Ritchie Boys Wiki

Biel, Frederick (32526380): Difference between revisions

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|first=Frederick
|first=Frederick
|class_section=7B
|class_section=7B
|class_rank=T/4
|class_rank=Technician Fourth Grade
|birth_year=1909
|birth_year=1909
|death_year=1990
|death_year=1990
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|birth_date=15 January 1909
|birth_date=15 January 1909
|death_date=15 June 1990
|death_date=15 June 1990
|rank_final=Second Lieutenant
|specialty=Military Intelligence Officer; military interpreter
|ipw_ge=457-G
|awards=American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars; World War II Victory Medal
|awards_grid=American Campaign Medal;;European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars;;World War II Victory Medal
|awards_extra=
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png;Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png
|teams=MII 457-G
|alias=Fritz Biel
|photo=Biel_Frederick_32526380_jeep_Europe.jpg
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Biel, Frederick (32526380)|Frederick Biel]]''' (15 January 1909 – 15 June 1990) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 14.
'''[[Biel, Frederick (32526380)|Frederick Biel]]''' (15 January 1909 – 15 June 1990), also called Fritz, was an Austria-born Ritchie Boy (Class 14) who led MII Team 457-G in northwest Europe and later served as a second lieutenant.
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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
RB [[Biel, Frederick (32526380)|Frederick Biel]] was born January 15 1909, and passed away June 15 1990. He was also in charge of counter intelligence and military security for various districts in Holland, Belgium and Germany. In addition, he supervised and coordinated the civilian administration for the military government in several districts in Germany. He performed those duties for 13 months. Attached are a front/back of a War Department ID card, a certificate of items captured by Biel, front/back of his separation document, a commendation letter (2 pages), a promotion document, and 3 pages of MII-457G's list of arrests dated 27 June 1945, a photo of Biel, and his Camp Ritchie MITC 14th class certificate.
Frederick Biel, known in the family as Fritz, was born on 15 January 1909 in Austria. He completed a one-year business college certificate in Vienna and later worked as a production manager in New York City (1941–42). Early wartime papers also place him briefly with a French foreign military formation under the name Fritz Biel before his U.S. Army service.
 
Inducted in October 1942, he trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 14, certificate dated 31 January 1944) and rose to master sergeant before receiving a commission. As a military intelligence officer heading MII Team 457-G he served thirteen months overseas in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, supervising interpreters, collecting intelligence from civilians and prisoners, and supporting military-government security in districts that included Braunschweig, Bielefeld, and Bad Salzuflen. He separated as a second lieutenant at Fort Dix on 5 May 1946.
 
His decorations included the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with stars for Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe, and the World War II Victory Medal. He died on 15 June 1990.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* 457-g
* OCR (100%) of `5781899001831973.jpg` (CAMP RITCHIE, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER, Camp Ritchie)
* Center for Jewish History finding aid (Leo Baeck Institute — Biel family papers) describes MII 457 reports and French foreign-unit papers; bulk LBI PDF packets not re-uploaded (Gallery already holds separation and team docs).
* Also held officer ASN '''02009262''' (shown on War Department ID card).


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
5781899025165304.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899025165304.jpg|War Department identification card, front.
5781899021831971.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899021831971.jpg|War Department identification card, reverse.
5781898998498640.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781898998498640.jpg|Certificate authorizing Frederick Biel to retain captured enemy equipment.
5781899005165306.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899005165306.jpg|Separation Qualification Record: service dates, grade, specialty, and military occupational summary.
5781899035165303.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899035165303.jpg|Separation Qualification Record: military education, civilian education and occupation, decorations, battle stars, and prior enlisted service.
5781899015165305.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899015165305.jpg|Commendation from XIII Corps headquarters, dated 9 April 1945.
5781899031831970.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899031831970.jpg|Continuation of XIII Corps commendation.
5781899008498639.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899008498639.jpg|Recommendation for promotion from second lieutenant to first lieutenant, dated 15 August 1945.
5781898995165307.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781898995165307.jpg|MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 1.
5781899028498637.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899028498637.jpg|MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 2.
5781899018498638.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899018498638.jpg|MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 3.
5781899011831972.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
5781899001831973.jpg|Camp Ritchie certificate: Frederick Biel completed the 14th class at the Military Intelligence Training Center, dated 31 January 1944.
5781899001831973.jpg|Per his separation document, he served in the European Theater of Operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany as an Military Intelligence Officer with team MII-457, He was in charge of military interpreter supervising and coordinating the collection of military intelligence from civilians and enemy military personnel.
Biel_Frederick_32526380_jeep_Europe.jpg|Frederick Biel on a jeep in Europe (RB Archive)
Biel_Frederick_32526380_ID_portrait_crop.jpg|Portrait cropped from War Department identification card
</gallery>
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| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
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== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 15 January 1909 — Born in Austria (family nickname Fritz).
* Vienna business college; 1941–42 production manager, New York City.
* October 1942 — Entered U.S. Army; later Camp Ritchie Class 14 (certificate 31 January 1944).
* Enlisted service to March 1945 — rose to master sergeant; then commissioned.
* 25 March 1945 – 5 May 1946 — Officer service; MII 457-G in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany; separated 2LT, Fort Dix.
* 15 June 1990 — Died.
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== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [[:File:Biel_Frederick_32526380_ID_portrait_crop.jpg|ID portrait crop]] from [[:File:5781899025165304.jpg|War Department ID card]]
* [[:File:Biel_Frederick_32526380_jeep_Europe.jpg|Frederick Biel on a jeep in Europe]]
* RB Archive folder “Frederick Biel” — selected wartime images (curated uploads where not already on Gallery)
* [https://archives.cjh.org/repositories/5/resources/18980 Center for Jewish History / Leo Baeck Institute — Biel family papers (Series II, Frederick / Fritz Biel)]
* 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 2022-10-18 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-10-18 (1 post)
* [[:File:5781899001831973.jpg|Camp Ritchie certificate: Frederick Biel completed the 14th class at the Military Intelligence Training Center, dated 31 January 1944.]]
* [[:File:5781899025165304.jpg|War Department identification card, front.]]
* [[:File:5781899021831971.jpg|War Department identification card, reverse.]]
* [[:File:5781898998498640.jpg|Certificate authorizing Frederick Biel to retain captured enemy equipment.]]
* [[:File:5781899005165306.jpg|Separation Qualification Record: service dates, grade, specialty, and military occupational summary.]]
* [[:File:5781899035165303.jpg|Separation Qualification Record: military education, civilian education and occupation, decorations, battle stars, and prior enlisted service.]]
* [[:File:5781899015165305.jpg|Commendation from XIII Corps headquarters, dated 9 April 1945.]]
* [[:File:5781899031831970.jpg|Continuation of XIII Corps commendation.]]
* [[:File:5781899008498639.jpg|Recommendation for promotion from second lieutenant to first lieutenant, dated 15 August 1945.]]
* [[:File:5781898995165307.jpg|MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 1.]]
* [[:File:5781899028498637.jpg|MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 2.]]
* [[:File:5781899018498638.jpg|MII 457G memorandum listing arrests, dated 27 June 1945, page 3.]]
* [[:File:5781899011831972.jpg|Photograph of Frederick Biel in uniform.]]
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