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Waldman, Eric (01182990): Difference between revisions

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Enrich from 30 Sept 1969 Gehlen Organization debriefing PDF; sync vitals/timeline
 
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|class_section=5A
|class_section=5A
|class_rank=2nd Lt
|class_rank=2nd Lt
|birth_date=21 September 1914
|birth_year=1914
|birth_year=1914
|death_year=2007
|death_year=2007
|nativity=Austria
|nativity=Austria
|religion=Catholic
|religion=Catholic
|certificate=3205
|confidence=high
|confidence=high
|class_number=10
|class_number=10
|class_display=10
|class_display=10
|alias=Erich Waldmann
|alias=Erich Waldmann; Erich Augustinus Waldmann
|specialty=Military intelligence; German tactics
|specialty=Military intelligence; German tactics; Gehlen Organization liaison
|division=War Department G-2; Fort Hunt / Gehlen group
|division=War Department G-2; Fort Hunt / Gehlen group; 7821st Composite Group
|photo=Eric Waldman 6.png
|photo=Eric Waldman 6.png
|occupation=Marine biologist; professor; author
|education=Ph.D., University of Vienna
|arm_or_service=Field Artillery
|arm_or_service=Field Artillery
|birth_place=Vienna
|birth_place=Vienna, Austria
|rank_final=Colonel
|rank_final=Colonel
|story=The Stories/Eric Waldman
}}
}}


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<div class="soldier-lead">
'''Eric Waldman''' (1914–2007), born Erich Waldmann in Vienna, was an Austrian American marine biologist, artillery officer, and military intelligence specialist. After training and teaching at Camp Ritchie, he worked on German tactics for War Department G-2 and helped direct the Gehlen organization at Fort Hunt and in occupied Germany.
'''Eric Waldman''' (21 September 1914 – 2007), born Erich Waldmann in Vienna, was an Austrian American artillery officer and military intelligence specialist. After Camp Ritchie Class 10 and War Department G-2 work on German tactics, he helped supervise the U.S. Army’s postwar trusteeship of the Gehlen Organization at Fort Hunt and in occupied Germany until early 1949.
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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Eric Waldman was born Erich Waldmann on September 21, 1914, at Franzensbrueckenstrasse 19 in Vienna. His father, Leo Waldmann, had served as an Austrian officer in the First World War. Waldman studied marine biology at the University of Vienna and completed a doctorate before Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938.
Eric Waldman was born Erich Augustinus Waldmann on 21 September 1914 at Franzensbrueckenstrasse 19 in Vienna. His father, Leo Waldmann, had served as an Austro-Hungarian officer in the First World War. Waldman studied marine biology at the University of Vienna, completed a doctorate, and worked as an assistant under Prof. J. Versluys before Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938.


The Anschluss made remaining in Vienna untenable for the Jewish family. Waldman escaped in 1938 by traveling through Yugoslavia to Trieste, where he boarded the SS ''Vulcania'' for the United States. His parents did not survive the Holocaust: the Gestapo killed his father in 1939, and his mother was later murdered at the Chełmno extermination camp.
After the Anschluss, remaining in Vienna became untenable for the Jewish family. Waldman left in 1938 by train through Yugoslavia to Trieste and sailed on the SS ''Vulcania'', arriving in New York on 13 October 1938. His parents did not survive the Holocaust: the Gestapo killed his father in 1939, and his mother was later murdered at Chełmno.


In the United States, Waldman entered the Army and attended Field Artillery Officer Candidate School. He became a naturalized citizen in 1943 and changed his name from Erich Waldmann to Eric Waldman. Assigned to the Military Intelligence Training Center, he graduated with Camp Ritchie Class 10 and remained as an instructor, putting his native German, academic training, and knowledge of Europe to use for the Army.
Waldman enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on 7 March 1942, graduated from Field Artillery Officer Candidate School, and completed a prisoner-of-war interrogation course. He became a naturalized citizen on 5 February 1943 in San Bernardino, California, changing his name from Erich Augustinus Waldmann to Eric Augustinus Waldman. Assigned to the Military Intelligence Training Center, he graduated with Camp Ritchie Class 10 and remained as an instructor. In 1944–1945 he served in the Military Branch, G-2, War Department, as a specialist in German tactics.


Waldman subsequently joined War Department G-2, where his work centered on German tactics and military organization. Near the end of the war he was assigned to the secret prisoner-of-war installation at Fort Hunt, Virginia, known as P.O. Box 1142. There he worked with the German officers associated with Reinhard Gehlen and the Fremde Heere Ost intelligence apparatus under the Bolero program, using the cover names Captain Brown and Mr. Ericson.
In May 1945 Waldman moved to a G-2 section preparing a handbook on the Soviet Army. In June 1945 his superior, Dimitri Shimpkin, assigned him to take charge of German officer prisoners from Fremde Heere Ost (FHO) arriving at Fort Hunt, Virginia (P.O. Box 1142). There he worked with Reinhard Gehlen and other FHO officers as they produced studies for G-2, alongside Americans including [[Zander, Randolph V. (0454822)|Randolph Zander]] and with early European contacts including [[Boker, John R. Jr (01283197)|John R. Boker, Jr.]]


