Stuttgart Overview
As I recall conversation with my father William, he had intended to continue
at The Fletcher School in 1938 and beyond to complete a Doctorate.
Given his academic record up to that point, it was a very reasonable goal, except for one issue: how to pay the tuition.
He had not worked while in college or grad school,
and apparently his understanding with his father was that it was up to him
to secure the funds through scholarships, or any other means at hand.
William has related that in discussions with the Dean of the Fletcher School,
he learned that there were no scholarship funds available.
He told the Dean - hoping to change his mind - that his only option was to take the Foreign Service Examination and,
if he was successful, end his academic career to enter government service.
He took the exam and passed, apparently with a high score, because he was
accepted into the Foreign Service -
one of twelve out of several hundred applicants that year.
Like all newly hired staff, he was first sent to the Foreign Service Institute for several weeks,
then assigned to a consular post as a sort of intern.
As it turned out, he was given a very challenging post: Stuttgart, Germany.
In 1938, Germany was governed by the
National Socialist (Nazi) Party.
The government was very energetically preparing for a war to expand the German nation and,
in fact, made its early moves during William's posting in Stuttgart.
In addition, the government of Germany was very actively pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing, focused primarily on Jewish people.
As a result, thousands of Jews were looking for ways to escape,
and securing entry into the United States was one of their most attractive options.
So shortly after arriving, William was
assigned to conduct interviews of people applying for entry into the United States.
The daily series of interviews took the entire working day, and when they were done it was necessary to write reports about each interviewee.
William spent many weeks working past 10 P.M. on weekdays, and many hours over the weekends.
The interviews included a medical examination (there were two doctors on staff at the Consulate).
The following anecdote exemplifies the character of his interaction:
An older woman (we'll call her Mrs. Goldfarb) applied for entry and her blood pressure was found to be alarmingly high.
Instead of informing her that she had failed the medical examination, William told Mrs. Goldfarb to lie down on a couch in a small,
quiet room at the Consulate for 20 minutes.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Goldfarb. Just relax for twenty minutes and your blood pressure will come back down!"
Apparently it did, and she was issued an entry visa.
Coincidentally, Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb settled in Waco, Texas, and so did Jeannette Krieg Drake and her husband Norman, after the war.
In 1948, ten years after the interview, William and family visited the Drakes in Waco.
Jeannette suggested visiting with the children a nearby candy shop whose proprietors were very friendly.
When the proprietress noticed William, she burst into tears, ran over and hugged him.
It was Mrs. Goldbfarb! She said, "This man was so kind to me - he saved my life ten years ago!"
In December, 1938, William received the following letter from the Senior Counselor (Oberrat) of the Jewish Religious Community of Württemberg:
Dear Consul! For the coming Christmas we would like to express our sincere thanks to you with our best wishes
for everything that you have done for the needy people of our community as part of your mission at the consulate.
We kindly ask you to continue to give us your advice and your kind support in the future and ask you to regard
the attached work as a small expression of our gratitude. May it be a token of remembrance, appreciation and gratitude for you forever!
[Link to letter]
The "attached work" was a packet of small photographs of "Beautiful Stuttgart", which are reproduced in the
photo collection.
As was usual in the Foreign Service, William was not given a return date in advance.
It turned out that he returned to Washington after a 14-month tour
for further training at the Foreign Service Institute in August, 1939.
Photos: Stuttgart, Germany 1938-1939
Link here to photo album
Documents: Stuttgart, Germany 1938-1939
1938 |
|---|
| Date | Where From | From | To | Notes |
1938-05-03
S-
1 | Department of State, Washington, DC | Government | William Laurence
Krieg |
Maroon-covered booklet imprinted with gold.
No. 1830.
Each page now stamped CANCELED. Upper right corner clipped.
Pp. 26-48 unused.
|
1938-05-03
S-3 | Newark,
Ohio | Newspaper or Magazine | General Public |
"KRIEG ASSIGNED TO CONSUL POST. Newark Young Man Begin[s] Diplomatic Career."
No date of publication. Presumably Newark Advocate, early May, 1938
|
1938-05-24
S-2 | S.S.
Manhatten Off the English coast | William Laurence Krieg | Lillian F. "Ninnie" Rhoads |
WLK hand blue-black ink on cream stationery of William L. Krieg, … Newark,
Ohio
|
1938-05-26
S-4 | American
Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
WLK hand blue-black ink on cream executive paper, letterhead William L. Krieg
… Newark, Ohio.
Envelope in pencil "Wed. June 8 - Written 5/26-38"
|
1938-06-11
S-5 | Hotel Graf
Zeppelin, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
Pp.1-2 on stationery of Hotel Graf Zeppelin, Stuttgart, 210 x 260 mm, black
logo;
P.3 on hotel notepaper, unfolded 178 x 290 mm, blue logo.
|
1938-07-08
S-6 | Hotel Graf
Zeppelin, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
WLK hand in blue-black ink on cream Graf Zeppelin Hotel stationery, black logo.
On envelope: "HOTEL GRAF ZEPPELIN, STUTTGART-N. Gegenüber dem
Haupbahnhof - Fernsprecher 22431/34"
in pencil: "Rec'd 7 15/1938, Written 7/8-1938"
|
1938-07-10
S-7 | Hotel Graf
Zeppelin, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Lillian F. "Ninnie" Rhoads |
WLK hand in blue-black ink on cream Graf Zeppelin Hotel stationery, black logo.
On envelope: "HOTEL GRAF ZEPPELIN, STUTTGART-N. Gegenüber dem
Haupbahnhof - Fernsprecher 22431/34"
in pencil: "Aus Aug 10"
|
1938-08-06
S-8 | Hotel Graf
Zeppelin, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
WLK hand in blue-black ink on cream Graf Zeppelin Hotel stationery, black logo.
