Michael Keogh (soldier) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Captain Michael Keogh
Birth name	Michael Patrick Keogh
Born	Apr/Jun 1891 Tullow, County Carlow
Died	23 September 1964 (aged 73) Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin
Allegiance	United Kingdom (1913-1914),  German Empire (1915-1919)
Rank	Captain (claimed)
Awards	1914 Star, Hindenburg Cross, German Wound Badge, and Siegfried Dagger of Honour
Spouse(s)	Annamarie Keogh (nee Von Seuffert)
Children	1

Michael Keogh was an Irish soldier who fought in World War I. He is sometimes called "the man who saved Hitler" because of an event during the war. Keogh served in different armies during his life.

Early Life and Adventures

Michael Patrick Keogh was born in 1891 in Tullow, County Carlow, Ireland. His father was a local policeman. Michael's family had a history of fighting for Irish freedom. His grandfather, Mathew Keogh, led protests against unfair evictions in 1887. His great-uncle, Myles Keogh, was a famous soldier who died in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in America.

As a child, Michael lived in Tullow. When he was 14, he won a scholarship to attend a seminary school. He was also part of the Gaelic League, where he enjoyed singing and dancing.

In 1907, Keogh moved to New York City to live with his aunt. There, he joined the National Guard. He also became friends with Roger Casement through an Irish-American group called Clan na Gael. Keogh claimed to have earned an engineering degree from Columbia University in 1909, but this is not fully confirmed.

In 1910, Keogh spent about ten months fighting against Mexican rebels near the Texas border. He had to leave the army after being injured. He then worked on the Panama Canal as an engineer until 1913.

Return to Ireland

When Keogh returned to Ireland, he joined the Royal Irish Regiment. He later said he did this to encourage other Irish soldiers to join the Republican Army. In 1914, he was jailed for 28 days. This happened after an event at the Curragh Camp where British officers refused to fight against Irish Unionists.

World War I Service

When World War I began, Keogh was sent to France with the Royal Irish Regiment. He was recognized for his service during a difficult retreat from Mons and received the 1914 Star medal. After this, he was captured and became a prisoner of war in Germany.

While in Germany, Keogh reconnected with Roger Casement. Casement was trying to create an Irish Brigade from Irish prisoners of war. The idea was for these Irish soldiers to fight on Germany's side. Keogh helped recruit for this brigade, hoping to get 1,500 Irish POWs to join. However, by early 1915, only 56 men had joined. The Irish Brigade project eventually ended when Casement was arrested and executed in 1916.

Joining the German Army

By 1918, Keogh had joined the Imperial German Army. He was awarded the Hindenburg Cross for his service during the Spring Offensive. He was put in charge of a machine gun company with the 16th Bavarian Infantry Division. It was during this time that Keogh first met a young soldier named Adolf Hitler. Keogh later recalled meeting Hitler when he was recovering from a war injury.

Towards the end of the war, Keogh became sick with the Spanish Flu but recovered. He then joined a right-wing group called Freikorps in Munich. Around this time, he married Annamarie Von Seuffert. Keogh was part of the Freikorps group that stopped a communist uprising in Munich in February 1919. He operated a machine gun during the battle and received the Siegfried Dagger of Honour. He also received a German Wound Badge for his injuries during his time in the German Army.

Meeting Hitler Again

Weeks after the battle in Munich, Keogh was on duty at a barracks. A riot broke out in the gym after two political speakers gave a talk. About 200 soldiers attacked the speakers and their supporters. Keogh, with the help of a sergeant and six soldiers, stopped the fight.

Keogh later remembered seeing one of the attacked soldiers. He said, "The fellow with the moustache gave his name promptly: Adolf Hitler." It was the same soldier he had met earlier. Hitler had been in the hospital for five months and was very thin from his wounds.

Keogh left the German army in September 1919 and returned to Ireland. He helped smuggle weapons from Germany to Ireland. He also met with important Irish leaders like Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith. He was involved in training for the Irish Republican Army. After the Irish Civil War ended, Keogh went back to Germany to bring his wife and child to Ireland. He then worked as an engineer in the Free State army.

Later Life

From 1930 to 1936, the Keogh family lived in Berlin, Germany. Michael worked as an engineer on the Underground railway system. He attended one of the large political rallies in August 1930 and noticed how much Hitler's power had grown. Keogh also worked as an interpreter at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936, as he spoke both German and English fluently.

As the Nazi Party gained more power, Keogh became worried for his safety. He knew many people who had been killed during political purges. Because of these dangerous times, his family returned to Ireland.

Back in Ireland, Keogh worked at the Poolbeg Generating Station in Dublin and a sugar factory in Carlow. Michael Keogh passed away in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown in September 1964. His wife survived him.

Memoirs and Historical Questions

Michael Keogh's story became more widely known after his memoirs were found. He was working on these papers when he died in the hospital. His son later said that his father was upset because his papers had disappeared from under his pillow. A nurse mentioned that a "priest" had been the only other visitor. Keogh died two days after this incident.

In 2005, Keogh's grandson rediscovered the papers. They were found in the University College Dublin Archives. The papers were bundled with documents from Moss (Maurice) Twomey, a former leader of the Irish Republican Army. It is still not known how Keogh's papers ended up with Twomey. Some of Keogh's writings from 1920 to 1964 are still missing.

Some historians have questioned parts of Keogh's story, especially his role in the Irish Brigade. The Director of the Bureau of Military History noted that Keogh often exaggerated his importance. He said that Keogh's claims were seen as "grossly exaggerated and completely unreliable" by those who dealt with him officially. Keogh first claimed to be a non-commissioned officer, but later said he was a Captain and an assistant to Roger Casement.