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Kraus, Paul Leo (33386646): Difference between revisions

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Remove research notes now confirmed on the profile
Fix gallery captions (remove book blurb from image lines); use portrait as profile photo
 
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|surname=Kraus
|surname=Kraus
|first=Paul
|first=Paul
|middle=Leo
|middle=Leopold
|class_section=5C
|class_section=5C
|class_rank=Cpl
|class_rank=Cpl
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|class_display=22
|class_display=22
|death_date=22 September 2014
|death_date=22 September 2014
|photo=5708066422548565.jpg
|photo=5708066412548566.jpg
|birth_place=Austria as Pavel Leopold Kraus
|birth_place=Austria
|rank_final=Colonel
|rank_final=Colonel
|teams=MII 501-G
|teams=MII 501-G
|birth_date=21 May 1919
}}
}}


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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Paul ___ Worked for Seagram Co. He ___ Worked for Seagram Co. Paul was a cousin by marriage of her father. Both were refugees in China before making it to America. He was sent to the European front as an infantry sergeant and interrogator, where he spent time in battle with Audie Murphy and arrested one of Hitler's favorite officers and Mussolini's rescuer, Otto Skorzeny, who was posing as an enlisted man in a prisoner-of-war camp. He was among the first Allied troops to reach the bunker at Berchtesgaden, where he liberated some of Hitler's best wine, which was stolen later from his jeep.
Paul Leopold Kraus (born Pavel Leopold Kraus) was born on 21 May 1919 in Austria. A refugee in China before reaching the United States, he joined the Army soon after arrival and trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 22).
 
Kraus served in Europe as an infantry sergeant and interrogator with IPW/MII Team 501-G. Packet accounts place him in combat alongside Audie Murphy’s unit and credit him with identifying Otto Skorzeny among prisoners; he was among early Allied troops at Berchtesgaden. After the war he worked for Seagram.
 
Kraus died on 22 September 2014. His story is told in Joanie Schirm’s ''Adventurers Against Their Will''.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* Also Class 11 5B IPW Ge
* Also Class 11 5B IPW Ge
* Packet and obituary support Leopold / Pavel Leopold; enrichment sets middle=Leopold on the live title Kraus, Paul Leo (33386646). A later title move to Kraus, Paul Leopold (33386646) is recommended. Live rank_final Colonel is not reasserted (wartime sources describe a sergeant). Audie Murphy and Otto Skorzeny are not wiki-linked (not Ritchie Boys).


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
5708066422548565.jpg|Based on her father’s collection of 400 old letters, Joanie Schirm's book series is the deeply personal account of a daughter’s investigative journey some 70 years later to locate the Czech correspondents and their descendants around the world.
5708066412548566.jpg|Paul Leopold Kraus portrait (RB Archive)
5708066412548566.jpg|Based on her father’s collection of 400 old letters, Joanie Schirm's book series is the deeply personal account of a daughter’s investigative journey some 70 years later to locate the Czech correspondents and their descendants around the world.
5708066422548565.jpg|Paul Leopold Kraus with laboratory glassware and a Kentucky Gentleman bottle (RB Archive)
</gallery>
</gallery>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* Born 21 May 1919 in Austria as Pavel Leopold Kraus.
* 21 May 1919 — Born Pavel Leopold Kraus in Austria.
* 1 December 1942 Enlisted in U.S. Army at Baltimore as Pvt (ASN: 33386646).
* World War II Reached the United States after refuge in China; entered the Army.
* April 1943 Became naturalized U.S. citizen.
* World War II Trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 22); served as an infantry sergeant and interrogator in Europe (MII 501-G).
* June 1945 — Assigned to MI Team 501-G.
* 22 September 2014 — Died.
* Assigned to IPW Team 183 attached to 3rd Infantry Division.
</div>
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* [https://www.amazon.com/Adventurers-Against-Their-Will-Connection-Unlike/dp/0988678128/ Joanie Schirm, ''Adventurers Against Their Will''] (chapter on Pavel/Paul Leopold Kraus)
* [[:File:5708066422548565.jpg|Paul Leopold Kraus with laboratory glassware and a Kentucky Gentleman bottle (RB Archive)]]
* [[:File:5708066412548566.jpg|Paul Leopold Kraus portrait (RB Archive)]]
* Folder identity dates: 21 May 1919 – 22 September 2014
* RB Archive notes on Joanie Schirm, ''Adventurers Against Their Will'' (chapter on Pavel/Paul Leopold Kraus)
* 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
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* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-25 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-25 (1 post)
* Facebook-linked source: [https://www.amazon.com/Adventurers-Against-Their-Will-Connection-Unlike/dp/0988678128/ amazon.com]
* Facebook-linked source: [https://www.amazon.com/Adventurers-Against-Their-Will-Connection-Unlike/dp/0988678128/ amazon.com]
* Facebook-linked source: [https://www.cremation-society.com/obituaries/Paul-Leopold-Kraus?obId=4104865 cremation-society.com]
* [https://www.cremation-society.com/obituaries/Paul-Leopold-Kraus?obId=4104865 Paul Leopold Kraus obituary listing (RB Archive link)]
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Paul Leo Kraus for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Paul Leo Kraus for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Kraus, Paul Leo for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: PAUL L. KRAUS.docx)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Kraus, Paul Leo for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: PAUL L. KRAUS.docx)

