Honoring Veterans: Army Veteran John Banner

Born Johann Banner in Stanislav, Austria, in 1910, John Banner became known for his role as inept German prison guard “Sergeant Schultz” in the “Hogan’s Heroes.” The 1965 comedic television show about U.S. soldiers held captive by Nazis during World War II ran for six years.

Banner originally sought to become a lawyer at the University of Vienna in the 1920s, but instead turned to the theater. He debuted on stage in the show “Caramba” at Vienna’s Deutsches Volkstheater.

For his first acting job, Banner—who was Jewish—took a two-year-contract tour that ended in Zurich, Switzerland. He was acting at Schauspielhaus when Hitler’s army moved into his homeland. After the Nazis annexed Austria during the 1938 Anschluss, Banner escaped Hitler’s persecution of Jews by emigrating from Europe to the United States in 1939.

Banner joined a theater group of fellow refugees at the Music Box Theater in New York City. Even though he didn’t speak English, he was selected as master of ceremonies for the 1939 Broadway musical revue “From Vienna.” He also acted on stage in the comedic “Pastoral,” and used phonetically-memorized lines in both until he could learn English.

After moving to Hollywood, California, Banner joined the Army Air Corps in 1942. He posed for a recruitment poster and went to basic training in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He became a supply sergeant with the Army Air Corps before leaving the Army in 1945 as a sergeant and returning to acting.

Speaking English with a Viennese accent that typecast him into mostly French, Russian and German characters, Banner ended up playing a lot of Nazis in war films. He later found out that his parents and sister were killed in the Maly Trostenets Nazi concentration camp in 1942.

Banner’s first credited role was a brief appearance in a 1942 Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers movie, “Once Upon a Honeymoon.” He appeared in over 70 television episodes between 1950 and 1970.

Banner claimed his wife Christine’s gourmet food caused him to gain 100 pounds, changing the roles in which he was cast. He soon became widely known as the bumbling “Sergeant Schultz” alongside fellow Jewish actors in “Hogan’s Heroes.”

After retiring to his homeland of Vienna, Banner died in 1973 on his 63rd birthday. He was interred at Mauer Cemetery, Vienna.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for Honoring Veterans

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s Honoring Veterans social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Writer: Michelle A. Shade

Editors: Tayler Rairigh, Kinsey Spratt

Researcher: Raphael Romea

Graphic Designer: Adara McClain