Records for U. S. Army Guard at Nurnberg war trials

My wife's uncle PFC William H. Mitchell, Jr. served in the 26th Infantry Regiment during WWII. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge (possibly as part of the 79th Infantry) and was shot one inch below the heart, yet survived. After the war, he re-enlisted so he could stay in Germany as he wanted to marry a German girl. He was assigned to serve as a guard at the Nurnberg war Trials. He guarded many of the war criminals including Rudolph Hess and escorted him to the trial daily. Are there records which could reveal insight into his life as a guard? Have seen numerous websites about the Nurnberg war trials, but have not found anything about him nor do we see a picture of him (We have a picture of him in his WWII uniform to compare faces to.)

Parents
  • There is an entry for a Private Mitchell, but no first or last name as having escorted Speer from the prison to meet with interrogators or his defense counsel.  What you describe is too different roles:  prison guard and escort guard.  There are nearly no records of the soldiers who served as guards at Nuremberg.  There are hardly any photos of either prison or escort guards.  If you have information about his service, such as letters, would you please email me for a project i'm working on?  My uncle was a prison guard, and I'm trying to piece together from personal letters what life was like for these men.  I have some of his stories but they're all about his own experience

  • I do not have much to add to what I originally posted. The only information I have come across are articles in Evansville, Indiana newspapers and a letter from PFC William Mitchell's wife Trudy; no officials records. Mitchell met his future wife Trudy after the war and wanted to marry her, but American soldiers were not allowed to marry German women at the time. To be near her, he re-enlisted as a military policeman and was assigned duty at the Nazi war trials at Nuremburg. He was described as prison guard and head jailor of some of whom were the most notorious criminals, in different accounts. One time he was described as guarding Rudolph Hess and another said he escorted Hess to trial daily. Mitchell was once described as serving in the First Division. He and other guards lived in the nearby (Jurist) Building (Ayeyelish??).
     
    Your information does seem to suggest that my Mitchell could be the Private Mitchell who escorted Albert Speer to meet his interrogators or his defense counsel. My sources provide no insight into the life of Mitchell as a prison guard or escort, just more details about his life waiting to be married to Trudy.
     
    Sorry I have nothing else to share.
Reply
  • I do not have much to add to what I originally posted. The only information I have come across are articles in Evansville, Indiana newspapers and a letter from PFC William Mitchell's wife Trudy; no officials records. Mitchell met his future wife Trudy after the war and wanted to marry her, but American soldiers were not allowed to marry German women at the time. To be near her, he re-enlisted as a military policeman and was assigned duty at the Nazi war trials at Nuremburg. He was described as prison guard and head jailor of some of whom were the most notorious criminals, in different accounts. One time he was described as guarding Rudolph Hess and another said he escorted Hess to trial daily. Mitchell was once described as serving in the First Division. He and other guards lived in the nearby (Jurist) Building (Ayeyelish??).
     
    Your information does seem to suggest that my Mitchell could be the Private Mitchell who escorted Albert Speer to meet his interrogators or his defense counsel. My sources provide no insight into the life of Mitchell as a prison guard or escort, just more details about his life waiting to be married to Trudy.
     
    Sorry I have nothing else to share.
Children