Special "Central history" episode.
We normally talk about Omaha Central teachers, but we had such a great opportunity to talk about CHS Hall of Famer John Pehle (CHS 1926) with historian Rebecca Erbelding.
John attended Creighton and Yale Law School before starting at the Treasury Department under Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr. . During WWII, John advocated for, and then ran, the War Refugee Board to try and rescue as many people from Nazi-occupied Europe as possible. This was the only official effort of its kind among the allied nations in WWII.
"I consider myself fortunate to have been asked to serve our Government in conducting an emergency program of relief and rescue of the persecuted minorities of Europe. It has been a rewarding experience. It has given me a chance to reduce a shocking injustice, if only by a minute amount. I wish I could do more."
-John Pehle in a letter to his former Creighton
professor, 1944
Dr. Erbelding is a historian and curator at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC and the author of Rescue Board, a story of how the War Refugee Board (under the direction John Pehle) helped save tens of thousands of human lives in WWII Europe. She regularly speaks to Central students about the Holocaust and about her work as a historian. She consulted and was interviewed on Ken Burns' 2022 film "The US and the Holocaust".
(2:18) researching the WRB
(5:33) John Pehle's backstory
(7:41) Treasury Department: Pehle and Secretary Morgenthau
(14:41) 1944: Pehle convinces FDR to act
(17:39) WRB gets to work saving lives
(28:32) Pehle after WWII
(36:40) Dr. Erbelding's next project
Host: Scott Wilson
Art: Beth Wilson
Music and audio tech assist: Drew Ruchti
Thanks for listening to the show! "Chatting at the C" is supported by the Omaha Central High School Foundation. Consider supporting the CHSF by joining "Generation C"
