ranger-style training in Northern Ireland and England, He entered France in September 1944 and joined IPW Team 4 with the 8th Infantry Division in Luxembourg. Near war’s end He interpreted during discovery interrogations of Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Fritz Sauckel, and Wilhelm Frick before the Nuremberg tribunals, often advising non-German-speaking lawyers on questioning. He also undertook a mission into Soviet-held Białystok gathering information on Soviet army positions.

			Discharged in January 1946, Kosse studied industrial technology and worked in medical-research electronics at Columbia University. From 1951 He spent decades with the U.S. Department of Defense in Germany interrogating returning POWs and East German deserters and later in communications intelligence, retiring in 1986.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
Line 48:		Line 54:
	<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">		<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
	<div class="soldier-timeline-body">		<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
	* ~~6-13-45 OIC Woller was promoted to Capt and IPW Team 4 was attached to Third Army Interrogation Center.~~		* 14 August 1922 — Born in Berlin, Germany.
	* Born 8-14~~-22~~ Born in Berlin, Germany ~~where~~ his ~~father, an orthodox Jew, owned a~~.		* February 1939 — Reached Cuba with his mother after his father’s escape.
	* ~~1-43 Drafted into~~ the ~~Army as Pvt Gunter Kosse, ASN 32712417~~.		* December 1940 — Family arrived in the United States.
	* ~~Assigned~~ to IPW Team 4 ~~attached to~~ 8th Infantry Division ~~(XV Corps)~~.		* January 1943 — Drafted; later sent to Camp Ritchie Class 9.
			* September 1944 — Entered France; IPW Team 4, 8th Infantry Division.
			* 1945 — Interpreted at Nuremberg discovery interrogations of senior Nazis.
			* January 1946 — Discharged from the Army.
			* 1951–1986 — U.S. Department of Defense intelligence work, chiefly in Germany.
	</div>		</div>
	</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>		</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
			* [https://holocaustcenter.org/research/oral-history-department/oral-histories-index/ Zekelman Holocaust Center oral-history index]
			* [https://5152.sydneyplus.com/argus/final/Portal/Default.aspx?component=AAFG&record=0d063378-8950-42c1-9c21-4e80d4ba830f Zekelman Holocaust Center oral history, OHV 416]
	* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data		* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
	* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records		* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records

Admin: Remove research-note dates already on the profile

2026-09-16T04:02:26Z

Remove research-note dates already on the profile

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:02, 16 September 2026
Line 27:		Line 27:
	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
	* Camp Sharpe		* Camp Sharpe
	* 8/14/1922-A

	== Gallery ==		== Gallery ==

Admin: Normalize place format (birth_place: Berlin -> Berlin, Germany)

2026-09-16T02:58:26Z

Normalize place format (birth_place: Berlin -> Berlin, Germany)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:58, 16 September 2026
Line 14:		Line 14:
	\|class_number=9		\|class_number=9
	\|class_display=9		\|class_display=9
	\|birth_place=Berlin		\|birth_place=Berlin, Germany
	\|rank_final=Capt		\|rank_final=Capt
	}}		}}

Admin: Apply shared profile publish standards

2026-09-02T15:39:26Z

Apply shared profile publish standards

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:39, 2 September 2026
Line 14:		Line 14:
	\|class_number=9		\|class_number=9
	\|class_display=9		\|class_display=9
	\|birth_place=Berlin~~, Germany where his father, an~~		\|birth_place=Berlin
	\|rank_final=Capt		\|rank_final=Capt
	}}		}}

Admin: Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

2026-09-01T12:49:29Z

Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:49, 1 September 2026
Line 23:		Line 23:

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	He Graduated with the 9th Class (IPW-Ge). He worked for his father) and travelled to Cuba. Frank Brandstetter, who was previously a Captain in the German Army, was an instructor at Camp Ritchie teaching German Army organization. As one example, Kosse served as interpreter in the interrogation at Nuremberg of General Werner von Blomberg, the former German Minister of War. Just after the war ended, Kosse was sent to the Russian zone (somewhere in Poland) to try to get intelligence about the Russians. Later he served as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials where he uncovered facts about Russians used as slave labor in Bavaria; they were required to be repatriated to the USSR.		Kosse 11-38 Father escaped arrest (with help from the Nazi accountant who. He Graduated with the 9th Class (IPW-Ge). He worked for his father) and travelled to Cuba. Frank Brandstetter, who was previously a Captain in the German Army, was an instructor at Camp Ritchie teaching German Army organization. As one example, Kosse served as interpreter in the interrogation at Nuremberg of General Werner von Blomberg, the former German Minister of War. Just after the war ended, Kosse was sent to the Russian zone (somewhere in Poland) to try to get intelligence about the Russians. Later he served as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials where he uncovered facts about Russians used as slave labor in Bavaria; they were required to be repatriated to the USSR.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
Line 49:		Line 49:
	<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">		<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
	<div class="soldier-timeline-body">		<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
			* 6-13-45 OIC Woller was promoted to Capt and IPW Team 4 was attached to Third Army Interrogation Center.
			* Born 8-14-22 Born in Berlin, Germany where his father, an orthodox Jew, owned a.
			* 1-43 Drafted into the Army as Pvt Gunter Kosse, ASN 32712417.
	* Assigned to IPW Team 4 attached to 8th Infantry Division (XV Corps).		* Assigned to IPW Team 4 attached to 8th Infantry Division (XV Corps).
	* Berlin, Germany where his father, an.
	</div>		</div>
	</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>		</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

