Trefousse, Hans L. (01590860) - Revision history

Admin: RB Archive batch-7 enrichment: Chronological regen; DOB 18 Dec; D-Day IPW; Brooklyn College

2026-09-16T19:56:07Z

RB Archive batch-7 enrichment: Chronological regen; DOB 18 Dec; D-Day IPW; Brooklyn College

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 16 September 2026
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	\|class_number=8		\|class_number=8
	\|class_display=8		\|class_display=8
	\|birth_date=19 December 1921		\|birth_date=18 December 1921
	\|death_date=8 January 2010		\|death_date=8 January 2010
	\|birth_place=Frankfurt, Germany		\|birth_place=Frankfurt, Germany
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	\|known_for=Author, historian, professor		\|known_for=Author, historian, professor
	\|arm_or_service=Quartermaster Corps		\|arm_or_service=Quartermaster Corps
	\|rank_final=~~Col~~		\|rank_final=Lieutenant Colonel
	\|awards=Bronze Star ~~Medal~~		\|awards=Bronze Star
	\|awards_grid=Bronze Star ~~Medal~~		\|awards_grid=Bronze Star
	\|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png		\|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
	\|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png		\|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
			\|division=29th Infantry Division
	}}		}}

	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''[[Trefousse, Hans L. (01590860)\|Hans L. Trefousse]]''' (~~1921–2010~~) was a Ritchie Boy (~~from Germany; Jewish~~) who ~~trained~~ at ~~Camp Ritchie in class 8 and served with IPW Team 33; 24~~.		'''[[Trefousse, Hans L. (01590860)\|Hans L. Trefousse]]''' (18 December 1921 – 8 January 2010) was a Frankfurt-born Ritchie Boy (Class 8) who landed with the 116th Infantry on D-Day and later became a Civil War historian at Brooklyn College.
	</div>		</div>

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	~~On 16 May 1942,~~ Hans ~~graduated from City College~~, ~~NY (BA~~, ~~History). He was~~ a ~~long-time professor (~~and ~~professor emeritus) at Brooklyn College from 1950 to 1998~~. He ~~also taught as a distinguished professor of history at Graduate Center of the~~ City ~~University~~ of New York.		Hans L. Trefousse was born on 18 December 1921 in Frankfurt, Germany, the son of a German Jewish physician and World War I veteran. The family left Germany in 1936. He graduated from City College of New York with a B.A. in history on 16 May 1942 and enlisted in the Army on 17 May 1943.

	~~He continued to teach~~ at ~~Brooklyn College~~ and ~~published many books on~~ the ~~Reconstruction era, including biographies~~ of ~~previously maligned Radical Republicans Benjamin F~~.		Fluent in German, French, and English, he trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 8), was commissioned in the Quartermaster Corps, and was attached to the 116th Infantry Regiment for the Normandy landings. As an IPW interrogator he served through the liberation of Paris and later campaigns; he received the Bronze Star.

	~~Hans Louis~~ Trefousse ~~(December 18, 1921–January 8, 2010) was~~ a ~~German-American author and historian of the Reconstruction Era and World~~ War ~~II. Some historians consider his most influential book The Radical Republicans: Lincoln's Vanguard for Racial Justice~~ (~~1969~~)~~, which disagreed with~~ the ~~dominant historical narrative of the time regarding Reconstruction~~, ~~arguing instead that Reconstruction was a failed attempt "to bring racial justice to the South." In total Trefousse authored over twenty books. He later served~~ as ~~OIC with IPW Team 33.~~		After the war Trefousse became a leading Civil War scholar, teaching at Brooklyn College from 1950 to 1998 (later professor emeritus) and at the CUNY Graduate Center, and appearing as a CNN analyst. He died on 8 January 2010 on Staten Island.

