franz weber ww2

It brought profound and permanent social, governmental and cultural changes in the United States, and has had a great impact on how Americans regard themselves and . Thanks to his Intel, the Allies knew the schedules of troop and munition trains and bombarded them accordingly. The documentary ended with Fred Mayer talking to Hans Wijnberg via Skype. DiCaprio would certainly have had fun playing the film's villain, if his performance as Calvin Candie in Tarantino's follow-up film, "Django Unchained," is anything to go by. Do you have more information about this person? While promoting her 2022 action movie "The 355," Diane Kruger appeared on the podcast "Reign with Josh Smith" and answered questions about how she got the role of German actress and spy Bridget Von Hammersmark in "Inglourious Basterds." Major Bland West, an intelligence officer, saw a young man with a swollen face jumping out of the car. However, Tarantino based his film on an actual operation codenamed, Greenup. Mayer said to him, What do you think we areNazis?. Colombo, V; Correro, M R; Riener, R; Weber, Franz E; Gallo, L M (2011). Mayer and his five teammates were all European Jews and were languishing in Italy waiting for a mission. 1 was here. Not surprising to those who know him, Fred Mayer may not attend the Congressional reception and the screening of the movie chronicling his feats. Meyer is on record of saying he just "wanted to kill Nazis," an attitude paralleling that of the Basterds. Consider an Allied espionage operation code-named GREENUP, which in some ways is even more improbable than a Hollywood pot-boiler. But that's another story for another time. Weber stayed with his family, his fiances mother took Mayer in, and Wijnberg stayed at a neighbors house. It could be a way to distinguish the film from Enzo G. Castellari's 1979 film "The Inglorious Bastards," which Tarantino's film is loosely inspired by but is decidedly not a remake of. He made the deadline, but the film ultimately got re-edited with minor adjustments between the premiere and the wide release. Mollis,Glarus,,Switzerland . He continued to work with producer Harvey Weinstein even though, he admitted to The New York Times, "I knew enough to do more than I did" about Weinstein's serious sexual misconduct. As the troops approached the city, they saw a car with a large white bed sheet attached to a pole racing toward them. It was also a waystation for Jews being sent to Auschwitz..The guard that day in 1983 told me that . Their mission: to compile reports on German rail traffic over the Brenner Pass between Italy and Austria. Will King Charles IIIs Reign See the End of the Commonwealth. The other objective was to identify rail traffic travelling from Innsbruck to Italy through the Brenner Pass. The only area to infiltrate was a small lake frozen over in the winter between the mountains. When youre a World War II hero, you can do whatever the hell you want. OK Allies suspected the Germans were plotting to make their final stand in the war there. Former Director of CIA William Casey called Operation Greenup the most successful operation of World War II. Each of them spoke at least two European languages, with Mayer speaking German, French, and Spanish. . He radioed the exact locations and dimensions back to HQs. People Projects Discussions Surnames In an amazing turnabout, Mayer received an opportunity for revenge. In 2014, when President Obama had awarded several Medals of Honor to individuals who werent awarded them at the time due to racism or other reasons, was given the name of Mayer by WV Senator Jay Rockefeller. But they all wanted some payback for the German government that forced so much suffering on them. Franz Weber. Matull gave fake information on Mayer, claiming he was an important general of the American Army. The next day, Mayer tried to enlist, but the military said no. He was German, after all, and, therefore, an enemy alien. At one point, the writer-director feared it would be too long for a movie and that the epic story would be better suited for a TV miniseries. According toIndieWire, in Tara Wood's Tarantino-focused documentary "QT8: The First Eight," Eli Roth recounts the story of one extra who got fired for not developing a backstory for his non-speaking character. Cookies help us deliver our Services. 12 min. Inform us! The three were to be dropped by parachuted near Innsbruck in February 1945. Two of them, Mayer and Wynberg, were exiled Jewish men in America who had fled their countries when hostilities began in Germany. One of their pieces of intelligence enabled the Allied air forces to bomb a large number of trains in a nearby marshalling yard. Robert Citino, PhD, is the Samuel Zemurray Stone Senior Historian in the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy. Works at Arbeitete bei der Stadt Luzern. Webers sister was a nurse who helped Mayer disguise himself as a German officer in uniform and bandaged up from a head wound. It wasn;t until they brought in the informant that Mayer finally admitted he was an American agent, but insisted that he worked alone. The team needed somebody with local knowledge, and Franz Weber, an anti-Nazi local who had deserted from the German Army to the Allies, volunteered to join it. Eighty years ago, the Red Army managed to stop, contain, and ultimately defeat the largest German army on the Eastern Front. You really would have to quit your job and become a monk to get through them all. This is a horrible place where the Nazis tortured and killed members of the Belgium resistance. Thanks to their intelligence, the