John H. Hilldring
Encyclopedia
John Henry Hilldring was a United States
General
during World War II
and served as Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas
from 1946 to 1947.
in 1895. He was of Swedish descent
. He was educated at the University of Connecticut
, graduating in 1918. He served in the United States Army
during World War I
, with the rank of First Lieutenant
. He saw action in France
and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
.
Hilldring went on to become a career officer
in the Army. In this capacity, he was posted in the Philippines
. In 1936, he was appointed to the General Staff
of the United States Army. With the U.S.' entry into World War II
, Hilldring became Assistant Chief of Staff of the United States Army
in 1942. With the rank of Major General
, he became the commanding general of the 84th Division later in 1942. In 1943, he became the Chief of the Army's Civil Affairs Division. In this capacity, he served as a U.S. delegate at the Potsdam Conference
. Hilldring retired from the Army in 1946.
On April 12, 1946, President of the United States
nominated Hilldring to be Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas
. He was sworn in on April 17, 1946, and held office until August 31, 1947.
In 1950, Hilldring became foreign-operations manager of General Aniline & Film, a Swiss chemical firm that was seized by the U.S. during World War II on suspicion of Nazi domination. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1954, and became the company's president in 1955.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served as Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas
Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas
The Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas oversaw the Office of Occupied Areas, which was created by the United States Department of State on April 8, 1946 to coordinate its activities in Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea...
from 1946 to 1947.
Biography
John H. Hilldring was born in New Rochelle, New YorkNew Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
in 1895. He was of Swedish descent
Swedish American
Swedish Americans are Americans of Swedish descent, especially the descendants of about 1.2 million immigrants from Sweden during 1885-1915. Most were Lutherans who affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ; some were Methodists...
. He was educated at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, graduating in 1918. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, with the rank of First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
. He saw action in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
.
Hilldring went on to become a career officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Army. In this capacity, he was posted in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. In 1936, he was appointed to the General Staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
of the United States Army. With the U.S.' entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Hilldring became Assistant Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
in 1942. With the rank of Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
, he became the commanding general of the 84th Division later in 1942. In 1943, he became the Chief of the Army's Civil Affairs Division. In this capacity, he served as a U.S. delegate at the Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany, from 16 July to 2 August 1945. Participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
. Hilldring retired from the Army in 1946.
On April 12, 1946, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
nominated Hilldring to be Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas
Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas
The Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas oversaw the Office of Occupied Areas, which was created by the United States Department of State on April 8, 1946 to coordinate its activities in Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea...
. He was sworn in on April 17, 1946, and held office until August 31, 1947.
In 1950, Hilldring became foreign-operations manager of General Aniline & Film, a Swiss chemical firm that was seized by the U.S. during World War II on suspicion of Nazi domination. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1954, and became the company's president in 1955.
Works by John H. Hilldring
- "What is Our Purpose in Germany?", The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (January 1948)
- "The Common Market", The International Executive (Summer 1960)