Klein, Kurt (32554510): Difference between revisions

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== Biography ==

Kurt ~~Klein grew up~~ in Walldorf, Germany~~, in~~ a ~~Jewish family threatened by the Nazi regime~~. In 1937 he left for the United States alone. Like many young refugees, he had to establish himself in a new country while trying to help family members still trapped in Europe.

Kurt was born on July 2, 1920 in Walldorf, Germany where his father worked as a grain broker. In 1937 he left for the United States alone. He finally in November 1942, the State Department wrote to Kurt informing him that his parents had received clearance to leave. He they married in Paris on September 1945. He of which was Gerda Weissmann who he married in 1946. He worked as linotype machine operator. Like many young refugees, he had to establish himself in a new country while trying to help family members still trapped in Europe. Klein entered the U.S. Army and was selected for military intelligence training at Camp Ritchie. His native German, knowledge of German customs, and experience as a refugee were transformed into military skills. He was assigned to the intelligence section of the 5th Infantry Division for its campaign into Germany. His wartime journey carried him back into the country he had escaped, now as a member of the U.S. Their meeting became the beginning of a lasting partnership, and they married after the war. Kurt Klein died in April 2002 while on a lecture tour in Guatemala.

Klein entered the U.S. Army and was selected for military intelligence training at Camp Ritchie. His native German, knowledge of German customs, and experience as a refugee were transformed into military skills. He was assigned to the intelligence section of the 5th Infantry Division for its campaign into Germany.

~~With the division, Klein questioned Germans and interpreted the people, documents, and circumstances encountered by the advancing American forces~~. His wartime journey carried him back into the country he had escaped, now as a member of the U.S~~. Army helping defeat the regime that had persecuted his family.~~

~~Near the end of the war Klein met Gerda Weissmann, a Jewish survivor of Nazi camps and a death march, shortly after her liberation~~. Their meeting became the beginning of a lasting partnership, and they married after the war~~. Together they devoted substantial effort to Holocaust education and to telling the story of persecution, survival, liberation, and renewal.~~

Gerda's wartime experience and liberation were later presented in the Academy Award-winning documentary ''One Survivor Remembers'', in which Klein's role in her liberation story was preserved for a wide audience. Kurt Klein died in April 2002 while on a lecture tour in Guatemala.

~~See the [[The Stories/The Enemy I Knew/Kurt Klein|full story]]~~.

== Research notes ==

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 == Biography ==
-Kurt Klein grew up in Walldorf, Germany, in a Jewish family threatened by the Nazi regime. In 1937 he left for the United States alone. Like many young refugees, he had to establish himself in a new country while trying to help family members still trapped in Europe.
+Kurt was born on July 2, 1920 in Walldorf, Germany where his father worked as a grain broker. In 1937 he left for the United States alone. He finally in November 1942, the State Department wrote to Kurt informing him that his parents had received clearance to leave. He they married in Paris on September 1945. He of which was Gerda Weissmann who he married in 1946. He worked as linotype machine operator. Like many young refugees, he had to establish himself in a new country while trying to help family members still trapped in Europe. Klein entered the U.S. Army and was selected for military intelligence training at Camp Ritchie. His native German, knowledge of German customs, and experience as a refugee were transformed into military skills. He was assigned to the intelligence section of the 5th Infantry Division for its campaign into Germany. His wartime journey carried him back into the country he had escaped, now as a member of the U.S. Their meeting became the beginning of a lasting partnership, and they married after the war. Kurt Klein died in April 2002 while on a lecture tour in Guatemala.
-Klein entered the U.S. Army and was selected for military intelligence training at Camp Ritchie. His native German, knowledge of German customs, and experience as a refugee were transformed into military skills. He was assigned to the intelligence section of the 5th Infantry Division for its campaign into Germany.
-With the division, Klein questioned Germans and interpreted the people, documents, and circumstances encountered by the advancing American forces. His wartime journey carried him back into the country he had escaped, now as a member of the U.S. Army helping defeat the regime that had persecuted his family.
-Near the end of the war Klein met Gerda Weissmann, a Jewish survivor of Nazi camps and a death march, shortly after her liberation. Their meeting became the beginning of a lasting partnership, and they married after the war. Together they devoted substantial effort to Holocaust education and to telling the story of persecution, survival, liberation, and renewal.
-Gerda's wartime experience and liberation were later presented in the Academy Award-winning documentary ''One Survivor Remembers'', in which Klein's role in her liberation story was preserved for a wide audience. Kurt Klein died in April 2002 while on a lecture tour in Guatemala.
-See the [[The Stories/The Enemy I Knew/Kurt Klein|full story]].
 == Research notes ==