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Graf, Ernst (32908365): Difference between revisions

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|first=Ernst
|first=Ernst
|class_section=5B
|class_section=5B
|class_rank=Pvt
|class_rank=Private
|birth_year=1905
|birth_year=1905
|death_year=1966
|death_year=1966
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|overseas=Y
|overseas=Y
|certificate=3836
|certificate=3836
|education=3 years of high school
|education=2 years of college; Military Intelligence German I (8 weeks); Order of Battle (4 weeks)
|occupation=Salemen to consumers
|occupation=Salesman and sales manager
|marital=Married
|marital=Married
|confidence=high
|confidence=high
|class_number=11
|class_number=11
|class_display=11
|class_display=11
|birth_place=Berlin on November 12 1905, was
|birth_place=Berlin, Germany
|rank_final=Master Sergeant
|awards=
|awards_grid=
|awards_extra=
|birth_date=12 November 1905
|specialty=Intelligence NCO
|death_date=15 June 1966
|photo=Graf_Ernst_32908365_naturalization_portrait_crop.jpg
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Graf, Ernst (32908365)|Ernst Graf]]''' (1905–1966) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11.
'''[[Graf, Ernst (32908365)|Ernst Graf]]''' (12 November 1905 – 15 June 1966) was a Berlin-born Ritchie Boy (Class 11) who served as an intelligence NCO with Ninth Army forces in northwest Europe.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
[[Graf, Ernst (32908365)|Ernst Graf]], was born in Berlin on November 12 1905, was a Ritchie Boy. In the summer of 1938, he and his wife immigrated to the US via the Netherlands. He became an American citizen, was drafted, and trained at Camp Ritchie. His separation record states he took 8 weeks of "Military Intelligence German 1" at Camp Ritchie as well as 4 weeks of "Order of Battle" and the summary of his military occupation says "Intelligence NCO, as a member of three man team, compiled, recorded, and reported to G2, 9th Army, all information regarding the enemy. Served overseas in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Interrogation of enemy prisoners." Attached are his order of induction, naturalization certificate, a commendation letter, a Certificate of Merit, and his separation document. It says: The Certificate of Merit was from the European Theater of Operations, United States Army. This Certificate of Merit is awarded to M/Sgt. [[Graf, Ernst (32908365)|Ernst Graf]], ASN 32908365 In recognition of conspicuously meritorious and outstanding performance of military duty from the period of 20 July 1944 to 14 June 1945. Citation As a member of Order of Battle Team No 3, M/Sgt. Graf was charged with the orderly maintenance of extensive records of enemy units and formations. This involved long and arduous hours of work over an extended period of time, the careful scrutiny of masses of material to extract pertinent information, and the accurate filing of such information in a fashion to make this information readily available in order to provide current estimates of the enemy's strength and location. Graf performed these duties with cheerfulness and technical efficiency and thus enabled the G-2 to properly advise the Commanding General at all times as to the current enemy situation.
Ernst Graf was born on 12 November 1905 in Berlin to Joachim and Maria Graf. He married Dorothea Reichenthal in 1933. In the summer of 1938 the couple immigrated to the United States via the Netherlands. After becoming an American citizen he was drafted and trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 11).
 
Graf’s separation record identifies him as a master sergeant and Intelligence NCO. On a three-man team he compiled, recorded, and reported enemy information to the G-2 of the Ninth Army, serving in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany and interrogating prisoners. His documented military education included eight weeks of Military Intelligence German I and four weeks of Order of Battle training. A 6 April 1944 War Department letter commended Graf and other Camp Ritchie men for research work, and a Certificate of Merit recognized his maintenance of enemy-unit records from 20 July 1944 to 14 June 1945.
 
He died on 15 June 1966. Documents from his family’s USHMM collection preserve migration and service papers from that life path.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* Also Class 10 OB
* Also Class 10 OB
* OB 27
* OB 27
* OCR (97%) of `5860556947299511.jpg` (CERTIFICATE OF) — rank mentioned: Sergeant.
* OCR (92%) of `5860557423966130.jpg` (gallery document).
* USHMM finding-aid blurb and RB Archive document set support parents, marriage, immigration, and death date; bulk passport scans not re-uploaded (selected service docs already on Gallery).


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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5860556947299511.jpg
5860556947299511.jpg
5860557423966130.jpg
5860557423966130.jpg
Graf_Ernst_32908365_naturalization_portrait_crop.jpg|Portrait cropped from Certificate of Naturalization (5 October 1943)
</gallery>
</gallery>
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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 November 1905 — Born in Berlin to Joachim and Maria Graf.
* 1933 — Married Dorothea Reichenthal.
* Summer 1938 — Immigrated to the United States via the Netherlands.
* 17 May 1943 — Enlisted, New York City (ASN 32908365).
* Camp Ritchie Class 11 — Military Intelligence German I and Order of Battle.
* 20 July 1944 – 14 June 1945 — Intelligence NCO / enemy-unit records; Ninth Army G-2 support in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany.
* 6 April 1944 — War Department commendation letter for research work.
* 15 June 1966 — Died.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [[:File:Graf_Ernst_32908365_naturalization_portrait_crop.jpg|Naturalization portrait crop]] from [[:File:5860556127299593.jpg|Certificate of Naturalization]]
* RB Archive folder “Ernst Graf” — USHMM finding-aid notes and document set (selected items already on Gallery from prior OCR)
* [https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn556037 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — Ernst Graf collection (irn556037)]
* 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 2022-11-14 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-11-14 (1 post)
* [[:File:5860556947299511.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5860556947299511.jpg]]
* [[:File:5860557423966130.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5860557423966130.jpg]]
* [[:File:5860556303966242.jpg|Graf induction order]]
* [[:File:5860556127299593.jpg|Graf naturalization record]]
* [[:File:5860556507299555.jpg|War Department commendation letter, 6 April 1944]]
Retrieved from "https://ritchieboys.org/wiki/Graf,_Ernst_(32908365)"