History Commons^™

Ms-290: Wwii Diary Of Leslie Wright Jr., U.S. Signal Corps, Danielle S. Russell

All Finding Aids

Leslie Wright Jr. enlisted in the United States Signal Corps on September 15, 1941, serving as a 2nd Lieutenant, until he was honorably discharged on January 9, 1946. He was first stationed in Richmond-Upon-Thames in Southwest London, before being transferred to Grimsby, in North East Lincolnshire.

This diary details a wide array of subjects relevant to Wright’s personal life and his service with the United States Signal Corps. References are made to politics and pop culture in the early 1940s.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding …

Interview With Jay Fraser, Malcolm Maclean, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections Oral History collection

Jay Fraser and Malcolm MacLean were interviewed by Esther Mallard, May 12, 1990. Find this collection in the University Libraries' catalog!

Italian Society During World War Ii, Shira Klein

History Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"This chapter showcases what life was like for ordinary Italians during the Second World War. Up to the 1980s, a typical textbook on Italian history told a narrative of victimhood and heroism, promoting the idea that most Italians had never wanted to join the war in the first place, and resisted both the Fascists and the Germans. It was Mussolini and his henchmen, according to this narrative, who led unwilling Italians into war. The Italian rank-and-file were anti-Fascist heroes and victims of the leadership’s repressive tactics, whereas the Fascist leaders were villainous perpetrators.[i] Since the 1990s, historians have shown that …

Life Is Beautiful, Or Not: The Myth Of The Good Italian, Shira Klein

History Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"Life is Beautiful illustrates a popular misconception about Italy's role in the Holocaust. The film features the good Italian and the warped view that Italy treated Jews kindly in the late 1930s and during World War II. Historians have proven this claim to be grossly exaggerated, arguing that Italians persecuted Jews vigorously. Yet popular representations of the past-films, novels, museum exhibits, and websites-continue to give credence to the notion that Italians were overwhelmingly good to Jews. Although France and Germany cultivated similar self-acquitting myths in the decades immediately after the war, they eventually moved on to accept the more …

Encounters With Eisenhower: Personal Reminiscences Collected To Mark The 125th Anniversary Of The Birth Of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Michael J. Birkner, Devin Mckinney

Gettysburg College Faculty Books

The general who orchestrated the greatest amphibian invasion in history, and led Allied forces in the great crusade to crush Adolf Hitler’s armies, subsequently became a popular two-term president of the United States. In the annals of American success stories, it’s hard to beat the life that Dwight D. Eisenhower made.

Yet this heroic figure was also a “natural man,” as one of the contributors to this volume of personal reminiscences suggests. Lady Dill was referring to Eisenhower’s humanity and lack of pretense. Unlike other leading figures of his day—including a certain five-star general who orchestrated the American island-hopping campaign …

Ms-157: Donald Brett Collection Of Eisenhower Memorabilia, Katy Rettig

All Finding Aids

The collection consists of items relevant to all aspects of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s life and career. Most prevalent are Ike’s years as president with numerous artifacts from his 1952 and 1956 presidential campaigns as well as commemorative pieces. These artifacts include a significant collection of campaign buttons, jewelry, and postcards along with other miscellaneous campaign artifacts. There is also a series of photographs mostly relating to his Army career in World War II with others from his two terms as president. Of particular interest are the 1915 and 1945 Howitzers, the United States Military Academy at West Point’s yearbook and …

Art+Politics, Shannon Egan, Jenna L. Birkenshock, Hillary B. Goodall, Tessa M. Sheridan, Josiah B. Adlon, Megan E. Hilands, Emily A. Francisco, Molly E. Reynolds, Shelby P. Glass, Colleen L. Parrish, Francesca S. Debiaso

Schmucker Art Catalogs

For the exhibition Art + Politics, students worked closely with the holdings of Gettysburg College's Special Collections and College Archives to curate an exhibition in Schmucker Art Gallery that engages with issues of public policy, activism, war, propaganda, and other critical socio-political themes. Each of the students worked diligently to contextualize the objects historically, politically, and art-historically. The art and artifacts presented in this exhibition reveal how various political events and social issues have been interpreted through various visual and printed materials, including posters, pins, illustrations, song sheets, as well as a Chinese shoe for bound feet. The students' …

Ms-111: The Dwight D. Eisenhower Society Papers, G. Ronald Couchman

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The collection contains The Eisenhower Society correspondence, administrative and program materials covering the period 1986-1999, including the Society’s increased activity and involvement in connection with the October, 1990 centennial celebration of Eisenhower’s birth.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.

