Ritchie Boys Wiki

Nagel, William (32108533): Difference between revisions

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|surname=Nagel
|surname=Nagel
|first=William
|first=William
|alias=Nagelberg
|alias=Wilhelm Nagelberg; Nagelberg
|class_section=5A
|class_section=5A
|class_rank=Pfc
|class_rank=Pfc
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|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png@@Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Army_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png@@Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Army_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png
|photo=6014047915283746.jpg
|photo=6014047915283746.jpg
|birth_place=Vienna, Austria
|teams=MII 474-G
|birth_date=10 December 1914
|death_place=Silver Spring, Maryland
}}
}}


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'''[[Nagel, William (32108533)|William Nagel]]''' (1914 – 19 September 2001) was a Ritchie Boy (born Nagelberg; from Austria; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 20. The record lists a final rank of Staff Sergeant.
'''[[Nagel, William (32108533)|William Nagel]]''' (10 December 1914 &ndash; 19 September 2001), born Wilhelm Nagelberg in Vienna, was a [[Class 20]] Ritchie Boy who interrogated German prisoners in both the Pacific and European theaters.
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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
William Nagel was a Ritchie Boy. Formerly Wilhelm Nagelberg, he was born the only child of Fritz (1883–1960) and Helene Nagelberg (née Licht, 1891–1959) in Vienna, Austria, on 10 December 1914. His father operated his own business, and the family lived in Leopoldstadt, Vienna's second municipal district. After secondary school, William studied global trade at university and pursued a PhD in economics. In July 1938 he submitted his dissertation, ''Über Veränderungen in der Baumwollwirtschaft Großbritanniens vom Weltkrieg bis zur Gegenwart'', and became one of the few Jewish students in Austria to receive a doctoral degree after the Anschluss.
William Nagel (formerly Wilhelm Nagelberg) was born on 10 December 1914 in Vienna, Austria, the only child of Fritz and Helene Nagelberg (née Licht). The family lived in Leopoldstadt. After secondary school he studied global trade and economics; in July 1938 he submitted a dissertation on the British cotton economy and was among the few Jewish students in Austria awarded a doctorate after the Anschluss.


The Nagelberg family later fled Austria for Italy. In March 1940 William left Italy for the United States aboard the SS ''Vulcania''; his parents remained in Europe. After arriving, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Several months later he met Gertrude Juris, a Jewish refugee from Vienna, and they married in New York on 18 January 1942. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen the following year and trained at Camp Ritchie as an Army intelligence officer.
The family fled to Italy. In March 1940 William sailed to the United States on the SS ''Vulcania''; his parents remained in Europe. He enlisted in the Army, met fellow Viennese refugee Gertrude Juris, and married her in New York on 18 January 1942. Naturalized the next year, he trained at [[Camp Ritchie]] ([[Class 20]] / MII Team 474-G) and served as an intelligence interrogator in both the Pacific and European theaters. He was discharged in late 1945.


Nagel served in both the Pacific and European theaters during World War II, including the interrogation of German prisoners of war in Allied-occupied territory. He was discharged in late 1945 and returned home. After the war he resumed his career in economics, working for the Pentagon and in the European Division of the Office of Economic Affairs until retirement. He and Gertrude raised a family and later settled in Maryland; his parents, who survived the war in Italy, joined them in the United States in 1953.
After the war Nagel worked in economics, including the Department of Commerce. His parents, who had survived in Italy, joined them in the United States in 1953. He and Gertrude raised a family and settled in Maryland. Nagel died on 19 September 2001; his last residence was Silver Spring, and he was buried at Judean Memorial Gardens near Olney, Maryland.
 
Nagelberg's last residence was in Silver Spring, Maryland. He died on 19 September 2001 and was buried two days later at Judean Memorial Gardens near Olney, Maryland. His burial took place exactly four months after Gertrude's funeral on 18 May 2001.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* born in Poland?
* OCR (99%) of `6014047925283745.jpg` (Discharge)
* 474-G
* OCR (98%) of `6014047935283744.jpg` (DISCHARGE, Camp Ritchie, Good Conduct) — dated 1 November 1944
* OCR (99%) of `6014047925283745.jpg` (Discharge).
* OCR (98%) of `6014047935283744.jpg` (DISCHARGE, Camp Ritchie, Good Conduct) — dated 1 November 1944.
* OCR birth/death cue: 3100.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 10 December 1914 — Born Wilhelm Nagelberg in Vienna, Austria.
* July 1938 — Awarded doctorate in economics, Vienna.
* March 1940 — Arrived in the United States on SS Vulcania.
* 18 January 1942 — Married Gertrude Juris in New York.
* 1943 — Naturalized; trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 20).
* 1944–1945 — Intelligence / interrogation service, Pacific and Europe.
* Late 1945 — Discharged.
* 1953 — Parents joined the family in the United States.
* 19 September 2001 — Died; buried near Olney, Maryland.
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</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* RB Archive USHMM collection notes and biographical abstract for William Nagel
* [https://gedenkbuch.wu.ac.at/Persons/detail/dfkm-dr-wilhelm-willy-nagelberg WU Vienna memorial book entry, Dr. Wilhelm (Willy) Nagelberg]
* [https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn575723 USHMM, Gertrude and William Nagel papers (2017.527.1)]
* 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)
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* [[:File:6014047931950411.jpg|Naturalization certificate, associated gallery scan]]
* [[:File:6014047931950411.jpg|Naturalization certificate, associated gallery scan]]
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 3 January 2023 (biographical account and gallery documents)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 3 January 2023 (biographical account and gallery documents)
* [[:File:6014047925283745.jpg|Honorable discharge certificate identifying William Nagel as a staff sergeant, associated gallery scan]]
* [[:File:6014047935283744.jpg|Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, associated gallery scan]]
* [[:File:6014047931950411.jpg|Naturalization record documenting the Nagelberg name change, associated gallery scan]]
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