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Graf, Ernst (32908365): Difference between revisions
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{{Soldier | {{Soldier | ||
|lede_on_page=1 | |||
|asn=32908365 | |asn=32908365 | ||
|surname=Graf | |surname=Graf | ||
|first=Ernst | |first=Ernst | ||
|class_section=5B | |class_section=5B | ||
|class_rank= | |class_rank=Private | ||
|birth_year=1905 | |birth_year=1905 | ||
|death_year=1966 | |death_year=1966 | ||
|nativity= | |nativity=Germany | ||
|religion= | |religion=Jewish | ||
|enlistment_place=NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK | |enlistment_place=NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK | ||
|state=NEW YORK | |state=NEW YORK | ||
|overseas=Y | |overseas=Y | ||
|certificate=3836 | |certificate=3836 | ||
|education= | |education=2 years of college; Military Intelligence German I (8 weeks); Order of Battle (4 weeks) | ||
|occupation= | |occupation=Salesman and sales manager | ||
|marital=Married | |marital=Married | ||
|confidence=high | |confidence=high | ||
|class_number=11 | |class_number=11 | ||
|class_display=11 | |class_display=11 | ||
|birth_place=Berlin, Germany | |||
|rank_final=Master Sergeant | |||
|awards= | |||
|awards_grid= | |||
|awards_extra= | |||
|birth_date=12 November 1905 | |||
|specialty=Intelligence NCO | |||
|death_date=15 June 1966 | |||
|photo=Graf_Ernst_32908365_naturalization_portrait_crop.jpg | |||
}} | }} | ||
<div class="soldier-lead"> | |||
'''[[Graf, Ernst (32908365)|Ernst Graf]]''' (12 November 1905 – 15 June 1966) was a Berlin-born Ritchie Boy (Class 11) who served as an intelligence NCO with Ninth Army forces in northwest Europe. | |||
</div> | |||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Ernst Graf was born on 12 November 1905 in Berlin to Joachim and Maria Graf. He married Dorothea Reichenthal in 1933. In the summer of 1938 the couple immigrated to the United States via the Netherlands. After becoming an American citizen he was drafted and trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 11). | |||
Graf’s separation record identifies him as a master sergeant and Intelligence NCO. On a three-man team he compiled, recorded, and reported enemy information to the G-2 of the Ninth Army, serving in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany and interrogating prisoners. His documented military education included eight weeks of Military Intelligence German I and four weeks of Order of Battle training. A 6 April 1944 War Department letter commended Graf and other Camp Ritchie men for research work, and a Certificate of Merit recognized his maintenance of enemy-unit records from 20 July 1944 to 14 June 1945. | |||
He died on 15 June 1966. Documents from his family’s USHMM collection preserve migration and service papers from that life path. | |||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
* Also Class 10 OB | * Also Class 10 OB | ||
* OB 27 | * OB 27 | ||
* | * OCR (97%) of `5860556947299511.jpg` (CERTIFICATE OF) — rank mentioned: Sergeant. | ||
* OCR (92%) of `5860557423966130.jpg` (gallery document). | |||
* USHMM finding-aid blurb and RB Archive document set support parents, marriage, immigration, and death date; bulk passport scans not re-uploaded (selected service docs already on Gallery). | |||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
<div class="soldier-gallery"> | |||
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px"> | |||
5860556303966242.jpg | |||
5860556127299593.jpg | |||
5860556507299555.jpg | |||
5860556947299511.jpg | |||
5860557423966130.jpg | |||
Graf_Ernst_32908365_naturalization_portrait_crop.jpg|Portrait cropped from Certificate of Naturalization (5 October 1943) | |||
</gallery> | |||
</div> | |||
== Technical record == | == Technical record == | ||
| Line 96: | Line 124: | ||
| row_source || both | | row_source || both | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Timeline == | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | |||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | |||
* 12 November 1905 — Born in Berlin to Joachim and Maria Graf. | |||
* 1933 — Married Dorothea Reichenthal. | |||
* Summer 1938 — Immigrated to the United States via the Netherlands. | |||
* 17 May 1943 — Enlisted, New York City (ASN 32908365). | |||
* Camp Ritchie Class 11 — Military Intelligence German I and Order of Battle. | |||
* 20 July 1944 – 14 June 1945 — Intelligence NCO / enemy-unit records; Ninth Army G-2 support in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany. | |||
* 6 April 1944 — War Department commendation letter for research work. | |||
* 15 June 1966 — Died. | |||
</div> | |||
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
* Camp Ritchie | * [[:File:Graf_Ernst_32908365_naturalization_portrait_crop.jpg|Naturalization portrait crop]] from [[:File:5860556127299593.jpg|Certificate of Naturalization]] | ||