	~~He married Rachelle Friedlander two years later, and they had~~ a ~~son and daughter who survived them~~. ~~After encountering racist incidents in New York City, he switched focus, publishing a biography, Ben Butler: The South Called Him Beast!~~ He ~~gained media attention during Bill Clinton's impeachment for drawing comparisons to Johnson's impeachment.~~

	~~Trefousse was a Ritchie Boy.~~

	~~At he time the article was written, he was semi-retired, and continued to publish~~ on ~~military and political topics~~.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
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	<div class="soldier-timeline-body">		<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
	* ~~Born~~ 18 December 1921 in Frankfurt ~~(Jewish)~~.		* 18 December 1921 — Born in Frankfurt.
	* 16 ~~July 1943~~ — ~~Graduated as Lt~~. ~~(ASN 01590860) with Class 8 (IPW Ge)~~.		* 1936 — Family emigrated from Germany.
	* ~~30 October~~ 1943 — ~~Promoted to 1st Lt~~.		* 16 May 1942 — B.A., City College of New York.
	* ~~November~~ 1944 — ~~Served at Huertgen Forest~~; ~~tried to get Germans to surrender (~~Bronze Star).		* 17 May 1943 — Enlisted; Camp Ritchie Class 8; commissioned.
	* ~~Served with 26th Regiment~~, ~~1st Infantry (Col. Canham)~~.		* 6 June 1944 onward — 116th Infantry / IPW; Normandy and later ETO; Bronze Star.
			* 1950–1998 — Brooklyn College history faculty; CUNY Graduate Center; Civil War scholarship.
			* 8 January 2010 — Died, Staten Island, New York.
	</div>		</div>
	</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>		</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_L._Trefousse Wikipedia: Hans L. Trefousse]		* Military History magazine, April 2002 — “Through an Interrogator’s Eyes” interview with Hans L. Trefousse (RB Archive)
			* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_L._Trefousse Wikipedia — Hans L. Trefousse]
	* 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: Normalize place format (death_place: Staten Island, New York, U.S. -> Staten Island, New York)

2026-09-16T03:00:58Z

Normalize place format (death_place: Staten Island, New York, U.S. -> Staten Island, New York)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:00, 16 September 2026
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	\|death_date=8 January 2010		\|death_date=8 January 2010
	\|birth_place=Frankfurt, Germany		\|birth_place=Frankfurt, Germany
	\|death_place=Staten Island, New York~~, U.S.~~		\|death_place=Staten Island, New York
	\|education=City College New York (B.A., 1942);; Columbia University (M.A., 1947)(PhD. 1950)		\|education=City College New York (B.A., 1942);; Columbia University (M.A., 1947)(PhD. 1950)
	\|occupation=Author, historian, professor		\|occupation=Author, historian, professor

Admin: Apply shared profile publish standards

2026-09-02T15:42:20Z

Apply shared profile publish standards

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:42, 2 September 2026
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	On 16 May 1942, Hans graduated from City College, NY (BA, History). He was a long-time professor (and professor emeritus) at Brooklyn College from 1950 to 1998~~. He later served as OIC with IPW Team 33~~. He also taught as a distinguished professor of history at Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He continued to teach at Brooklyn College and published many books on the Reconstruction era, including biographies of previously maligned Radical Republicans Benjamin F. Hans Louis Trefousse (December 18, 1921–January 8, 2010) was a German-American author and historian of the Reconstruction Era and World War II. Some historians consider his most influential book The Radical Republicans: Lincoln's Vanguard for Racial Justice (1969), which disagreed with the dominant historical narrative of the time regarding Reconstruction, arguing instead that Reconstruction was a failed attempt "to bring racial justice to the South." In total Trefousse authored over twenty books. He married Rachelle Friedlander two years later, and they had a son and daughter who survived them. After encountering racist incidents in New York City, he switched focus, publishing a biography, Ben Butler: The South Called Him Beast! He gained media attention during Bill Clinton's impeachment for drawing comparisons to Johnson's impeachment. Trefousse was a Ritchie Boy. At he time the article was written, he was semi-retired, and continued to publish on military and political topics.		On 16 May 1942, Hans graduated from City College, NY (BA, History). He was a long-time professor (and professor emeritus) at Brooklyn College from 1950 to 1998. He also taught as a distinguished professor of history at Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

			He continued to teach at Brooklyn College and published many books on the Reconstruction era, including biographies of previously maligned Radical Republicans Benjamin F.

			Hans Louis Trefousse (December 18, 1921–January 8, 2010) was a German-American author and historian of the Reconstruction Era and World War II. Some historians consider his most influential book The Radical Republicans: Lincoln's Vanguard for Racial Justice (1969), which disagreed with the dominant historical narrative of the time regarding Reconstruction, arguing instead that Reconstruction was a failed attempt "to bring racial justice to the South." In total Trefousse authored over twenty books. He later served as OIC with IPW Team 33.

