1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,279 Speaker 1: Welcome to Stuff You Missed in History Class, a production 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: of I Heart Radio. Hello, and welcome to the podcast. 3 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: I'm Holly Fry and I'm tra Phoebe Wilson. Hey. Fair 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: warning you guys, this is not a particularly fun episode. Uh. 5 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: It is, in fact, I'm fun. Uh. It is the 6 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: story of Mildred fish Harnack, who was a woman from 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: Wisconsin who found herself at the center of a resistance 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: group working to undermine the Nazis in Germany as Hitler 9 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: came to power and catalyzed World War Two. While it 10 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: is not fun, it's an important story because it offers 11 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 1: a glimpse into some of the ways that the historical 12 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,599 Speaker 1: record can get blurry, simply because in some cases there 13 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: are people trying to do the right thing and having 14 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: to cover their tracks, and as a consequence, their own 15 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: life stories kind of get blurry enough that they can 16 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: become tools of propaganda as a result. So that is 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,639 Speaker 1: the story that we are telling to day. Uh. Like 18 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: I said, it's not a super upbeat one. So if 19 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: you're in a place where a downer is gonna make 20 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: you have a bad day, maybe save this one. It 21 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: will still be here waiting for you. When you get back. So. 22 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: Mildred was born Mildred Elizabeth Fish on September sixteenth, nineteen 23 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: o two. Although her birth certificate lists heer's name is 24 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: simply Maddie Fish. Her parents, William C. And Georgina Fish, 25 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: had three other children. They were Harriet, Marian, and mar Beau, 26 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: and they raised their family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mildred went 27 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: by Millie growing up, and because of the family lived 28 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: in a city with a large German population, she learned 29 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: to speak German. Yeah, she could also read and write it. 30 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: And the family moved around quite a bit, and that 31 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: was because William, who was an insurance agent, kind of 32 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: struggled to keep up financially and he often couldn't make rents, 33 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: so they would just pick up and move over time. 34 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: His problems with money led William and Georgina to become 35 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: a strange so he was not really living with the 36 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: family for most of high school. Milly attended West Division 37 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: High School, which has since changed names to Milwaukee High 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: School of the Arts. Prior to her senior year, however, 39 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: her father, William died and Georgina and the children moved 40 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: to Chevy Chase, Maryland. Georgina had taken classes to learn 41 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: things like shorthand and taking dictation, so she was able 42 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: to secure a good job in Washington, d c. That 43 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: enabled her to provide for the family on her own. 44 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: Millie completed high school at Western High School in Baltimore, Maryland, 45 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: attending in the nineteen eighteen to nineteen nineteen school year 46 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: as a senior. And even though she only spent that 47 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: one year in school in Maryland, Millie did not seem 48 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: to have any problems with jumping into a variety of 49 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: school activities. She played sports, both baseball and basketball. She 50 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: acted in the senior play, and she also edited the 51 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: school paper, which was right in line with her career 52 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: goal of becoming a writer. Throughout her early years, she 53 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: wrote poetry and she became skilled as a writer of 54 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: both verse and prose. And when she wrapped up her 55 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: whirlwind final year of high school, she attended First George 56 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: Washington University, but she missed Wisconsin and so she transferred 57 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: to the University of Wisconsin Madison to complete her degree, 58 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: which she did in During her undergrad years, Mildred seems 59 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: to have been the kind of person that you'd love 60 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: to meet. She became part of a group known as 61 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: the Friday Night Ers. This was a progressive circle of 62 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: friends and intellectuals who met to socialize to discuss issues 63 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: such as women's equality and labor rights. One of the 64 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: other things Mildred did during college was to memorize the 65 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: first book of the Iliad in Greek. She was able 66 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: to recite the entire thing. This was something that her 67 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: professors occasionally had her do for their classes after she graduated. 