Admin: Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

2026-09-01T03:33:55Z

Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:33, 1 September 2026
Line 49:		Line 49:
	<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">		<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
	<div class="soldier-timeline-body">		<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
	* 11-38 Father escaped arrest (with help from the Nazi accountant who.
	* Assigned to IPW Team 4 attached to 8th Infantry Division (XV Corps).		* Assigned to IPW Team 4 attached to 8th Infantry Division (XV Corps).
	* Berlin, Germany where his father, an.		* Berlin, Germany where his father, an.

Admin: Weave timeline facts into existing biography without replacing prose

2026-09-01T03:03:25Z

Weave timeline facts into existing biography without replacing prose

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:03, 1 September 2026
Line 23:		Line 23:

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	He Graduated with the 9th Class (IPW-Ge). He worked for his father) and travelled to Cuba. Frank Brandstetter, who was previously a Captain in the German Army, was an instructor at Camp Ritchie teaching German Army organization. As one example, Kosse served as interpreter in the interrogation at Nuremberg of General Werner von Blomberg, the former German Minister of War. Just after the war ended, Kosse was sent to the Russian zone (somewhere in Poland) to try to get intelligence about the Russians. Later he served as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials where he uncovered facts about Russians used as slave labor in Bavaria; they were required to be repatriated to the USSR~~. He 11-38 Father escaped arrest (with help from the Nazi accountant who~~.		He Graduated with the 9th Class (IPW-Ge). He worked for his father) and travelled to Cuba. Frank Brandstetter, who was previously a Captain in the German Army, was an instructor at Camp Ritchie teaching German Army organization. As one example, Kosse served as interpreter in the interrogation at Nuremberg of General Werner von Blomberg, the former German Minister of War. Just after the war ended, Kosse was sent to the Russian zone (somewhere in Poland) to try to get intelligence about the Russians. Later he served as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials where he uncovered facts about Russians used as slave labor in Bavaria; they were required to be repatriated to the USSR.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==

Admin: Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

2026-09-01T02:26:26Z

Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:26, 1 September 2026
Line 14:		Line 14:
	\|class_number=9		\|class_number=9
	\|class_display=9		\|class_display=9
			\|birth_place=Berlin, Germany where his father, an
			\|rank_final=Capt
	}}		}}

Line 21:		Line 23:

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	~~''Add~~ a ~~biography~~, ~~family details~~, ~~and sources~~. ~~Click Edit~~ to ~~change this page~~; ~~no account is~~ required.''		He Graduated with the 9th Class (IPW-Ge). He worked for his father) and travelled to Cuba. Frank Brandstetter, who was previously a Captain in the German Army, was an instructor at Camp Ritchie teaching German Army organization. As one example, Kosse served as interpreter in the interrogation at Nuremberg of General Werner von Blomberg, the former German Minister of War. Just after the war ended, Kosse was sent to the Russian zone (somewhere in Poland) to try to get intelligence about the Russians. Later he served as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials where he uncovered facts about Russians used as slave labor in Bavaria; they were required to be repatriated to the USSR. He 11-38 Father escaped arrest (with help from the Nazi accountant who.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
Line 43:		Line 45:
	\| row_source \|\| both		\| row_source \|\| both
	\|}		\|}

			== Timeline ==
			<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
			<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
			* 11-38 Father escaped arrest (with help from the Nazi accountant who.
			* Assigned to IPW Team 4 attached to 8th Infantry Division (XV Corps).
			* Berlin, Germany where his father, an.
			</div>
			</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
Line 49:		Line 60:
	* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)		* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
	* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)		* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
			* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Gunter Kosse for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
			* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Kosse, Gunter for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: GUNTER KOSSE.doc)

Admin: Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources

2026-08-31T03:49:36Z

Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 |class_number=9
 |class_display=9
 }}
@@ Line 24: / Line 22: @@
 == Biography ==
 ''Add a biography, family details, and sources. Click Edit to change this page; no account is required.''
 == Research notes ==
@@ Line 48: / Line 43: @@
 | row_source || both
 |}
 == Sources ==
@@ Line 71: / Line 49: @@
 * NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
 * 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)

Admin: Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

2026-08-31T03:26:00Z

Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 |class_number=9
 |class_display=9
 }}
@@ Line 22: / Line 24: @@
 == Biography ==
 ''Add a biography, family details, and sources. Click Edit to change this page; no account is required.''
 == Research notes ==
@@ Line 43: / Line 48: @@
 | row_source || both
 |}
 == Sources ==
-* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
+* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
 * NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
 * 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)