Mildred Fish-Harnack

Germany’s Secret Hero

1902–1943

How do you make history?

Mildred Fish-Harnack’s experiences growing up in Milwaukee and learning about German culture from her neighbors would change her life, and later, the world. When Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power in Germany, she joined the resistance and shared information that helped to defeat them. Though she was captured and put to death at Hitler’s order, her dedication to equal rights and saving the lives of others, and her love for Germany have never been forgotten.

Meet Mildred Fish-Harnack

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Questions to Consider

Illustration of the geographical shape of the State of Wisconsin with the number 1 superimposed above it

How did Mildred’s experiences growing up in Milwaukee impact her actions as an adult? What about where you’re growing up do you think you’ll want to remember as you get older?

Illustration of the geographical shape of the State of Wisconsin with the number 2 superimposed above it

What made Mildred want to join the resistance movement in Germany? How did her efforts in the movement make a difference?

Illustration of the geographical shape of the State of Wisconsin with the number 3 superimposed above it

How do you think Mildred might have felt when she stood up to the Nazis? Why do you think that?

Read On

Mildred Fish-Harnack portrait illustration

Mildred Fish-Harnack: Germany’s Secret Hero

Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!

 

Project Credits

Producer
Dan Kaplan
Becky Marburger

Associate Producer
Joe Young

Illustration
The Brave Union

Animation
The Brave Union

Animation Voice Over
Dawson McKay

Audiobook Narration
Kiara Bonilla

Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp

Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund

Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider

Design
Charles Barrows

Translation Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services

Executive Producer
Peggy Garties

Special Thanks
Marta Bechtol
Kurt Griesemer

Story Advisors

Brenda Autz
Park Elementary School
Middleton, WI
(2017)

Kaitlyn Beguhl
Section Elementary School
Mukwonago, WI
(2021)

Charlene Dupler
Lakeview Elementary School
Wind Lake, WI
(2017)

Kurt Griesemer
Wisconsin HIstorical Society
Madison, WI
(2017)

Kristen McDaniel
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2017)

David J. O’Connor
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2017)

Amanda Price
Marshall Elementary School
Marshall, WI
(2017)

Valisa Rias Harmon
Gilmore K-8 Fine Arts School
Racine, WI
(2021)

Corey Thompson
Cardinal Stritch University
(2017)

Stephanie Unertl
Lake Mills Area School District
Lake Mills, WI
(2017)