68 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: It's one of those mind blowing things. To me. I 69 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: can't imagine ever being able to do it. Uh. With 70 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: her bachelor's degree in hand, Mildred continued into graduate studies 71 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: also at the University of Wisconsin Madison, which she completed 72 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: in nine. Her senior thesis was titled a Comparison of 73 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: Chapman's and Pope's translations of the Iliad with the original 74 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: and during that time in graduate school, she had also 75 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: worked on the Wisconsin Literary Magazine as an editor, and 76 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 1: she also taught English at the university, and it was 77 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: while teaching that she met her future husband. The meat 78 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 1: cute story for Mildred and Arvid Harnack goes like this. Harnack, 79 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: who was from Germany and was studying in the US 80 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,799 Speaker 1: as a Rockefeller scholar, accidentally ended up in the wrong 81 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: classroom in the wrong building. That classroom was where Mildred 82 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: was teaching, and Arvid was immediately taken with her. When 83 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: the class was over. According to the story, Arvid introduced 84 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: himself and he and Mildred each apologized, he for his 85 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: halting English and she for her rusty German. So they 86 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: decided that they would study together so that they could 87 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: each improve their fluency, and this very quickly blossomed into 88 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: more of a date situation than study time. Arvid immediately 89 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: wrote to his family that he had met someone special 90 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: and he would continue to write to his mother about 91 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: the dates that he and Mildred went on, and then 92 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: on June n six, he wrote quote, I am very 93 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,799 Speaker 1: happy I've got engaged. The whole thing is actually very curious, 94 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: because I can hardly speak English and Mildred knows no German. 95 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: I made up my mind when I saw her for 96 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: the second time. We got engaged yesterday. This engagement was 97 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: pretty short, just two months. Mildred and Arvid were married 98 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: on August seven, nine six. That was two days after 99 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: Mildred completed her exam for her master's degree. Per Arvid's 100 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: letter to his family quote, we celebrated the wedding on 101 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: her brother's farm. A large part of the Fish family 102 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: was gathered there. Mildred's mother is simple and yet very fine. 103 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: We arrived at the farm at five p and Mildred 104 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: and I left again at nine p. We were married 105 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: on the farm by father Johnston, methodist of his couple 106 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: of church. He made it short and painless. In a 107 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: very progressive move for the time, Mildred hyphenated her last 108 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 1: name to Fish Harnack rather than taking Arvid's last name. 109 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 1: I love how kind of just direct his letters are. 110 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: He manages to be both very clearly like into her 111 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: and yet not super florid and romantic in his writing style. 112 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: It's kind of adorable. So for the nine school year, 113 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:32,799 Speaker 1: Mildred taught English in Baltimore at Goucher College. Arvid's fellowship 114 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: ended and he returned to Germany, initially by himself. Mildred 115 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: joined him in nine and she fit right in with 116 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: his family, who, like Mildred, valued education, and she became 117 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: very close with Arvid's sisters. Mildred wanted to continue her 118 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: studies to get a doctorate degree, and she did so 119 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: in her new home country. The couple moved away from 120 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: the Harnack home to Berlin in nine thirty, and she 121 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: got a job at the university, teaching English language literature 122 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: classes while also working towards her doctorate. That made her 123 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: not only one of the first Americans ever to teach there, 124 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: but it also made her a colleague of Albert Einstein, 125 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: who was also on the faculty. Of course, if you're 126 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: doing the math in terms of timeline, that decision to 127 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: move to Germany at the end of the nineteen twenties 128 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: meant that Mildred and Arvid were there as Hitler's rise 129 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: to power was gaining momentum, and they were, of course 130 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: troubled by it. Soon, their gatherings of friends to discuss 131 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: intellectual matters evolved into a resistance group. Mildred, as a 132 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: woman and a foreigner, lost her job. It also seems 133 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: that part of the problem was that she was not 134 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: aligned with the ruling Nazi party. She was able to 135 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: find work after that, but it was all sort of 136 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: piecemeal teaching, tutoring and translation work. None of it was 137 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: particularly lucrative. But Mildred was an ardent lover of literature, 138 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: so She continued to both translate German works into English 139 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: and to share the works of US writers like Faulkner 140 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: and Thomas Wolfe, who she met a one point with 141 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: her German students. Arvid was an economist. In the fallout 142 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: from the US market crash, he felt that capitalism was 143 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: a troubled economic structure, and he became fascinated with Marxism 144 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: and communism. He formed a study group that traveled to 145 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: Moscow in ninety two. That was a moment that might 146 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: have led to him being approached by Soviet agents about 147 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: sharing information on what was happening in Germany, but this 148 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: also meant that he had to become more and more secretive. 