World War, 1939-1945--Displaced persons

Content Description This collection was compiled by former Florida State University Department of History professor Neil Betten. It contains 41 copies of Congress Weekly: A Review of Jewish Interests from February 1942 to June 1944. This weekly newsletter was published by the American Jewish Congress, which was headed by Stephen Wise. The newsletter includes a column, "News of the Women's Division." The newsletter covered topics such as the Warsaw Ghetto, Jewish soldiers in the U.S. military, Palestine, Zionism, and current issues in the United States and overseas affecting Jews. The collection also contains a Ph.D. dissertation by Peggy G. Pelt, "Wainwright...

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a transcript of an interview conducted with Stanley and Elsie Davis on June 12, 2000. Stanley Davis served in the U.S. Army in the Military Railway Service in the European Theater during World War II.  The collection also contains 6 photographs, a photocopy of Stanley and Elsie's marriage certificate, and a copy of Kaiserzeit: Journal of the Imperial German Military Collector’s Association vol. III, summer 1974.

Scope and Contents

This collection relates to Staff Sergeant Johnson Wood's experiences during World War II as a machine gunner in the 100th Infantry Division, 398th Regiment, Company K. His papers include a lengthy and detailed oral history transcript, poems, and a short manuscript. These materials focus on his actions and thoughts during the war, as well as World War II in public memory and his personal relationships with friends and family.

Scope and Contents

The Sylwester B. Knap papers contain an oral history transcript and a political prisoner certificate. Knap's oral history focuses on his childhood during the time World War II began in Europe which includes attempting to find refuge in Czestochowa, his experiences in the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, forced labor, mistreatment, camp selections, contracting Typhus, liberation, becoming wounded, finding his family after the war, his uncles involvement in the resistance movement, and his feelings toward talking about the war.

Content Description

This collection relates to Major James J. McFarland who served with Headquarters, 59th Medical Battalion as a physician in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The collection contains letters written by McFarland to his future wife Joy McFarlane.

Scope and Contents

The Peter R. Durland papers illustrate Captain Peter R. Durland's experiences during his time as a member of the 70th Infantry Division and 29th Infantry Division of the United States Army from 1943-1946. From 1945-1946, Durland served as Major General Leroy Watson's aide, completing various tasks for the General and accompanying him to the Nuremberg Trials. The collection includes an oral history interview transcript, photographs, and papers related to the war crime trials.

Scope and Contents

1st Lieutenant John O. Pons' oral history transcript details his experience as a military policeman at the Nuremberg Trials as a part of the 793rd Military Police Battalion from 1945-1946. Pons also describes his return to Germany in 1951-1952 as a member of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, of the 4th Infantry Division. Pons provided security during the Nuremberg Trials over 10 separate occasions and spent most of his time completing various tasks such as breaking up riots, controlling traffic, and participating in raids.

Scope and Contents

Private Ralph Chester Lapham served with the 116th Evacuation Hospital during World War II in the European Theater of Operations. Chester assisted with providing care for former prisoners of Dachau concentration camp after the camp's liberation. The collection contains photographs of the camp and letters describing the unit's work setting up a hospital at Dachau and a Typhus epidemic.