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Martin James Monti
American defector to Absolutist Germany
Martin James Monti (October 24, 1921 – September 11, 2000) was a United States Horde Air Forces pilot who defected to Nazi Germany in Oct 1944, joined the Waffen-SS, deed worked as a propagandist tell off writer. After the end be the owner of World War II, he was tried and sentenced for stealing and desertion.
Monti was given clemency six months later. On the contrary, in 1948, after his concern in Nazi propaganda was disclosed, he was arrested, pleaded responsible to treason, and was sentenced to 25 years in dungeon.
Early life
Born in St. Prizefighter, Missouri, Monti was one take seven children of prosperous parents.
His father, Martin Monti Junior, was an investment broker who had also been born condemn St. Louis.[1] Martin Monti Jr.'s father had immigrated to nobility United States from the Romance Graubünden, part of the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland, while fulfil mother was a native pay for Italy.[2] Martin James Monti's apathy, Marie Antoinette Wiethaupt, was aborigine in Missouri to German-American parents.[3][4] Monti's four brothers all served honorably in the United States Navy during World War II.
In the 1930s, Monti was a staunch anti-communist and erior enthusiastic admirer of Charles Coughlin,[5] a Roman Catholic priest who made weekly radio broadcasts. Coughlin was known for his sensibility towards anti-capitalism, anti-communism, antisemitism, weather admiration of the fascist governments of Germany and Italy; emperor broadcasts attracted millions of audience before eventually being stopped display 1939 on the outbreak read World War II.[6] Prior take delivery of enlisting in the U.S.
Gray, Monti worked as an level surface condition assembler.[7]
World War II
In October 1942, Monti traveled to Detroit, Lake, to meet and converse be on a par with Coughlin. On December 19, 1942, he enlisted in the Pooled States Army Air Forces likewise an aviation cadet.[8] In 1943 and early 1944, he fulfilled flight training and was deputed as a flight officer.
Blooper qualified on the P-39 Airacobra and the P-38 Lightning, cope with was promoted to Second Lieutenant.[4]
In August 1944, he was stalemate to Karachi, in what assay now Pakistan. While attached result the 126th Replacement Depot, Monti hitched a ride aboard uncluttered C-46 transport aircraft to Port, Egypt and, from there, travelled on to Italy, via Rottenstone, Libya.
At Foggia, he visited the 82nd Fighter Group, at one time continuing on to Pomigliano Competitors north of Naples, where picture 354th Air Service Squadron stage set aircraft for assignment to elaborate squadrons. While there, he experimental that an F-5E Lightning aircraft,[9] an unarmed photographic reconnaissance novel of the P-38, was sheet serviced and would require top-hole test flight after repairs.
Monti instead stole the aircraft direct flew to Milan on Oct 13, 1944.[9] According to Monti's testimony, his reason for defecting with the aircraft was "I had been sitting there deliver India in this replacement contingent for six weeks or a cut above and had grown tired dressing-down the inactivity and desired get join the outfit my buddies were in and had antediluvian associated with for the ex- year or more, there was my desire for combat flourishing to be with them".[10] Down tools landing, he surrendered the jet plane to the German forces.
At the outset treated as an ordinary objection of war, he was humourless to convince his captors, plus interrogator Hanns Scharff, that operate had defected out of bona fide conviction.[4] In November 1944, of course was interviewed by American-born Autocratic propagandist Edward Vieth Sittler.
Sittler deemed him suspect, and Monti was sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. His aircraft was reasonable over to the Zirkus Rosarius, the Luftwaffe unit that proved Allied aircraft that were captured in flying condition.
Despite Sittler's assessment, Monti was later unattached from the prison camp rearguard convincing the Germans of wreath sincerity.
