Evening star., 1949-02-01
Actor 1estifies
TO Miss Gi||ars'
Broadcast Role
Son in Nozi Program
Offered as Eyewitness
To Act of Treason
By jones J. cuIlinone


played the role of the soldier son
in a Nazi propaganda broadcast
by Miss Mildred E. Gillars, 4s,
pointed her out in District Court
today as a traitor to her country.
The actor. Ulrich Haupt, SO, was
called to testify as the first of the
two eyewitnesses to an overt act
of treason which the law requires
the Government to produce before
it can ask for Miss Gillars' convic-
ton.
Ten overt acts of treason, all
steming from her wartime Axis
Sally broadcasts for the Germans,
are charged against the gray-haired
defendant.
Vision of INVASION" radio
melodrama in which Haupt ap-
peared with Axis Sally, is the most
dramatic of the recordings of her
wartime broadcasts which the Gov
ernment has produced as evidence
at her treason trial. 1t was broad
cast from Berlin a month before
American troops landed on the coast
of Normandy.
In the program Miss Gillars
played the role of an American
mother who dreams of the death
of her son in the invasion and
Historically screams denunciations
Of those responsible for the slaughter
OF invasion troops.
Acted in Berlin Theaters.
Haupt testified he was born in
Chicago in 1915 and lived in this
country until 1880, when his father,
also an actor, was killed in an
accident in Los Angeles. His moth
er, German, took him back to her
homeland, Haupt testified, and he
studied at the Royal Academy Of
Acting in Berlin and later appeared
in legitimate theaters in the Ger
man capital.
He returned to this country in
l946 after applying for American
citizenship. Haupt, who now lives
in New York, said he never Joined
the Nazi party.
Haupt was the first of two German
actors who were to testify that Miss
Gillars appeared on the Nazi pro-
gram. The second is George Helm
rich Schnell, who may appear later
today. A group of prisoners of war
also are on hand to testify.
Testif1es Mother Was Jewish,
Haupt testified that his mothers
name was Anna Boehmer and that
she was Jewish.
DO you regard yourself as o
Jew?" Defense Counsel James j.
Laughlin asked under cross-exam-
ination.
mo. sir" Haupt replied.
How were you regarded in Ger
many?"
LAS not Jew"
Did you oppose the Nazis?"
Il certainly did as far as pos
sible."
When Mr. Laughlin asked Haupt
to specify his opposition, Judge Ed
ward M. Curran ir1tervened to say
that line Of questioning had gone
far enough.
Haupt said in 1886 when Germans
his age were called into the army
he was detailed to the theater.
ut was like being under gen.
eral,' he explained. Il couldn't 60
anywhere, not even leave town with
out permission. 1 had to do as I
was told. Instead of a general I had
the director of the theater over me-"
Knew 1t Was Propaganda.
What would have happened II
you had refused to do what you were
told?" Mr.. Laughlin asked.
MY mother would have been sent
to a concentration camp" Haupt
replied. My wife and three chill
dren would have been sent to con-
centration camps. I, too, would
have been sent to a concentration
camp"
And you might have been shot?"
That would have been very mild"
the witness replied.
Haupt said the program in which
he appeared with Miss Gillars was
typical of the dramatic. perform
ances he was forced to give for the
Nazis against his will.
But you knew you were partici-
pating in Na1 propaganda, didn't
you?" Mr.. Laughlin asked.
"Oh, yes sir" Haupt replied.
Everything you did in Germany
was participating in propaganda
whether you were playing in clas-
sizes or playing flute. Everything
was co-ordinated to fit their pur-
pose"
Called Proof of Overt Act.
Haupt explained that he was not
aware until 1916 that his birth in
the United States entitled him to
claim American citizenship.
Il always had been a German
citizen" he said. When I read in
the papers that I could apply for
American citizenship, Immediately
applied and was granted my citi-
(see AXIS SALLY, Page A-6D