Case by Case by Ib Melchior

[Will]

Not long ago I found this volume from 1993 in a used book store (although it remains in print in paperback) and it was one of the most interesting books on the Second World War that I have read in several years!

 

Melchior was born and raised in Europe and came to the United States as a young man before the war. When the conflict arrived, he volunteered for the service. In light of his fluency in multiple languages and his European backround he was recruited fro service in the OSS. After training, it happened that the operation in which he was to take part was taken over by the British, and Melchior then found himself assigned to the Counter-Intelligence Corps. He served with the American Army in Europe, gathering intelligence from German prisoners, hunting saboteurs, and searching for war criminals. The entire account is utterly fascinating and, at times, outright funny.

 

As a collelctor I was particularly interested in what Melchior wrote regarding the uniform he wore as a CIC officer.

Branch insignia? None. He simply wore the officer's "U.S." devices on his shirt collar or jacket lapels.

Shoulder insignia? He wore the patch of the Army Corps from which his CIC unit operated.

Rank insignia? Again, none. The ranks of CIC officers were classified.

Before reading this, if I found a named officer's tunic at a flea market with a Corps patch and no branch or rank insignia, I would have simply passed it by, even if it was darn cheap. But now if I ever see such a tunic I will immediately wonder "Could he have been CIC? Might be worth getting and trying to research!"

 

Melchior also refers several times in the book to souvenirs that he took, including a Walther pistol that had been presented by Hitler to a senior Nazi Party official. That official used the pistol to first shoot at Melchior, and to then shoot himself as he was about to be arrested. Another souvenir was a camera that Melchior used during the war to take a number of photos that illustrate the book. What became of that camera is a particularly great story! The book was published in 1993 after Melchior and his wife took a trip through France and Germany, re-visiting the places, and even the same buildings, where he had served as a CIC officer.

 

There are numerous interesting accounts in this book. The book is written in a fine narrative style, which is not surprising since Melchior went on to become a noted author of fiction, particularly science fiction, and his body of work included numerous stories, teleplays, and screenplays, with some of the "B" films that he wrote apparently becoming "classics" to the dedicated fans of science fiction movies.

 

I really can't reccomend this book too highly. Apparently it is available new in paperback fro the big internet sellers for about $20.

[SFC]

Yeah Melchior is one of many Danes who serve in the allied forces during WWII....

I read it in his native language and as Will said a very interesting book.

Henrik