Langer, William L. (William Leonard), 1896-1977

William L. Langer was born in Boston in March 1896. His early education concentrated on foreign languages, but he studied history, in which he ultimately obtained his MA and Ph. D. from Harvard. He joined the faculty there in 1927, obtaining a reputation in the field of diplomatic history. In a leave status from Harvard, he served as Deputy Chief, then Chief, of the Research and Analysis Branch of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II, and was appointed an assistant to the Secretary of State in 1946. In 1943, Secretary of State Cordell Hull invited Langer to write a study of American wartime relations with the French Government. Alfred A. Knopf commercially published the work as OUR VICHY GAMBLE in 1947. It was based upon classified State, War Department, and OSS files and interviews with French and American personnel. The book stirred great controversy at the time of its publication, challenging the popular presumption that key government personnel were at least sympathetic to, if not supportive of, the Nazi attempt to unify Europe under the Nazi banner. In his preface he states, "I am happy indeed to say that my conclusions serve in general to vindicate the policy pursued by this government." Langer continued in a leave status through 1952, helping to organize the Office of National Estimates of the newly-created Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Langer remained active in the professional historical community until his death in 1977.

From the description of William L. Langer papers, 1939-1945. (US Army, Mil Hist Institute). WorldCat record id: 53139181

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