Bergman, Rolf (32899248): Difference between revisions

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|first=Rolf

|class_section=5A

|class_rank=~~Pvt~~

|class_rank=Private

|birth_year=1923

|death_year=1981

|nativity=Ge

|nativity=Germany

|religion=J

|religion=Jewish

|enlistment_place=NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK

|state=NEW YORK

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|photo=2117973408224569.jpg

|death_date=10 April 1981

|birth_place=Berlin

|birth_place=Berlin, Germany

|rank_final=Captain

}}

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== Biography ==

~~Rolf Bergman "~~was born ~~in Berlin in 1923. According to~~ his ~~daughter~~, ~~Ritchie Boy~~ Rolf ~~Bergman passed away April 10, 1981 at age 57~~. ~~More information on Ritchie Boy Rolf Bergman~~ about his ~~first years~~ in the United States and ~~his arrival~~ at ~~Camp Ritchie:" He enrolled at NYU before~~ his ~~15th birthday~~ and ~~was close~~ to ~~graduation when he turned 18~~. ~~Dan Gross~~, ~~the~~ resident ~~historian for all things related~~ to the ~~Ritchie Boys~~, ~~provided~~ the ~~following information on~~ Ritchie ~~Boy Rolf Bergman~~ (~~1923-1981~~): M/Sgt ~~Rolf Bergman ASN 32899248 Class 11 (German) Assigned to IPW Team 79, attached to XII Corps~~. Here are some more photos of RB Rolf Berman in the European Theater of Operations. ~~Helene Bergman has shared photos of her late Father, Ritchie Boy Rolf Bergman.~~ RB Bergman enlisted in the US Army in New York City on April 29, 1943 as a PVT. Ritchie Boy Bergman started his training in the 11th Class at Ritchie as an Interrogator of Prisoners of War, and obtained his American citizenship on September 8, 1942. He was never a German citizen even though both his father and he were born there because his grandfather had a Nansen passport as a refugee from Odessa (per Wikipedia, a Nansen is an internationally recognized refugee travel document issued between 1922 and 1938 to stateless persons). He took German 4 over the summer to polish his English, and graduated Washington Irving High School in June 1937. The makeup is only dust on sweat. Here are some more details about his getting settled in the United States. "Once they arrived in the US, the Joint Distribution Committee arranged for them to go to Havana and re-enter as immigrants.

He was never a German citizen even though both his father and he were born there because his grandfather had a Nansen passport as a refugee from Odessa (per Wikipedia, a Nansen is an internationally recognized refugee travel document issued between 1922 and 1938 to stateless persons)." This is a photo of Rolf with his parents.

Here are some more details about his getting settled in the United States. "Once they arrived in the US, the Joint Distribution Committee arranged for them to go to Havana and re-enter as immigrants. Immediately, they applied for reunification of the family, helped by another US cousin who worked at the State Department. May 3, 1936, my dad (not yet 14) and his 9 year old sister arrived in NY after traveling alone on the Queen Mary. They had been staying with an aunt and uncle. My father showed up in high school with no records. They placed him by giving him Regents' exams. After he passed the 4 year German, 4 year English, American History, European history, geometry, algebra, they allowed him to be a senior in September. He took German 4 over the summer to polish his English, and graduated Washington Irving High School in June 1937."

He told me that (as) a resident alien he had to wait to be drafted and hounded the draft board, pointing out his usefulness in the European theater as a native German speaker. He was in Fort Dix, having passed his finals, before graduation. He was recruited for Intelligence and went to Fort Ritchie and then for some reason to Louisiana before heading overseas." The description of this photo reads, "Taking a break during a hectic drive in Britagny (sic). Don't I look ferocious? The makeup is only dust on sweat."

Other members of this team: Capt. Loew; S/Sgt Mysior; T/3 Aronson; T/5 Marx. Here are some more photos of RB Rolf Berman in the European Theater of Operations.