Ms-003: The Papers Of Amos E. Taylor, Gettysburg Class Of 1915, Christine M. Ameduri

All Finding Aids

The Amos E. Taylor Collection is divided into eight Series. I. Biographical Information; II. Military Service; III. University of Pennsylvania; IV. U.S. Department of Commerce; V. Inter-American Economic & Social Council/Pan American Union; VI. American University; VII. Personal Memorabilia, and VIII. Publications. It includes materials covering many decades of his life including his extensive education, his military service in World War I, and his career working for federal agencies, presidents, and economic associations.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about …

Interview With Leo Center, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections Oral History collection

Leo Center interviewed by Esther Mallard and Jay Fraser, July 24, 1990. Find this collection in the University Libraries' catalog!

Letter From Senator Langer To Eva Sandberger Regarding Martin Sandberger, February 16, 1951, William Langer

William Langer Papers

In this letter, dated February 16, 1951, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to Eva A. Sandberger, Langer thanks her for her letter, which was forwarded to him by Michael Moore, resettlement officer for the Lutheran World Federation. Langer says that he is sure she must be happy that the life of her husband, convicted Nazi war criminal Martin Sandberger, has been spared.

See also:

Letter from Eva Sandberger to Senator Langer Regarding Martin Sandberger, November 18, 1949

Letter from Eva A. Sandberger to Senator Langer Thanking Him for His Efforts on Behalf of Her Husband, Martin Sandberger, December …

Letter From J. Michael Moore To Senator Langer Conveying Eva Sandberger's Anxiousness To Learn The Fate Of Her Husband, Martin Sandberger, December 13, 1950, J. Michael Moore

William Langer Papers

In this letter, dated December 13, 1950, from J. Michael Moore, Resettlement Officer of the Lutheran World Federation, to United States (US) Senator Langer Moore writes that Mrs. Eva Sandberger is anxious to find out the fate of her husband, a Nazi SS officer who was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death at Nuremberg. Moore adds that he is enclosing Sandberger's original letter addressed to him.

The letter Moore mentions as being enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.

See also:

Letter from Eva A. Sandberger to Senator Langer Thanking Him for His Efforts on …

Letter From Eva A. Sandberger To Senator Langer Thanking Him For His Efforts On Behalf Of Her Husband, Martin Sandberger, December 2, 1950, Eva A. Sandberger

William Langer Papers

In this letter, dated December 2, 1950, from Eva A. Sandberger to United States (US) Senator William Langer, Sandberger thanks Langer for his willingness to understand Germans despite the stereotype that they are all "bad" or "criminal," and for all he has done to help the case of her husband, Martin Sandberger, a Nazi SS officer convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death by the International Military Tribunal during the Einsatzgruppen Case at the Nuremberg war crimes trial.

She thanks Langer specifically for his contribution in bringing about a review of her husband's case, and expresses her hope this …

Letter From Senator Langer To Pastor T. W. Strieter Regarding Martin Sandberger, March 22, 1950, William Langer

William Langer Papers

In this letter, dated March 22, 1950, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to the Reverend T. W. (mistyped here as "T. E.") Strieter of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chicago, Langer makes reference to their prior correspondence regarding efforts to prevent the execution of convicted Nazi war criminal Martin Sandberger.

Langer writes that he has received word from Senator Joseph McCarthy that the Nuremberg cases will not be investigated due to a lack of jurisdiction. Langer expresses his regrets that the news is not more favorable.

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Letter from Pastor T. W. Strieter to Senator Langer Regarding …

Letter From Senator Mccarthy To Senator Langer Regarding Martin Sandberger Case, February 28, 1950, Joseph R. Mccarthy

William Langer Papers

In this letter, dated February 28, 1950, from United States (US) Senator Joseph R. McCarthy to US Senator William Langer, McCarthy refers to the case of convicted Nazi war criminal Martin Sandberger, who is currently awaiting execution.