149 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: As both paths of his double life widened. He rose 150 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: through the ranks of the economics ministry, and soon he 151 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: was actively using the knowledge that he gained there to 152 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: help Germany's enemies. Both Mildred and Arvid also joined the 153 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: Nazi Party. This was so Mildred could continue to find 154 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: work and so Arvid could continue to work in the 155 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: economics ministry and just learn as much as he could. 156 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: They also both started working with a resistance group that 157 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: fought the Nazi regime in a number of ways. First, 158 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: they published a secret newsletter in Berlin to try to 159 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: warn people about the dangers of Hitler's regime. If you 160 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: listen to the episode in the archives about the White 161 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 1: Rose by previous hosts, you know that printing a newsletter 162 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: was inherently dangerous. Obtaining enough paper to print such things 163 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 1: automatically aroused suspicions, so even this seemingly simple act took 164 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: a great deal of stealth planning and smuggling of needed materials. Second, 165 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: as we mentioned a moment ago, they started sending information 166 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: to Germany's enemies, both the US and Soviet Union. By 167 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: giving information they had to contacts at the embassies for 168 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 1: those countries in Berlin. Mildred was close friends with Martha Dodd, 169 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: the daughter of the US ambassador stationed in Berlin, and 170 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: Arvin had professional connections to the embassies through his work. 171 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: In a moment, we're going to talk about some of 172 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: the other resistance efforts of Mildred and her husband, but 173 00:09:54,320 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: first we will pause for a sponsor break. We mentioned 174 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: before the break that both of the har Knacks joined 175 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 1: the Nazi Party so that they could continue their work, 176 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: but that also meant that they could continue to meet 177 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: with their friends without arousing suspicion, and that meant they 178 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: could keep planning their resistance strategies. Mildred, like her husband, 179 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: used her work as part of their anti Nazi efforts. 180 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: She actually started recruiting students to the cause, and she 181 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: also used her translating work in the publishing industry, which 182 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: required business trips around Europe, to make contacts in other 183 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: countries who were sympathetic to Germans trying to fight their 184 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: dictatorship from within. There is evidence that Mildred helped Jews 185 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 1: escape from Germany, but exactly what she was doing to 186 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 1: do this, or how she got anyone out, is a 187 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: little bit unclear. It is highly possible that her personal 188 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: connection to the US embassy probably greased the wheels to 189 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: getting at least some people out with travel visas. And 190 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: throughout all of this they continued to document Nazi violence 191 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: and to write anti Hitler tracts, and they became part 192 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: of the larger affiliation of loosely connected groups that got 193 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: the umbrella nickname Red Orchestra. That name, to be clear, 194 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 1: was not a name that they used, It was one 195 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 1: that the Nazis assigned to them. It was wrote a 196 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: cappelle in German, and that translates literally to red chapel 197 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 1: or red band. The name arose because the Soviet code 198 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: for a radio operator was a musician, and the transmitters 199 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: were called music boxes. The Soviets had supplied radios to 200 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: the resistance groups in Berlin. It's still a little bit 201 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: unclear how much any of those radios actually got used. 202 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 1: I there's one documentary that interviewed some researchers that said 203 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: that like the effort had gone awry, like they didn't 204 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 1: really know how to use them, but uh, this still 205 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: kind of all got amalgamated into their name and in 206 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: their work with the orchestra, they shared information about Germany's 207 00:11:55,800 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: finances gained largely through Arvid's work. Information about very as 208 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 1: companies and their contracts made their way to the US 209 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 1: and Soviet intelligence agencies, so data regarding the allocation of 210 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: assets could help predict Germany's movement. In nine thirty seven, 211 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: Mildred and Arvid took a trip to the US. This 212 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: was a work trip for Arvid. The US was not 213 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: yet at war with Germany, and Mildred arranged a concurrent 214 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: lecture tour with a topic titled the German relation to 215 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: current American literature. This trip was also arranged because Mildred's mother, Georgina, 216 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: was ill at the time. Arvid was willing to share 217 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: information about German activities, but he was running into a problem. 