Arnold Weiss
Arnold Hans Weiss | |
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.jpg) Weiss circa 1945 | |
| Birth name | Hans Arnold Wangersheim |
| Born | July 25, 1924 Nuremberg, Germany |
| Died | December 7, 2010 (aged 86) Rockville, Maryland, United States |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Other work |
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Arnold Hans Weiss (July 25, 1924 – December 7, 2010) was a German-born refugee from Nazi Germany who emigrated to the United States, where he became an intelligence officer working for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. He played a key role in the discovery of the last will and testament of Adolf Hitler, which was dictated during the last days of the war in Europe and laid out the succession of leadership following his impending suicide, as the Red Army overtook Berlin and encircled the Führerbunker.
Early life
Born in Nuremberg as Hans Arnold Wangersheim on July 25, 1924, he grew up in an orphanage after being placed there as a child following the divorce of his parents. A Jewish organization arranged for him to be sent to a family in Janesville, Wisconsin when he was 13 years old.[1] Both of his parents escaped from Germany on their own, his father to Brazil, while his mother also emigrated to the U.S. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and changed his surname to match that of Howard Weiss, a star football player for the school's football team.[2]
Military career
Weiss served in the
Military awards
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| Aircrew Badge | |||||||||||
| Bronze Star Medal | |||||||||||
Purple Heart Medal
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Good Conduct Medal | American Defense Service Medal | |||||||||
| American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
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World War II Victory Medal
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| Marksmanship Badge | |||||||||||
Later life
After returning to the United States after completing his military service, Weiss earned a degree in law at the University of Wisconsin Law School and worked for the United States Department of the Treasury, where he participated in the establishment of the Inter-American Development Bank.[2]
A resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Weiss died at the age of 86 due to pneumonia in Rockville, Maryland on December 7, 2010.[2]
References
- ^ a b Shapiro, T Rees. "ArnoldWeiss, 86; US soldier who found Hitler’s will after WWII", The Boston Globe, December 16, 2010. Accessed January 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Weber, Bruce. "Arnold Weiss Dies at 86; Helped to Find Hitler’s Will", The New York Times, January 1, 2011. Accessed January 2, 2011.