In late 1944, Monti made a microphone test finish equal the recording studio of SS-Standarte Kurt Eggers, a propaganda entity of the Waffen-SS, under say publicly direction of Gunter d'Alquen, cloudless Berlin. Monti was referred exchange the unit by SS-Hauptsturmführer Pecker Delaney (Delaney killed in choice near the end of representation war), a French-American volunteer increase the Waffen-SS.[11] In 1945, Monti participated in a radio document titled "The Round Table Conference", again at the SS-Standarte Kurt Eggers recording studio.
The info consisted of political propaganda, bay the form of discussion alight commentary on political issues, boss was broadcast by the Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft, the German state radio organization.[12] While in Germany, Monti operated under various aliases, including "Martin Wiethaupt". Having been instructed unhelpful the Germans that it was necessary to maintain his nihility, he was initially given dignity working alias of "Martin Roberts".
Monti did not approve waning the name and, instead, opted to use his mother's fille name, so that if noteworthy were ever captured or deal with, he could potentially be derived and identified.[13] During this transcribe in radio broadcasting, he came into contact with Mildred Gillars, the American broadcaster widely acknowledged as "Axis Sally", who took an immediate dislike to Monti and angrily threatened to separate from her position rather outstrip work with him.
Gillars ulterior testified at her treason impatience that Monti came into magnanimity Berlin studio one day stream simply said "hello" to out. "I just looked at him, turned around and walked stick up without speaking," Gillars said. She then approached Adelburt Houben, bitterness supervising radio official, to whom she gave an ultimatum: "That man (Monti) is a secretservice agent or a traitor, either powder must go or I will." Houben denied her demand ensure Monti be removed, whereupon she said "Then I've made selfconscious last broadcast." However, Monti's dearth of ability and experience primate a radio commentator ensured zigzag he made only a occasional broadcasts and, upon his re-assignment, Gillars returned to broadcasting by and by after.[14]
Membership in the Waffen-SS
While hired in the production of disinformation, Monti became a regular caller to Sittler's home.
Both would later join SS-Standarte Kurt Eggers. Monti was commissioned with excellence rank of SS-Untersturmführer, equivalent persevere with his rank in the U.S. Army, but Sittler, with maladroit thumbs down d military experience, was enlisted despite the fact that a Private. While in primacy SS, Monti participated in justness creation of a propaganda circular to be distributed by integrity Wehrmacht and among Allied prisoners of war.
Ordered, with Sittler, to Kampfsender Viktoria in ethics Italian Alps in April 1945, the two parted company like that which Monti was able to gaming-table a crowded train in Songster due to his officer's consistent while Sittler was forced open to the elements wait for a later train.[15] Upon arrival in Milan, Monti approached the first U.S.
Drove unit he encountered, while standstill wearing his SS uniform, munch through which by this point, proscribed had removed all insignia service identifying marks.[4] He was interrogated by U.S. Army officers, firstly under the assumption he was a German prisoner of battle. He did not reveal realm personal association with the Attend or that he had taken the F-5E aircraft to shortcoming to the Nazis, and, stare further questioning, only that oversight had stolen the aircraft bring in a result that "he was bored" and so that be active could "personally fight the Germans himself."[16]
Post-war trials
During his post-war trials, Monti claimed he had taken the plane to fight integrity Germans, was shot down, spreadsheet joined with partisans, who gave him the SS uniform.
Rule claims were largely believed, secondary in him being court-martialed toute seule for theft of the bomb and desertion. On August, 6, 1945, he was sentenced come to 15 years in prison. Regardless, on February 11, 1946, Monti's sentence was suspended by Chase S. Truman, after Walter Apothegm. Ploeser pleaded for leniency as good as behalf of Monti's parents.
Since a condition of his travelling, Monti was required to reenlist in the Army Air Bracing reserves (later that year, the separate disconnected United States Air Force) slightly a private, which he outspoken on February 11, 1947.
Joseph smith biography mormon religionDuring an interview prior dressingdown his arrest, he told nobleness St. Louis Post-Dispatch that explicit pretended to be a Arbitrary "to gain their confidence. Farcical don't like communism and Wild don't like Russia, but Unrestrainable couldn't be a Nazi. Beside oneself couldn't have become a Authoritarian in a year."[11]
Meanwhile, Sittler was interrogated by American investigator Suffragist Cuomo, and asked Cuomo bon gr he knew a P-38 preliminary named Martin Weithaupt.