* RB Archive folder “Ernst Graf” — USHMM finding-aid notes and document set (selected items already on Gallery from prior OCR) | |||
* [https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn556037 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — Ernst Graf collection (irn556037)] | |||
* 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 2022-11-14 (1 post) | |||
* [[:File:5860556947299511.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5860556947299511.jpg]] | |||
* [[:File:5860557423966130.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5860557423966130.jpg]] | |||
* [[:File:5860556303966242.jpg|Graf induction order]] | |||
* [[:File:5860556127299593.jpg|Graf naturalization record]] | |||
* [[:File:5860556507299555.jpg|War Department commendation letter, 6 April 1944]] | |||
Latest revision as of 18:22, 16 September 2026
| Ernst Graf | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 November 1905 Berlin, Germany |
| Died | 15 June 1966 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32908365 |
| Rank | Master Sergeant |
| Rank at Ritchie | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 11 (25 August – 23 October 1943) |
| Section | 5B |
| Enlisted | New York City, New York |
| Specialty | Intelligence NCO |
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.
Ernst Graf (12 November 1905 – 15 June 1966) was a Berlin-born Ritchie Boy (Class 11) who served as an intelligence NCO with Ninth Army forces in northwest Europe.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Ernst Graf was born on 12 November 1905 in Berlin to Joachim and Maria Graf. He married Dorothea Reichenthal in 1933. In the summer of 1938 the couple immigrated to the United States via the Netherlands. After becoming an American citizen he was drafted and trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 11).
Graf’s separation record identifies him as a master sergeant and Intelligence NCO. On a three-man team he compiled, recorded, and reported enemy information to the G-2 of the Ninth Army, serving in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany and interrogating prisoners. His documented military education included eight weeks of Military Intelligence German I and four weeks of Order of Battle training. A 6 April 1944 War Department letter commended Graf and other Camp Ritchie men for research work, and a Certificate of Merit recognized his maintenance of enemy-unit records from 20 July 1944 to 14 June 1945.
He died on 15 June 1966. Documents from his family’s USHMM collection preserve migration and service papers from that life path.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
- Also Class 10 OB
- OB 27
- OCR (97%) of `5860556947299511.jpg` (CERTIFICATE OF) — rank mentioned: Sergeant.
- OCR (92%) of `5860557423966130.jpg` (gallery document).
- USHMM finding-aid blurb and RB Archive document set support parents, marriage, immigration, and death date; bulk passport scans not re-uploaded (selected service docs already on Gallery).
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
-
-
-
-
-
Portrait cropped from Certificate of Naturalization (5 October 1943)
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 61 |
| Nara ASN | 32908365 |
| Nara Name | GRAF ERNST |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 61 |
| Nara POE | 2364 |
| Nara DOE | 170543 |
| 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 | 5 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 3 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 180 |
| Nara Marital Status | 2 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 0 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 109 |
| Class_ASN | 32908365 |
| Class_Name | GRAF, Ernst |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- 12 November 1905 — Born in Berlin to Joachim and Maria Graf.
- 1933 — Married Dorothea Reichenthal.
- Summer 1938 — Immigrated to the United States via the Netherlands.
- 17 May 1943 — Enlisted, New York City (ASN 32908365).
- Camp Ritchie Class 11 — Military Intelligence German I and Order of Battle.
- 20 July 1944 – 14 June 1945 — Intelligence NCO / enemy-unit records; Ninth Army G-2 support in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany.
- 6 April 1944 — War Department commendation letter for research work.
- 15 June 1966 — Died.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Naturalization portrait crop from Certificate of Naturalization
- RB Archive folder “Ernst Graf” — USHMM finding-aid notes and document set (selected items already on Gallery from prior OCR)
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — Ernst Graf collection (irn556037)
- 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 2022-11-14 (1 post)
- OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5860556947299511.jpg
- OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5860557423966130.jpg
- Graf induction order
- Graf naturalization record
- War Department commendation letter, 6 April 1944