The Life and Times of Ritchie Boy Eric Waldman

The biography and photographs on this page have been provided exclusively to us by Chris Waldmann and Heidi Kolstad, the children of Ritchie Boy Captain Eric Waldman. They hope, and we agree, that sharing their fathers story will inspire others to share stories of their family members who were Ritchie Boys.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RITCHIE BOY, CAPTAIN ERIC WALDMAN

Erich Waldmann was born in Vienna, Austria September 21, 1914, in the Jewish quarter of Vienna. Their address has Franzensbrueckenstr. 19, Vienna, Austria from September 1914-Septmber 1938.

His Father Leo Waldmann was an officer in the Austrian Hungarian Army, World War I, 1914-1918.

During his military service he was injured, receiving the Signum Laudis with swords (Military Merit Medal (Austria Hungary) & Karl Troop Cross.

Erich being an only child, the expectation was that he would attend the University of Vienna. September 1933 –March 1938 where he achieved his first PhD in Marine Biology. He was the assistant professor to Prof. J. Versluys, Vienna, Austria. His responsibilities were Research in Biology, teaching in Comp. Anatomy and taught music on the side.

March 13, 1938 Austria was incorporated into the Third Reich (Anschluss). Erich was present as the Nazi troops marched into Vienna. After the Nazi’s took over Austria, life became very difficult for the Jewish population. The decision was made by Erich’s family that he needed to leave Vienna as soon as possible. A plan was hatched and he left Vienna by train to Yugoslavia, to avoid arousing suspicion he had to pack very light. The explanation for why he was traveling was because he was visiting a sick aunt who had no family to help.  He then set sail from Trieste, Italy on the S.S. Vulcania to America, September 29th, 1938. The ship arrived on October 13th 1938 in New York. This was the tail end of the great depression, work was very hard to come by and there were a lot of people immigrating to America.

As with many recent immigrates he was fortunate to find work, Assistant Office Manager, Mr. J.M. Gordon & Co. 189 Greene St. New York, N.Y. November 1938-January 1941 .Salesman Solar Plastic Products 230-Fifth Ave., Corp., Mr. S. Grossman, New York, N.Y. January 1941-February 1942

It was during this time he received a letter from his mother that his father was no longer with them. He had been arrested by the Gestapo and killed 1939. Later after the war it was discovered that Eric’s mother was sent to the Ghetto in Lodz, Poland by train to where in 1941 she was murdered at Chelmos, by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

As the war continue to rage in both Europe and the pacific, when Pearl Harbour was attacked first the U.S. declared war on Japan. On December 11, 1941, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Germany.

Erich like many recent Jewish immigrants from both Germany and Austria felt it was their duty to fight against the evil of the Nazi’s.

He enlisted at Fort Dix, New Jersey March 7, 1942 U.S. he graduated from OCS in the Field Artillery. He later resigned from the U.S. Artillery.

Name Change: Erich Augustinus Waldmann to Eric Augustinus Waldman when naturalized February 5, 1943. U.S. District, San Bernardino California.

Joining the Army Intelligence where he attended Military Intelligence Training Center (MITC) at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. He graduated in the 10 MITC class. Later he became an instructor at Camp Ritchie. During the year 1944-1945 he was in Military Branch, G-2 of the War Department as a specialist in German tactics. At the end of the war in May 1945 he was transferred to a section which was to produce a handbook on the Soviet Army for the Pentagon.  In June 1945 he was informed by his superior, Dimitri Shimpkin that a group of high ranking German General and Staff officers (POWs) from Fremde Heere Ost (FHO) would be arriving at Fort Hunt (Interrogation Camp). Captain Waldman was transferred to Fort Hunt to take charge of them what was to become Bolero group. Major General Reinhard Gehlen had managed the German Eastern Front Intelligence Service (FHO) from 1942 to until nearly the end of the war. He along with his officers group arrived and were placed in the stockade at Fort Hunt near Alexandria, which was under the Captured Personnel and Materials Branch. Since the address was PO 1142, Alexandria, Va., it was commonly called “1142.” Gehlen brought a large amount of files with them and promptly set to work writing studies for G-2, which, because it had very little information on the USSR, was delighted.  Studies, such as “Methods of the German Intelligence Service in Russia,” “Development of the Russian High Command and its Conception of Strategy During the Eastern Command,” and “Development and Establishment of the Russian Political Commissars within the Red Army” gave the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies a jump start in understanding what potential threats the Soviet Union might pose in the near future. Randolph Zander, then a Major, later DAC, was active at 1142, as was George Kiesewalter. The original decision to make use of Gehlen, his people and files had probably been made by Brig. Gen. Edwin Sibert, G-2, USFET. Capt. John Boker, a Soviet OB specialist stationed in Europe. 

Eric Waldman was specifically qualified to deal with Gehlen and his group. An intellectual and student of German political and military history, Waldman had retained his objectivity about political realities. Despite his own tragic family history, the fact that he was Austrian by birth gave him not only a linguistic and cultural advantage in working with a German. It gave him an appreciation of the depth and strength of the forces at work in Europe. Not only did Waldman believe that Gehlen’s people should be pressed into service in interpreting their documents, he fully supported the concept of reconstituting the group as an operating arm of American Intelligence in Germany. Waldman had left Gehlen behind in Fort Hunt and arrived at Oberursel in June 1946, to scout out the land and take stock of the situation. Shortly before Gehlen’s ship was due to dock Waldman discovered their destination and immediately set out to foil any possible “kidnaping” attempt by the French. He flew to Paris, then took a car to Le Havre, where he had his charges off the ship and safely in American custody within minutes of the gangplank being lowered. He was stationed over in Germany from 1946 to 1949 with G-2 Army Intelligence working with the Gehlen Organization.

While working in the Army G-2, two of his known cover aliases where Captain Brown and Mr. Ericson. When the CIA took over the operation dad chose to leave and returned to the U.S. to peruse his academic career.  Eric left the Army G-2 Intelligence Service May 14, 1949.

In the period from 1945-1949 he was actively involved and assisted in establishing the West German Intelligence (BND). This is where he felt he made his greatest contribution in life.

When Eric left Germany his plan was to continue in the U.S. as an officer in the Army Intelligence. He was informed that because had only been a U.S. citizen for 6 years and he was 43 he would not be permitted to continue on Active duty in the regular service. He was relieved from Active Duty May 4th, 1949.

On September 24th 1949 Captain Eric Waldman was assigned in the reserve as Attached Officer, Captain, 9301, Unit 2960th Corps Arty (MTZ) Tng. reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Academic Career Continue: He attended George Washington University completing his PhD. in Philosophy. Lecturer at George Washington University in Political Science till 1955. From there to went to Marquette University in Milwaukee as Professor, Director of Political Science. He taught at Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for eight years. He served as Chairman of the Department of Political Sciences at Marquette University and also was the Director of Institute of German Affairs.

He revisited Germany in 1958 as guest of the German government and in 1960 as a NATO Advanced Research Fellow.   Dr. Waldman was a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar at the University of Munich in 1961 and in the summer of 1964 was granted a German government research grant. In 1965 he taught for one semester at the University of Marburg (Germany) as visiting Professor.

In 1966 he along with his family moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada teaching as a Professor of Political Science until 1979 at the University of Calgary. At which time he became Professor Emeritus, he continued to teach at the University for a few more years.

During every successive year he visited Germany for several months on various research assignments and on grants received from the Canada Council, the American Philosophical Society, and the University of Calgary.

In 1977, he visited South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia to study the political and social issues of these countries. In December 1978, he was an observer during the first universal elections held in South West Africa/Namibia. 

Even after he retired Dr. Waldman continued to stay very active, hosting current affair discussion groups, giving public talks on German politics and other political events influencing the world. He was involved in forming a senior’s hiking club in Calgary.   When he and his wife, JoAnn moved to Sundre he continued to be active in the community, involving himself in the local senior’s club and art society. He loved nature and from all accounts was a gifted artist. He was always delighted when other’s liked and bought his gifted works at the Sundre Art Shows.

Dr. Waldman was invited to attend the German Intelligence Service (BND) 50th anniversary celebration as special guest.  Rather than traveling to Germany, a German film crew flew to Calgary to interview him in his Sundre home.

Eric excelled at his studies, the piano, poetry, fencing, hiking, and skiing.  He thoroughly enjoyed reading, painting, and going for walks. He was a dynamic professor and a mentor for students and colleagues.

Publications: Over the years Dr. Waldman wrote a number of books, chapters and articles: Deutschlands Weg in den Sozialismus (v. Hase & Koehler Verlag, 1976)/ Die Sozialistische Einheitspartel Westberlin Westberlin und die sowjetische Berlinpolitiks (Harald Boldt Verlag, 1968). Spartakus—Der Aufstand von 1919 und die Krise der Deutschen Sozialistischen Bewegung (herald Boldt Berlag, 1967). The Goose Step Is Verboteen,--The German Army Todays (Free Press, 1964). The Spartacist Uprising (Marquette University Press, 1958). 

Honors, Awards, Prizes: 

Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Gamma Mu, Delta Phi Alpha, Federal Cross of Merit, 1 Class (Germany) 1966, Knight of the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta, German government research grants: 1958. 1964. 1965. and 1966, NATO Advance Research Fellow (Germany) 1960, Marquette University research grants: 1960-61, 1964-66, Fulbright Senior Research Grant (Germany), 1961-62, Fulbright Travel Grant (Germany) 1965, Canada Council Grants, 1967-68, (Germany), 1968-69, 1970-71, 1972

University of Calgary Research Grants, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1975, 1976, American Philosophical Society Research Grant, 1972.

Dr. Eric Waldman spoke very little about his work in the U.S. Intelligence. Reason being his work was classified and he signed a secrecy agreement. With the declassifying of information from World War II and Post War the true story of what actually took place is now available to the public.