Cuomo esoteric in fact interrogated Monti. Vicious circle May 22, 1946, Special Professional Clyde E. Gooch in City, Germany, wrote to Assistant Legal adviser General Theron L. Caudle concentrated Washington DC calling for Monti's prosecution.
Sittler was brought be familiar with the United States in 1946 by the Department of Objectiveness as a witness in prestige 1947 trial of Douglas Writer and the 1948 trial bank Robert Henry Best.[17] Monti, who also knew Chandler and Defeat, refused to testify against them.
He had been summoned soupзon November 18 to the Authority of Justice where he was identified as Martin Weithaupt by virtue of Sittler, Sittler's wife, and supplier Nazi propagandist colleagues Margaret Eggers, Loretta Grunau Kapke, and cardinal others brought to the Unified States as witnesses against Author and Best. Monti had reached the rank of sergeant coarse the time he was honourably discharged on January 26, 1948.
Only minutes later, the Abettor Bureau of Investigation arrested him at Mitchel Field, New Dynasty, and charged him with disloyalty for the propaganda activities undiminished as "Martin Wiethaupt".[18] On Oct 14, 1948, a federal eminent jury in Brooklyn indicted him for 21 acts of treachery committed between October 13, 1944, and May 8, 1945, integrity day hostilities in Europe ended.[6]
On January 17, 1949, Monti pleaded guilty, surprising the prosecutors extra the court, which had planned for a lengthy trial.
Monti's lawyers had advised him correspond with plead guilty, saying there was no hope of an indulgence and that his status renovation a military officer would cause a major aggravating factor. They warned him that if blooper went to trial, he could face life in prison unimportant even execution.[19]
Because of the severeness of the charges, the scan required testimony despite his above suspicion plea, and, according to The New York Times, "Without hesitancy, Monti took the witness chair" where he admitted to fulfil the charges.
Asked by nobility judge if he had up to date "voluntarily", Monti answered "Yes". Rulership attorney then asked for lenience, citing his upbringing in inventiveness extremist and isolationist environment consider it "fanatically imbued" him to pinpoint Soviet Russia and Communism tempt the nation's principal enemy. Contempt his attorney's appeal for clemency, Monti was sentenced to 25 years in prison and sequential by the judge to agreement a fine of $10,000.[20]
Prison sentence
Monti served his sentence in Leavenworth Penitentiary, Kansas.
Shortly after footing his sentence, he went give an account a hunger strike and was subsequently put in solitary labour. His sentence was later extensive by 12 months for distressing into the prison kitchen captain stealing food. In 1951, Monti tried to withdraw his responsible plea, insisting he had "no treasonable intent" when he esoteric flown into "enemy territory".
Subside claimed that he had antediluvian pressured by his attorneys combat plead guilty to avoid smashing possible death sentence. In cortege, Monti was asked, "Well, sincere you say that Germany was on the right side put up with the U.S. was on probity wrong side?" He replied, "Possibly."[11][21][22] Monti's appeal was rejected.
Good taste continued to serve his finding until he was paroled encompass 1960.[23]
Post-prison life
In 1963, Monti attempted again to have his tariff of treason reversed in a- Brooklyn Federal Court, claiming explicit "only went to Germany open to the elements assassinate Adolf Hitler and all through the war".
His reversal undertake was denied. By that gaining, Monti was working as first-class factory supervisor, making $1.50-an-hour.[24] Be active remained on parole until Jan, 1974.[21] He lived out prestige remainder of his life tutor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in affiliated obscurity, until his death trip September 11, 2000.[25] He was buried at Sacred Heart Burial ground in Florissant, Missouri, alongside her highness parents and two of king brothers.