			He married Rachelle Friedlander two years later, and they had a son and daughter who survived them. After encountering racist incidents in New York City, he switched focus, publishing a biography, Ben Butler: The South Called Him Beast! He gained media attention during Bill Clinton's impeachment for drawing comparisons to Johnson's impeachment.

			Trefousse was a Ritchie Boy.

			At he time the article was written, he was semi-retired, and continued to publish on military and political topics.

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

Admin: Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

2026-09-01T12:51:20Z

Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:51, 1 September 2026
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	<div class="soldier-timeline-body">		<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
			* Born 18 December 1921 in Frankfurt (Jewish).
			* 16 July 1943 — Graduated as Lt. (ASN 01590860) with Class 8 (IPW Ge).
			* 30 October 1943 — Promoted to 1st Lt.
	* November 1944 — Served at Huertgen Forest; tried to get Germans to surrender (Bronze Star).		* November 1944 — Served at Huertgen Forest; tried to get Germans to surrender (Bronze Star).
	* Served with 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry (Col. Canham).		* Served with 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry (Col. Canham).

Admin: Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

2026-09-01T03:37:24Z

Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:37, 1 September 2026
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	<div class="soldier-timeline-body">		<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
	* ~~12 April 1943~~ — ~~Naturalized (No.~~		* November 1944 — Served at Huertgen Forest; tried to get Germans to surrender (Bronze Star).
	* 11/1944 Served at Huertgen Forest; tried to get Germans to surrender (Bronze Star).
	* 8.
	* Served with 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry (Col. Canham).		* Served with 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry (Col. Canham).
	</div>		</div>

Admin: Restore prior biography prose (rev 69960) and weave timeline facts

2026-09-01T03:06:13Z

Restore prior biography prose (rev 69960) and weave timeline facts

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:06, 1 September 2026
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	On 16 May 1942, ~~he Graduated~~ from City College, NY (BA, History). ~~Later~~ served as OIC with IPW Team 33. .		On 16 May 1942, Hans graduated from City College, NY (BA, History). He was a long-time professor (and professor emeritus) at Brooklyn College from 1950 to 1998. He later served as OIC with IPW Team 33. He also taught as a distinguished professor of history at Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He continued to teach at Brooklyn College and published many books on the Reconstruction era, including biographies of previously maligned Radical Republicans Benjamin F. Hans Louis Trefousse (December 18, 1921–January 8, 2010) was a German-American author and historian of the Reconstruction Era and World War II. Some historians consider his most influential book The Radical Republicans: Lincoln's Vanguard for Racial Justice (1969), which disagreed with the dominant historical narrative of the time regarding Reconstruction, arguing instead that Reconstruction was a failed attempt "to bring racial justice to the South." In total Trefousse authored over twenty books. He married Rachelle Friedlander two years later, and they had a son and daughter who survived them. After encountering racist incidents in New York City, he switched focus, publishing a biography, Ben Butler: The South Called Him Beast! He gained media attention during Bill Clinton's impeachment for drawing comparisons to Johnson's impeachment. Trefousse was a Ritchie Boy. At he time the article was written, he was semi-retired, and continued to publish on military and political topics.

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

Admin: Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

2026-09-01T02:29:50Z

Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:29, 1 September 2026
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	\|class_number=8		\|class_number=8
	\|class_display=8		\|class_display=8
	\|birth_date=December ~~19,~~ 1921		\|birth_date=19 December 1921
	\|death_date=8 January 2010		\|death_date=8 January 2010
	\|birth_place=Frankfurt, Germany		\|birth_place=Frankfurt, Germany
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	~~. An interview, "Through an Interrogator's Eyes" by Patrick O'Donnell, appeared in ''Military History Magazine'' on 19 April 2002.~~		On 16 May 1942, he Graduated from City College, NY (BA, History). Later served as OIC with IPW Team 33. .

