Biography

Berkowitz, Norman Nathan b. December 17, 1913, Boston, Massachusetts; Russian Polish Family; father from Russia, mother from Poland, middle child of three, older sister and younger sister; Moved to Brooklyn around 1920; Left high school in 1930, but went back to school the next year taking classes from 8 to 11 am; Passed his Regents exam and graduated high school; Attended St. Johns University for 2 years to learn accounting; Single; Department Store Employee and member of the Department Store Union; YCL 1935 (1936); Received Passport# 380069 in March 1937 which listed his address as 235 2nd Avenue, NYC, and 1881 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, New York; Sailed April 1937 aboard the Queen Mary; Arrived in Spain on May 5, 1937; Served with the XV BDE, Washington BN, Co. 2, Section 1; Last unit Lincoln-Washington BN, Co. 3; Rank Soldado; WIA July 23, 1938 Ebro Offensive; Returned to the US on December 20, 1938 aboard the Ausonia; WWII, US Army, Infantry, rank Tech SGT; d. July 30, 2010, Arden, Buncombe, North Carolina.

Source: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadres, Inventory North Americans; Pay; Washington; RGASPI; Harriman Video Collection ALBA 48, 15, August 26, 1986; L-W Tree Ancestry. [Start at 37:45] Code A

Norman Berkowitz Interview, ALBA V 48-015, August 26, 1986, Manny Harriman Video Oral History Collection; ALBA VIDEO 048; box number 2; folder number 23; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Photographs: Norman Berkowitz in Spain, Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 863; and below Berkowitz November 1937. The 15th International Brigade Photographic Unit Photograph Collection; ALBA Photo 11; ALBA Photo number 11-0120. Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.; Norman Berkwitz, by Richard Bermack.