Manitowoc museum to highlight Milwaukee woman who became hero of Nazi resistance — plus more news in weekly dose

Brandon Reid, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
·6 min read
2
Mildred Fish Harnack: Fish-Harnack was born in Milwaukee in 1902, studied at UW-Madison and later taught English at the university. Fish-Harnack moved to Germany in the late 20s and later became a member of the Nazi-resistance group "Red Orchestra." The group helped Jews escape and fed Nazi secrets to the U.S. and Soviet governments. In 1943 she was captured and executed by the Nazis. Fish-Harnack was the only American woman put to death by direct order of Hitler.

MANITOWOC - Wisconsin Maritime Museum will present “Underground Resistance: The Story of Mildred Fish-Harnack” at 6:30 p.m. March 2.

The presentation will share how Fish-Harnack, born in Milwaukee in 1902, became a celebrated hero of resistance to the Nazi regime in Germany.

When Fish-Harnack joined a resistance group in Berlin in 1938, she knew going against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime was dangerous.

“Well, it’s not a question of how dangerous it is,” she had said. “I’ve got work to do; I’m not going.”

Her courage and resolve to oppose Nazism ended tragically, however, as she became the only American citizen executed by Hitler’s direct order.

Fish-Harnack was 40 years old when she was executed on Feb. 16, 1943. She had been a teacher, literary historian, translator, and assistant lecturer in English and American literature at the University of Berlin.

The Maritime Museum presentation is part of the museum’s Think & Drink Speaker Series. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks will be available for purchase at the limited bar. The featured drink of the night will be Red Orchestra Mule, a cherry Moscow Mule.

Doors and bar will open at 6 p.m. The talk and live stream will begin at 6:30 p.m. To access the live stream, register at https://forms.gle/aUMdLxcjL13SqSuU8. Admission is free both in person and online.

Wisconsin Maritime Museum is at 75 Maritime Drive. Learn more at wisconsinmaritime.org or call 920-684-0218.

Welcome to your weekly dose.

Here is more news from throughout Manitowoc County in your weekly dose.

▶ Great Decisions continues with ‘Politics in Latin America’: The next in the Great Decisions lecture series at Manitowoc Public Library will feature Ripon College’s Martin Farrell, Ph.D. (retired), exploring “Politics in Latin America.”

Martin Farrell
Martin Farrell

The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Balkansky Community Room at the library, 707 Quay St., and also be streamed live on the library’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

This is the library’s 16th year hosting the grassroots lecture series. Each session begins at 6 p.m. Mondays in the Balkansky Community Room and is also streamed live on the library’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Admission is free and no registration is required.

Here's the rest of the series schedule after the Feb. 27 event:

  • March 6: "China and the U.S.," with David Fields, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison;

  • March 13: "Economic Warfare," with Pablo Toral, Ph.D., Beloit College;

  • March 20: "War Crimes," with Kevin Kelly, J.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School; and

  • March 27: "Global Famine," with Elizabeth Wheat, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

▶ Forums set for Manitowoc, Two Rivers council candidates: Forums are being planned for council candidates in Manitowoc and Two Rivers ahead of the April 4 general election.

Candidates for Manitowoc Common Council in districts 1, 3 and 7 will participate in a forum at Manitowoc City Hall, 900 Quay St., from 7 until 8:30 p.m. March 2.

Candidates for Two Rivers City Council will participate in a forum on the third floor of Two Rivers City Hall, 1717 E. Park St., from 7 until 8:30 p.m. March 9.

The forums are organized by the League of Women Voters of Manitowoc County. The public is invited to attend and to ask the candidates questions.

Voters cast their ballots at the Lincoln Park Fieldhouse poll during the election primary, Tuesday, August 9, 2022, in Manitowoc, Wis.
Voters cast their ballots at the Lincoln Park Fieldhouse poll during the election primary, Tuesday, August 9, 2022, in Manitowoc, Wis.