McCarthy explains to Langer that there will likely be no investigation of the Nuremberg cases and that he assumes executions will be held shortly. In closing he characterizes the Nuremberg trials as a "sorry spectacle" in connection with "alleged American justice," commenting that, "while we may have caught some bad individuals in the net, it was purely accidental."

See also:

Letter from Senator …

Letter From Senator Langer To Senator Mccarthy Forwarding Documents Regarding Martin Sandberger From Reverend Strieter, February 24, 1950, William Langer

William Langer Papers

In this letter, dated February 24, 1950, from United States (US) Senator William Langer to US Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, Langer makes reference to their prior correspondence regarding the case of convicted Nazi war criminal Martin Sandberger, who is currently awaiting execution.

Langer writes that he is enclosing additional documents he has received from the Reverend T. W. Strieter of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chicago in hopes that they will be of use to McCarthy in the event that a review of the case is conducted.

See also:

Letter from Senator McCarthy to Senator Langer regarding Martin Sandberger, August …

Letter From Senator Langer To T. W. Strieter Thanking Him For Additional Documents Related To Martin Sandberger, February 24, 1950, William Langer

William Langer Papers

In this letter, dated February 24, 1950, from United States Senator William Langer to the Reverend T. W. Strieter of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chicago, Langer thanks Strieter for writing to him and providing additional papers relating to Strieter's efforts to prevent the scheduled execution of convicted Nazi war criminal Martin Sandberger.

Langer writes that he is immediately making the papers available to US Senator [Joseph] McCarthy "in order that the Special Senate investigating committee may have them at their disposal," and assures Strieter that he will do all he can to be of help.

See also:

Letter from …

Letter From Pastor T. W. Strieter To Senator Langer Regarding Martin Sandberger, April, 5, 1949, T. W. Strieter

William Langer Papers

In this letter, dated April 5, 1949, from Pastor T. W. Strieter of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chicago to United States Senator William Langer, Strieter refers to a previous letter he wrote to Langer regarding the case of convicted Nazi war criminal Martin Sandberger, and asks that the testimony included with this letter be added to the materials included with the previous letter, and used to bring about a stay or elimination of Sandberger's planned execution.

The testimony Strieter mentions as being enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.

See also:

Letter from Pastor T. W. …

Affidavits Regarding Martin Sandberger, 1948-1949, Carl Mothander, John Olsson, James I.A. Dickson, Kurt Mintzel, Eva Sandberger, Karl Sandberger, Hedwig Sandberger, Gustav Adolph Scheel

William Langer Papers

These affidavits, dated variously from 1948 to 1949, attest to the innocence of convicted Nazi War Criminal and SS member Dr. Martin Sandberger, who was sentenced to death by hanging by the International Military Tribunal at the Nuremberg war crimes trial.

Based on related corresondence, most or all of these affidavits were likely sent to United States Senator William Langer by the Reverend T. W. Strieter of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chicago. Also in the Langer Collection are several letters from Strieter to Langer in which Strieter refers to enclosed "affidavits" or "documents" that he says indicate either Sandberger's …

Letter From Wilbur Forrest To Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson, July 14, 1942, Wilbur Forrest

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed letter from Wilbur Forrest addressed to Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson, dated July 14, 1942. Within, Forrest laments the restriction of an age limit in aiding the war effort.

Report On The Cultural Situation Of Brittany, Olier Mordrel

Breton Nationalism

Breton nationalist Olier Mordrel, visiting Nazi Germany, describes the history of Brittany, French influence and power, and the Breton nationalism movement. He emphasizes connections between Brittany and Germany and outlines a plan for a successful nationalist movement.

Proposals And Statements On The Work Of Olier Mordrel In Germany, Olier Mordrel

Breton Nationalism

Written after Olier Mordrel left France to stay in Germany, this document offers a summary of Olier Mordrel's history and credentials with a focus on his work as a Breton nationalist leader and publisher of the journal "Stur". Opportunities for collaboration are listed, along with practical issues related to Mordrel's stay in Germany and reports to be completed by Mordrel. The document concludes with a political note stating that Mordrel should be free to return to Britanny if he felt the situation required it and a reprimand stating that his removal from Brittany had negative effects on German-Breton relations and …