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Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700): Difference between revisions
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'''Fritz W. Bloch''' (1911–2003) was a Ritchie Boy (from Switzerland) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 16. | '''[[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz W. Bloch]]''' (1911–2003) was a Ritchie Boy (from Switzerland) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 16. | ||
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Here is his dog tag - notice the "H" for Hebrew, which posed great risks. Ritchie Boy MSgt Fritz Bloch was born in 1911 in Grenchen, Switzerland. He emigrated to the United States from France in July 1939. At the outbreak of WWII, he was called back to serve in the Swiss Army. After completing his service In 1941, he returned to the US on a non-troop ship via Portugal. Fritz was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1943 and he trained at Camps Upton, Lee, and Ritchie. He shipped out to England and was attached to the 18th Airborne as a French translator for Military Intelligence. At end of the war, he requested a transfer to the Office of Military Attache at the U.S. legation in Berne. More to follow on Fritz Bloch. | Here is his dog tag - notice the "H" for Hebrew, which posed great risks. Ritchie Boy MSgt [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]] was born in 1911 in Grenchen, Switzerland. He emigrated to the United States from France in July 1939. At the outbreak of WWII, he was called back to serve in the Swiss Army. After completing his service In 1941, he returned to the US on a non-troop ship via Portugal. Fritz was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1943 and he trained at Camps Upton, Lee, and Ritchie. He shipped out to England and was attached to the 18th Airborne as a French translator for Military Intelligence. At end of the war, he requested a transfer to the Office of Military Attache at the U.S. legation in Berne. More to follow on [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]]. | ||
Fritz Bloch's map of France and its Departments and Prefectures. | [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]]'s map of France and its Departments and Prefectures. | ||
Travel Orders issued to MSgt. Fritz Bloch and several others by Colonel Thoroughman of the European Command Intelligence Center on 25 October 1947 authorizing them to travel to specified cities in Germany for up to one month beginning 1 November to conduct a "confidential intelligence mission." | Travel Orders issued to MSgt. [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]] and several others by Colonel Thoroughman of the European Command Intelligence Center on 25 October 1947 authorizing them to travel to specified cities in Germany for up to one month beginning 1 November to conduct a "confidential intelligence mission." | ||
Interesting Memo. Six months after the end of WWII, Commanding General George Patton authorized interpreters and interrogators, such as Ritchie Boy MSgt Fritz Bloch, to wear a uniform designating no rank while on interrogation missions. General Patton died one month later. The previous post had the wrong file, which has been corrected. Any thoughts on why this Memo was issued? | Interesting Memo. Six months after the end of WWII, Commanding General George Patton authorized interpreters and interrogators, such as Ritchie Boy MSgt [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]], to wear a uniform designating no rank while on interrogation missions. General Patton died one month later. The previous post had the wrong file, which has been corrected. Any thoughts on why this Memo was issued? | ||
In this SPECIAL ORDER of 21 October 1944, Ritchie Boy MSgt. Fritz Bloch was recognized as a Qualified Gliderist and thus permitted to wear the Glider Badge. | In this SPECIAL ORDER of 21 October 1944, Ritchie Boy MSgt. [[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|Fritz Bloch]] was recognized as a Qualified Gliderist and thus permitted to wear the Glider Badge. | ||
MSgt Bloch was in the Glider Corps. | MSgt Bloch was in the Glider Corps. | ||
Revision as of 12:43, 26 August 2026
| Fritz W. Bloch | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1911 |
| Died | 2003 |
| Nativity | Switzerland |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32967700 |
| Rank | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 16 (6 February – 5 April 1944) |
| Section | 7C |
| Enlisted | Plymouth, Pennsylvania |
| Team | MII 446-G |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Fritz W. Bloch (1911–2003) was a Ritchie Boy (from Switzerland) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 16.
Biography
Here is his dog tag - notice the "H" for Hebrew, which posed great risks. Ritchie Boy MSgt Fritz Bloch was born in 1911 in Grenchen, Switzerland. He emigrated to the United States from France in July 1939. At the outbreak of WWII, he was called back to serve in the Swiss Army. After completing his service In 1941, he returned to the US on a non-troop ship via Portugal. Fritz was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1943 and he trained at Camps Upton, Lee, and Ritchie. He shipped out to England and was attached to the 18th Airborne as a French translator for Military Intelligence. At end of the war, he requested a transfer to the Office of Military Attache at the U.S. legation in Berne. More to follow on Fritz Bloch.
Fritz Bloch's map of France and its Departments and Prefectures.
Travel Orders issued to MSgt. Fritz Bloch and several others by Colonel Thoroughman of the European Command Intelligence Center on 25 October 1947 authorizing them to travel to specified cities in Germany for up to one month beginning 1 November to conduct a "confidential intelligence mission."
Interesting Memo. Six months after the end of WWII, Commanding General George Patton authorized interpreters and interrogators, such as Ritchie Boy MSgt Fritz Bloch, to wear a uniform designating no rank while on interrogation missions. General Patton died one month later. The previous post had the wrong file, which has been corrected. Any thoughts on why this Memo was issued?
In this SPECIAL ORDER of 21 October 1944, Ritchie Boy MSgt. Fritz Bloch was recognized as a Qualified Gliderist and thus permitted to wear the Glider Badge.
MSgt Bloch was in the Glider Corps.
Research notes
- MII 446
- Enlisted Man, Philippine Scout Or Recall To Ad Of An Enlisted Man Who Had Been Transferred To The Erc
Gallery
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 92 |
| Nara ASN | 32967700 |
| Nara Name | BLOCH FRITZ W |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 81 |
| Nara POE | 3299 |
| Nara DOE | 280646 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | M SG |
| Nara Grade Code | 1 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | NO |
| Nara Branch Code | 2 |
| Branch | No branch assignment |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 6 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the Panama Canal Department |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 6 |
| Nara Nativity | O2 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 11 |
| Nara Race | 1 |
| Nara Race Description | White citizen |
| Nara Education | 5 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 10 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 3 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 203 |
| Class_ASN | 32967700 |
| Class_Name | BLOCH, Fritz W. |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Sources
- Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
- 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 2017-11-07 (3 posts)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2017-11-09 (2 posts)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2017-11-13 (1 post)