The Ritchie Boys...

[Beemerguy53]

I have had a lifelong interest in World War II history, but 60 Minutes last night explored a chapter of that conflict I had never heard about before.

The Ritchie Boys were a specially-selected group of American soldiers -- many of whom were German Jewish immigrants -- who were specially trained in intelligence-gathering and interrogation. They were trained at Camp Ritchie in Western Maryland, and played a key role in the US victory in Europe.

After the end of hostilities, they assisted with the capture of Nazi war criminals, and a number of them stayed in government service after the war, becoming agents for the CIA or other federal intelligence agencies.

The segment on the Ritchie Boys took up the entire show, and it was just amazing. It left me with even greater admiration for the Greatest Generation and what they accomplished. Here's a link to the 60 Minutes story...

Ritchie Boys: The secret U.S. unit bolstered by German-born Jews who helped the Allies beat Hitler - 60 Minutes - CBS News

 

[OLDSTER]

Really interesting 60 Min. segment.

 

[yaktamer]

Only one I knew about was Lionel.

 

[fordson]

Interesting book : Ritchie Boy Secrets : How a Force of Immigrants and Refugees Helped Win World War II Hardcover by Beverley Driver Eddy. Naturally, available at Amazon.

 

[SMSgt]

Saw that. About time that program got back to its roots, unlike CBS Sunday Morning that has gone Liberal Woke.

 

[Greyman50]

Many were OSS agents. My son collects original OSS items ( wonder where he got that?). All I can say is the fools in hollywood could have made many great movies tv series based on True History. Some of the stories my son discovered by talking to these guys or families make movies and tv look tame.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

To me it is/was the most interesting 60 Minutes in 3+ decades!

Ivan

 

[Pig Hunter]

A couple years ago there was a longer program on PBS or History about them with a couple of the other guys. This was several years ago. Too bad so many of them were gone when their info became declassified.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Many were OSS agents. My son collects original OSS items ( wonder where he got that?). All I can say is the fools in hollywood could have made many great movies tv series based on True History. Some of the stories my son discovered by talking to these guys or families make movies and tv look tame.

Every time I see some Hollywood production with a jazzed-up, overly-dramatized storyline about WWII, I say the same thing: The real stories from that era are just amazing, and don't need any embellishment.

 

[Chuck24]

Every time I see some Hollywood production with a jazzed-up, overly-dramatized storyline about WWII, I say the same thing: The real stories from that era are just amazing, and don't need any embellishment.

That was the way I felt about the movie Titanic, so many true stories of love, bravery and sacrifice, why the need to make stuff up.