Hugo Lang World War II Collection
This collection houses certificates, articles, correspondence, pamphlets, maps, and photographs documenting the history of the Jewish community in Goeppingen, Germany and Hugo Lang's service with the U. S. Army during the Second World War. Of particular interest are the items showing Lang's emigration from Germany shortly before its Jewish population was deported and murdered.
Dates
- 1923-1994 (bulk 1941-1994)
Language
The material in this collection is in English and German.
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
1.2 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection houses certificates, articles, correspondence, pamphlets, maps, and photographs documenting the history of the Jewish community in Goeppingen, Germany and Hugo Lang's service with the U. S. Army during the Second World War. Of particular interest are the items showing Lang's emigration from Germany shortly before its Jewish population was deported and murdered.
Biographical/Historical Note
Hugo Lang was born to Leopold and Eva Lang on 27 April 1923 in Arnsbach, Germany. His family was Jewish, and although neighbors did their best to help the family, life soon became impossible under Nazi rule. Lang's father was deported to Dachau in 1938 and his mother and two sisters followed in 1941. Hugo's brother, Manfred Fred Lang, was saved by his employer, who transferred him to England in late 1938 when it became clear that Jews were no longer safe in Germany. Fred emigrated to the U. S. in 1940, and Hugo (whose uncle, merchant Isadore Lang, arranged a visa for him), followed in 1941.
Lang was inducted into the U. S. Army in December of 1943 and served in Europe, where he was responsible for interrogating German Prisoners of War and translating the information he obtained into English for use by American troops. He was captured in Ardennes and sent to the Bad Orb POW camp. In order to escape being killed for being Jewish, Lang threw away his dog tags and gave his captors a false name. He was liberated in April of 1945 and honorably discharged in November.
Shortly after he was liberated, Lang learned that, with the exception of one sister, his entire family had been murdered in the concentration camps. He and Fred brought their surviving sister to the United States in 1947. Hugo Lang attended vocational school and went on to become a machinist. He married Inge [last name unknown] on 18 July 1948, and the couple settled in New Jersey.
Arrangement
Collection consists of twelve folders.
Acquisition Note
Hugo Lang donated these papers to the University of Tennessee Libraries, Knoxville, Special Collections in November of 2003.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository