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Lerner, Maximilian (32908439): Difference between revisions
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Max Lerner authored a novel about a little known part of World War II, Germany's effort to build a large submarine that would be capable of launching rockets on to U.S. coastal cities. Lerner also published another World War II novel, The Expendable Spy, and a non-fiction book, Flight and Return: A Memoir of World War II. To the right is a collage of photos of WWII survivors, including that of MAXIMILIAN LERNER. LERNER, who was born in Austria and served in the Counter Intelligence Corps of the OSS, is 96. This photo montage can be found on page 43 of the June issue., and Lerner is on the bottom row in the white turtleneck. Maximilian Lerner immigrated from Vienna to New York in 1941, then enlisted in the US Army and went back to Europe as an American soldier in 1944 | Since then, I reviewed a copy of his published memoirs “Flight and Return” (2013) and now know that he underwent Ranger training for 2 months at Camp Sharpe and was assigned to a Replacement Depot. Worked as shipping clerk. After the breakout in Normandy, he served as liaison with Free French Forces and was commissioned as Special Agent with the CIC. At war’s end, he served as an OSS officer in Bavaria (Bad Crailsheim) and as a Counterintelligence Officer in Wiesbaden. When he arrived in Ireland, he joined the OSS but the Army assigned him to be an interpreter at HQ in London. Max Lerner authored a novel about a little known part of World War II, Germany's effort to build a large submarine that would be capable of launching rockets on to U.S. coastal cities. Lerner also published another World War II novel, The Expendable Spy, and a non-fiction book, Flight and Return: A Memoir of World War II. To the right is a collage of photos of WWII survivors, including that of MAXIMILIAN LERNER. LERNER, who was born in Austria and served in the Counter Intelligence Corps of the OSS, is 96. This photo montage can be found on page 43 of the June issue., and Lerner is on the bottom row in the white turtleneck. Maximilian Lerner immigrated from Vienna to New York in 1941, then enlisted in the US Army and went back to Europe as an American soldier in 1944. Maximilian Lerner arrived at Camp Ritchie the same month as Glenn Godart's father in 1943. Max Lerner followed the same footsteps as Glenn's Father's family - being born in Vienna, Austria, fleeing to United States after the Anschluss, joining the US Army, training together at Camp Ritchie, and serving heroically in the European Theater of Operations in WWII. The Veterans Breakfast Club has posted this event coming up on Monday, Oct 4, 2021 on their website - Join us for a discussion with two World War II “Ritchie Boys,” German-Austrian Jewish immigrants recruited by US Military Intelligence for counter-intelligence operations in Europe. | ||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
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== Timeline == | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | |||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | |||
* 23 September 1943 — Naturalized as U.S. citizen in Hagerstown (Certificate No.5830629). | |||
* 7/1943 Transferred to Camp Ritchie; assigned to Class 11 (IPW-Ge). | |||
* 11. | |||
* At war’s end, he served as an OSS officer in Bavaria (Bad Crailsheim) and as a Counterintelligence Officer in Wiesbaden. One of the prisoners he encountered was prominent Nazi Julius Streicher. | |||
* Austria of Jewish parents. | |||
</div> | |||
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
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* Facebook-linked source: [https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/ Veterans interview / article] | * Facebook-linked source: [https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/ Veterans interview / article] | ||
* Facebook-linked source: [https://legcy.co/3ScnIHL legcy.co] | * Facebook-linked source: [https://legcy.co/3ScnIHL legcy.co] | ||
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Maximilian Lerner for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed) | |||
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Lerner, Maximilian for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: MAXIMILIAN LERNER (2021).doc) | |||
Revision as of 02:26, 1 September 2026
| Maximilian Lerner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1924 Vienna, Austria |
| Died | 2022 Manhattan, New York City, United States |
| Nativity | Austria |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32908439 |
| Rank | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 11 (25 August – 23 October 1943) |
| Section | 5C |
| Enlisted | New York City, New York |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Maximilian Lerner (1924–2022) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 11.
Biography
Since then, I reviewed a copy of his published memoirs “Flight and Return” (2013) and now know that he underwent Ranger training for 2 months at Camp Sharpe and was assigned to a Replacement Depot. Worked as shipping clerk. After the breakout in Normandy, he served as liaison with Free French Forces and was commissioned as Special Agent with the CIC. At war’s end, he served as an OSS officer in Bavaria (Bad Crailsheim) and as a Counterintelligence Officer in Wiesbaden. When he arrived in Ireland, he joined the OSS but the Army assigned him to be an interpreter at HQ in London. Max Lerner authored a novel about a little known part of World War II, Germany's effort to build a large submarine that would be capable of launching rockets on to U.S. coastal cities. Lerner also published another World War II novel, The Expendable Spy, and a non-fiction book, Flight and Return: A Memoir of World War II. To the right is a collage of photos of WWII survivors, including that of MAXIMILIAN LERNER. LERNER, who was born in Austria and served in the Counter Intelligence Corps of the OSS, is 96. This photo montage can be found on page 43 of the June issue., and Lerner is on the bottom row in the white turtleneck. Maximilian Lerner immigrated from Vienna to New York in 1941, then enlisted in the US Army and went back to Europe as an American soldier in 1944. Maximilian Lerner arrived at Camp Ritchie the same month as Glenn Godart's father in 1943. Max Lerner followed the same footsteps as Glenn's Father's family - being born in Vienna, Austria, fleeing to United States after the Anschluss, joining the US Army, training together at Camp Ritchie, and serving heroically in the European Theater of Operations in WWII. The Veterans Breakfast Club has posted this event coming up on Monday, Oct 4, 2021 on their website - Join us for a discussion with two World War II “Ritchie Boys,” German-Austrian Jewish immigrants recruited by US Military Intelligence for counter-intelligence operations in Europe.
Research notes
- Camp Sharpe (2 mos)
- OSS; CIC
- 9/4/1924-A
Gallery
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Nara ASN | 32908439 |
| Nara Name | LERNER MAXIMILIAN |
| 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 | N2 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 24 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 4 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 134 |
| Nara Marital Status | 1 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 48 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 148 |
| Class_ASN | 32908439 |
| Class_Name | LERNER, Maximilian |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline
- 23 September 1943 — Naturalized as U.S. citizen in Hagerstown (Certificate No.5830629).
- 7/1943 Transferred to Camp Ritchie; assigned to Class 11 (IPW-Ge).
- 11.
- At war’s end, he served as an OSS officer in Bavaria (Bad Crailsheim) and as a Counterintelligence Officer in Wiesbaden. One of the prisoners he encountered was prominent Nazi Julius Streicher.
- Austria of Jewish parents.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Maximilian Lerner
- 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 2020-02-09 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2020-03-23 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2020-04-01 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2020-05-29 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-09-24 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-12-22 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-13 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-18 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-09-19 (1 post)
- Facebook-linked source: bit.ly
- Facebook-linked source: Veterans interview / article
- Facebook-linked source: legcy.co
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Maximilian Lerner for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Lerner, Maximilian for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: MAXIMILIAN LERNER (2021).doc)