218 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: As a member of the Nazi Party. It was naturally 219 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: assumed that he was a Nazi, and while the US 220 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: wasn't in the war at this time, that didn't exactly 221 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:52,239 Speaker 1: make anyone in the US government feel especially comfortable trusting him. Additionally, 222 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: both Mildred and her husband believed that they might have 223 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: been followed by German spies, so they couldn't exactly reveal 224 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 1: that their affiliation with the party was strictly for show. 225 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: Arvid was known for his economic study of communism, so 226 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 1: there was a whole second layer of distrust at play. 227 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: Also in ninety seven, once they returned to Germany, there 228 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: was a personnel change at the U. S Embassy. William 229 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: Edward Dodd, whose daughter had been close with Mildred, stepped 230 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: down from his position and he was replaced by Hugh R. Wilson. 231 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: Mildred and Arvid became good friends with the embassy's new 232 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: first Secretary, Donald R. Heath, as well as his family, 233 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: and he understood that they were Nazi party in paperwork 234 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: only as a ruse, and as tensions mounted in Berlin, 235 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: Mildred started tutoring he son, Donald Jr. And it was 236 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: through him that she and Arvid were able to pass 237 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: information to the US. It wasn't only Arvid's work that 238 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: provided intelligence. At one point Mildred was tutoring a German 239 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: soldier who, as he came to trust her, became a 240 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: little loose lipped on military matters. With this and the 241 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: military spending information gained through Arvid's post, they were able 242 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:07,199 Speaker 1: to share critical information regarding Germany's rearmament, which was a 243 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 1: violation of the Treaty of Versailles. In Berlin. They also 244 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: disseminated information to other members of the resistance. Mildred illegally 245 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: accessed in transcribed foreign radio broadcasts so others in the 246 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: movement could know what was happening outside of Germany and 247 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: how Hitler's regime was being seen beyond their borders. As 248 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: part of their effort to keep a low profile. As 249 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: their involvement with the resistance effort escalated, the Harnacks moved 250 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: to a new home on the outskirts of the City, 251 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: and in their work with the Rhetor Orchestra that Harnacks 252 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: worked closely with Haro Schiltze Boizen It's a German Air 253 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: Ministry intelligence officer and initially Arvid Harnack thought Schiltze Boizen 254 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: was really too dangerous to work with, but he did 255 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: have a history of anti Nazi work. His revolutionary views 256 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: had gotten him arrested by the Essay when he was younger. 257 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: He came to their attention running a leftist periodical called Gegner, 258 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: which translates to Opponent. After being beaten severely and having 259 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: swastikas carved into his legs, among other tortures which led 260 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: to hospitalization, he was finally released through the influence of 261 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: his socialite mother. His co editor, Henry er Lange, who 262 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: was half Jewish, did not survive this encounter. Schiltza Voisen 263 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: is often reported as saying, after this horrific event quote, 264 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: I have put my revenge on ice. It was after 265 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: that he enrolled in pilot school and joined the German military, 266 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: again through his parents influence and apparently true to his word, 267 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: because as he appeared the perfect soldier and officer, he 268 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: was actually collecting intelligence and feeding it to the spy ring. 269 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: He eventually earned a degree of trust from Harnack and Mildred. 270 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: As the nineteen thirties came to a close, Arvid had 271 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: grown increasingly worried for Mildred's safety because of her foreigner status. 