Ritchie Boys Wiki

Krass, Boris (32542552): Difference between revisions

← Older edit
VisualWikitext
Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources
RB Archive enrichment: biography, Timeline, vitals, curated military documents
 
Line 24: Line 24:
|class_display=7
|class_display=7
|death_date=28 February 1991
|death_date=28 February 1991
|birth_place=Russia
|birth_place=Cholm, Russia
|death_place=New York
|death_place=New York
|awards=Campaign Ribbon; Good Conduct Ribbon
|awards=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Good Conduct Medal
|awards_grid=Campaign Ribbon;;Good Conduct Ribbon
|awards_grid=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal;;Good Conduct Medal
|awards_extra=
|awards_extra=
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;Ribbon_Army_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;Ribbon_Army_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Army_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Army_Good_Conduct_Medal_ribbon.png
|birth_date=4 March 1920
|photo=Krass_Boris_32542552_portrait_1934.jpg
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Krass, Boris (32542552)|Boris Krass]]''' (1920 – 28 February 1991) was a Ritchie Boy (from Russia; Greek Orthodox) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 7.
'''[[Krass, Boris (32542552)|Boris Krass]]''' (4 March 1920 – 28 February 1991), born Boris Krasnoumoff, was a Cholm-born Ritchie Boy (Class 7) who trained as a Russian interpreter and psychological-warfare interrogator and served with Mobile Radio Broadcasting companies and Radio Luxembourg in the ETO.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Boris Krass (1920–1991) was born in Russia and spent part of his childhood as a refugee in Germany before coming to the United States. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on 27 October 1942 and transferred from Camp Polk to Camp Ritchie on 23 March 1943. He graduated from the seventh course at the Military Intelligence Training Center, Camp Ritchie, on 12 June 1943.
Boris Krass was born Boris Krasnoumoff on 4 March 1920 in Cholm, Russia. As a child refugee he lived in Berlin, where German police issued him a Kinderausweis in January 1934 listing him as stateless; he received a U.S. quota immigration visa the same month and emigrated to the United States. He graduated from George Washington High School in New York, earned a B.S. in psychology from Long Island University in 1942, and married Yvonne C. Boet in New York that year. At naturalization he legally shortened the family name from Krasnoumoff to Krass.


Krass spoke and read English, Russian, and German. He completed a Russian Interpreter Course, where an evaluation described him as intelligent, proficient in English and Russian, and officer material. From 15 August through 15 December 1944, he interrogated Russian prisoners of war in German uniform and Russian civilians liberated by Allied forces in eastern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Rhineland. Other wartime documents record that he wrote a report about Russian soldiers captured by the Germans and translated a Soviet Russian military manual.
Inducted on 27 October 1942, he entered active service on 10 November 1942 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and took basic training with the 11th Armored Division at Camp Polk, Louisiana. Transferred to the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie, he graduated from the seventh course on 12 June 1943. That August–September he completed the Special Russian Interpreter Course (Class 10, Section 7D) alongside classmates including [[Pleasants, Henry III (0914107)|Henry Pleasants III]], [[Troubetzkoy, Serge C. (01047813)|Serge C. Troubetzkoy]], [[Omelianuk, Serge J. (01046219)|Serge J. Omelianuk]], [[Crawshaw, Victor B. (39197823)|Victor B. Crawshaw]], and [[Drake, Nicholas (39033443)|Nicholas Drake]]; evaluators called him intelligent, strong in English and Russian, and officer material. He next studied propaganda techniques and strategic interrogation at the Psychological Warfare School, Camp Sharpe, Pennsylvania.


A 28 September 1945 discharge certificate identifies Krass as a technician fifth grade in the Military Intelligence Service and records his honorable discharge at Separation Point in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. A 22 September 1945 certificate recognizes his service in the Military Intelligence Division, War Department. He died in New York on 28 February 1991.
From May 1944 he served in the European Theater with the 2nd and 3rd Mobile Radio Broadcasting Companies and on detached and temporary duty with First and Third Army headquarters and Publicity and Psychological Warfare, Twelfth Army Group. In England he attended the School of Political Intelligence at Brondesbury. In northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Rhineland he interrogated German prisoners and Russian prisoners of war in German uniform, interviewed displaced persons, and did intelligence research at Radio Luxembourg. From December 1944 into February 1945 he worked with Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment 303, Third Army, in Luxembourg. His enlisted record credits him with the Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns. Returned to Camp Ritchie in early 1945, he instructed on the Soviet Union’s national background, military forces, geography, and culture. Honored by the Military Intelligence Division on 22 September 1945, he was honorably discharged as a technician fifth grade at Separation Point, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, on 28 September 1945.
 