For more details, contact Cathy Cole at 920-553-8757 or clcole3816@gmail.com.

Here’s who’s running for the council seats:

Manitowoc Common Council

  • District 1: Incumbent Brett Vanderkin against Raymond Geigel

  • District 3: Incumbent Michael Cummings against Angela Myers

  • District 7: Incumbent Tim Boldt against Brian Anderson

Two Rivers City Council

  • Incumbents Darla LeClair, Adam Wachowski and Bonnie Shimulunas against Dean LaRose, Ron Abney and Shannon Derby for three “at-large” seats.

▶ TRCCS Volleyball Tournament March 4-5: The 48th annual TRCCS Volleyball Tournament is scheduled for March 4-5 at the Two Rivers Community House, 1710 W. Park St.

There will be three divisions, all quads, with men’s and women’s play March 4 and coed play March 5.

Men’s and coed teams are determined by luck-of-the-draw. Women traditionally have formed teams.

Call to have your name added to the luck-of-the-draw list or to form a women’s team: Dave Anschutz at 920-905-2317 or Rusty Walesh at 920-323-7358. Cost is a $25 player donation ($40 if you play men’s and coed or women’s and coed), payable before play. All proceeds benefit youth sports for St. Francis of Assisi and Roncalli.

The public is welcome to attend. Admission is free. Food and refreshments will be available.

▶ Lakeshore Wind Ensemble presents ‘Winds of March’ concert: Lakeshore Wind Ensemble will present its “Winds of March” concert at 7:30 p.m. March 4 at the Capitol Civic Centre, 913 S. Eighth St., Manitowoc.

The LWE, under the direction of Conductor Jeremiah Eis, will perform the dramatic work “Of Sailors and Whales” by W. Francis McBeth, depicting scenes from Melville’s classic novel “Moby Dick,” complete with narration, and feature music from the hit Broadway musical “Wicked.”

The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble
The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble

The concert will also feature the first-place winner of the 29th Young Artist Solo Scholarship competition, sponsored by the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association, Nolan Henckel, French horn, playing “Morceau de Concert,” and second-place winner Liam Berry, trombone, playing “Blue Bells of Scotland.”

Henckel is a junior at Appleton Xavier High School and studies under Dr. Bruce Atwell at UW-Oshkosh.

Berry is a 2022 graduate of Manitowoc Lincoln High School and a freshman at Lawrence University. He is studying trombone performance under professors Tim Albright and Michael Clayville.

The concert will also highlight the recipient of the 2023 LWEA Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts, Linda Drumm Luchsinger. The award was established in 1999 to recognize individuals who have substantially contributed to the arts in the greater Manitowoc area.

For tickets and more information, contact the Capitol Civic Centre Box Office at 920-683-2184 or online at cccshows.org.

What to expect in 2023

Rendering of a proposed 59-unit “workforce” or affordable housing project by Milwaukee developer Wire Capital Group set for the south end of the vacant Mirro property in downtown Manitowoc.
Rendering of a proposed 59-unit “workforce” or affordable housing project by Milwaukee developer Wire Capital Group set for the south end of the vacant Mirro property in downtown Manitowoc.

Streetwise reporter Patti Zarling shares the big developments to expect in Manitowoc County in 2023 in her look ahead. Click here for the full article.

Read last week's top stories

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  2. Manitowoc theater reopens, pedal bar coming in spring and more business news in Streetwise

  3. Four vehicles collide in Interstate 43 pileup near Manitowoc. Sheriff's office says weather was a factor.

  4. Manitowoc school district's new curriculum will cost taxpayers $1.9M over six years and change how and what teachers teach. Here’s what to know.

  5. Manitowoc Lutheran junior auctioned his own artwork to raise money for Bellin's NICU. Plus, more news in weekly dose.

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Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc Maritime Museum to profile Milwaukee's Mildred Fish-Harnack