On envelope in pencil: "Written Aug 6-1938, Recd Aug. 20-1938"
|
1938-08-14
S-9 | Stuttgart,
Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Jeannette Krieg Drake |
Pica type dark ribbon
Pp.1-3 on stationery of Hotel Graf Zeppelin, Stuttgart, 210 x 260 mm, black logo;
|
1938-08-28
S-
11 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type dark ribbon on heavy U.S. Government size paper, letterhead and logo
of The Foreign Service of the United States of America.
P.3 signed blue-black ink with PS right margin
|
1938-09-11
S-
12 | Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type dark ribbon
on heavy executive-size cream stationery, letterhead of William L. Krieg,
Fletcher School…
P.3 signed blue-black ink with PS right margin p.2.
Envelope handwritten in WLK hand blue-black in; In LMK hand, pencil near top:
dates of 3 letters
|
1938-09-18
S-
13 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Lillian F.
"Ninnie" Rhoads |
Pica type dark ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, letterhead and
logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America.
P.2 signed blue-black ink
|
1938-09-25
S-
14 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type dark ribbon
on heavy executive-size cream stationery, letterhead of William L. Krieg,
Fletcher School…
Envelope typed with handwritten note lower left "Über Cherbourg - Dampfer
Queen Mary".
In LMK hand, pencil near top: dates of 3 letters
|
1938-10-12
S-
15 | Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type medium ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, no letterhead.
P.2 signed blue-black ink with PS right margin
|
1938-10-19
S-
16 | Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
WLK hand blue-black ink both sides of all pages;
P.6 signed blue-black ink with PS in right margin
|
1938-10-30
S-
17 | American Consular Service, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Lillian
F. "Ninnie" Rhoads |
Blue-black ink WLK hand on American Consular Service standard weight
notepaper folded to create booklet.
Two folded sheets written both sides making 8 panels, some hand-numbered
|
1938-11-03
S-
18 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type medium ribbon
on heavy executive-size cream stationery, letterhead of William L. Krieg,
Fletcher School...
Envelope typed with handwritten note lower left "Mit dem Normandie Über Havre"
|
1938-11-16
S-
19 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type medium ribbon
on heavy executive-size cream stationery, letterhead of William L. Krieg,
Fletcher School...
Several paragraphs circled in pencil.
Envelope typed with typed note lower left "Mit dampfer Europa - Cherbourg"
|
1938-11-27
S-
20 | American Consular Service, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence
Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
Blue-black ink WLK hand on American Consular Service standard weight
notepaper folded to create booklet.
One folded sheet written both sides making 4 panels.
|
1938-12-23
S-21 | Der
Oberrat der Jsr. Religionsgemienschaft Württembergs, Stuttgart, Königstraße 82 | other | William
Laurence Krieg |
Elite type dark ribbon on standard weight large sheet folded in half to produce
letter-size panels. Letterhead of Der Oberrat der Jsr. Religionsgemienschaft
Württembergs.
Envelope with lining apparently delivered by hand.
Enclosure: silver-colored, blue-printed card-stock packet "Das Schöne Stuttgart"
of 16 deckle-edge photos each 85x55mm.
|
1938-12-25
S-
22 | Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Lillian F. "Ninnie" Rhoads |
Telegram and envelope headed ,
"Holiday Greeting by Western Union"
with faux-18th Century color feast scene.
Purple teleprinter strips glued to form.
|
1939 |
|---|
| Date | Where From | From | To | Notes |
1939-01-22
S-
23 | Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type medium ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, letterhead
and logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America.
|
1939-02-15
S-
24 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type medium-light ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper,
letterhead and logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America.
|
1939-02-26
S-
25 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type medium ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, letterhead
and logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America on p.1.
Note in blue-black ink WLK hand p.2v.
Photos enclosed: 7 @ 94 x 61 mm.
|
1939-03-19
S-
26 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type medium ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, p.1
letterhead and logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America.
P.3 note in right margin blue-black ink WLK hand
|
1939-03-23
S-
27 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Lillian F.
"Ninnie" Rhoads |
Blue-black ink WLK hand on American Consular Service standard weight
notepaper (267 x 178 mm) folded to create booklet. Two folded sheets written
both sides making 8 panels (7 written-on), some hand-numbered.
|
1939-04-02
S-
28 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Jeannette
Krieg Drake |
Pica type medium ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, p.1
letterhead and logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America.
|
1939-04-16
S-
30 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type light ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, letterhead and
logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America on p.1.
|
1939-04-23
S-
29 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type medium ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, p.1
letterhead and logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America.
|
1939-05-14
S-
31 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type light ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, letterhead and
logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America on p.1.
Envelope typed with note lower left "Via Cherbourg; D. Queen Mary"
|
1939-06-12
S-
32 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type light ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, letterhead and
logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America, p.1.
Envelope typed with note lower left "Ueber Cherbourg - S.S. Queen Mary"
|
1939-06-23
S-
34 | Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Lillian F. "Ninnie" Rhoads |
Blue-black ink WLK hand on American Consular Service standard weight
notepaper folded to create booklet.
One folded sheet written both sides making 3 panels.
|
1939-08-06
S-
33 | American Consulate, Stuttgart, Germany | William Laurence Krieg | Laurence
Montgomery Krieg |
Pica type dark ribbon on standard U.S. Government size paper, letterhead and
logo of The Foreign Service of the United States of America on p.1.
Envelope typed with note lower left "Ueber Havre - mit D. Normandie"
|
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