Ritchie Boys Wiki

Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700): Difference between revisions

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VisualWikitext
Expand exact roster rank codes (rank_final: Col -> Colonel; class_rank: Pvt -> Private)
RB Archive batch-5 enrichment: Chronological regen; DOB; MSgt; Class 16 airborne translator
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|birth_place=Grenchen, Switzerland
|birth_place=Grenchen, Switzerland
|photo=1649765211712060.jpg
|photo=1649765211712060.jpg
|rank_final=Colonel
|rank_final=Master Sergeant
|teams=MII 446
|teams=MII 446
|birth_date=2 May 1911
}}
}}


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'''[[Bloch, Fritz W. (32967700)|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]]''' (2 May 1911 – 2003) was a Switzerland-born Ritchie Boy (Class 16) who served as a French translator with airborne forces in Europe and later worked as a research chemist on Long Island.
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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
(32967700)|Fritz Bloch]] was born in 1911 in Grenchen, Switzerland. He member of MII Team 446 attached to XVIII Corps (Airborne). He shipped out to England and was attached to the 18th Airborne as a French translator for Military Intelligence.
Fritz W. Bloch was born on 2 May 1911 in Grenchen, Switzerland. He began college studies in economics and law in Geneva in 1938, emigrated from France to the United States in July 1939, and at the outbreak of World War II was called back into the Swiss Army, serving as a first lieutenant about 1940–42 before returning to the United States.


In 1938, Fritz attended Started college in Geneva (Economics and Law).
Drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1943, he trained at Camps Upton and Lee and at Camp Ritchie (Class 16, graduated 5 April 1944 as a French translator / assistant interpreter). Assigned to MII Team 446 with XVIII Corps (Airborne), he shipped to England as a French-language military intelligence translator, qualified as a gliderist, and served in Europe. He became a U.S. citizen in connection with his Army service.


Fritz was drafted into the U.S.
After the war Bloch settled on Long Island, New York, worked as a research chemist, and raised a family. He died in 2003.
 
Army in June 1943 and he trained at Camps Upton, Lee, and Ritchie.
 
He emigrated to the United States from France in July 1939. After completing his service In 1941, he returned to the US on a non-troop ship via Portugal. In this SPECIAL ORDER of 21 October 1944, Ritchie Boy MSgt.
 
Ritchie Boy MSgt [[Bloch, Fritz W. At the outbreak of WWII, he was called back to serve in the Swiss Army. At end of the war, he requested a transfer to the Office of Military Attache at the U.S.
 
(32967700)|Fritz Bloch]] was recognized as a Qualified Gliderist and thus permitted to wear the Glider Badge. MSgt Bloch was in the Glider Corps.
 
General Patton died one month later.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
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* 28 May 1947 — rank mentioned: Brigadier General
* 28 May 1947 — rank mentioned: Brigadier General
* OCR mentioned officer rank Brigadier General (not auto-filled — verify)
* OCR mentioned officer rank Brigadier General (not auto-filled — verify)
* Infobox previously said colonel; wartime evidence supports master sergeant / glider qualification — officer grade not verified for public rank_final.
* Family Fold3 memorial note confirms Camp Ritchie translator service and postwar chemistry career.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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* Born 2 May 1911 in Switzerland. No religious affiliation.
* 2 May 1911 — Born in Grenchen, Switzerland.
* 1940 — 1942 Served as 1st Lt. in Swiss Army.
* 1938 — Began college (economics and law), Geneva.
* ?28 June 1943? Enlisted as M/Sgt (ASN: 32967700) in Plymouth, PA (?).
* July 1939 — Emigrated to the United States from France.
* 5 April 1944 — Graduated Class 16 (French Translator/Asst Interpreter).
* c. 1940–1942 — Swiss Army first lieutenant; returned to U.S.
* June 1943 — Drafted, U.S. Army; Camps Upton and Lee.
* 5 April 1944 — Graduated Camp Ritchie Class 16 (French translator).
* WWII — MII Team 446, XVIII Corps (Airborne); glider-qualified; Europe.
* Postwar — Research chemist, Long Island, New York.
* 2003 — Died.
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== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Dan Gross timeline research for Fritz W. Bloch (private notes)
* RB Archive folder “Fritz W Bloch” — wartime portrait (curated upload)
* [https://www.fold3.com/memorial/11324285/fritz-w-bloch Fold3 memorial — Fritz W. Bloch (family note)]
* 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
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