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Kann, Walter (42050581): Difference between revisions

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|birth_date=25 May 1923
|birth_date=25 May 1923
|death_date=1 December 2008
|death_date=1 December 2008
|teams=MII 498-G
|rank_final=Technical Sergeant
|death_place=Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Kann, Walter (42050581)|Walter Kann]]''' (25 May 1923 – 1 December 2008) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 22 and served with IPW Team 180.
'''Walter Kann''' (25 May 1923 &ndash; 1 December 2008) was a German-born United States Army interrogator who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 22]].
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
[[Kann, Walter (42050581)|Walter Kann]] was a Ritchie Boy. Walter was born May 25, 1923. He emigrated from Germany in June of 1938, and he served in the U.S. Army during WWII. After completing courses at Camp Ritchie he served as an MI interrogator in Germany and was honorably discharged as a Tech Sgt. 316th, HQ Intelligence Army Detachment in 1946. Walter graduated Phi Beta Kappa from CCNY in 1948. He thereafter began a dynamic 60-year career in commodity trading, long serving as a high level executive and board member at Philipp Brothers, NY, and its successor companies for 38 years, living in Tokyo heading up Phibro's Japanese operations from 1953 through 1956. In 1985 he helped found Newco AG, Switzerland, serving as chairman through 1999. He remained active in business until his death. He was known and respected worldwide, but particularly in Asia and South Africa. Walter passed away on December 1, 2008 at the age of 85.
Walter Kann was born on 25 May 1923 and emigrated from Germany to the United States in June 1938. After Camp Ritchie (Class 22) he served as a military-intelligence interrogator in Germany with team MII 498-G and was honorably discharged as a technical sergeant in 1946 (316th Headquarters Intelligence Army Detachment).
 
He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from City College of New York in 1948 and began a long commodities-trading career, including executive roles at Philipp Brothers and heading Phibro’s Tokyo operations (1953–1956). In 1985 he helped found Newco AG in Switzerland, serving as chairman through 1999. Kann died on 1 December 2008; he had homes in New Canaan, Connecticut, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* 498-G
* Birth place city not established in obituaries—keep nativity Germany only.
 


== Technical record ==
== Technical record ==
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== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 25 May 1923 — Born in Germany.
* June 1938 — Emigrated to the United States.
* Class 22 — Trained at Camp Ritchie; MII 498-G interrogator in Germany.
* 1946 — Discharged as technical sergeant.
* 1948 — Graduated Phi Beta Kappa, CCNY.
* 1 December 2008 — Died.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* “Walter Kann,” ''Palm Beach Daily News'', 5 December 2008 (RB Archive ProQuest)
* Paid notice / obituary, Walter Kann, ''New York Times'', 4 December 2008 (RB Archive ProQuest)
* 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 2023-02-07 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2023-02-07 (1 post)

Latest revision as of 01:49, 17 September 2026

Walter Kann
Personal details
Born25 May 1923
Died1 December 2008
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
NativityGermany
ReligionJewish
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN42050581
RankTechnical Sergeant
Rank at RitchiePrivate
Camp RitchieClass 22 (23 August – 21 October 1944)
Section5C
EnlistedNew York City, New York
TeamsIPW 180, MII 498-G
Teammates
Team — IPW 180
Team — MII 498-G
These are other soldiers listed on the same team roster. People moved between teams; overlapping service dates are not always documented.
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Walter Kann (25 May 1923 – 1 December 2008) was a German-born United States Army interrogator who trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, in Class 22.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Walter Kann was born on 25 May 1923 and emigrated from Germany to the United States in June 1938. After Camp Ritchie (Class 22) he served as a military-intelligence interrogator in Germany with team MII 498-G and was honorably discharged as a technical sergeant in 1946 (316th Headquarters Intelligence Army Detachment).

He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from City College of New York in 1948 and began a long commodities-trading career, including executive roles at Philipp Brothers and heading Phibro’s Tokyo operations (1953–1956). In 1985 he helped found Newco AG in Switzerland, serving as chairman through 1999. Kann died on 1 December 2008; he had homes in New Canaan, Connecticut, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • Birth place city not established in obituaries—keep nativity Germany only.


Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 85
Nara ASN 42050581
Nara Name ANN WALTER
Nara State 23
Nara County 61
Nara POE 2364
Nara DOE 291043
Nara Grade Alpha PVT
Nara Grade Code 8
Nara Branch Alpha NO
Nara Branch Code 2
Branch No branch assignment
Nara Term or Enlistment 5
Term of enlistment Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Defer. Date 0
Nara Source 0
Nara Nativity N1
Nara Year of Birth 23
Nara Race J
Nara Race Description White not yet a citizen
Nara Education 7
Nara Civilian Occupation 105
Nara Marital Status 1
Nara Height (inches) 0
Nara Weight (lbs) 0
Class_ASN 42050581
Class_Name KANN, Walter
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 25 May 1923 — Born in Germany.
  • June 1938 — Emigrated to the United States.
  • Class 22 — Trained at Camp Ritchie; MII 498-G interrogator in Germany.
  • 1946 — Discharged as technical sergeant.
  • 1948 — Graduated Phi Beta Kappa, CCNY.
  • 1 December 2008 — Died.

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • “Walter Kann,” Palm Beach Daily News, 5 December 2008 (RB Archive ProQuest)
  • Paid notice / obituary, Walter Kann, New York Times, 4 December 2008 (RB Archive ProQuest)
  • 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 2023-02-07 (1 post)
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