Howard Triest
Howie Triest | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 29, 1923 |
| Died | May 11, 2016 (aged 93) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Known for | Translator during the Nuremberg Trials |
| Conflicts | |
| Spouse | Anita Triest |
| Children | 2 |
Sergeant Howard Triest ("Howie", born Hans Heinz Triest; March 29, 1923 – May 11, 2016) was a German-born United States Army soldier who served in World War II. He is most noted for serving as an interpreter on the Allied psychiatrist team during the Nuremberg trials.
Early and personal life
Triest was born in Munich on March 29, 1923, to Ly/Lina (Westheimer) and Berthold Triest, the older of two children. His father was a businessman.[1][2] After the Nazis came to power and antisemitism grew in Germany the Triests, a Jewish family, departed for Luxembourg on August 31, 1939, a day before the invasion of Poland. Attempting to travel to the United States, they could only afford to send Howie. His younger sister, Margot, went to Switzerland before moving to the United States.[3] Ly and Berthold Triest, who were supposed to leave for the United States from Rotterdam the day Hitler invaded the Netherlands, were transferred to a French prison camp and later died either at or en route to Auschwitz.[1][4]
Triest eventually married and, with his wife Anita, had two sons.[5]
Arrival in the United States and wartime service
Triest arrived in New York in 1940, where he went to work at a tool factory. He attempted to enlist in the army several times but was denied on account of not being a United States citizen.[4] He eventually succeeded in 1943 and obtained his citizenship shortly afterwards.[3] He was posted to Europe, landing on Omaha Beach two days after D-Day as a machine gunner.[4] He was eventually transferred to military intelligence owing to his knowledge of German.[3]
After his discharge in the summer of 1945, Triest joined the Department of War, where he was sent to Nuremberg as an interpreter, working for Leon Goldensohn and Douglas Kelley.[1] He later interacted with and interpreted between psychiatrists and several top Nazi officials, including Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess and Julius Streicher.[3]
Death and legacy
Triest died in Oak Park, Michigan on May 11, 2016, at the age of 93. Triest later became the subject of a 2006 documentary Journey to Justice and the 2012 book Inside Nuremberg Prison by Helen Fry.[6] He was portrayed by Leo Woodall in the 2025 film Nuremberg.
References
- ^ a b c "Holocaust Survivor Profile: Howard Triest". Portraits of Honor - Documenting Michigan's Holocaust Survivors. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ^ https://aish.com/inside_the_nuremberg_mind/
- ^ a b c d "Jewish US army translator who got close to the Nazis". BBC News. 2011-09-19. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ^ a b c HUISKING, CHARLIE. "'Journey to Justice'". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ^ "HOWARD TRIEST - View Obituary & Shiva Information". HOWARD TRIEST Obituary. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ^ "Andrew Lownie Literary Agency :: Book :: Inside Nuremberg Prison". Andrew Lownie Literary Agency. Retrieved 2025-10-28.