John H. W. Weitz
| John H. W. Weitz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Hans Werner Weitz |
| Born | 25 May 1923 Berlin, Germany |
| Died | 3 October 2002 Bridgehampton, New York |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Known for | Menswear designer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32795702 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 13 (30 October – 23 December 1943) |
| Section | 5A (13); E (13) |
| Enlisted | New York City, New York |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
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John H. W. Weitz (1923–2002) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 13.
Biography edit
American menswear designer John Weitz was born Hans Werner Weitz on May 25, 1923 in Berlin, Germany. In 1947, with the help of his wife's parents, who owned Blauner's department stores, Weitz started the company John Weitz Juniors, Inc., in New York City, where he manufactured dresses and women's sportswear. Weitz was born in Berlin, Germany, to father, Robert Salomon "Bobby" Weitz, a successful textile manufacturer, and mother, Hedwig "Hedy" Weitz (née Jacob).
His parents were part of an active social scene during the Weimar Republic that was glamorous and filled with young artists, writers and actors such as Christopher Isherwood and Marlene Dietrich.
He attended The Hall School from 1933 to 1936 and St. On 23 December 1943, Weitz graduated (as Pfc) with 13th Class. When he was 10 years old, Weitz was sent to boarding school in England.
After graduation, he was named vice-president of the Old Pauline Club of London.
Hans Werner "John" Weitz (May 25, 1923 – October 3, 2002) was an American menswear designer who initiated licensing products and selling affordable but stylish clothing that featured his image in the advertising. Paul's classmate John Cavanagh, in 1939, Weitz worked in Paris as an apprentice to fashion designer Edward Molyneux. Weitz became a naturalized American in 1943.
During World War II, from 1943 to 1946, Weitz became an Office of Strategic Services ("OSS") intelligence officer, where his language skills (German, French) were important assets. During this time he was part of a 1944 mission in support of the plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler formulated by German Wehrmacht officers, under the instigation of Claus von Stauffenberg. His first marriage, from 1944 to 1953, was to Sally Blauner Gould.
Ritchie Boy John Weitz was part of a mission in 1944 to support the plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler under the instigation of Claus von Stauffenberg. The company was in business until 1953. He worked as a “Hitler’s Diplomat” (von Ribbentrop) 1992 “Hitler’s Banker” (Hjalmar Schacht) 1998.
Weitz 6/43 As Cpl, served as Squadron Leader of 717 MP Battalion in NJ. John employed as a radio announcer; worked for the Office of War Information (Voice of America) broadcasting shortwave programs in German and English. He espionage agent, he infiltrated enemy lines in France and worked with the German.
He worked as a author of several books, fiction and non-fiction, including. He worked for one year in Shanghai broadcasting announcements in German and English. He had a second career as a writer and historian.
Weitz was also well known for being the husband of actress Susan Kohner and father of directors Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz. The household was Jewish in ancestry and culture, but not religious. Weitz went to Shanghai, China, in order to wait for a visa to America; while there he played on the Shanghai Rugby Football Union team for a short time.
They were joining Hedy's brother-in-law, Hermann Gross, in New York City. He worked in the women's lingerie department. As a popular menswear designer, Weitz was an early adopter in the late 1960s of licensing his name brand; he also used his own image in advertising his brand.
His company was called John Weitz Designs, Inc. Weitz was married three times. He had married Blauner when he was 20 years old.
Blauner was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her family owned the Blauner's department store chain. Kohner's father was a well known talent agent named Paul Kohner; her mother was actress Lupita Tovar. In addition to his race car driving hobby, Weitz enjoyed boating, and was a member of yacht clubs in Palm Beach, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, as well as part of the US Naval Academy Sailing Squadron.
He emigrated to the United States and worked briefly for the Voice of America. He later became an OSS Intelligence Officer. After returning from Europe, he went to work for his father's company, "The Weitz Corporation." He later started his own company that initiated licensing products and selling affordable but stylish clothing that featured his image in the advertising.
Guy was a long-time board member of the Leo Baeck Institute in New York and John was a new board member.
Weitz raced at Sebring International Raceway from 1955 to 1957, While his early novels were semi-autobiographical, including focuses on style, the fashion business, and his experiences in Germany, his latter non-fiction books were serious biographies of Joachim von Ribbentrop, Foreign Minister of Third Reich, and Hjalmar Schacht, President of the Reichsbank and Minister of Economics.
Research notes edit
- OSS; Fashion designer
Gallery edit
Technical record edit
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 79 |
| Nara ASN | 32795702 |
| Nara Name | WEITZ JOHN H W |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 61 |
| Nara POE | 2364 |
| Nara DOE | 80243 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | BI |
| Nara Branch Code | 0 |
| Branch | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| 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 | 23 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 5 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 99 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 72 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 187 |
| Class_ASN | 32795702 |
| Class_Name | WEITZ, John H.W.; Weitz, John H. |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline edit
- Born 25 May 1923 in Germany to Jewish parents, Robert Salomon Weitz & Hedwig Jacob.
- 8 February 1943 — Drafted into Army as Pvt (ASN: 32795702) in NYC.
- 23 December 1943 — Graduated (as Pfc) with 13th Class. Certificate # 4877.
- 1988 — Awarded the First Class Order of Merit by the Federal Republic of Germany.
- on Hitler in 1944. After leaving the OSS, Weitz was among the troops who liberated.
- 6/43 As Cpl, served as Squadron Leader of 717 MP Battalion in NJ.
- Weitz joined the Army, then became a U.S. citizen after he was assigned to the.
Sources edit
- Wikipedia: John Weitz
- 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
- 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 2020-09-16 (2 posts)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of John H. W. Weitz for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Weitz, John H. W. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: JOHN H. WEITZ.doc)