George Arnstein

Born in Germany, George Arnstein and his family immigrated to the United States in 1938 to escape the rising threat of the Nazis. Arnstein had extended family in San Francisco, California, which was needed to immigrate from Germany. Before the family left Germany, his father, as a Jew, was taken to Dachau. After 3 weeks George's dad was released, either due to his time served in World War I or lack of room. The family embarked to the U.S. on Christmas Eve. Arnstein finished high school in America. 

He later served with the U.S. Army’s 76th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (mechanized) in the European Theater, including the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Arnstein went on to earn a B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley. Arnstein shares his memories of his early childhood in Germany, his experiences as an "enemy alien" in San Francisco, his service from mounted cavalry basic training to the Battle of the Bulge, and much more. 

Courtesy of the Friends of the World War II Memorial