After the war Krass received a commission as a first lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Reserve (service number 0962670) on 13 August 1948. In civilian life he built a sales career in business forms and office systems with The Standard Register Company and later Dashew Business Machines, then worked as a manufacturers’ representative. He died in New York on 28 February 1991.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* PWD
* Also completed Special Russian Interpreter Course, Class 10 Section 7D (Aug–Sep 1943).
* Section VII
* Wartime enlisted ASN '''32542552'''; postwar Military Intelligence Reserve commission S.N. '''0962670''' (1st Lt, 13 August 1948).
* Also grad Class 10 sec 7D
* PWD / psychological warfare assignments included 2nd and 3rd Mobile Radio Broadcasting Companies and Radio Luxembourg.
* to 3rd MRBC, 1/21/44
* Name legally changed from Krasnoumoff to Krass at naturalization (Personal History Statement).
* OCR (95%) of `5744108042277736.jpg` (Discharge) — dated 28 September 1945 — rank mentioned: Colonel.
* OCR (95%) of `5744120795609794.jpg` (Discharge) — dated 28 September 1945 — rank mentioned: Colonel.
* OCR (83%) of `5744108048944402.jpg` (DISCHARGE, Good Conduct, CERTIFICATE OF) — dated 1/3/24; 10 Nov 1942.
* OCR (83%) of `5744120802276460.jpg` (DISCHARGE, Good Conduct, CERTIFICATE OF) — dated 1/3/24; 10 Nov 1942.
* OCR (82%) of `5744108045611069.jpg` (gallery document) — dated 22 Sep 1945.
* OCR (82%) of `5744120805609793.jpg` (gallery document) — dated 22 Sep 1945.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
5744108042277736.jpg
Krass_Boris_32542552_German_ID_US_Visa_1934.jpg|German Kinderausweis (Berlin, 18 January 1934) and U.S. quota immigration visa
5744108035611070.jpg
Krass_Boris_32542552_MITC_Graduation_12_Jun_1943.jpg|MITC Camp Ritchie graduation extract, Special Orders 141, 12 June 1943
5744108048944402.jpg
Krass_Boris_32542552_Russian_Interpreter_Course_grades.jpg|Special Russian Interpreter Course final grades, Class 10 Sec 7D
5744108038944403.jpg
Krass_Boris_32542552_WWII_service_resume_1948.jpg|World War II service resume listing units and assignments, c. 1948
5744108045611069.jpg
Krass_Boris_32542552_Personal_History_Statement_p1.jpg|Personal History Statement, 2 January 1945 (p. 1)
Krass_Boris_32542552_Interrogate_Russians_German_uniforms.jpg|Twelfth Army Group letter documenting Russian interrogation duties, 4 February 1945
Krass_Boris_32542552_Radio_Luxembourg_Message.jpg|Radio Luxembourg Detachment message, 24 December 1944
Krass_Boris_32542552_2d_MRBC_Message_29_Dec_1944.jpg|Message to 2d Mobile Radio Broadcasting Company, 29 December 1944
Krass_Boris_32542552_Enlisted_Record_Separation.jpg|Enlisted Record and Report of Separation — Honorable Discharge
Krass_Boris_32542552_Honorable_Discharge.jpg|Honorable Discharge certificate, 28 September 1945
Krass_Boris_32542552_MID_Acknowledgment_22_Sep_1945.jpg|Military Intelligence Division acknowledgment, 22 September 1945
Krass_Boris_32542552_Induction.jpg|Induction / active-service entry papers
Krass_Boris_32542552_Alien_Status_15_Sep_1942.jpg|Alien status document, 15 September 1942
Krass_Boris_32542552_Transfer_Camp_Ritchie_1945.jpg|Transfer / return to Camp Ritchie, 1945
Krass_Boris_32542552_Russian_Interpreter_grade_1945.jpg|Russian interpreter grade / evaluation document, 1945
Krass_Boris_32542552_Reserve_Corps_Appt_1948.jpg|Military Intelligence Reserve Corps appointment, 13 August 1948
</gallery>
</gallery>
</div>
</div>
Line 132: Line 141:
| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
|}
== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 4 March 1920 — Born Boris Krasnoumoff in Cholm, Russia
* 18 January 1934 — German Kinderausweis issued in Berlin (listed as stateless); U.S. quota immigration visa No. 1764 issued 26 January 1934
* 1934 — Emigrated from Germany to the United States
* 1938 — Graduated from George Washington High School, New York