Allies were able to bomb over 25 supply trains trying to get into Italy. It could be a way around the MPAA's sensitivity about profanity in movie titles. The award was presented to him by the Austrian ski resorts for his contributions to the sport of skiing. It was "The Fifth Element" director Luc Besson who encouraged Tarantino to finish "Inglourious Basterds" as a movie rather than a miniseries. The war pitted the Central Powersmainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkeyagainst the Alliesmainly France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and, from 1917, the United . Design, construction and validation of a computer controlled system for functional loading of soft tissue. They Dared Return: The True Story of Jewish Spies Behind the Lines in Nazi Germany, Dog Company: The Boys of Pointe du Hoc: Rangers Who Accomplished D-Days Toughest Mission and Led the Way Across Europe. He dominated the sport of speed skiing from 1980 to 1985, winning over eighty percent of the races he entered. 129.303 mph/208.092 kph which he set in 1983 in Silverton, Colorado. One of the closest comparisons is to Operation Greenup, a spy mission which the National WWII Museum in New Orleans has called "The REAL Inglourious Basterds.". He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Tarantino's movies tend to be on the longer side, with many of them running close to three hours. Bingeing spy movies, let us say from Orson Welless The Third Man(1949) through Quentin Tarantinos Inglourious Basterds(2009), would be a lifetime occupation. Fortunately for Webers fiance and her family, Mayer had found other lodgings before being captured. Fortunately, Hofer realized that Germany would lose and wanted to save his skin, so he ordered Mayer brought to him. They all spoke German, and many were Jewish refugees who wanted vengeance for their families suffering. Or are you interested in war medals . Beck's name is among the more than 72,000 Americans from World War II listed as unaccounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. He was finally arrested when a black marketeer was caught by Nazi authorities and fingered Mayer as a spy. Disguised as a French electrician, Mayer tried to infiltrate one of the Luftwaffe factories. Avoiding roaming German fighters, flak, and forceful Alpine winds and backdrafts, Billings threaded through 9,000-foot high canyon-like mountains and found the drop zone. Rahn offered to send a message to OSS HQs in Bern, Switzerland headed up by Allen Dulles who later became the head of the CIA. The Allied victory against the Axis was a long journeyone that actually took much longer than the war itself. World War II Military Records. John Billings, his command pilot on the mission, described Mayer as fearless about returning to Nazi Germany. Despite the agents bullish strength, the SS men brutally manhandled him, shoving him to the floor. Franz Weller was captured in May 1945 by . At the start of 1945, Mayer was a highly trained agent for the Secret Intelligence division of the OSS and became the leader of the Operation Greenup. Busting the Myth Behind Moctezumas Headdress; Did It Really Belong Him? They eventually made contact with Webers family. He would later on return to Germany to start over. He can see the reality of Hitlers plans, which, as Weber puts it, aims to transform the continent into Concentration Camp Europe. Weber deserts to the Allies, makes contact with the OSS, and agrees to join the team. Waffen-SS Armband. The third soldier was the Austrian Franz Weber, a Nazi officer who had deserted the army. In mid-April, a black marketer whom Mayer dealt with was caught up in a Gestapo dragnet. Privacy statement, cookies, disclaimer and copyright, On a journey of discovery to historical sites? Mayers incredible story provided the basis for my book They Dared Return: The True Story of Jewish Spies Behind the Lines in Nazi Germany. He called in air strikes, destroying dozens of them. So, though the story is completely fictional, the Basterds are pretty much based on some real-life groups that gave their lives to defeat the Nazis, like Nakam, the Jewish group devoted to killing or, as it's literally translated from Hebrew, "to avenge their people." They had to walk down the glacier, sometimes waist deep in snow. Hans Wynberg, a Dutch-born Jew whose family was sent to Auschwitz, and Franz Weber, an Austrian officer who had defected from the German army, worked with Mayer. Franz Josef Huber ran the Gestapo secret police in Vienna. Speaking in an interview(via Screenrant) with fellow filmmaker Robert Rodriguez for an episode of "Director's Chair" on El Rey Network, Tarantino said, "People thought I was going through writer's block, you know, I was going through the opposite. Mayer obtained a German uniform and impersonated a wounded officer. So Matull hadnt entirely lied. When telling this story to The Los Angeles Times in 2009, Roth also noted that the part where the giant swastika falls in the theater was an accident, resulting from the unexpectedly powerful fires burning the steel cables holding it up. In an interview, Mr. Mayer stated that he had a good combination of hatred and love: a hatred of the Nazis and a love for America. His father fought valiantly in World War I, and Mayer had seen his family forced from their homeland by an evil regime that later murdered 6 million European Jews in the Holocaust. He died on August 10, 1962 in West Berlin, West Germany. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. However, things took a turn for the worse when a member of Mayers spy network betrayed him. As the Germans surrendered, the Gestapo officer who had savagely beaten Mayer was taken to the very cell where he tortured him. : an American History (Eric Foner) Business Law: Text and Cases (Kenneth W. Clarkson; Roger LeRoy Miller; Frank B. The German officer in charge was one Franz Hofer. Any intel they can glean here will give the Allies hints about how the German Army intends to fight in the wars endgame, whether it will try to circle the wagons in some sort of Allied redoubt for a last-ditch fight. Franz Josef Huber, responsible for deporting tens of thousands of Jews, escaped punishment with U.S. backing and went on to work for West German intelligence, newly disclosed records reveal. Nonetheless, this story has made some people uncomfortable. Mayer was allowed to send a message to the OSS. With the cash, the group purchased train tickets to an OSS spy base in Algiers. Looking for reliable information or news facts about WW2? 84-88 During World War II, he led one of the greatest missions of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The initial casting plans for "Inglourious Basterds" almost included two big name stars whose presence would have certainly resulted in a very different experience: Leonardo DiCaprio was in talks for the role of Hans Landa, and Adam Sandler was almost going to play "The Bear Jew," Sgt. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. His undercover work led to valuable intelligence and a network of informants that helped identify the location and dimensions of Hitlers Fhrerbunker in Berlin, the condition of Nazi war plants and movement of enemy freight and troops through the Brenner Pass. So I was trying to keep taming it, and I couldn't My idea at the time, because it was just so big and so unwieldy, was to do it as a miniseries, and that really was what I was planning on doing." THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ M7/109 Thomas Wielptz, Solingen . You think they're gonna be one way and then they're not at all.". 8.5 km. Log In. Once in place, Mayer posed as a German . They were joined by Franz Weber, an ex-Wehrmacht officer turned freedom fighter comparable to the Basterds' Hugo Stiglitz. 8001 Zrich. When he realised for certain that his prisoner was an American officer, he had Mayer cleaned up, dressed, and fed. Zrich Airport. World War II was not only the greatest military conflict in history, it was also America's most important twentieth-century war. He parachuted into the Third Reich, where he impersonated a German officer, blew up trains, sent back intelligence on Hitlers bunker, and even accepted the surrender of Innsbruck, Austria. In February, 1945, an odd trio parachuted onto a vast Austrian glacier and kicked-off one of the most spectacular clandestine missions of World War II. The threewere to be dropped byparachutednear Innsbruckin February 1945. They said if we were in there another 15 seconds, the stage we were on would have collapsed and we all would have been killed." Stealing a Jeep (now they sound like SF), they drive to OSS HQs and went to see the head of the SI (Special Intelligence) Section to volunteer. Later, Mayer changed his disguise and donned the clothing of a French electrician. There was also the issue of competition: other great directors were also doing World War II epics in the late '90s, notably Steven Spielberg with "Saving Private Ryan" and Terrence Malick with "The Thin Red Line." There they were helped by his family. One of the mainsprings of the group spoke eight different languages, had fought and escaped from the French Legion, and had previously worked as a matre d at the Copacabana nightclub. Mayer was born in Freiburg, Germany, on Oct. 28, 1921. I'd have a 100-page script and no end in sight. The leader of the mission was Fred "Freddy" Mayer, who settled in Brooklyn in 1938 after escaping Nazi Germany with his family, having to leave the love of his life Hannah behind, who was . His parents and younger brotherwere all murdered in the Holocaust. Hans Landa chokes Bridget Von Hammersmark to death. ADVERTISING. view all Franz Weber's Timeline. The team would infiltrate using a blacked out B-24, After three months, Mayer changed his cover to that of a French electrician who was fleeing the Soviets. One, an engineer, had worked on the German Fuhrers bunker in Berlin. I was really training for it.". The wrong tug on their chutes or a miscalculation of the pilot by mere seconds could have sent the men to their deaths. Cowering in the corner, the agent was terrified to see his former captive. Wijnberg was sent by his parents, along with his twin brother, from the Netherlands in 1939to live with his fathers business partner in the USA in 1939. By wars end, OSS had 13,000 personnel in their ranks, nearly a third were women and included were some Hollywood types like John Ford, Sterling Hayden, Marlene Dietrich, Julia Child and others. Mayer saved the lives of perhaps thousands of troops on both sides by arranging the surrender of the German troops in Austria. Frederick Mayer (28 October 1921, Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden, Germany - 15 April 2016, Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia) was a German-born Jew who became an American spy as an OSS agent for the United States during World War II.He negotiated the surrender of the German Army in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1945 after he was captured in "Operation Greenup". Those who survived the initial onslaught and did not manage to flee, had to eke out a living on a battleground ravaged by incessant bombardment and street fighting. In the dark room, the Gestapo officers slapped and punched the spy in the face. As much as he packs into these movies, however, their scripts often run even longer. A pilot called Billings volunteered to drop them on a glacier. