Richard C. Hottelet facts for kids

Richard Curt Hottelet was an American journalist. He reported on news for many years. He was the last of the "Murrow Boys". This was a special team of war correspondents. They worked during World War II for CBS. Edward R. Murrow chose them.

Early Life and Studies

Richard Hottelet was born in Brooklyn, New York. This was on September 22, 1917. His parents were from Germany. He spoke German at home. He finished Brooklyn College in 1937. Then, he studied at the University of Berlin in Germany.

Reporting for United Press

When World War II began, Hottelet worked for United Press. He was a reporter for them. German police arrested him. They thought he might be a spy. He was set free in 1941. This happened during a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Germany.

Time in Prison

On March 15, 1941, German secret police arrested Richard Hottelet. They took him from his apartment in Berlin. He was told he would be held as a "guest." He was fingerprinted and photographed. Then, he was put in a prison cell.

Hottelet was held for four months. He said the first three days were the hardest. He was not told why he was there. On March 18, the police finally told him. They said he was suspected of espionage (spying). Hottelet said he was not a spy. The police threatened him. They used bright lights during questioning.

During his time in prison, Hottelet felt scared. He was questioned many times. After one session, an officer asked if he knew a man named Tourou. Hottelet did not. The officer said Tourou used "brutal methods" in New York.

After a week, someone from the American consulate visited him. He received clothes. But his toothbrush and soap were kept from him. In prison, Hottelet met people from many countries. They were from Russia, Poland, and other places.

Prisoners got little exercise at first. They walked in a circle once a week. Later, they walked twice a week. Hottelet said he was never badly treated. On May 31, he moved to another prison called Moabit. This prison was stricter. Prisoners could not talk to each other. Smoking was not allowed. But the food was better.

After four weeks at Moabit, Hottelet could read. He got a daily newspaper. He also got two books a week. He enjoyed books by Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott. He also liked poetry by Robert Burns. He found Oscar Wilde's "De Profundis" very interesting. Wilde wrote it while in prison.

Prisoners had work to do in their cells. They pasted paper on dollhouses. They also made small papers for a lottery. Hottelet earned 4.50 marks for his work. This was about $1.80. Prisoners exercised for half an hour daily. They walked and did exercises.

The days in prison were hard and boring. Guards made prisoners follow strict rules. They had to take army marching orders. Prisoners got water twice a day. They used it to wash themselves and their dishes. The barber gave them "German haircuts." Hottelet did not like these haircuts.

On July 8, 1941, Hottelet had a big surprise. A guard told him to pack his things. Hottelet asked if he was being released. The guard said yes. Hottelet was very surprised. He collected his things. The Germans gave him back his money and valuables. Then, they gave him to an American Embassy representative.

From July 8 to 17, Hottelet stayed hidden with the embassy representative. He had no more contact with German police. On July 23, Hottelet left Germany. He crossed into Spain.

Reporting for CBS

Edward R. Murrow hired Hottelet in January 1944. On D-Day, Hottelet gave the first eyewitness report. He saw the invasion of Normandy from a bomber plane. His plane attacked Utah Beach just before the invasion started. He also reported on the Battle of the Bulge for CBS. Later, his plane was shot down by enemy fire. He parachuted to safety.

While in Belgium, Hottelet received a memo from General Eisenhower. It allowed reporters to talk freely with soldiers. They could see how the war worked. This helped them show the public what soldiers were doing. Hottelet said the rules were strict but not too bad. He went to the Hürtgen Forest. There, commanders told him about a German attack. This was the start of the Battle of the Bulge. Hottelet reported on it.

In 1946, he went to Moscow. He reported on the start of the Cold War. That year, the Soviet government stopped foreign radio broadcasts. Murrow tried to get them to change their minds, but they did not.

Later, Hottelet worked at the United Nations in New York. He reported on speeches by world leaders. He also covered important world events. These events were discussed by the Security Council. Hottelet worked for CBS for 41 years.

Life After CBS

After leaving CBS, Hottelet kept writing and giving talks. From 2001 to 2005, he wrote for The Christian Science Monitor. He also taught classes at George Washington University. In 2002, he helped open a new building there. In 2005, he became a special fellow at the university.

He also spoke at events at the National Press Club. His old papers from 1948 to 1990 are kept at George Washington University.

Richard Hottelet died at his home in Wilton, Connecticut. This was on December 17, 2014. He was 97 years old.