Who are the Ritchie Boys?

Guy Stern, Walter Schwarz
Guy Stern (right) and Walter Schwarz are Jewish World War II veterans who served in a special and unusual Army unit
MPR Photo/Choo

Guy Stern and Walter Schwarz are Jewish World War II veterans who served in a special and unusual Army unit, and the pair was reunited in St. Paul last night for the first time since their wartime service.

Both men managed to escape the Nazis in the late 1930s -- Stern from Germany and Schwarz from Chechoslovakia. After making their way to the United States, both young men were drafted and eagerly joined the War effort.

After Army basic training, Stern and Schwarz were singled out for their knowledge of German language and culture. They were sent to Camp Ritchie, Maryland to become members of a mostly-Jewish intelligence unit known as the Ritchie Boys.

The two joined Tom Crann to talk about the reunion and their experiences as Ritchie Boys.

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