272 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: He bought her an open ticket to return to the 273 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: US abort a steamship. She refused us to go, but 274 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: kept the ticket with her at all times. Her belief 275 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: was that she had work to do in Germany, and 276 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: she also just didn't want to leave her husband's side. 277 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 1: In the months leading up to June, the Red Orchestra 278 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: warned Soviet agents repeatedly about the impending Operation Barbarossa that 279 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: was Hitler's plan to invade the Soviet Union, but those 280 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: warnings were not heated, and the initial attacks took the 281 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: Soviet military by surprise from the top down in the structure. 282 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: And for people that were involved in the Red Orchestra, 283 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: who had really gone to great effort and endangered themselves 284 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,479 Speaker 1: and their families to share this intelligence with the Soviets, 285 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: this whole thing was incredibly frustrating. Meanwhile, the Heaths had 286 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: been recalled from the US embassy just before the bombing, 287 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: of Pearl Harbor led to the US joining the war. 288 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: The embassy in Berlin was empty and the network of 289 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: informants that had once connected through it was broken. Ultimately, 290 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: the Red Orchestra was compromised in the fall of ninety 291 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: two biaus sloppy move on the part of the Soviets. 292 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 1: They reached out to a contact in Brussels via radio 293 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: and relayed the names and addresses of the Harnacks as 294 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: well as other associates advising resistance in Brussels, that they 295 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: should contact them in Berlin. That communication was intercepted by 296 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: the Germans. The Nazis quickly moved to arrest all of 297 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: the members, eventually taking hundreds into custody. Yeah, we're not 298 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: going super deep into the Red Orchestra itself, but there 299 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: were like it's usually laid out as like three pockets, 300 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: and so the Berlin pocket was the one obviously that 301 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: the Harnacks were part of. But they were moving to 302 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: arrest huge groups of people kind of across the resistance 303 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 1: efforts throughout Europe. Mildred and Arvid went to the Baltic coast, 304 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: and there's been speculation that they may have intended to 305 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 1: try to escape to Sweden, knowing that they had been 306 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: compromised and were in danger, but if they were making 307 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,080 Speaker 1: an escape attempt that failed. They were instead arrested at 308 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 1: the Gestapo at the cottage that they had rented in 309 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: a seaside fishing town. Mildred was still carrying the ticket 310 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: Arvid had bought her for passage to North America with 311 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: the Transatlantic shipping company United States Lines. The Harnacks were 312 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: taken to the Gestapo headquarters and interrogated by Nazi agents 313 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 1: known for their use of torture. Mildred was placed in 314 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: Charlottenburg Women's Prison, and she was interrogated every day. We're 315 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: about to move into the Harnack's time after they were captured, 316 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:31,719 Speaker 1: but before we get into that, we're going to take 317 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 1: a quick break and here from the sponsors that keep 318 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: Stuffy miss in history class going. The Harnack's trials were swift, 319 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: and they were not particularly interested in actually weighing the evidence. 320 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 1: That was also true for other members of the Red 321 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: Orchestra that had been captured. The Germans had long known 322 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: that there had to be a spy ring with a 323 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: branch operating in Berlin, and as Red Orchestra was un yield, 324 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: they felt justified in pursuing the harshest possible penalties for 325 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: that activity. Nazi judge Manfred Rhoder oversaw the trials. He 326 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: was known as one of Hitler's blood judges, and he 327 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: sought the steepest possible penalties. Were all involved in Red Orchestra, 328 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: demanding death sentences for most. Arvid was found guilty of 329 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 1: high treason and espionage and was sentenced to death, and 330 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: his deep love for Mildred is evident in his last 331 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 1: letter to her, which is dated December four. It opens 332 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: with quote, my dear beloved heart, in the last few months, 333 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: I found the strength to be inwardly calm and composed. 