Fritz G. A. Kraemer
Encyclopedia
Fritz Gustav Anton Kraemer (July 3, 1908 – September 8, 2003) was a German-American military educator and advisor.
Kraemer was born in Essen
, Germany
, the eldest child of Dr Georg Kraemer (born Berlin 1872, died Theresienstadt 1942) and Anna Johanna (Jennie) Kraemer, née Goldschmidt (born Essen 1886, died Washington DC 1971) and studied at the famous Arndt Gymnasium in Berlin
, the London School of Economics
and the Universities of Geneva
and Frankfurt before earning a doctorate in law
at the University of Frankfurt in 1931 and a doctorate in Political Science
at the University of Rome
in 1934.
During most of the 1930s he was Senior Legal Advisor to the League of Nations
at the League’s Legal Institute in Rome. In 1933, he married his wife, Britta Bjorkander, a Swedish
citizen.
Kraemer, a Lutheran with a dislike for Nazis, escaped Nazi Germany
for America in 1939, leaving behind his wife and son. He was drafted and became a U.S. citizen as an inductee and joined the United States Army
in April 1943 ("with two PhDs and one monocle") as an infantryman in the 84th Infantry Division (the “Railsplitter”). During the war, he recruited Henry Kissinger
into the military intelligence section of the division.
Kraemer fought in the Battle of the Bulge
and in the battles of the Ruhr
and Rhineland
, earning a Battlefield Commission and a Bronze Star
in the liberation of his former homeland. In 1945 he was reunited with his wife and son and returned to Washington D.C. in 1947. He left active duty in 1948 and retired from the Army Reserve in 1963 with the rank of a Lt. Colonel.
A gifted “talent scout” and teacher, in 1944 he discovered the young Henry Kissinger
who joined his division. In 1961 he also discovered Alexander Haig
, and in 1969 recommended him as the Military Assistant to then National Security Advisor
Henry Kissinger, whom he had met during the war. His son Sven Kraemer also served in the Nixon-Kissinger National Security Council.
From the early 1950s until 1978, when he retired from civil service, he served as Senior Civilian Advisor to the U.S. Army Chief of Staff in the Pentagon
and influenced the Department of Defence during the Cold War. During his time at the Pentagon, he also influenced Secretaries of Defense James R. Schlesinger and Donald Rumsfeld.
A graduate of the U.S. National War College
, he advised, taught, and inspired generations of officers, officials, American Presidents, and private citizens.
Kraemer died on September 8, 2003, in Washington, D.C.
, and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery
on October 8. He was honoured by former Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger
, his former students Henry Kissinger
and Alexander Haig
.
Kraemer was born in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
, Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, the eldest child of Dr Georg Kraemer (born Berlin 1872, died Theresienstadt 1942) and Anna Johanna (Jennie) Kraemer, née Goldschmidt (born Essen 1886, died Washington DC 1971) and studied at the famous Arndt Gymnasium in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and the Universities of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
and Frankfurt before earning a doctorate in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Frankfurt in 1931 and a doctorate in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Rome
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
in 1934.
During most of the 1930s he was Senior Legal Advisor to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
at the League’s Legal Institute in Rome. In 1933, he married his wife, Britta Bjorkander, a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
citizen.
Kraemer, a Lutheran with a dislike for Nazis, escaped Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
for America in 1939, leaving behind his wife and son. He was drafted and became a U.S. citizen as an inductee and joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in April 1943 ("with two PhDs and one monocle") as an infantryman in the 84th Infantry Division (the “Railsplitter”). During the war, he recruited Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
into the military intelligence section of the division.
Kraemer fought in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
and in the battles of the Ruhr
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet...
and Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
, earning a Battlefield Commission and a Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
in the liberation of his former homeland. In 1945 he was reunited with his wife and son and returned to Washington D.C. in 1947. He left active duty in 1948 and retired from the Army Reserve in 1963 with the rank of a Lt. Colonel.
A gifted “talent scout” and teacher, in 1944 he discovered the young Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
who joined his division. In 1961 he also discovered Alexander Haig
Alexander Haig
Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a United States Army general who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
, and in 1969 recommended him as the Military Assistant to then National Security Advisor
National Security Advisor (United States)
The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues...
Henry Kissinger, whom he had met during the war. His son Sven Kraemer also served in the Nixon-Kissinger National Security Council.
From the early 1950s until 1978, when he retired from civil service, he served as Senior Civilian Advisor to the U.S. Army Chief of Staff in the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
and influenced the Department of Defence during the Cold War. During his time at the Pentagon, he also influenced Secretaries of Defense James R. Schlesinger and Donald Rumsfeld.
A graduate of the U.S. National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
, he advised, taught, and inspired generations of officers, officials, American Presidents, and private citizens.
Kraemer died on September 8, 2003, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
on October 8. He was honoured by former Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger
James R. Schlesinger
Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
, his former students Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
and Alexander Haig
Alexander Haig
Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a United States Army general who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
.
Publications
- Fritz Kraemer on Excellence, New York 2004 (Hubertus HoffmannHubertus HoffmannHubertus Hoffmann is a German journalist, media manager and investor. Currently he is one of the founding partners of General Capital Group, a German based investment company.Hoffmann was born in Göttingen...
with contributions from Henry KissingerHenry KissingerHeinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
, Alexander HaigAlexander HaigAlexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a United States Army general who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
, Donald RumsfeldDonald RumsfeldDonald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
and others). - The Forty Years War, by Len Colodny and Tom Shachtman, Harper/Collins, 2009.