Murray Zappler

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Murray Zappler
Personal details
Born1924
Died1944
NativityGermany
ReligionJewish
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN32824267
RankPrivate First Class
Camp RitchieClass 19 (16 May – 13 July 1944)
Section5D
EnlistedNew York City, New York
TeamIPW 154
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Murray Zappler (1924–1944) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 19 and served with IPW Team 154.

Biography

"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.

Here Hauptman Curt Bruns told Zappler and Jacobs to stand against the wall. 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.

"Zappler and Jacobs were with MIS etousa.

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.

Research notes

Gallery

Technical record

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 20
Nara ASN 32824267
Nara Name ZAPPLER MURRAY
Nara State 23
Nara County 5
Nara POE 2364
Nara DOE 50343
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 N1
Nara Year of Birth 24
Nara Race J
Nara Race Description White not yet a citizen
Nara Education 4
Nara Civilian Occupation 137
Nara Marital Status 1
Nara Height (inches) 44
Nara Weight (lbs) 120
Class_ASN 32824267
Class_Name ZAPPLER, Murray
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 (4 posts)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-03-08 (1 post)