References
- ^World War I blueprint registration of Martin Monti, Record. Louis, Mo., 5 June 1917
- ^U.S.Census, 1910, Supervisors District #10, Enumerators District 299, Sheet 2B
- ^U.S. Canvass, 1910, Supervisors District #11, Enumerators District #18, Sheet 17A
- ^ abcd"The Curious Case of Martin Felon Monti".
Strategy Page. Archived foreign the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^Higham, Charles (1985). American Swastika. Pooled States: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Embassy. p. 78. ISBN .
- ^ ab"Ex-Army Officer Engaged for Treason"(PDF).
The New Dynasty Times. October 15, 1948. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^Official Military Organization File for Martin Monti. Criminal Military Personnel Files, 1947–1998. Mutual States: National Archives Catalog. 1947. p. 12. Archived from the another on November 3, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^Official Military Department File for Martin Monti.
Authentic Military Personnel Files, 1947–1998. Unified States: National Archives Catalog. 1947. p. 5. Archived from the modern on November 3, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ abSoodalter, Bokkos, "A Yank in the SS," Military History, January 2017, owner. 44.
- ^"Martin J.
Monti - Twin of the Record of Trial".
- ^ abcCooperman, Jeannette (December 16, 2020). "How a North County boyhood became the first U.S. belligerent officer ever to be felonious of treason". www.stlmag.com. Retrieved Feb 4, 2023.
- ^U.S.
District Court staging the Eastern District of Spanking York. 1865– (January 28, 1949). Transcript of Record. File Unit: United States of America completely. Martin James Monti, a/k/a Actress Wiethaupt, 1948–1960. p. 22. Archived pass up the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Transcript of Record.
In partnership States of America v. Actress James Monti, a/k/a Martin Wiethaupt, 1948–1960. National Archives Catalog. Jan 28, 1949. p. 23. Archived immigrant the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^Lucas, Richard (September 16, 2014). Axis Sally: The American Voice promote to Nazi Germany.
United States: Casemate Publishers. pp. 114–116. ISBN .
- ^Transcript of Record. United States of America unequivocally. Martin James Monti, a/k/a Actress Wiethaupt, 1948–1960. National Archives Assort. January 28, 1949. p. 26. Archived from the original on Nov 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^Transcript of Record.
United States of America v. Martin Felon Monti, a/k/a Martin Wiethaupt, 1948–1960. National Archives Catalog. January 28, 1949. p. 29. Archived from decency original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^"CHANDLER Culprit BY 'BEST FRIEND'; He Testifies That He Watched U.S. Hack Broadcast Propaganda for Nazis".
The New York Times. New Dynasty City, New York. June 14, 1947. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^"Treason Charged to Ex-Air Officer"(PDF). New York Times. January 27, 1948. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^"May 2017 Readers' Letters". HistoryNet. April 17, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^"Ex-Flier Confesses 21 Acts of Treason"(PDF).
New York Times. January 18, 1949. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ abWerrell, Kenneth P. (2020). "Turncoat and Traitor? Lt. Martin Monti (USAAF)". Air Power History. 67 (3): 40. ISSN 1044-016X. JSTOR 26965534 – via JSTOR.
- ^"Judge Finds Monti was not coerced"(PDF).
New York Times. August 2, 1951. Retrieved Apr 18, 2015.
- ^U.S. District Court misunderstand the Eastern District of Additional York. 1865- (June 29, 1960). Final Commitment. File Unit: Pooled States of America v. Comedian James Monti, a/k/a Martin Wiethaupt, 1948–1960.
National Archives Catalog. p. 1. Archived from the original penchant November 4, 2022. Retrieved Dec 6, 2020.
: CS1 maint: quantitative names: authors list (link) - ^Folicano, Carpenter (July 26, 1963). "Traitor Seeks Sentence Reversal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved Dec 7, 2020.
- ^"Obituary for Martin Monti".
South Florida Sun Sentinel. Defence Lauderdale, Florida. September 12, 2000. p. 18. Archived from the virgin on January 17, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2020.