Jack Kotthoff World War II Papers

Collection

Identifier: M/A 0387

Staff Only

Description of Contents

This collection consists of a scrapbook compiled by Jack Kotthoff during his European service in World War II and documents from the Battery C 217th and Battery B 49th veterans' organization from the late 1940s to the early 2000s.

The scrapbook contains black and white photographs and other mementos of Kotthoff's service in Iceland, Scotland, England, France, Belgium, and the Rhineland. Documents from the veterans' organization are chiefly annual reunion minutes and mailing lists.

Dates

Creation: 1941 - 2003

Creator

Kotthoff, Jack M. (Person)

Access Restrictions

The collection is available for use in Special Collections at Minneapolis Central Library during the department's open hours.

Biography

John Mark "Jack" Kotthoff was born on January 3, 1916 to John and Julia (Eckstein) Kotthoff. In 1925, the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where young Jack attended St. Elizabeth's Catholic School. He graduated from South High SChool in 1934.

In 1941, Jack Kotthoff was drafted into the U.S. Army. He began his training at Fort Snelling before being transferred to California. In August 1942, he was sent to Iceland. After 15 months, his unit was sent to Scotland and then England. After D-Day, he served in France, Belgium, and the Rhineland. Kotthoff was a maintenance mechanic and 2nd class gunner in the Battery B 49th. After the war, Kotthoff returned home to Minneapolis

Jack Kotthoff died January 10, 2003, and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.