Ritchie Boys Wiki

Krakowski, Meyer (0582821): Difference between revisions

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|arm_or_service=Air Corps
|arm_or_service=Air Corps
|rank_final=First Lieutenant
|rank_final=First Lieutenant
|awards=Army Commendation Ribbon
|awards=Army Commendation
|awards_grid=Army Commendation Ribbon
|awards_grid=Army Commendation
|awards_extra=
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|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Army_Commendation_Medal_ribbon.png
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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Meyer Krakowski (1901-1978) was a Polish-born Jewish Ritchie Boy who trained at Camp Ritchie in the 21st class and graduated on 18 September 1944. He was a language teacher at Los Angeles City College when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After an initial discharge, he reenlisted as an officer for the Camp Ritchie intelligence training program.
Meyer Krakowski was born in Poland in 1901. A Jewish language teacher at Los Angeles City College, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and, after an initial discharge, reenlisted as an officer for military-intelligence training.


During the war Krakowski followed Patton's forces into Germany. He was attached to a forward P-47 fighter squadron in France, where he interrogated Luftwaffe pilots and other German officers. After Germany surrendered in May 1945, he was sent to Germany to help place German orphans in homes. West German officials commended his service, and he received the civilian version of the Iron Cross. After the war he returned to Los Angeles City College and eventually retired as head of its language department.
Krakowski graduated from Camp Ritchie (Class 21) on 18 September 1944. He followed Patton's forces into Germany and was attached to a forward P-47 fighter squadron in France, interrogating captured Luftwaffe pilots and other German officers. After Germany surrendered, he helped place German orphans in homes so that they would not be raised under Nazi influence. West German officials later commended that work.
 
Krakowski returned to Los Angeles City College and eventually retired as head of its language department. He died in 1978.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* OCR (100%) of `5707496559272218.jpg` (CAMP RITCHIE, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER, Camp Ritchie) — dated 18 Sept 1944.
* OCR (100%) of `5707496559272218.jpg` (CAMP RITCHIE, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER, Camp Ritchie) — dated 18 Sept 1944.
* OCR (83%) of `5707496525938888.jpg` (gallery document).
* OCR (83%) of `5707496525938888.jpg` (gallery document).
* The packet calls the West German recognition a civilian Iron Cross, an unusual and insufficiently documented label; the biography says only that officials commended his work. The existing Army Commendation display is retained from its certificate.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
5707496572605550.jpg
5707496572605550.jpg|Meyer Krakowski in Third Army service uniform (RB Archive)
5707496559272218.jpg
5707496559272218.jpg|Camp Ritchie MITC certificate for Meyer Krakowski, Class 21, 18 September 1944 (RB Archive)
5707496525938888.jpg
5707496525938888.jpg|Army Commendation certificate for First Lieutenant Meyer Krakowski (RB Archive)
</gallery>
</gallery>
</div>
</div>
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| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
|}
== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 1901 — Born in Poland.
* World War II — Reenlisted as an officer for military-intelligence training.
* 18 September 1944 — Graduated from Camp Ritchie (Class 21).
* 1944–1945 — Interrogated Luftwaffe pilots and German officers while attached to a forward P-47 squadron.
* 1945 — Helped place German orphans in homes after the German surrender.
* Postwar — Returned to Los Angeles City College and later headed its language department.
* 1978 — Died.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [[:File:5707496525938888.jpg|Army Commendation certificate for First Lieutenant Meyer Krakowski]]
* [[:File:5707496572605550.jpg|Meyer Krakowski in Third Army service uniform]]
* RB Archive biographical account for Meyer Krakowski
* 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 2022-09-24 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-24 (1 post)
* [[:File:5707496559272218.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5707496559272218.jpg]]
* [[:File:5707496559272218.jpg|Camp Ritchie MITC certificate for Meyer Krakowski, 18 September 1944]]
* [[:File:5707496525938888.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5707496525938888.jpg]]
* [[:File:5707496525938888.jpg|OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 5707496525938888.jpg]]
* [[:File:5707496572605550.jpg|Camp Ritchie Military Intelligence Training Center certificate for Meyer Krakowski, class 21, 18 September 1944]]
* [[:File:5707496572605550.jpg|Camp Ritchie Military Intelligence Training Center certificate for Meyer Krakowski, class 21, 18 September 1944]]
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