Elisabeth Hardy facts for kids
Elisabeth Hardy (born Elisabeth Mary Stewart; August 3, 1923 – July 21, 2016) was a very important translator during World War II. She helped decode secret messages at a place called Bletchley Park. Later, she used her skills to help with the Nuremberg Trials, which were big court cases after the war.
A Life of Important Translations
Elisabeth Hardy, whose maiden name was Elisabeth Mary Stewart, was born on August 3, 1923. She was very good at languages, especially German. She studied Modern Languages at Glasgow University in Scotland.
Secret Work at Bletchley Park
During World War II, from 1942 to 1945, Elisabeth worked at a super-secret place called Bletchley Park. This was where brilliant people worked to break enemy codes. Elisabeth was part of a special group called Hut 3.
Her job was to translate secret messages from the Nazi government and the German air force, called the Luftwaffe. These messages were first decoded by others. Her translations helped the Allies understand what the enemy was planning. This work was very important for winning the war.
Helping at the Nuremberg Trials
After the war ended, Elisabeth continued her important work. From 1945 to 1948, she served as an expert during the Nuremberg Trials. These trials were held to bring justice to important Nazi leaders after World War II.
Elisabeth provided valuable information about how the Nazi government was organized. She also helped with German translation during the court cases. Her knowledge was crucial for understanding documents and testimonies.
During her time at the Nuremberg Trials, Elisabeth met Alexander G. Hardy. He was a senior prosecutor from the United States. They fell in love and got married. After their marriage, Elisabeth moved to the United States.
