Ralph Gerhart Albrecht is Born

Today in Masonic History Ralph Gerhart Albrecht is born in 1896.

Ralph Gerhart Albrecht was an American lawyer.

Albrecht was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on August 11th, 1896. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919. He went on to Harvard University where he graduated with a law degree in 1923.

In 1924, Albrecht became a New York State Attorney. From 1924 to 1939 he represented United States plaintiffs in the Black Tom and Kingsland explosions. The two events happened prior to the United States entering World War I. Both events involved fires and explosions at ammunition factories in New Jersey. The accusation was German agents caused both fires. They were cleared in the Kingsland explosion. In the Black Tom explosion, they were found to have been responsible.

From 1941 to 1945, during World War II, Albrecht served as a commander in the United States Navy. He served as a Naval Observer in London, England and in the pacific theater.

After the war, Albrecht served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) as the assistant director of the war crimes division. Working with the United States Attorney's Office, Albrecht served as part of the prosecution at the Nuremberg Trials. The Nuremberg Trials involved the prosecution of Nazi war criminals from the political, military and industrial sectors of German society.

After the Nuremberg trials, in 1956, Albrecht donated the money to establish the Manley O. Hudson Medal that is given out by the American Society for International Law (ASIL).

Albrecht passed away on September 27th, 1985.

Albrecht was a member of Dalhousie Lodge in Newtonville, Massachusetts.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.