334 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 1: And when I await that which is coming as calmly 335 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 1: and composed, I have to thank above all the fact 336 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: that I feel a strong attachment to all that is 337 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: good and beautiful in this world, and that towards the 338 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: whole earth. I have the feeling which sings out of 339 00:19:56,119 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: the poet Whitman. As far as people come into the question, 340 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,120 Speaker 1: it has been the ones close to me, and especially you, 341 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 1: who embodied these two feelings for me. Despite all the severity, 342 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 1: I look back gladly on my life up to now, 343 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 1: the bright outweighed the dark, and our marriage was, for 344 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: the greatest part the reason for this. That letter continues 345 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: on Arvid reminisces about moments in their life together, including 346 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: the picnic where they got engaged, and also just conversations 347 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: with Mildred that shaped the person he was. He tells 348 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: her that the more that he thinks about it, the 349 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: more good memories he recalls, and he encourages his wife 350 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: to reminisce similarly about their marriage and their families to 351 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: remember quote that the feelings of love merge in the world, 352 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: and then he concluded with quote, you are in my heart. 353 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: My greatest wish is that you are happy when you 354 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 1: think of me. I am when I think of you, 355 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: many many kisses. I hug you tight your A. Seven 356 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: days later was his official sentencing, and he was executed 357 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: on December twenty two by hanging at Plots and Z. 358 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: It was a particularly brutal hanging. Mildred was not informed 359 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 1: of her husband's death, but knowing that he had been sentenced, 360 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,880 Speaker 1: she wrote quote, it can be assumed that I am widowed. 361 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: Arvid went to his death knowing that Mildred had been 362 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: found guilty of aiding treasonous activities and sentenced to six 363 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: years in prison. He had tried to see her one 364 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:30,919 Speaker 1: last time, but that request was denied. Still though he 365 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: was confident that she could serve her sentence and then 366 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: would one day be free. But what Arvid did not know, uh. 367 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,400 Speaker 1: And he also thought at this point that like things 368 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: were falling apart enough in in the German military, that 369 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 1: it was going to be over soon, and he kind 370 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 1: of was very hopeful. But he didn't know that Hitler 371 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:52,439 Speaker 1: had called for Mildred to be retried, and while she 372 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 1: was incarcerated, this once lively woman who was so full 373 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 1: of passion for literature and just adoration for her husband, 374 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: turn into a much different person. Her hair turned from 375 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: blonde to white in a fairly short period of time. 376 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: She started to exhibit behavior that is often described as 377 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 1: bordering on madness. She had really withered away to skin 378 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: and bone. She was very thin. She at one point 379 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 1: is said to have attempted suicide by swallowing pins. But 380 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: despite what was obviously just a time of understandably incredible 381 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: stress and sorrow, she also during this time returned to 382 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: one of her dearest loves, which is literature and In 383 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 1: her final days, she worked on translating a book of 384 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: poems by Gerta in her cell. Chaplin Harold post Chal 385 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: visited her, and it's his account that describes her physical 386 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: condition that we mentioned just a moment ago. It was 387 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: through him that Mildred had Arvid's death confirmed, and that's 388 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 1: how she knew how he had spent his last days 389 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: and moments. The chaplain had also smuggled in some family 390 00:22:55,760 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: photos and an orange from Arvid's sister. Mildred kissed her 391 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,200 Speaker 1: mother's photo and wrote on the back quote, the face 392 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: of my mother expresses everything that I want to say 393 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: at this moment. The space was with me all through 394 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: these last months. Immediately before her execution by guillotine, Mildred's 395 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:18,719 Speaker 1: last words were, ich haba Deutschland. Also giliped my apologies 396 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: from my bad German, but that translates to and I 397 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 1: have loved Germany so much. She was murdered on February 398 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: three at sixty seven pm. Mildred fish Harnack had the 399 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:34,479 Speaker 1: sad distinction of being the only American woman executed at 400 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: Adolf Hitler's direct order. She was forty years old when 401 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: she died, just as Mildred had been uncertain of Arvid's death. 402 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: Her death was not confirmed to her family for several months. 