Latest revision as of 01:05, 17 September 2026

Paul Leopold Kraus
Paul Leopold Kraus
Personal details
Born21 May 1919
Austria
Died22 September 2014
NativityAustria
ReligionJewish
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN33386646
RankColonel
Rank at RitchieCorporal
Camp RitchieClass 22 (23 August – 21 October 1944)
Section5C
EnlistedBaltimore, Maryland
TeamsIPW 183, MII 501-G
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.


Paul Leo Kraus (1919 – 22 September 2014) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 22 and served with IPW Team 183.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Paul Leopold Kraus (born Pavel Leopold Kraus) was born on 21 May 1919 in Austria. A refugee in China before reaching the United States, he joined the Army soon after arrival and trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 22).

Kraus served in Europe as an infantry sergeant and interrogator with IPW/MII Team 501-G. Packet accounts place him in combat alongside Audie Murphy’s unit and credit him with identifying Otto Skorzeny among prisoners; he was among early Allied troops at Berchtesgaden. After the war he worked for Seagram.

Kraus died on 22 September 2014. His story is told in Joanie Schirm’s Adventurers Against Their Will.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • Also Class 11 5B IPW Ge
  • Packet and obituary support Leopold / Pavel Leopold; enrichment sets middle=Leopold on the live title Kraus, Paul Leo (33386646). A later title move to Kraus, Paul Leopold (33386646) is recommended. Live rank_final Colonel is not reasserted (wartime sources describe a sergeant). Audie Murphy and Otto Skorzeny are not wiki-linked (not Ritchie Boys).

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 95
Nara ASN 33386646
Nara Name KRAUS PAUL L
Nara State 1
Nara County 7
Nara POE 3110
Nara DOE 11242
Nara Grade Alpha PV0
Nara Grade Code 8
Nara Branch Alpha BI
Nara Branch Code 0
Branch Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
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 N2
Nara Year of Birth 19
Nara Race J
Nara Race Description White not yet a citizen
Nara Education 0
Nara Civilian Occupation 105
Nara Marital Status 6
Nara Height (inches) 67
Nara Weight (lbs) 141
Class_ASN 33386646
Class_Name KRAUS, Paul L.
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 21 May 1919 — Born Pavel Leopold Kraus in Austria.
  • World War II — Reached the United States after refuge in China; entered the Army.
  • World War II — Trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 22); served as an infantry sergeant and interrogator in Europe (MII 501-G).
  • 22 September 2014 — Died.

Sources[edit | edit source]