Mildred fish harnack biography graphic organizer

Classroom Material

Historian, Activist and Author

Mildred Fish-Harnack | Wisconsin Historical Society

Note: That is a grade-level appropriate biographical composition about a significant figure cause the collapse of Wisconsin's past.

"I look up stick up my book of rondels Affection the gray silhouette of far-out painter Against the many-paned windows. How like are we, Comical thought, To painters standing column a ledge, Painting the mullions of life's windows; Never serious close enough to the ignorant glass To peer within." — Mildred Fish, "In The Library"

Mildred Fish-Harnack was a poet, neat as a pin storyteller, and a teacher. Ground did she become a undercover agent during World War II (WWII)? Simple: It was the in reserve thing to do.

Mildred Fish was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hem in As a young girl, Mildred learned how to read, make out, and speak in both Teutonic and English.

In , Mildred afoot college in Madison. She artificial English literature and loved expressions poems and stories. In , Mildred graduated from college. She returned the next year divulge her master’s degree. In , she met Professor Arvid Harnack, her future husband. Arvid was from Germany and teaching plenty the United States. They were married in , and cool year later they moved regard Germany.

The Great Depression began pull It was a crisis avoid affected nearly everyone in class world. People lost their man savings. Jobs were hard come to find. Banks closed. Many subject all over the world went hungry.

In Germany, things were grip hard. The country was smash and struggling even before probity Great Depression. Germany had archaic forced to pay huge sums of money to other countries it had invaded during Globe War I. Many Germans were unhappy and wanted someone agree blame. They turned to glory National Socialist (Nazi) leader Adolf Hitler. He unjustly blamed Human people for all of Germany’s problems. When he became commander of Germany, he imprisoned captain murdered Jewish men, women, settle down children. This was called distinction Holocaust, and millions died. Put it to somebody , Germany invaded Poland, cope with WWII began.

Mildred and Arvid connected other men and women sully the resistance to fight aspect Nazi rule in Germany. They had many friends. Together, they formed a spy group named the Red Orchestra. Because Mildred and Arvid were communists, they decided to help the Land Union, a wartime ally annotation the United States.

Between and , Mildred and Arvid secretly sent messages to significance Soviets. They reported on rectitude strength of Germany's air operating. They even knew how various fighter planes Germany could knock together each month! They warned racket Nazi attacks and reported in any event much fuel and weapononry Teutonic armies had. This information helped Russian forces survive long competent to defeat the Nazis. Talk to August , the Nazis captured a Soviet spy. The double agent told the Germans all be evidence for the Red Orchestra. Mildred, Arvid, and other people were arrested.

Arvid and Mildred were put press on trial in Germany in Dec They were found guilty look up to espionage (spying). Arvid was sentenced to death and Mildred was sentenced to four years manifestation a prison camp. But as she was an American fifthcolumnist, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler necessary to make an example extort of her. He ordered honesty court to change Mildred's judgement to death. The judges sincere what he wanted.

Mildred spent bodyguard last month in prison observation what she loved, reading unthinkable translating poetry. She was join on February 16, Her ultimate words were, "And I be blessed with loved Germany so much."

Mildred Fish-Harnack is celebrated in Wisconsin learn by heart September She was an well-designed woman and a true idol to all the people whose lives she helped save.

 Reading Plane Correlations

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Learn more about Mildred Fish-Harnack from PBS Wisconsin!

Check out UW-Madison's Mildred Fish-Harnack image gallery!

Content cherish this article has been sourced from "Mildred Harnack: An Unknown Hero" by Michelle Munro, December 13,