403 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: A news article ran in the Milwaukee Reader in May 404 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 1: of ninety three under the headline Nazi's victim has kin here. 405 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,359 Speaker 1: The article was largely about Mildred's sister Marion, who is 406 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: referred to only as Mrs Albert R. Carlson, and who 407 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: contacted the paper after having seen another article about her 408 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: sister suggesting that she was part of a Soviet plot. 409 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 1: And the article, Marian says that she hadn't heard from 410 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: Mildred since August of ninety two and that she's sure 411 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: neither Mildred nor Arvid are Communists. She was trying to 412 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: reach Mildred through the Red Cross during the period where 413 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: Mildred's death wasn't known to her family. They wrote letters 414 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,200 Speaker 1: to Berlin hoping they could reach her, promising they would 415 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: find the money to bring her home. After Mildred and 416 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: Arvid had been executed, their story became confused and twisted 417 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:40,159 Speaker 1: because it was used in propaganda. In being tied to 418 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: both the Soviets and the US and maintaining their cover 419 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: as members of the Nazi Party, they had unfortunately created 420 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: an easy opportunity for all other parties involved to write 421 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,920 Speaker 1: their story however they wished. In West Germany they were 422 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: characterized as Soviet spies. In East Germany they were made 423 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: into legendary heroes of the anti fa ashest Communist regime. 424 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: The family did not receive word until September that Mildred 425 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 1: was dead, when all of this was already being put 426 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:12,160 Speaker 1: into play. As the Cold War mounted, The Carnecks were 427 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 1: labeled as Soviet sympathizers and spies by the Nazis who 428 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 1: were working with the US, including Manfred Rhodor, who had 429 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: sought the death penalty for both of them during their trials. 430 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: Although many people sought to bring Rhodor to justice for 431 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:30,439 Speaker 1: his participation in war crimes, he was viewed as valuable 432 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 1: as an informational asset because of the information he could 433 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 1: provide regarding the Soviet Union. Uh he never faced any 434 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 1: consequences for these actions. Nope. It also didn't matter that 435 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 1: Arvid Harnack had been suspicious of Stalin. His story was 436 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: rewritten to suit the Soviets, and both he and Mildred 437 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: were issued posthumous medals by the Soviet Union. They also 438 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: appeared on Soviet stamps, and an East Berlin High school 439 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 1: was named after Mildred. In late nineteen forty seven, the 440 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: University of Wisconsin Alumni magazine broke the story of Mildred's execution. 441 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 1: This was big enough news that other papers reported on 442 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,360 Speaker 1: the alumni magazine getting the scoop. The Sheboygan Press ran 443 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: the story under the headline state girl was beheaded by 444 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 1: Hitler's personal edict. The story covers the details in pretty 445 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: broad strokes. When it came out, the Alumni magazine was 446 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 1: still a week away from shipping. It concludes with quote. 447 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: The magazine reported it had learned most of the details 448 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:35,200 Speaker 1: of the executions from records of the U S. Office 449 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:38,719 Speaker 1: of Military Government. Other papers picked up the story, and 450 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 1: soon Mildred's death was recounted and reported all over the US. Yeah, 451 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: Urvid's death had been known since he had been sentenced 452 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: to death, but that whole weird second trial situation UH 453 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 1: meant that Mildred's just kind of got buried, And an 454 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 1: investigation into Mildred's case had actually started in the US 455 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,240 Speaker 1: in ninety six under the oversight of the U. S. 456 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: Army Counter Intelligence Corps. At the end of the year, 457 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: the FBI also began an investigation into the matter, and 458 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: the CIA also had files on Mildred and other members 459 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: of the Red Orchestra, which were seated by lists that 460 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: had appeared in Gestapo paperwork. When the CIA file was 461 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: released in nineteen seventy six under the Freedom of Information Act, 462 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 1: Mildred's entry was quite brief. It stated her year of birth, 463 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: her attendance at the University at Wisconsin, and that she 464 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 1: was quote in sympathy with her husband's devotion to communism. 465 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,959 Speaker 1: And while there was an early effort, also in ninety 466 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: six to investigate whether Mildred had been denied due process, 467 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 1: which would have been a war crime, it was determined 468 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: that there had been enough evidence to convict her and 469 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: sentenced her to death. The military's investigation was closed with 470 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:52,120 Speaker 1: a memo from a Lieutenant Colonel Ellis written on January 471 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 1: fifty seven, which simply reads, quote, this case is classified 472 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:59,919 Speaker 1: special reference and should not have been referred for investigation. 473 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: Ship withdraw case from Detachment D, and do not continue 474 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 1: the investigation. It wasn't until the Berlin Wall fell and 475 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 1: Germany was reunited that researchers and scholars were able to 476 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 1: work together to uncover a fuller picture of Mildred's story. 