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Fields, Fred D. (32878282): Difference between revisions

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'''[[Fields, Fred D. (32878282)|Fred D. Fields]]''', born Siegfried Dingfelder around 1924, was a German-born Jewish refugee and Camp Ritchie interrogator. Serving with the 69th IPW Team under XX Corps, he followed the campaign from Metz through Remagen and into Germany.
'''Fred D. Fields''', born Siegfried Dingfelder around 1924, was a German-born Jewish refugee and Camp Ritchie interrogator. Serving with the 69th IPW Team under XX Corps, he followed the campaign from Metz through Remagen and into Germany.
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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
[[Fields, Fred D. (32878282)|Fred D. Fields]] was born Siegfried Dingfelder around 1924 in Uehlfeld, Germany. He grew up in a Jewish family as Nazi persecution transformed daily life in the small Franconian community. During Kristallnacht his father was arrested and imprisoned at Dachau, making the danger to the family unmistakable.
Fred D. Fields was born Siegfried Dingfelder around 1924 in Uehlfeld, Germany. He grew up in a Jewish family as Nazi persecution transformed daily life in the small Franconian community. During Kristallnacht his father was arrested and imprisoned at Dachau, making the danger to the family unmistakable.


Dingfelder escaped first to England and then reached the United States with his family in May 1940. They settled in Brooklyn, where the family operated a bakery and rebuilt a livelihood. He worked there before being drafted at about nineteen, only a few years after fleeing the country against which he would now serve.
Dingfelder escaped first to England and then reached the United States with his family in May 1940. They settled in Brooklyn, where the family operated a bakery and rebuilt a livelihood. He worked there before being drafted at about nineteen, only a few years after fleeing the country against which he would now serve.


The Army recognized his fluent German and direct knowledge of German life and sent him to Camp Ritchie for prisoner-interrogation training. Before shipping overseas he became an American citizen and changed his name to [[Fields, Fred D. (32878282)|Fred Fields]]. The change protected a German-born soldier headed into combat while also marking his new national identity.
The Army recognized his fluent German and direct knowledge of German life and sent him to Camp Ritchie for prisoner-interrogation training. Before shipping overseas he became an American citizen and changed his name to Fred Fields. The change protected a German-born soldier headed into combat while also marking his new national identity.


Fields joined the 69th Interrogation of Prisoners of War Team near Metz. Serving under XX Corps, he worked with fellow interrogators including Liethen, Wallach, and Bornstein. Their questioning of prisoners supplied information on enemy units, weapons, morale, and movements as American forces pushed through Luxembourg and Belgium and crossed the Rhine after the breakthrough at Remagen.
Fields joined the 69th Interrogation of Prisoners of War Team near Metz. Serving under XX Corps, he worked with fellow interrogators including Liethen, Wallach, and Bornstein. Their questioning of prisoners supplied information on enemy units, weapons, morale, and movements as American forces pushed through Luxembourg and Belgium and crossed the Rhine after the breakthrough at Remagen.


After Buchenwald had been liberated, Fields entered the concentration camp and confronted the consequences of the regime his family had escaped. He also returned to Uehlfeld with his cousin [[Schwab, Henry (32681038)|Henry Schwab]] of the 57th IPW Team, bringing two former refugees back in American uniform. By V-E Day, Fields was at Tutzing in Bavaria.
After Buchenwald had been liberated, Fields entered the concentration camp and confronted the consequences of the regime his family had escaped. He also returned to Uehlfeld with his cousin Henry Schwab of the 57th IPW Team, bringing two former refugees back in American uniform. By V-E Day, Fields was at Tutzing in Bavaria.


Fields returned to New York after the war. Although he had worked in the family bakery before military service, his later trade was butchering. He eventually retired as a butcher and lived in Riverdale, New York.
Fields returned to New York after the war. Although he had worked in the family bakery before military service, his later trade was butchering. He eventually retired as a butcher and lived in Riverdale, New York.
Shortly before his death in March 2023, [[Fields, Fred D. (32878282)|Fred D. Fields]] recorded an interview with the American Veterans Center about his upbringing in Germany, escape via England, U.S. Army service, Camp Ritchie, and IPW Team 69 (linked in Sources).


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* Was Siegfried Dingfelder
* Was Siegfried Dingfelder
* 447-G
* 5/8/1924-A
* 5/8/1924-A


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