Soft launch: Soldier biographies and research notes vary in completeness. Prefer class-roster, NARA, newspapers, and other cited sources for contested facts — treat Research notes as leads, not settled history. Anyone can correct a page; contact us with questions.
Kurt R. Jacobs
| Kurt R. Jacobs | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1909 |
| Died | 1944 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 12207399 |
| Rank | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 19 (16 May – 13 July 1944), 20 (19 June – 16 August 1944) |
| Section | 5E (19); 5D (20) |
| Enlisted | Buffalo, New York |
| Team | IPW 154 |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Kurt R. Jacobs (1909–1944) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 19; 20 and served with IPW Team 154.
Biography
Stephen Dickerman Stange has sent a request for information related to the incident cited in Bruce Henderson's book, Sons and Soldiers, where two German-Jewish Ritchie Boys became POWs, were identified as being Jewish, and were murdered. "I am currently writing a book on the murders of Murray Zappler and Kurt Jacobs of IPW 150, 106th USA Infantry Division in the Ardennes, and subsequent trial of the accused, Kurt Bruns. I am hoping somebody on this page can help me with pictures or other information on these 2 brave soldiers. My name is Steve Stange. I can be reached at 614-427-8052, email zt692@aol.com, Thank you so much, Steve"
A Belgian Facebook friend sent the following information about the tragedy that befell Ritchie Boys Murray Zappler and Kurt Jacobs. He has sent me some photos that I want to share with the Community "Our daughter is the Primary Sentinel of Memory of Murray Zappler at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial. That is why we were in the footsteps of the 106th infantry division last Thursday."
A Belgian Facebook friend sent the following information about the tragedy that befell Ritchie Boys Murray Zappler and Kurt Jacobs. He has sent me some photos that I want to share with the Community "Our daughter is the Primary Sentinel of Memory of Murray Zappler at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial. That is why we were in the footsteps of the 106th infantry division last Thursday." "This was the border between Belgium and Germany. Here Hauptman Curt Bruns told Zappler and Jacobs to stand against the wall. After the other POW's walked away. He told 6 German soldiers to execute Zappler and Jacobs a few meters further."
A Belgian Facebook friend sent the following information about the tragedy that befell Ritchie Boys Murray Zappler and Kurt Jacobs. He has sent me some photos that I want to share with the Community. "Zappler and Jacobs were with MIS etousa. They were assigned to the 423th of the 106th infantry division as interogaters for German POW's. The 423th had to surrender on December 19th. The German POW's told Hauptman Bruns that there were 2Jewish men among the Americans."
There are at least two Ritchie Boys buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Liege, Belgium, Murray Zappler and Kurt Jacobs (Purple Heart). They had been captured together during the Battle of the Bulge. When the German Commanding Officer learned they were Jewish, he had them summarily executed.
Research notes
- KIA Murdered as POW
Gallery
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 35 |
| Nara ASN | 12207399 |
| Nara Name | JACOBS KURT R |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 29 |
| Nara POE | 2309 |
| Nara DOE | 131142 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | SC |
| Nara Branch Code | 90 |
| Branch | Signal Corps |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 0 |
| Term of enlistment | Unknown |
| Defer. Date | 3 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | N1 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 9 |
| Nara Race | 1 |
| Nara Race Description | White citizen |
| Nara Education | 8 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 46 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 69 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 191 |
| Class_ASN | 12207399 |
| Class_Name | JACOBS, Kurt R.; JACOBS, Kurt |
| 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 2017-09-03 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2019-06-06 (3 posts)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-03-08 (1 post)