Open Wed-Mon, 10 AM - 5 PM (Last Entry at 4 PM)

Pfeffer Family Forum: World War II Military Intelligence Training at Camp Ritchie 

November 3, 2022 | 6:30pm CDT

On-Site & Online

How did the Military Intelligence Division, a part of the Army with a history of antisemitism, racism, and anti-immigrant activity, become the part of the Army which specifically recognized the tactical and strategic value that recent immigrants, Jewish refugees from Nazism, Japanese Americans recruited straight out of internment camps, and other “marginal” soldiers could provide?

To teach these men and a handful of women how to do battlefield intelligence, the Army created the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie.  Its graduates went on to make exceptional contributions to the war effort, to postwar occupation governance, to war crimes prosecutions, and to the creation of the Cold War era world. Dr. David Frey, Founding Director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the United States Military Academy, will discuss Camp Ritchie’s history, its function, its graduates, and how their innovations are relevant to us today. 

Primary Sponsors: Ira, Stanley, Christine, Caroline and Jeffry Pfeffer

Community Partner: Kol Hadash; Japanese American Service Committee; Congregation Kol Emeth

ON-SITE ADMISSION

Non-Members: General admission; Members: Free

ONLINE ADMISSION

Non-Members: $5.00; Members: Free

Community Partner: Temple Chai  

Supporters
This project was partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism.

Lester & Edward Anixter Family Foundation

Larry and Carol Levy

Laurie and Phillip Gerber & Family

Contributors

David Hiller
Judith and William Rader & Family

Additional Funders

Amy and Gary Bazelon
Golder Family Foundation
Michael and Debbie Strauss
Barbara and Victor Weisskopf

Media Partners

Community Partners: Charlie Company, 2- 330th Engineers, 95th Division of U.S Army Reserve Drill Sergeant Unit, Arlington Heights; Honor Flight Chicago; Illinois Department of Jewish War Veterans of the USA

Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II was produced by The National World War II Museum.

Photo credits: U.S. Army Signal Corps

Keep In Touch

This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. If you continue using our website, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website and you agree to our Privacy Policy.

Dismiss