Soldiers
"Some 35 years before he counseled Luke Skywalker to “use the Force” as Obi Wan Kenobi, Sir Alec Guinness was piloting infantry landing craft in the Mediterranean. A trained thespian, Guinness put his theater career on hold in 1939 to join the Royal Navy. He landed some 200 British soldiers on the beaches of Sicily during the July 1943 invasion of Italy, and went on to ferry arms to partisan fighters in Yugoslavia. During one such voyage in 1944, Guinness’s boat was caught in a violent hurricane off the coast of Italy, and he only narrowly managed to guide the ship into a harbor before it was thrown onto a rocky shoreline and damaged beyond repair" (Andrews 1).
"Jimmy Stewart was a bona fide movie star before World War II. In early 1941, Stewart became one of the first Hollywood stars to enter the armed forces when he traded his tailored suits for a bomber jacket and joined the Army Air Corps. He had to pack a few pounds onto his lanky frame to meet the Army’s minimum weight requirement, but Stewart eventually became a squadron commander in the 445th Bombardment Group in England. He flew 20 combat missions as a B-24 pilot and won a Distinguished Flying Cross and several other honors for leading bombing raids over Germany and France. Stewart ended the war as a colonel, and remained in the Air Force Reserve even after jumping back in front of the camera. He was later promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 1959" (Andrews 1).
Journalists
"Celebrated today as the beloved curmudgeon whose essays on CBS's "60 Minutes" reach million each Sunday evening, Andy Rooney was a respected correspondent for Stars and Stripes during World War II. He reported from virtually every theater of the war, and was a member of the "Writing 69th," the group of courageous correspondents that accompanied American crews on bombing missions over Europe" ("Reporting America at War" 1).
"Novelist, essayist and journalist, Martha Gellhorn (1908-1998) was a war correspondent during some of the most momentous conflicts of the 20th century, from the Spanish Civil War and World War II to Vietnam, the Six-Day War in the Middle East and various conflicts in Central America. She reported from virtually every theater of the Second World War, — Czechoslovakia, Finland, Britain, Burma, Singapore and Hong Kong — and even snuck aboard a hospital ship to witness the D-Day landings in Normandy. Her reports on the Middle Eastern and Central American conflicts appeared in The Atlantic Monthly. A collection of her war correspondences, The Face of War, was published in 1959" ("Reporting America at War" 1).
Scientists
"Max Born was born into a Jewish family in Breslau, Germany, on 11th December, 1882. He studied physics at the University of Gottingen and obtained his doctorate in 1907.
Born became professor of physics at Frankfurt-am-Main (1919-21) before moving back to the University of Gottingen where he made it into the centre for theoretical physics.
Inspired by the work of Nils Bohr, Born attempted to seek a mathematical explanation for the quantum theory. In 1924 Born coined the term quantum mechanics and the following year worked with his student, Werner Heisenberg, to develop a system called matrix mechanics that accounted mathematically for the position and momentum of the electron in the atom.
Born was an opponent of Adolf Hitler and he left Germany when he came to power in 1933. He went to England where he became a lecturer at the University of Cambridge. Later he became professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh (1936-53).
After the Second World War he returned to Germany and in 1954 shared the Nobel prize with Walther Bothe for their work in the field of quantum physics.
Max Born died on 5th January, 1970' ("Max Born" 1).
Born became professor of physics at Frankfurt-am-Main (1919-21) before moving back to the University of Gottingen where he made it into the centre for theoretical physics.
Inspired by the work of Nils Bohr, Born attempted to seek a mathematical explanation for the quantum theory. In 1924 Born coined the term quantum mechanics and the following year worked with his student, Werner Heisenberg, to develop a system called matrix mechanics that accounted mathematically for the position and momentum of the electron in the atom.
Born was an opponent of Adolf Hitler and he left Germany when he came to power in 1933. He went to England where he became a lecturer at the University of Cambridge. Later he became professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh (1936-53).
After the Second World War he returned to Germany and in 1954 shared the Nobel prize with Walther Bothe for their work in the field of quantum physics.
Max Born died on 5th January, 1970' ("Max Born" 1).
"R. V. Jones, the son of a soldier in the British Army who served in the Boer Warand the First World War, was born on 28th September, 1911...
As a result of publishing an article on infrared detectors he was invited to join the government project that was experimenting with radar at the Clarendon Laboratory.
