Biographies

• Article by Sebastiaan Berends
• Published on March 1st, 2025

Elisabeth Volkenrath

Elisabeth Volkenrath, born Mühlau, was a German camp guard who worked in the concentration camps Ravensbrück, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belsen during World War II. Volkenrath was born on September 5, 1919 in Schönau an der Katzbach, the sixth child of Josef Mühlau and his wife, who worked as forest workers. From the age of six until fourteen, she attended school in Schönau.

• Article by Arnold Palthe
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Mark Clark

Over a period of 24 years Mark Wayne Clark (1896 – 1984) made a lightning career in the American army, ending up as general. On his promotion to Lieutenant-general in 1942, he was the youngest three star general ever in the American army. In a biography, published by the U.S. Army, it is suggested Clark partly owed this to his professional relationship with General George Marshall and his friendship with General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Bio Eisenhower). Eisenhower however argues Clark owes this to his phenomenal capabilities.

• Article by Pieter Schlebaum
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Dwight Eisenhower

General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower has been both widely praised as well as criticized concerning his conduct as Allied Supreme Commander during World War Two. He made a lot of impression on the American population while his subordinates in Europe had their doubts about him. His task was not an easy one though. He had to plan and supervise the progress of the battle, he had to keep the home front satisfied about the progress of the war and find the right way to co-operate with his generals all at the same time. In particular the latter proved to be a tough task for Ike who spent much energy in maintaining the Allied alliance. After the war, Eisenhower would become the 34th president of the United States.

• Article by Kevin Prenger
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Benjamin Ferencz

Benjamin Ferencz (1920) was just 27 years of age when he was appointed chief prosecutor shortly after the war at the Einsatzgruppen tribunal in Nuremberg that was called the 'largest murder trial in history' by the media.

• Article by Kevin Prenger
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Ernie Pyle

"At this spot, the 77th Divison lost a buddy". This text appeared on a wooden sign on a field grave on the Japanese island of Ie Shima on the Okinawa islands in the East-Chinese Sea.

• Article by Arnold Palthe
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Theodore Roosevelt Jr

Theodore Roosevelt Jr was born November 13, 1887 in Oyster Bay, New York, as son of the later 26th president of the United States of America.

Original article by Max Poorthuis

• Article by Kevin Prenger
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Franklin D. Roosevelt

He was the 32nd and longest serving president of the United States in history, 12 years from 1933 to 1945. On taking office, the nation was in a deep economic recession. To millions of Americans, the future looked far from good during the Big Depression. Many lived below the minimum level of sustenance after having lost their jobs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in short FDR, brought them new hope. The charming and socially devoted president, who came from an elitarian environment himself, wanted to make life for the common American bearable again. in his opinion, revolutionary measures were required to achieve this. He wanted to be more than just a disassociate ruler. "The presidency is no clerical function," he declared shortly after taking office. "It is a place where moral leadership is executed from."

• Article by Fred Bolle
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Theodore Bachenheimer

Many books and articles about the liberation of the Netherlands, or persons that have played an important part therein have been edited since the end of the Second World War. The American paratrooper Theodore “Ted” Bachenheimer was one of them.

• Article by Pieter Schlebaum
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Jacob Devers

According to some historians, the American General Jacob Loucks Devers has remained undervalued for his achievements during the Second World War. For example, his campaign in the South of France is still relatively unknown. He was already on the banks of the Rhine in November.

• Article by Pieter Schlebaum
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Maxwell Taylor

Major General Taylor had a long career in the military. During World War II he participated in the fighting in Sicily, in Italy, Normandy, The Netherlands, the Ardennes and Germany.

• Article by Lynette Croxford
• Published on January 19th, 2025

George Patton

George Smith Patton jr. was born November 11, 1885, in San Gabriel, California. He served with distinction in World War One. On November 8, 1942, he was in command of the Western Force during Operation Torch, in July 1943 he commanded the U.S. 7th Army during Operation Husky. He arrived in France on August 1, 1944 , commanding the U.S. 3rd Army. On March 22, 1945 he crossed the River Rhine. He died on December 21, 1945, of injuries he had sustained in a car crash on December 9.
He was buried at the American Military Cemetery in Hamm, Luxemburg.

• Article by Pieter Schlebaum
• Published on January 19th, 2025

Anthony McAuliffe

"One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes." This quote by former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli can be applied to American General Anthony Clement McAuliffe. He became known, in the absence of Major General Maxwell Taylor, as the acting commander of the troops defending Bastogne during the Ardennes offensive and of course for his brief and succinct response when the Germans presented their surrender demand during the same offensive.