477 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 1: Since then, she's been honored in a number of ways, 478 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: both in Germany and in Wisconsin, including with plaques marking 479 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 1: pivotal locations in her life and streets being named after her. Yeah, 480 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: there are a lot um that. So I didn't make 481 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,239 Speaker 1: a long list because then it would just be us 482 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: listing streets. Uh. In Mildred was memorialized with a statue 483 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 1: in Madison, Wisconsin, which was created by architect John derbro 484 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:43,240 Speaker 1: It was placed on October thirty one of that year, 485 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: and the formal dedication took place on July twelve, nineteen 486 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:51,719 Speaker 1: September sixt Mildred's birthday is also recognized as Mildred Harnack 487 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 1: Day in the state of Wisconsin. That is the sad 488 00:28:55,760 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: story of Mildred fish Harneck Street. Heartbreaking. Why did I picket? 489 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 1: I don't know. I just felt like crying today. I 490 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 1: guess do you have some some less tearful listener mail? 491 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: It actually is tearful, but it's so sweet and I 492 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 1: wanted to make sure that I congratulated this person. Um. 493 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 1: This is from our listener McKenna, who it actually says 494 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: crying over Disney ads. Uh. Right so high to Holly 495 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: and Tracy. Like most people, I've been looking for a 496 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 1: reason to write that I should have just written to 497 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: tell you how amazing you are, But that time has 498 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: finally come. In April, I was listening to your classic 499 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 1: on the Haunted Mansion. I had just graduated college in 500 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: the middle of a pandemic and was accepted to the 501 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 1: Disney College Program. I was a public health major and 502 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: could tell the program was going to be suspended for 503 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 1: a while, so listening to the episode was bitter sweet. 504 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: Cut to almost a year and a half later, and 505 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:50,479 Speaker 1: the program is back on. I was painting and listening 506 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 1: to your podcasts when your ad for Disney came on. 507 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: I learned the day before that I would be working 508 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: at Disney's Hollywood Studios. When you mentioned it in the ad, 509 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,479 Speaker 1: I started crying. Oh, this makes me so happy for her. 510 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 1: I'm getting choked up. I felt like we had come 511 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 1: full circle. Disney episode and it was canceled Disney commercial 512 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: when it started again. I'm actually leaving in less than 513 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 1: twenty four hours and listening to the podcast while I 514 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 1: pack and finished some last minute projects to calm my nerves. 515 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:18,719 Speaker 1: Thank you for the countless hours of entertainment and for 516 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: just being the best. Now, for the best part of 517 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: the email, I have included a picture of my dogs 518 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: and my sister on the fourth of July, the only 519 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: day they're allowed on the couch. From left to right, Bentley, Skeeter, 520 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 1: and Lincoln, who is our pandemic puppy, who also responds 521 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 1: to Mandy Patinkin. Thank you again and stay healthy McKenna. McKenna, congratulations. 522 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 1: I hope you have so much fun. I have a 523 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 1: deep love for Hollywood Studios, even before it became the 524 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 1: Star Wars Park, so I'm super excited for you. I 525 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 1: hope this is amazing. I love how your selection of 526 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: dogs hits all of the various cute flavors, Like you 527 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 1: have the cutee leffy dog, you have the cute kind 528 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,479 Speaker 1: of like houndy, short hair, and then just a big 529 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 1: what looks like a cuddle bunny of love. And I 530 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:00,480 Speaker 1: love that he responds to Mandy Patinkin. Um, I hope 531 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: this is the most amazing experience for you, and I'm 532 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,960 Speaker 1: so happy that we're kind of a little part of 533 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 1: of of how you will market in your life. So um, 534 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 1: thank you for emailing us. Thank you for sharing that 535 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: with us, and again, I'm so happy for you. If 536 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 1: you would like to email us something we're celebrating, or 537 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 1: just your thoughts on this episode or any other, you 538 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: can do that at History Podcast at iHeart radio dot com. 539 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 1: You can also find us on social media as Missed 540 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 1: in History. You can subscribe to the podcast on the 541 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:29,959 Speaker 1: i heeart radio app, or wherever you listen to your 542 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 1: favorite shows. Stuff you Missed in History Class is a 543 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:40,880 Speaker 1: production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts from I 544 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:44,200 Speaker 1: heart Radio, visit the i heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, 545 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.