Herman Bottcher got around. Born in Landsberg, Germany, he immigrated to Australia with his uncle. Then, in 1930, he immigrated to the United States.

Two years later he applied for “first papers,” the right to U.S. citizenship. He was going to college in California when the Spanish Civil War broke out. That changed things for Bottcher. A hardcore leftist, he joined the Lincoln Brigade to fight against the Fascists.