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , Last week we posted a story on the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and how after 73 years they were finally recognized as a group and were honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. Over 40.000 pages on the officers, the boats, technology and the Allied efforts to counter the U-boat threat. From 0-99, there is something for the child in all of us. Though it turned out to be a myth created by fanatical Nazis, the Allies couldnt have known that at the time. one of four skiers who broke a world record by skiing sixteen Colorado ski resorts in one day. Proud of his heritage, Franz assisted in the creation of the NBC Today Show Where in the world is Matt Lauer? featuring his birth town, Innsbruck Austria, while also including his home in Reno/Tahoe. In the dead of winter, 1945, German-born Fred Mayer, Dutch-born Hans Wijnberg and former Wehrmacht officer Franz Weber parachuted into the Austrian Alps. Franz Ferdinand was born in Graz, Austria, on December 18, 1863, the oldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig, who was the younger brother of Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph. They jumped in on February 26, 1945. "Say 'What' Again!" Service on a half-dozen fronts, including the bloody struggle against Marshal Titos partisans in occupied Yugoslavia, has opened Webers eyes. The campaign in North Africa began with a daring Anglo-American commando raid code-named Operation RESERVIST. Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. He described these men: A more eclectic group of desperados could not be found: former Luftwaffe pilots, Jewish escapees from German death camps, Polish deserters, world-class athletes, and even a former convict. One recruit referred to the group as the craziest people he ever met. Though they managed to retrieve most of their supplies, their skis were another matter entirely, forcing them to climb down in waist-deep snow. Dulles cabled OSS HQs in Italy, Fred Mayer reports he is in Gestapo hands but cabled Dont worry about me, Im really not bad off a remarkable message considering that it was coming from a Jew. In the nomination was written, In constant danger of his life, he exhibited almost unbelievable courage, resourcefulness and enterprise. Mayer received the Legion of Merit and the purple heart, among a number of other awards. He infiltrated it by obtaining work as an electrician, using a French translation of his own name,discovering that supply problems with parts meant that no aircraft were being completed. Wijnberg and Weber had to flee, whilst Mayer was tortured by the Gestapo. As the company approached along the relatively featureless terrain, it came under violent MG . A former German commando and officer, Weber had fought on the Eastern Front but now was convinced that it was his duty to defeat the Third Reich for the sake of his country, Austria. In 1996, Franz was Inform us! The 'Good War' Myth of World War Two. 504-528-1944. The governor was about to go on the radio to tell his troops to fight to the last man. and a disaffected Austrian officer named Franz Weber. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. . Franz Weller (5 December 1901 - 14 August 1994) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. The two men needed a third teammate who spoke German and knew the areaand was willing to risk certain death if captured. "We all sat around and everybody had their scripts and lines," Roth said. They were joined byFranz Weber, an ex-Wehrmacht officer turned freedom fighter comparable to the Basterds' Hugo Stiglitz. It was difficult to find a suitable drop point, as the obvious places were all occupied by the enemy. He enjoys giving his stories several layers of meanings through historical and popular references, and Operation Greenup is just one of the real-life cases where he found inspiration. 3, No. He was an actor, known for The Marriage of Figaro (1949), Pillars of Society (1935) and So ein Flegel (1934). For his bravery, Mayer received the Legion of Merit and a Purple Heart. All Rights Reserved. Franz Anton von Weber (* 26. Download the TracesOfWar app directly on, Australia (1901-present, Federal Monarchy), Belgium (1830-present, Constitutional Monarchy), Canada (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy), Soviet Union (1922-1991, People's Republic), FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, HU, JRGEN & SONDERMANN, HEINZ-WERNER, Ritterkreuztrger im Mannschaftsstand 1941-1945, VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrcken, 2009, Privacy statement, cookies, disclaimer and copyright. The OGs were the Special Forces of WWII, theyd support resistance groups and train for guerrilla warfare. Franz Carl Weber. By then it was April of 1945 and the Germans knew they were done. They showed him a picture of Mayers ruined face, but Matull was a world-class hustler before the war. He was arrested by the American army three days after his surrender and was kept a prisoner until 1948, when he was set free. This fact caught the attention of Franz Hofer, a member of the Reichsgau, a Nazi administrative subdivision based on occupied territories. Fred Mayer and his five Jewish cohorts, who had become best friends during the training, had had enough.

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