From 1946 to 1949 Waldman continued intelligence work at Oberursel and elsewhere in occupied Germany. He helped organize the Gehlen group as it became an important postwar intelligence partner of the United States and later a foundation of West Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, the BND. His work bridged wartime interrogation, analysis of the Soviet Union, and the emerging intelligence requirements of the Cold War.
Waldman went to Oberursel in June 1946 ahead of Gehlen’s return and became deputy to Lt. Col. John R. Deane, Jr., in the U.S. element overseeing the German group. He pressed for Gehlen’s leadership over rival Hans Baun; by the end of 1946 Gehlen headed what became known as the Gehlen Organization. Under later U.S. commanders the headquarters moved to Pullach in November 1947 as the 7821st Composite Group. Waldman accompanied the Bossard survey for CIG in 1947 and the Critchfield survey in November–December 1948, and traveled abroad with Gehlen to discuss ties with friendly intelligence services. He left the assignment in February 1949, shortly before CIA assumed responsibility for the organization.


Waldman left G-2 in 1949 and returned to academic life. He taught and wrote about European politics, international affairs, and NATO, drawing on both his scholarly training and his government service. He died in 2007.
After leaving G-2, Waldman returned to academic life, teaching and writing on European politics, international affairs, and NATO. He died in 2007.
 
Eric attended University of Vienna (PhD Biology).
 
In 1960, Waldman attended Published article on German Socialist movement based on PhD.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
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Eric Waldman 29.png
Eric Waldman 29.png
Eric Waldman 30.png
Eric Waldman 30.png
Eric Waldman 31.png|Debriefing of Eric Waldman 30 September 1969
Eric Waldman 31.png|Debriefing of Eric Waldman, 30 September 1969 (page image); full PDF: [[:File:Debriefing_of_Eric_Waldman_30_September_1969.pdf|Debriefing PDF]]
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* Born 21 September 1914 in Vienna.
* 21 September 1914 — Born Erich Augustinus Waldmann in Vienna, Austria.
* 3 December 1943 — Assigned to Faculty (Section V).
* September 1933 – March 1938 — University of Vienna; doctorate in marine biology; assistant to Prof. J. Versluys.
* 13 March 1938 — Anschluss; remains briefly in Vienna as German troops enter.
* 29 September 1938 — Sails from Trieste on SS ''Vulcania''; arrives New York 13 October 1938.
* 7 March 1942 — Enlists, Fort Dix, New Jersey; later Field Artillery OCS and POW interrogation course.
* 5 February 1943 — Naturalized, U.S. District Court, San Bernardino, California; name becomes Eric Augustinus Waldman.
* 1943 — Camp Ritchie Class 10; remains as instructor (assigned to Faculty, Section V, 3 December 1943).
* 1944–1945 — Military Branch, G-2, War Department; specialist in German tactics.
* May 1945 — Transferred to G-2 section preparing a handbook on the Soviet Army.
* June 1945 — Assigned by Dimitri Shimpkin to take charge of FHO officer POWs at Fort Hunt (P.O. Box 1142), including Reinhard Gehlen’s group.
* February 1946 — Col. Heinz Herre joins the Fort Hunt group.
* June 1946 — Arrives Oberursel ahead of Gehlen’s return; becomes deputy to Lt. Col. John R. Deane, Jr., in the U.S. element.
* August 1946 — Gehlen group arrives at Oberursel; by end of 1946 Gehlen is appointed chief of the German element.
* 1947 — Expansion of field stations; accompanies Bossard (CIG) survey; travels abroad with Gehlen on liaison trips.
* November 1947 — Headquarters moves to Pullach; U.S. element becomes 7821st Composite Group.
* 20 November 1948 — Awarded Verdienstkreuz Zweiter Klasse (Order of Merit, Second Class) — date as on certificate in Gallery.
* November–December 1948 — Accompanies Critchfield survey of the Gehlen Organization.
* February 1949 — Departs the Gehlen assignment (CIA assumes responsibility about four months later).
* 15 October 1955 — Doctor of Philosophy (see Gallery).
* 30 September 1969 — Debriefed on the U.S. Army’s 1945–1949 trusteeship of the Gehlen Organization.
* 2007 — Died.
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* 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)
* [[The Stories/Eric Waldman|The Stories essay]]
* [[The Stories/Eric Waldman|The Stories essay]] (family narrative from Chris Waldmann and Heidi Kolstad)
* [[:File:Debriefing_of_Eric_Waldman_30_September_1969.pdf|Debriefing of Eric Waldman on the U.S. Army's trusteeship of the Gehlen Organization, 30 September 1969]]
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Eric Waldman for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Eric Waldman for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Waldman, Eric for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: ERIC WALDMAN.doc)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Waldman, Eric for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: ERIC WALDMAN.doc)
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