RB Bergman enlisted in the US Army in New York City on April 29, 1943 as a PVT. He did his basic training at Camp Pickett, VA, and was transferred to Camp Ritchie in July 1943. He was skillful in German, French and Spanish. Ritchie Boy Bergman started his training in the 11th Class at Ritchie as an Interrogator of Prisoners of War, and obtained his American citizenship on September 8, 1942.

== Research notes ==

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2118408438181066.jpg

2117973408224569.jpg|More information from the daughter of Ritchie Boy [[Bergman, Rolf (32899248)|Rolf Bergman]] about his early years in Germany. "His parents owned a millinery store; his mother made women's hats. In 1936, a few months after his bar mitzvah, the German police raided his parents' store because an employee had denounced them for tax fraud. When my grandfather suggested to his accountant that he should go to the police station to show them his…

2117994054889171.jpg

2118032544885322.jpg

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2118045634884013.jpg

2118045621550681.jpg

3942050682483490.jpg|The top picture below is with RB Bergman (r) and his commanding officer (l), and in the picture below is RB Bergman and a pal in the motor pool.

3942050682483490.jpg|The top picture below is with RB Bergman (r) and his commanding officer (l), and in the picture below is RB Bergman and a pal in the motor pool

3942051069150118.jpg|The top picture below is with RB Bergman (r) and his commanding officer (l), and in the picture below is RB Bergman and a pal in the motor pool.

3942051069150118.jpg|The top picture below is with RB Bergman (r) and his commanding officer (l), and in the picture below is RB Bergman and a pal in the motor pool

</gallery>

</div>

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| row_source || both

|}

== Timeline ==

* Born 21 September 1923 in Germany.

* 29 April 1943 — Enlisted at NYC as Pvt (ASN: 32899248).

* 23 October 1943 — Graduated with Class 11. Classified as Asst Interrogator (German).

* 24 May 1944 — Promoted to M/Sgt.

* Assigned to IPW Ge Team 79 attached to XII Corps.

</div>

</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

== Sources ==

* 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)

* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)

* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2018-11-15 (5 posts)

* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-02-19 (1 post)

* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Rolf Bergman for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)

* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Bergman, Rolf for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: ROLF BERGMAN.doc)

