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Seidlin, Oskar (31050474): Difference between revisions

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|class_section=5A
|class_section=5A
|class_rank=T/4
|class_rank=T/4
|birth_date=17 February 1911
|birth_year=1911
|birth_year=1911
|death_date=11 December 1984
|death_year=1984
|death_year=1984
|nativity=Germany
|nativity=Germany
|religion=Protestant
|religion=Protestant
|enlistment_place=SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS
|enlistment_place=Springfield, Massachusetts
|state=MASSACHUSETTS
|overseas=Y
|overseas=Y
|rank_final=T/3
|date_depart=3/16/44
|certificate=2613
|education=University of Basel
|occupation=Professor of German, author
|marital=Single without dependents
|confidence=high
|confidence=high
|class_number=8
|class_number=8
|class_display=8
|class_display=8
|birth_date=17 February 1911
|birth_place=Königshütte, Germany
|death_date=11 December 1984
|death_place=Bloomington, Indiana
|birth_place=Königshütte, Prussian Silesia; German Empire
|rank_final=T/3
|death_place=Bloomington, Indiana; United States
|specialty=Military intelligence; German media reconstruction
|known_for=Professor of German, author
|known_for=Germanist; Ohio State / Indiana University
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
Oskar Seidlin (February 17, 1911 – December 11, 1984) was a Jewish emigre from Nazi Germany first to Switzerland and then to the U.S. He taught German language and literature as a professor at Smith College, Middlebury College, Ohio State University, and Indiana University from 1939 to 1979. He authored a number of fictional and non-fictional works.
'''Oskar Seidlin''' (17 February 1911 – 11 December 1984), born Salo Oskar Koplowitz, was a German-Jewish literary scholar and Camp Ritchie Class 8 graduate who helped rebuild German newspapers and radio after serving in the European invasion.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Oskar Seidlin was born Salo Oskar Koplowitz in Königshütte, Germany, on 17 February 1911. After Hitler’s seizure of power he continued studies in Basel, earning a Ph.D. summa cum laude in 1935, then emigrated to the United States (1938) and began teaching German literature at Smith College in 1939.


 
Inducted in 1942, he trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 8) and served nearly four years in Army intelligence, taking part in the early stages of the European invasion and later working on teams that revived German newspapers and radio stations. After the war he taught at Middlebury’s German Summer School, joined Ohio State University in 1946 (assistant to full professor; Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award, 1960), and in 1972 moved to Indiana University as a distinguished professor of Germanic languages, retiring in 1979. He wrote widely on Goethe, Eichendorff, and Thomas Mann and received Guggenheim fellowships and the Goethe Medal. He died in Bloomington, Indiana, on 11 December 1984.
Oskar Seidlin (February 17, 1911 – December 11, 1984) was a Jewish emigre from Nazi Germany first to Switzerland and then to the U.S. He taught German language and literature as a professor at Smith College, Middlebury College, Ohio State University, and Indiana University from 1939 to 1979. He authored a number of fictional and non-fictional works.
 


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* Oskar Koplowitz
* Ohio State biographical PDF is largely a scanned personnel form (image OCR unreliable); career facts below follow OSU/IU secondary summaries that quote that file and Seidlin’s own departmental history.
* to 2nd MRBC 1/19/44 Also 3rd Mobile


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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| row_source || both
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== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 17 February 1911 — Born Salo Oskar Koplowitz in Königshütte, Germany.
* 1935 — Ph.D., University of Basel.
* 1938–1939 — Emigrates to the U.S.; teaches at Smith College.
* 1942–1946 — U.S. Army; Camp Ritchie Class 8; European invasion; German press/radio reconstruction.
* 1946–1972 — Ohio State University German Department.
* 1972–1979 — Indiana University (distinguished professor).
* 11 December 1984 — Died in Bloomington, Indiana.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Seidlin Wikipedia: Oskar Seidlin]
* [https://library.osu.edu/documents/university-archives/biographical_files/Seidlin_Oskar.pdf Ohio State University Archives — Seidlin, Oskar biographical file (PDF)]
* [https://alliance.iu.edu/about-us/members/member/3786.html Indiana University Alliance — Oskar Seidlin]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Seidlin English Wikipedia — Oskar Seidlin]
* 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
* 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)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Oskar Seidlin for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Seidlin, Oskar for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: OSKAR SEIDLIN.docx)

Revision as of 01:34, 18 September 2026

Oskar Seidlin
Personal details
Birth nameSalo Oskar Koplowitz
Born17 February 1911
Königshütte, Germany
Died11 December 1984
Bloomington, Indiana
NativityGermany
ReligionProtestant
Known forGermanist; Ohio State / Indiana University
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN31050474
RankTechnician Third Grade
Rank at RitchieTechnician Fourth Grade
Camp RitchieClass 8 (17 May – 16 July 1943)
Section5A
EnlistedSpringfield, Massachusetts
SpecialtyMilitary intelligence; German media reconstruction
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.


Oskar Seidlin (17 February 1911 – 11 December 1984), born Salo Oskar Koplowitz, was a German-Jewish literary scholar and Camp Ritchie Class 8 graduate who helped rebuild German newspapers and radio after serving in the European invasion.

Biography

Oskar Seidlin was born Salo Oskar Koplowitz in Königshütte, Germany, on 17 February 1911. After Hitler’s seizure of power he continued studies in Basel, earning a Ph.D. summa cum laude in 1935, then emigrated to the United States (1938) and began teaching German literature at Smith College in 1939.

Inducted in 1942, he trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 8) and served nearly four years in Army intelligence, taking part in the early stages of the European invasion and later working on teams that revived German newspapers and radio stations. After the war he taught at Middlebury’s German Summer School, joined Ohio State University in 1946 (assistant to full professor; Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award, 1960), and in 1972 moved to Indiana University as a distinguished professor of Germanic languages, retiring in 1979. He wrote widely on Goethe, Eichendorff, and Thomas Mann and received Guggenheim fellowships and the Goethe Medal. He died in Bloomington, Indiana, on 11 December 1984.

Research notes

  • Ohio State biographical PDF is largely a scanned personnel form (image OCR unreliable); career facts below follow OSU/IU secondary summaries that quote that file and Seidlin’s own departmental history.

Gallery

After you are autoconfirmed, upload a photo and add [[File:Example.jpg|thumb|caption]] here, or set |photo=Example.jpg in the infobox.

Technical record

Field Imported value
MRBC2 2
MRBC3 3
Approx Age at Death 73
Nara ASN 31050474
Nara Name SEIDLIN OSKAR
Nara State 13
Nara County 15
Nara POE 1375
Nara DOE 170342
Nara Grade Alpha PVT
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 N1
Nara Year of Birth 11
Nara Race J
Nara Race Description White not yet a citizen
Nara Education 8
Nara Civilian Occupation 31
Nara Marital Status 6
Nara Height (inches) 67
Nara Weight (lbs) 119
Class_ASN 31050474
Class_Name SEIDLIN, Oskar
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline

  • 17 February 1911 — Born Salo Oskar Koplowitz in Königshütte, Germany.
  • 1935 — Ph.D., University of Basel.
  • 1938–1939 — Emigrates to the U.S.; teaches at Smith College.
  • 1942–1946 — U.S. Army; Camp Ritchie Class 8; European invasion; German press/radio reconstruction.
  • 1946–1972 — Ohio State University German Department.
  • 1972–1979 — Indiana University (distinguished professor).
  • 11 December 1984 — Died in Bloomington, Indiana.

Sources

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