Jones was responsible for co-ordinating scientific intelligence during the Second World War, and helped with the development of radar, breaking the secrets of German Beam navigation, preparing for D-Day and helping Britain deal with the VI Flying Bombs and the V2 Rockets.
After the war Jones was professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen (1946-1981)..." (Simkin 1).
As a result of publishing an article on infrared detectors he was invited to join the government project that was experimenting with radar at the Clarendon Laboratory.
Jones was responsible for co-ordinating scientific intelligence during the Second World War, and helped with the development of radar, breaking the secrets of German Beam navigation, preparing for D-Day and helping Britain deal with the VI Flying Bombs and the V2 Rockets.
After the war Jones was professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen (1946-1981)..." (Simkin 1).
"Emilio Segré was born in Tivoli, Italy, on 1st February, 1905. He studied physics at University of Rome where he was taught by Enrico Fermi.
After receiving his doctorate in physics in 1928 Segré served in the Italian Army. In 1929 Segré began teaching at the University of Rome. Over the next few years he worked in the field of atomic spectroscopy. In 1934 he began collaborating with Enrico Fermi on neutron research. This included experiments where elements such as uranium were bombarded with neutrons. By 1935 they had discovered slow neutrons, which have properties important to the operation of nuclear reactors.
In 1936 Segré became director of the physics laboratory at the University of Palermo. The following year he discovered technetium.
Segré disapproved of the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini and in 1938 he emigrated to the United States and became a research associate at the University of California. In 1940 he was a member of the team that discovered the element astatine. Soon afterwards he helped discover plutonium-239.
In 1943 Segré joined the Manhattan Project where he worked with Edward Teller, Enrico Fermi, David Bohm, Robert Oppenheimer, Niels Bohr, James Franck, Leo Szilard and Klaus Fuchs in developing the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki" (Simkin 1).
After receiving his doctorate in physics in 1928 Segré served in the Italian Army. In 1929 Segré began teaching at the University of Rome. Over the next few years he worked in the field of atomic spectroscopy. In 1934 he began collaborating with Enrico Fermi on neutron research. This included experiments where elements such as uranium were bombarded with neutrons. By 1935 they had discovered slow neutrons, which have properties important to the operation of nuclear reactors.
In 1936 Segré became director of the physics laboratory at the University of Palermo. The following year he discovered technetium.
Segré disapproved of the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini and in 1938 he emigrated to the United States and became a research associate at the University of California. In 1940 he was a member of the team that discovered the element astatine. Soon afterwards he helped discover plutonium-239.
In 1943 Segré joined the Manhattan Project where he worked with Edward Teller, Enrico Fermi, David Bohm, Robert Oppenheimer, Niels Bohr, James Franck, Leo Szilard and Klaus Fuchs in developing the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki" (Simkin 1).
Himmler
"Heinrich Himmler was born in 1900 and died in 1945. Heinrich Himmler was to become one of the most feared men in Nazi Germany and Europe once World War Two broke out. As head of the SS, he had ultimate responsibility of internal security in Nazi Germany (as was seen in the Night of the Long Knives) and was associated with helping to organise the Final Solution though Reinhard Heydrich had a major input into the organisation of the Holocaust" ("Heinrich Himmler 1).
Goering
"In 1933, Göring created the secret state police, the Gestapo, that would later by taken over by Himmler and terrorize the continent of Europe.
Following Kristallnacht in Nov. 1938, Göring fined the Jews one billion marks for damages which the Nazis themselves had inflicted. He also warned of a "final reckoning with the Jews" if Germany should get involved in war, a sentiment also repeatedly expressed by Hitler.
Following the start of the war and early Nazi military successes, Göring ordered SS leader Reinhard Heydrich in July of 1941 to begin preparations for a "general solution of the Jewish question" in conquered territories. This led to the Wannsee Conference in Jan. 1942 in which Heydrich and Adolf Eichmann of the Gestapo attempted to coordinate the extermination of the 11 million Jews of Europe and the Soviet Union.
Assuming the Nazis would defeat the Soviets, Göring was involved in post-war plans for the Soviet Union which included massive reduction of Slavic populations through famine deliberately inflicted by the Nazis. This would occur as food supplies were diverted into the Reich and would likely result in the deaths of "many tens of millions of people." Those areas in which the populations had been decimated would then be resettled by ethnic Germans, in accordance with Hitler's policy of increasing Lebensraum, or living space, for Germans at the expense of other nations" ('The History Place" 1).