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 |first=Rolf
 |class_section=5A
-|class_rank=Pvt
+|class_rank=Private
 |birth_year=1923
 |death_year=1981
-|nativity=Ge
+|nativity=Germany
-|religion=J
+|religion=Jewish
 |enlistment_place=NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK
 |state=NEW YORK
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 |photo=2117973408224569.jpg
 |death_date=10 April 1981
-|birth_place=Berlin
+|birth_place=Berlin, Germany
+|rank_final=Captain
 }}
@@ Line 30: / Line 31: @@
 == Biography ==
-Rolf Bergman "was born in Berlin in 1923. According to his daughter, Ritchie Boy Rolf Bergman passed away April 10, 1981 at age 57. More information on Ritchie Boy Rolf Bergman about his first years in the United States and his arrival at Camp Ritchie:" He enrolled at NYU before his 15th birthday and was close to graduation when he turned 18. Dan Gross, the resident historian for all things related to the Ritchie Boys, provided the following information on Ritchie Boy Rolf Bergman (1923-1981): M/Sgt Rolf Bergman ASN 32899248 Class 11 (German) Assigned to IPW Team 79, attached to XII Corps. Here are some more photos of RB Rolf Berman in the European Theater of Operations. Helene Bergman has shared photos of her late Father, Ritchie Boy Rolf Bergman. RB Bergman enlisted in the US Army in New York City on April 29, 1943 as a PVT. Ritchie Boy Bergman started his training in the 11th Class at Ritchie as an Interrogator of Prisoners of War, and obtained his American citizenship on September 8, 1942. He was never a German citizen even though both his father and he were born there because his grandfather had a Nansen passport as a refugee from Odessa (per Wikipedia, a Nansen is an internationally recognized refugee travel document issued between 1922 and 1938 to stateless persons). He took German 4 over the summer to polish his English, and graduated Washington Irving High School in June 1937. The makeup is only dust on sweat. Here are some more details about his getting settled in the United States. "Once they arrived in the US, the Joint Distribution Committee arranged for them to go to Havana and re-enter as immigrants.
+He was never a German citizen even though both his father and he were born there because his grandfather had a Nansen passport as a refugee from Odessa (per Wikipedia, a Nansen is an internationally recognized refugee travel document issued between 1922 and 1938 to stateless persons)." This is a photo of Rolf with his parents.
+Here are some more details about his getting settled in the United States. "Once they arrived in the US, the Joint Distribution Committee arranged for them to go to Havana and re-enter as immigrants. Immediately, they applied for reunification of the family, helped by another US cousin who worked at the State Department. May 3, 1936, my dad (not yet 14) and his 9 year old sister arrived in NY after traveling alone on the Queen Mary. They had been staying with an aunt and uncle. My father showed up in high school with no records. They placed him by giving him Regents' exams. After he passed the 4 year German, 4 year English, American History, European history, geometry, algebra, they allowed him to be a senior in September. He took German 4 over the summer to polish his English, and graduated Washington Irving High School in June 1937."
+He told me that (as) a resident alien he had to wait to be drafted and hounded the draft board, pointing out his usefulness in the European theater as a native German speaker. He was in Fort Dix, having passed his finals, before graduation. He was recruited for Intelligence and went to Fort Ritchie and then for some reason to Louisiana before heading overseas." The description of this photo reads, "Taking a break during a hectic drive in Britagny (sic). Don't I look ferocious? The makeup is only dust on sweat."
+Other members of this team: Capt. Loew; S/Sgt Mysior; T/3 Aronson; T/5 Marx. Here are some more photos of RB Rolf Berman in the European Theater of Operations.
+RB Bergman enlisted in the US Army in New York City on April 29, 1943 as a PVT. He did his basic training at Camp Pickett, VA, and was transferred to Camp Ritchie in July 1943. He was skillful in German, French and Spanish. Ritchie Boy Bergman started his training in the 11th Class at Ritchie as an Interrogator of Prisoners of War, and obtained his American citizenship on September 8, 1942.
 == Research notes ==
@@ Line 38: / Line 47: @@
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
 2118408438181066.jpg
-2117973408224569.jpg|More information from the daughter of Ritchie Boy [[Bergman, Rolf (32899248)|Rolf Bergman]] about his early years in Germany. "His parents owned a millinery store; his mother made women's hats. In 1936, a few months after his bar mitzvah, the German police raided his parents' store because an employee had denounced them for tax fraud. When my grandfather suggested to his accountant that he should go to the police station to show them his…
 2117994054889171.jpg
 2118032544885322.jpg
@@ Line 45: / Line 53: @@
 2118045634884013.jpg
 2118045621550681.jpg
-3942050682483490.jpg|The top picture below is with RB Bergman (r) and his commanding officer (l), and in the picture below is RB Bergman and a pal in the motor pool.
+3942050682483490.jpg|The top picture below is with RB Bergman (r) and his commanding officer (l), and in the picture below is RB Bergman and a pal in the motor pool
-3942051069150118.jpg|The top picture below is with RB Bergman (r) and his commanding officer (l), and in the picture below is RB Bergman and a pal in the motor pool.
+3942051069150118.jpg|The top picture below is with RB Bergman (r) and his commanding officer (l), and in the picture below is RB Bergman and a pal in the motor pool
 </gallery>
 </div>
@@ Line 113: / Line 121: @@
 | row_source || both
 |}
+== Timeline ==
+<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
+<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
+* Born 21 September 1923 in Germany.
+* 29 April 1943 — Enlisted at NYC as Pvt (ASN: 32899248).
+* 23 October 1943 — Graduated with Class 11. Classified as Asst Interrogator (German).
+* 24 May 1944 — Promoted to M/Sgt.
+* Assigned to IPW Ge Team 79 attached to XII Corps.
+</div>
+</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>
 == Sources ==
-* 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)
 * 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
 * Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2018-11-15 (5 posts)
 * Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-02-19 (1 post)
+* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Rolf Bergman for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
+* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Bergman, Rolf for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: ROLF BERGMAN.doc)