Dolibois, John Ernest (01018596): Difference between revisions

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The Army took him in 1942 but at first ignored his French and German. When he asked for military intelligence, a recruiter asked whether he had driven a truck, then a tank. He was sent to Fort Knox as a tank driver and then to cooks-and-bakers school. After about eighteen months the Army sent him to Officer Candidate School. He later said General George Patton presented his commission. Fluent in German, he was transferred to [[Camp Ritchie]] and trained with [[:Category:Class 18|Class 18]] (13 April – 10 June 1944). He stayed on as an instructor, teaching interrogation, German organization, and Nazi leadership to classes that ran about two months. He later specialized in strategic interrogation of high-ranking prisoners.

Dolibois shipped to Europe in early 1945, landing in Scotland, then Paris and Le Havre. In the Ardennes he did detailed interrogation, identifying prisoners worth sending to specialized intelligence centers. After Germany's surrender he was assigned to Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg, the secret Allied detention center code-named Ashcan, in the country where he had been born. He was one of five military-intelligence officers who interrogated senior German military and political prisoners held there, including Hermann Göring and Julius Streicher, work used in preparing the Nuremberg prosecutions. He later recalled Göring as charismatic and unpredictable, with a small black joke book. Rudolf Hess he met only ~~later at Nuremberg~~; Hess claimed total amnesia, even when placed in a room with Göring.

Dolibois shipped to Europe in early 1945, landing in Scotland, then Paris and Le Havre. In the Ardennes he did detailed interrogation, identifying prisoners worth sending to specialized intelligence centers. After Germany's surrender he was assigned to Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg, the secret Allied detention center code-named Ashcan, in the country where he had been born. He was one of five military-intelligence officers who interrogated senior German military and political prisoners held there, including Hermann Göring and Julius Streicher, work used in preparing the Nuremberg prosecutions. He later recalled Göring as charismatic and unpredictable, with a small black joke book. At the Nuremberg trials Dolibois served as interpreter for the prison psychiatrist and worked with the Nazi prisoners. Rudolf Hess he met only there; Hess claimed total amnesia, even when placed in a room with Göring. Dolibois was promoted to captain in January 1946 and returned to the United States in May 1946.

After ~~the war~~ Dolibois returned to Miami University as ~~an administrator~~. President Ronald Reagan ~~appointed~~ him United States Ambassador to Luxembourg, and he served ~~from 1981 to~~ 1985. Grand Duke Jean awarded him the Order of the Oak Crown in 1987. His autobiography, ''Pattern of Circles: An Ambassador's Story'', was published by Kent State University Press in 1989. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 2 May 2014.

After a brief career with Procter & Gamble, Dolibois returned to Miami University in 1947 as alumni secretary and rose to vice president, serving from 1967 until 1981. He was instrumental in establishing the university's campus in Luxembourg in 1968, renamed the Miami University Dolibois European Center in his honor in 1988, and he often spoke to students and other audiences about Nuremberg. President Ronald Reagan named him United States Ambassador to Luxembourg on 6 August 1981, and he served until 1985. Grand Duke Jean awarded him the Order of the Oak Crown in 1987. His autobiography, ''Pattern of Circles: An Ambassador's Story'', was published by Kent State University Press in 1989. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 2 May 2014.

== Research notes ==

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* 1945–1946 — Nuremberg-related interrogation work, including a later meeting with Rudolf Hess.

* May 1945 — Assigned to Ashcan at Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg; interrogated high-ranking prisoners including Hermann Göring.

* January 1946 — Promoted to captain.

* May 1946 — Returned to the United States.

* 1947 — Returned to Miami University as alumni secretary; vice president 1967–1981.

* 1968 — Helped establish Miami University's Luxembourg campus (renamed the Dolibois European Center in 1988).

* 1981–1985 — United States Ambassador to Luxembourg.

* 1987 — Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg).

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 The Army took him in 1942 but at first ignored his French and German. When he asked for military intelligence, a recruiter asked whether he had driven a truck, then a tank. He was sent to Fort Knox as a tank driver and then to cooks-and-bakers school. After about eighteen months the Army sent him to Officer Candidate School. He later said General George Patton presented his commission. Fluent in German, he was transferred to [[Camp Ritchie]] and trained with [[:Category:Class 18|Class 18]] (13 April – 10 June 1944). He stayed on as an instructor, teaching interrogation, German organization, and Nazi leadership to classes that ran about two months. He later specialized in strategic interrogation of high-ranking prisoners.
-Dolibois shipped to Europe in early 1945, landing in Scotland, then Paris and Le Havre. In the Ardennes he did detailed interrogation, identifying prisoners worth sending to specialized intelligence centers. After Germany's surrender he was assigned to Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg, the secret Allied detention center code-named Ashcan, in the country where he had been born. He was one of five military-intelligence officers who interrogated senior German military and political prisoners held there, including Hermann Göring and Julius Streicher, work used in preparing the Nuremberg prosecutions. He later recalled Göring as charismatic and unpredictable, with a small black joke book. Rudolf Hess he met only later at Nuremberg; Hess claimed total amnesia, even when placed in a room with Göring.
+Dolibois shipped to Europe in early 1945, landing in Scotland, then Paris and Le Havre. In the Ardennes he did detailed interrogation, identifying prisoners worth sending to specialized intelligence centers. After Germany's surrender he was assigned to Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg, the secret Allied detention center code-named Ashcan, in the country where he had been born. He was one of five military-intelligence officers who interrogated senior German military and political prisoners held there, including Hermann Göring and Julius Streicher, work used in preparing the Nuremberg prosecutions. He later recalled Göring as charismatic and unpredictable, with a small black joke book. At the Nuremberg trials Dolibois served as interpreter for the prison psychiatrist and worked with the Nazi prisoners. Rudolf Hess he met only there; Hess claimed total amnesia, even when placed in a room with Göring. Dolibois was promoted to captain in January 1946 and returned to the United States in May 1946.
-After the war Dolibois returned to Miami University as an administrator. President Ronald Reagan appointed him United States Ambassador to Luxembourg, and he served from 1981 to 1985. Grand Duke Jean awarded him the Order of the Oak Crown in 1987. His autobiography, ''Pattern of Circles: An Ambassador's Story'', was published by Kent State University Press in 1989. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 2 May 2014.
+After a brief career with Procter & Gamble, Dolibois returned to Miami University in 1947 as alumni secretary and rose to vice president, serving from 1967 until 1981. He was instrumental in establishing the university's campus in Luxembourg in 1968, renamed the Miami University Dolibois European Center in his honor in 1988, and he often spoke to students and other audiences about Nuremberg. President Ronald Reagan named him United States Ambassador to Luxembourg on 6 August 1981, and he served until 1985. Grand Duke Jean awarded him the Order of the Oak Crown in 1987. His autobiography, ''Pattern of Circles: An Ambassador's Story'', was published by Kent State University Press in 1989. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 2 May 2014.
 == Research notes ==
@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 * 1945–1946 — Nuremberg-related interrogation work, including a later meeting with Rudolf Hess.
 * May 1945 — Assigned to Ashcan at Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg; interrogated high-ranking prisoners including Hermann Göring.
+* January 1946 — Promoted to captain.
+* May 1946 — Returned to the United States.
+* 1947 — Returned to Miami University as alumni secretary; vice president 1967–1981.
+* 1968 — Helped establish Miami University's Luxembourg campus (renamed the Dolibois European Center in 1988).
 * 1981–1985 — United States Ambassador to Luxembourg.
 * 1987 — Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg).