They were joined by Franz Weber, an ex-Wehrmacht officer turned freedom fighter comparable to the Basterds' Hugo Stiglitz. Christoph Waltz's performance as the erudite, sociopathic "Jew Hunter" Hans Landa was the most widely praised part of "Inglourious Basterds." OSS ran many fantastic operations and had an eclectic group of operatives. Each of them spoke at least two European languages, with Mayer speaking German, French, and Spanish. The German officer in charge was one Franz Hofer. Looking for reliable information or news facts about WW2? 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". Tarantino's movies, "Inglourious Basterds" included, generally have such excellent casting that it's often weird to read about who almost played their iconic characters instead. The Journal of Neuroscience 33(3): 902-5, Jan 2013 Notes: Joesch M and Weber F are co-first authors. Franz Weber (1826-1887) - Find a Grave Memorial One of the most popular genres of WWII literature is espionage, the spy novel, the thriller. Books abound on the topic, dealing with undercover operatives, double agents, and breathless derring-do. . Their most daring operation, however, involved finding the Alpine Redoubt in Austria a fortress where the German government could supposedly retreat to in the event of defeat. Kessler (TV Mini Series 1981) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. They purloined a Jeep, mutinied from the OGs and arrived at OSSs Secret Intelligence (SI) section, which had been dropping agents deep inside Nazi Germany. By Mark Weber. The Survivors: Messerschmitt Me 262 - Germany's Jet Fighter Translated by Mara Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards, Read more:"Say 'What' Again!" There was also Franz Weber - a Catholic Austrian Wehrmacht officer and POW, who felt loyal to . The other objective was to identify rail traffic travelling from Innsbruck to Italy through the Brenner Pass. It is constructed out of a dyed yellow cotton base with black ink print. Not surprising to those who know him, Fred Mayer may not attend the Congressional reception and the screening of the movie chronicling his feats. Operation Greenup: Frederick Mayer and Hans Wynberg were Jewish refugees of Nazi Germany and Holland respectively. A German soldier, Matull had deserted and was caught by the Allies who threw him into a POW camp. On the outskirts of a sleepy West Virginia town lives 92-year-old Frederick Mayer. 1501 1501. Mayer convinced Hofer the war was over. Thanks to the work of these three man, many Allied troops accomplished several effective bombings, destroying Nazi supplies and, naturally, messing with their plans. and a disaffected Austrian officer named Franz Weber. 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." Mayer donned Webers old uniform and took on the cover story of a recovering German officer at the local hospital where Webers sister was a nurse. 2" caused serious injuries to Uma Thurman (Thurman has forgiven Tarantino). Finally, an intrepid American Air Corps pilot, Lt. John Billings, and his crew stepped forward and volunteered. Franz Carl Weber Geneva - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor Do you want to create your own battlefield tour to sights of wars from the past? Heinrich Weber (1799-1848) married Susanna Fritz (1807-aft 1861) a. Franz Weber (this Franz Weber) b. Anna Maria Miller c. Elizabeth Herrman Provided by Trecil. The OSS MkII Their little band soon adds a third member: Franz Weber, a Wehrmachtlieutenant who has belatedly come to his senses about the murderous nature of Adolf Hitlers war. But they all wanted some payback for the German government that forced so much suffering on them. Franz Carl Weber | zuerich.com Franz Weber (actor) (1888-1962), German actor Franz Weber (footballer) (1888-? Top Image:L-R Franz Weber, Hans Wijnberg, and Fred Mayer courtesy of theUS National Archives. However, Inglorious Basterds highlights the work of one group specifically: "Operation Greenup, a real American battalion in charge of a similar mission. Franz Weber (soldier) | Military Wiki | Fandom [Quentin asked], 'How did you feel when he joined the Basterds?' Between "Jackie Brown" in 1997 and "KillBill Vol. 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. Or are you interested in war medals . Webers sister, Louise, was a nurse who gave Mayer the uniform and documents of a recently-deceased German officer. The Nazi governor wined and dined his Jewish captive, then explained that he wanted to surrender but not to the Soviets. As reported in The New York Times, Tarantino had intended his follow-up to "Jackie Brown" to be a World War II epic then titled "Inglorious Bastards" (with proper spelling). Rising to power in an unstable Germany, Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist (Nazi Party) rearmed the nation and signed treaties . It was difficult to find a suitable drop point, as the obvious places were all occupied by the enemy. Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Franz Weber, Inc. is a sports management and consulting company founded in 1984 by Franz Weber and his wife Janett. Kessler (TV Mini Series 1981) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb 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. When US troops approached Innsbruck he met them and informed them that the city was willing to surrender. Franz Carl Weber (Zurich) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go In an article about the film in The Guardian, Tarantino is quoted as refusing to explain the "u" in "Inglourious" but does explain the "e" in "Basterds": "That's just the way you say it: basterds.". 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. The 'Good War' Myth of World War Two. Their mission was to infiltrate the area around Innsbruck, Austria and monitor the reports of the Nazis stockpiling arms and ammunition there, the Alpine Redoubt. The largest of the ghettos where Eastern European Jews were first confined and, later, deported to extermination camps by the Nazis was set up in Warsaw, Poland. Tarantino would later reedit his movie "The Hateful Eight" into a miniseries for Netflix. That mans a bigshot in the US Military. His cover wasnt holding water, and so the tall one stripped him from head to toe. The mission involved two Jewish members of the Office of Strategic Services,Frederick Mayer andHans Wijnberg, who parachuted into Austria in February 1945 to figure out Germany's battle plans. 3 (Fall 2010), pp. Though they managed to retrieve most of their supplies, their skis were another matter entirely, forcing them to climb down in waist-deep snow. Frederick Mayer was a man described by some as fearless. In fact, I think I have an idea for a film. (The original radio transcripts are preserved at The National Archives in College Park, Maryland.). Fondation Franz Weber - ein Begriff fr effizienten Schutz der Tierwelt und ihrer Lebensrume Fondation Franz Weber -. Operation Greenups purpose was intelligence gathering. 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. Cuffing his hands in front of him and pulling his arms over his bent knees, they forced him into a constricting fetal position, then shoved the barrel of a long rifle into the tiny gap behind his knees and his cuffed hands. It was the nightmare he dreaded. He dominated the sport of speed skiing from 1980 to 1985, winning over eighty percent of the races he entered. He, therefore, transformed himself into a French electrician. Their little band soon adds a third member: Franz Weber, a Wehrmacht lieutenant who has belatedly come to his senses about the murderous nature of Adolf Hitler's war. STIWOT, 1999-2023. Theyd be sent into Nazi-occupied Europe and they knew what awaited them there as most were Jewish. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. Their mission wasto gather intelligence in the Tirol region of Austria. But he wasnt so honored. Operation Greenup consisted of two young Jewish refugees and one Wehrmacht officer, who parachuted one winter night into the Austrian Alps and risked their lives to strike back at Nazi Germany. This small town in the Alps was a key spot during WWII thanks to its strategic location between the Italian and Austrian frontiers. Franz WEBER | Extraordinarius | Prof. Dr. rer nat. | University of While Tarantino's films have featured many strong female characters, the director's treatment of women in real life has been the subject of controversy. Franz Weller (5 December 1901 - 14 August 1994) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. The team needed somebody with local knowledge,and Franz Weber, ananti-Nazilocal who haddeserted from the German Army to the Allies, volunteered to join it. The wrong tug on their chutes or a miscalculation of the pilot by mere seconds could have sent the men to their deaths. 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 The third soldier was the Austrian Franz Weber, a Nazi officer who had deserted the army. 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. Greenup also discovered Hitlers location, as well as that of Mussolini. Looking for reliable information or news facts about WW2? They all spoke German, and many were Jewish refugees who wanted vengeance for their families suffering. Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, The OSS in Vietnam, 1945: A War of Missed Opportunities by Dixee Bartholomew-Feis, Secret Agents, Secret Armies: The D-Day Misfit Spies, Black Volunteer Infantry Platoons in World War II, Kasserine Pass: German Offensive, American Victory, Gallantry against Great Odds: LTC George Marshall and Operation RESERVIST, Prelude to Liberation: Genesis of American Amphibious Assault in the ETO, Black Thursday October 14, 1943: The Second Schweinfurt Bombing Raid, An Exercise in Depravity: The Establishment of the Warsaw Ghetto, Unsung Witnesses of the Battle of Stalingrad, Stalingrad: Experimentation, Adaptation, Implementation. She paid for her own plane ticket to Germany for the audition, which thankfully worked out for the best. Mayer was then betrayed and captured. Pioneering environmentalist Franz Weber dies aged 91 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. Support Veteran Journalism . 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. "Quentin said to close our scripts and asked us who we were. World War I, also called First World War or Great War, an international conflict that in 1914-18 embroiled most of the nations of Europe along with Russia, the United States, the Middle East, and other regions. "Literally, the only reason he auditioned me is because there was no one left to audition," said Kruger. . M7/109 Thomas Wielptz, Solingen . An Olympian, six-time consecutive World Speed Skiing Champion - Franz Weber is also a former world record-holder and still holds the North American record, at 129.303 mph/208.092 kph which he set in 1983 in Silverton, Colorado. Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Infantry Assault Badge Close Combat Clasp Panzer Badge "25" s/d "100" on 20 September 1944 as Obergefreiter in the 4./Panzer Regiment 35 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 October 1944 as Obergefreiter in the 8./Jger-Regiment 28 In 1998, he won the National SG Masters Championships, and his Masters record includes winning all but two of the more than U.S. Military. They had to walk down the glacier, sometimes waist deep in snow. 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. Mr. Mayer was recommended for a medal of honor in 1945 by a superior officer. In an amazing turnabout, Mayer received an opportunity for revenge. Bis current project is . He then worked for Mayer till the Gestapo caught him. As much as he packs into these movies, however, their scripts often run even longer. Inform us! Mollis, Glarus, Canton of Glarus, Switzerland. The documentary ended with Fred Mayer talking to Hans Wijnberg via Skype. Privacy statement, cookies, disclaimer and copyright, On a journey of discovery to historical sites? OSS was the forerunner to both the Special Operations Command of the military, OSS Jedburgh and Operation Groups were the units that became the US Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs owe part of their legacy to OSS Maritime Group operatives, where one of them invented the US version of SCUBA. 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." As the Germans surrendered, the Gestapo officer who had savagely beaten Mayer was taken to the very cell where he tortured him. World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Under torture, he told them about Mayer, so they broke down the latters door on 20 April 1945. 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), Privacy statement, cookies, disclaimer and copyright, - Die Ordenstrger der Deutschen Wehrmacht. Bingeing spy movies, let us say from Orson Welless The Third Man(1949) through Quentin Tarantinos Inglourious Basterds(2009), would be a lifetime occupation. Now, though Hofer had the connections and supplies to resist an invasion by the Allies, its known that it was thanks to his conversations with Mayer that he decided to surrender. Trembling, he stammered, Do anything you want to me, but dont hurt my family.. 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. He would later on return to Germany to start over. Born in Rohleder (Raskaty) Russia to Heinrich Weber (1799 - 1848) and Susanna Fritz (1807-after 1861). Once in place, Mayer posed as a German . Starring Brad Pitt, Mlanie Laurent, and Christoph Waltz, in this uchronic story, a group of soldiers manages to kill the most important characters of the Nazi party, including its leader, Adolf Hitler. Part of the reason Tarantino decided to make "Kill Bill" first was due to the fact the story for his epic was growing so large in scale that he was having trouble cutting it down. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. The story of Operational Greenup deserves greater attention than it has received. Like many other Germans by the end of the war, Hofer was looking for a safeguard with the Allies to secure his own freedom. 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. Later, West learned that Mayer was a sergeant. He was an actor, known for The Marriage of Figaro (1949), Pillars of Society (1935) and So ein Flegel (1934). Mayer was asked to dine with Hofer, his wife and the German Ambassador to Italy, Rudolph Rahn. Channel 5 in the UK broadcast a documentary called The Nazi Killers on Friday 22 November. Fondation Franz Weber - UNESCO World Heritage Centre In 1997, he won the Legends Downhill Championship in Vail, Colorado and placed first overall in the Masters Division of the MCI World Downhill Championships. Exhausted, they finally sledded their way down, something Mayer later claimed was the scariest part of the mission. Mayer became an Army Ranger and went on to join the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) the precursor of todays CIA. Once at the bottom of the mountain, the men boarded an Innsbruck-bound train infested with Gestapo. Weber, a Catholic, had deserted, convinced . United States. "Say 'What' Again!" Disguised as a French electrician, Mayer tried to infiltrate one of the Luftwaffe factories. Channel 5s website describes the programme as follows: Documentary exploring one of the hundreds of undercover missions launched by the US governments Office of Strategic Services during World War II. It added in one two-minute scene where the Basterds and Lt. Archie Hicox prepare for the rendezvous in the La Louisiana tavern, as well as a brief joke involving Joseph Goebbels having sex with his translator, while making around a minute's worth of small trims and adjustments for pacing elsewhere in the film. It wasn;t until they brought in the informant that Mayer finally admitted he was an American agent, but insisted that he worked alone. Millard E. Moon, Journal of Strategic Security, Vol. One, an engineer, had worked on the German Fuhrers bunker in Berlin. All rights reserved 2022 Collective Culture. We use our own and third-party cookies to personalize and improve the use and experience of our users on our website. There were some contributions from historians, mainly to set things in context, and some re-enactments in the absence of archival footage, but the story was told largely in Mayer and Wijnbergs own words. As if offended, Weber haughtily replied, Weve already been checked!. A real world spy story fit for the silver screen. It was a good documentary. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Franz Weber was born on March 24, 1888 in Haspe, Germany. People Archive - WW2 Gravestone Top. Do you have more information about this person? Unlike the strange and often idiotic Tarantinos movie, however, the truth was far more bizarre.
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