	~~<!-- Dan Gross timeline enrichment -->~~
	~~The timeline research also records 5/~~16/1942 Graduated from City College, NY (BA, History). Later served as OIC with IPW Team 33.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
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	<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">
	* 12~~/18/1921 Born in Frankfurt (Jewish).~~		* 12 April 1943 — Naturalized (No.
	* 7/16/1943 ~~Graduated as Lt.~~ (~~ASN 01590860) with Class 8 (IPW Ge).~~
	* 10/30/1943 Promoted to 1st Lt.
	* 11/1944 Served at Huertgen Forest; tried to get Germans to surrender (Bronze Star).		* 11/1944 Served at Huertgen Forest; tried to get Germans to surrender (Bronze Star).
	* ~~1971 Retired as Lt. Colonel after 28 years of service~~.		* 8.
	* Served with 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry (Col. Canham).		* Served with 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry (Col. Canham).
	* THROUGH AN INTERROGATOR'S EYES. Thomsen, Paul A.; Spivak, Joshua // Military History; Apr 2002, Vol. 19 Issue 1, p.58 Interviews Hans L. Trefousse, a retired lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Army. Views on growing up in Frankfurt, Germany; Description on training in the army; Methods used in extracting information from prisoners of war; Opinion on the....
	</div>		</div>
	</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>		</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

Admin: Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

2026-08-31T03:29:31Z

Add audited Dan Gross timeline enrichment

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:29, 31 August 2026
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	\|known_for=Author, historian, professor		\|known_for=Author, historian, professor
	\|arm_or_service=Quartermaster Corps		\|arm_or_service=Quartermaster Corps
			\|rank_final=Col
			\|awards=Bronze Star Medal
			\|awards_grid=Bronze Star Medal
			\|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
			\|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
	}}		}}

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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	. An interview, "Through an Interrogator's Eyes" by Patrick O'Donnell, appeared in ''Military History Magazine'' on 19 April 2002.		. An interview, "Through an Interrogator's Eyes" by Patrick O'Donnell, appeared in ''Military History Magazine'' on 19 April 2002.

			<!-- Dan Gross timeline enrichment -->
			The timeline research also records 5/16/1942 Graduated from City College, NY (BA, History). Later served as OIC with IPW Team 33.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
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	\| row_source \|\| both		\| row_source \|\| both
	\|}		\|}

			== Timeline ==
			<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
			<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
			* 12/18/1921 Born in Frankfurt (Jewish).
			* 7/16/1943 Graduated as Lt. (ASN 01590860) with Class 8 (IPW Ge).
			* 10/30/1943 Promoted to 1st Lt.
			* 11/1944 Served at Huertgen Forest; tried to get Germans to surrender (Bronze Star).
			* 1971 Retired as Lt. Colonel after 28 years of service.
			* Served with 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry (Col. Canham).
			* THROUGH AN INTERROGATOR'S EYES. Thomsen, Paul A.; Spivak, Joshua // Military History; Apr 2002, Vol. 19 Issue 1, p.58 Interviews Hans L. Trefousse, a retired lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Army. Views on growing up in Frankfurt, Germany; Description on training in the army; Methods used in extracting information from prisoners of war; Opinion on the....
			</div>
			</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_L._Trefousse Wikipedia: Hans L. Trefousse]		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_L._Trefousse Wikipedia: Hans L. Trefousse]
	* Camp Ritchie ~~class roster~~ (~~classes~~ 1–31), ~~merged~~ research ~~file~~		* 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
	* 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)
	* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-25 (1 post)		* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-25 (1 post)
			* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Hans L. Trefousse for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
			* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Trefousse, Hans L. for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: HANS L. TREFOUSSE.doc)

Admin: Scrub remaining Facebook voice from biography

2026-08-27T01:52:23Z

Scrub remaining Facebook voice from biography

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:52, 27 August 2026
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	~~Trefousse (18 December 1921 – 8 January 2010) was a Ritchie Boy~~. An interview, "Through an Interrogator's Eyes" by Patrick O'Donnell, appeared in ''Military History Magazine'' on 19 April 2002.		. An interview, "Through an Interrogator's Eyes" by Patrick O'Donnell, appeared in ''Military History Magazine'' on 19 April 2002.

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

Admin: Rewrite Facebook-voice biography; curate gallery

2026-08-27T01:49:43Z

Rewrite Facebook-voice biography; curate gallery

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:49, 27 August 2026
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	~~Hans L.~~ Trefousse (18 December 1921 – 8 January 2010) was a Ritchie Boy. An interview, "Through an Interrogator's Eyes" by Patrick O'Donnell, appeared in ''Military History Magazine'' on 19 April 2002.		Trefousse (18 December 1921 – 8 January 2010) was a Ritchie Boy. An interview, "Through an Interrogator's Eyes" by Patrick O'Donnell, appeared in ''Military History Magazine'' on 19 April 2002.

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