* 1942 — B.S. in psychology, Long Island University; married Yvonne C. Boet in New York
* 27 October 1942 — Inducted into the U.S. Army, New York
* 10 November 1942 — Entered active service at Fort Dix, New Jersey
* November 1942 – April 1943 — Basic training, 11th Armored Division, Camp Polk, Louisiana
* 23 March 1943 — Transferred to Camp Ritchie, Maryland
* 12 June 1943 — Graduated seventh course, Military Intelligence Training Center, Camp Ritchie
* 19 August – 19 September 1943 — Special Russian Interpreter Course, Class 10 Section 7D, Camp Ritchie (qualified as assistant interpreter)
* February/March – May/June 1944 — Psychological Warfare School, Camp Sharpe, Pennsylvania
* 12 May 1944 — Departed for overseas service; arrived England 23 May 1944
* May – December 1944 — 2nd and 3rd Mobile Radio Broadcasting Companies; D.S./T.D. with First and Third Army headquarters and P&PW, Twelfth Army Group; intelligence work at Radio Luxembourg
* 15 August – 15 December 1944 — Interrogated Russian POWs in German uniform and liberated Russian civilians in eastern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Rhineland
* December 1944 – February 1945 — CIC Detachment 303, Headquarters Third Army, Luxembourg
* 19 February 1945 — Left the ETO; arrived United States 26 February 1945
* March – September 1945 — Instructor at Camp Ritchie on Soviet national background, military forces, geography, and culture
* 22 September 1945 — Military Intelligence Division, War Department, acknowledgment of service
* 28 September 1945 — Honorable discharge as Tec 5, Military Intelligence Service, Separation Point, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
* 13 August 1948 — Commissioned first lieutenant, Military Intelligence Reserve (S.N. 0962670)
* 28 February 1991 — Died in New York
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Transfer_Camp_Ritchie_1945.jpg|Transfer / return to Camp Ritchie papers, 1945]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Induction.jpg|Induction / entry into active service papers]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Reserve_Corps_Appt_1948.jpg|Military Intelligence Reserve appointment, 13 August 1948]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_MID_Acknowledgment_22_Sep_1945.jpg|Military Intelligence Division acknowledgment, 22 September 1945]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Honorable_Discharge.jpg|Honorable Discharge certificate, 28 September 1945]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Enlisted_Record_Separation.jpg|Enlisted Record and Report of Separation (Honorable Discharge)]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Radio_Luxembourg_Message.jpg|Radio Luxembourg Detachment Christmas message, 24 December 1944]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Interrogate_Russians_German_uniforms.jpg|Twelfth Army Group P&PW letter on Russian interrogation duties, 4 February 1945]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Russian_Interpreter_Course_grades.jpg|Special Russian Interpreter Course final grades, Class 10 Sec 7D, August–September 1943]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_MITC_Graduation_12_Jun_1943.jpg|MITC graduation extract, Special Orders 141, 12 June 1943]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_WWII_service_resume_1948.jpg|World War II service resume (units and assignments), c. 1948]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_Personal_History_Statement_p1.jpg|Personal History Statement, 2 January 1945]]
* [[:File:Krass_Boris_32542552_German_ID_US_Visa_1934.jpg|German Kinderausweis and U.S. immigration visa, January 1934]]
* Family RB Archive packet (daughter permission; documents also shared with Camp Ritchie Museum / The Ritchie History Museum)
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* 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
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
Retrieved from "https://ritchieboys.org/wiki/Krass,_Boris_(32542552)"