[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 56 (Monday, April 7, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL DAVID DARWIN SILBERBERG

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 7, 2014

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
achievements of First Lieutenant David Darwin Silberberg. Mr. 
Silberberg served as an accomplished attorney in Memphis and has been 
internationally recognized for his discovery during World War II of 
countless documents and priceless works of art that were hidden by the 
Nazis in Germany. Although not technically a member of the famed 
``Monuments Men'' now receiving acclaim in Hollywood, his achievements 
were no less notable.
   Lieutenant Silberberg was born in Niedenstein, Germany on March 20, 
1921 to Lee and Rosa Silberberg. In 1936, as the Nazis were gaining 
power, he and his family moved to Memphis, TN. When World War II broke 
out, he joined the U.S. Army and went to fight against his native land. 
While with his unit in the Harz Mountains of Germany he came across a 
broken down truck in a ditch outside of Degenershausen with various 
papers scattered around. As a German speaker, he could read the papers 
and they appeared to be important, including one signed by German 
Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, so he investigated them 
further. This led him and his unit to the Chateau Degenershausen, where 
he and his group uncovered numerous files full of military command 
papers dating back to World War I. Some of the documents were even 
signed by Adolf Hitler, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Otto von Bismarck.
   Upon questioning of the Chateau's owners, he learned the locations 
of two other hiding places for similar documents, both of them located 
in the Harz Mountains. One of the locations was Castle Falkenstein, 
where the Lieutenant not only found archives dating as far back as the 
Franco-Prussian War, but also numerous crates holding paintings, 
sculptures and other artistic works, comprising the entire Library of 
the Berlin Academy of Arts. After discovering that officials in Berlin 
had ordered that the documents be burned Lieutenant Silberberg 
prevented their destruction, thereby saving countless historical 
artifacts, enough to fill fifty C-47 transport planes.
   In the midst of these critical discoveries, it was learned that 
250,000 German soldiers had made a major defensive stand outside 
Berlin. Thus, Lieutenant Silberberg left the archives behind and joined 
the Allies' effort in one of the War's last big campaigns in Europe. 
The military career of Lieutenant Silberberg is truly one for the 
history books. His accomplishments earned him much honor and respect 
and were noted by the BBC, Memphis Commercial Appeal and the Ninth 
Infantry Division Association. He served overseas twice during World 
War II: first with the 9th Infantry from Normandy to VE Day and then 
with Military Intelligence and Counter Intelligence during the initial 
occupation of Germany. Because of his honorable federal active duty 
service, he held the rank of Major in the active Reserve and was 
assigned to Military Intelligence at the Memphis Army Reserve School. 
Finding importance in community involvement, Silberberg was also a 
member of the prestigious Leila Scott Lodge F. & A.M. and the American 
Legion Post 189.
   Once he resettled in the United States after World War II, 
Silberberg attended Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland and earned an 
L.L.B Degree from the University of Baltimore Law School in 1951. Soon 
after, he returned to Memphis to earn a B.S. Degree from Christian 
Brothers University (CBU) in 1956. Among his several awards, Silberberg 
was recognized for his contributions to society as a recipient of the 
CBU Distinguished Alumnus Award of 1974. He also served as the 
President of the National Alumni Board at CBU.
   In addition to being a war hero, Lieutenant Silberberg was a 
successful attorney and civic activist in the city of Memphis, 
including within the Memphis Jewish community. A year following his 
death in 2007, Silberberg was one of a few notable lawyers and judges 
honored at the 2008 Memphis Bar Association Memorial Service during Law 
Week. The city of Memphis and the state of Tennessee lost a legend on 
July 14, 2007, and the difference he made each and every day will 
always be remembered. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
remembering Lieutenant David Darwin Silberberg. His was truly a life 
well-lived.

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