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The Legacy of the Ritchie Boys (In-Person)
Sunday, May 3 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Featuring: A Panel of Ritchie Boys’ Descendants: Jim Klein, Dr. Amanda Rothschild, and Chris Galen, moderator
Ages 16+
The “Ritchie Boys” were an organization of Army soldiers in World War II with a sizable number of German-speaking immigrants to the United States, often Jews from Germany and Austria who escaped Nazi persecution – only to return to Europe to defeat fascist forces.
During the program, three descendants of the Ritchie Boys will present the unique histories of four men who served in this elite group: Bill Galen, Kurt Klein, Ernest Rothschild, and Alex Sabbadini (the latter three of whom all fled Europe before the Holocaust but later played important roles in ending the war). Our panelists will take questions after the presentation.
The 22,000 men trained at Camp Ritchie in Washington County, Maryland, were used primarily for interrogation of German and Italian prisoners on the front lines and counterintelligence in Europe. After the war, many former Ritchie Boys rose to important positions in the military and in the intelligence community. In addition to interrogation and counterintelligence, they were trained in psychological warfare, and many later served as prosecutors and translators in the Nuremberg trials. A documentary was made about this special assemblage of soldiers and their little-known service during WWII. Today, Fort Ritchie features a museum detailing this clandestine mission.
A collection of books and memorabilia on the Ritchie Boys will be on display. A children’s book called “My Zayde is a Superhero: The True Story of an American Jewish Boy who Survived and Fought Back” by Dr. Rothschild will be available for preview. Pre-purchased copies (from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or several museums) will be signed. Personalized bookplates are available.
Fee: Complimentary; Registration required.
Donations to the JCC Adult Programming are greatly appreciated. Suggested donation: $18
Questions? Contact Shari.Berman@theJ.org or 703.537.3068.
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