Hans L. Trefousse

Hans Louis Trefousse (December 18, 1921, Frankfurt/Main, Germany – January 8, 2010, Staten Island, New York was a German-born American author and historian of the Reconstruction Era and World War II.[3] Trefousse was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1935 (at age 13) as his parents fled the increasingly totalitarian Nazi regime.[2] He also participated in the Liberation of Paris, and in Leipzig saved hundreds of lives by arguing for 11 hours with a Nazi commander holed with many troops, convincing him to surrender to Allied forces.After encountering racist incidents in New York City, he switched focus, publishing a biography, Ben Butler: The South Called Him Beast!He continued to teach at Brooklyn College and published many books on the Reconstruction era, including biographies of previously maligned Radical Republicans Benjamin F. Wade and Thaddeus Stevens, as well as Presidents Andrew Johnson and Rutherford B. Hayes.
Intelligence officer and interrogator Hans L. Trefousse with the Nazi German Hummel self-propelled gun he convinced the crew of to surrender to the Allies. Near Wurzen, Germany.
City College New YorkColumbia UniversityFrankfurt/MainReconstruction EraWorld War IIBrooklyn CollegeGraduate Center of the City University of New YorkPhi Beta KappaNew York City CollegeU.S. ArmyLeipzigGI BillBen ButlerNew Orleans, LouisianaAmerican Civil WarBenjamin F. WadeThaddeus StevensAndrew JohnsonRutherford B. HayesBill ClintonCarl SchurzPearl HarborAndreas W. DaumJames J. SheehanHartmut LehmannFox, MargalitThe New York TimesC-SPAN