Following Kristallnacht in Nov. 1938, Göring fined the Jews one billion marks for damages which the Nazis themselves had inflicted. He also warned of a "final reckoning with the Jews" if Germany should get involved in war, a sentiment also repeatedly expressed by Hitler.
Following the start of the war and early Nazi military successes, Göring ordered SS leader Reinhard Heydrich in July of 1941 to begin preparations for a "general solution of the Jewish question" in conquered territories. This led to the Wannsee Conference in Jan. 1942 in which Heydrich and Adolf Eichmann of the Gestapo attempted to coordinate the extermination of the 11 million Jews of Europe and the Soviet Union.
Assuming the Nazis would defeat the Soviets, Göring was involved in post-war plans for the Soviet Union which included massive reduction of Slavic populations through famine deliberately inflicted by the Nazis. This would occur as food supplies were diverted into the Reich and would likely result in the deaths of "many tens of millions of people." Those areas in which the populations had been decimated would then be resettled by ethnic Germans, in accordance with Hitler's policy of increasing Lebensraum, or living space, for Germans at the expense of other nations" ('The History Place" 1).
Goebbels
"Paul Joseph Goebbels ... was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devoted followers, he was known for his zealous orations and deep and virulent antisemitism, which led to his strongly supporting the extermination of the Jews when the Nazi leadership developed their "Final Solution".
Goebbels came to power in 1933 after Hitler was appointed chancellor; within six weeks Hitler arranged his appointment as Propaganda Minister. One of Goebbels' first acts was to organize the burning of books considered to be "un-German". Under Goebbels' leadership, the Propaganda Ministry quickly gained and exerted controlling supervision over the news media, arts, and information in Germany" ("Joseph Goebbels 1).
Goebbels came to power in 1933 after Hitler was appointed chancellor; within six weeks Hitler arranged his appointment as Propaganda Minister. One of Goebbels' first acts was to organize the burning of books considered to be "un-German". Under Goebbels' leadership, the Propaganda Ministry quickly gained and exerted controlling supervision over the news media, arts, and information in Germany" ("Joseph Goebbels 1).
Hess
"Rudolf Hess (1894-1987), Deputy Führer and considered to be the number 3 man in Hitler's Germany after Göring. Hess was a somewhat neurotic member of Hitler's inner circle best known for his surprise flight to Scotland on May 10, 1941 in which he intended to negotiate peace with the British, but which resulted in his capture and long term imprisonment" (The History Place" 1).
Eichmann
"SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Karl Adolf Eichmann (1906-1962) was head of the Department for Jewish Affairs in the Gestapo from 1941 to 1945 and was chief of operations in the deportation of three million Jews to extermination camps. He joined the Austrian Nazi party in 1932 and later became a member of the SS. In 1934 he served as an SS corporal in the Dachau concentration camp. That same year he joined the SD and attracted the attention of Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich. By 1935 Eichmann was already working in the Jewish section, where he was investigating possible "solutions to the Jewish question." He was even sent to Palestine to discuss the viability of large scale immigration to the Middle East with Arab leaders. British authorities, however, forced him to leave. With the takeover of Austria in March 1938, Eichmann was sent to Vienna to promote Jewish emigration. He set up the Zentralstelle fuer juedische Auswanderung [Center for Jewish Emigration], which was so successful that similar offices were soon established in Prague and Berlin. In 1939 Eichmann returned to Berlin, where he assumed the directorship of Section IV B4, Jewish affairs and evacuation, in the Reich Security Main Office. It was Eichmann who organized the Wannsee Conference of January 1942, which focused on issues related to the "final solution of the Jewish question." From this point Eichmann assumed the leading role in the deportation of European Jews to the death camps, as well as in the plunder of their property. At the end of the war, Eichmann was arrested and confined to an American internment camp, but he was able to escape unrecognized. He fled to Argentina and lived under the assumed name of Ricardo Klement for ten years until Israeli Mossad agents abducted him in 1960 to stand trial in Jerusalem. The controversial and highly publicized trial lasted from April 2 to August 14, 1961. Eichmann was sentenced to death and executed in Ramleh Prison on May 31, 1962. (Text courtesy of USHMM Photo Archives)" ("The Nizkor Project" 1).