He traded his pen for a microphone — and his freedom for a cell.
This is the story of Robert Henry Best, the American journalist who defected to Nazi Germany and became “Mr. Guess Who,” one of Hitler’s English-speaking propagandists.
He believed he was telling the truth. Instead, he became the vice of treason.
Captured by Allied troops in 1945, Best was convicted of twelve counts of treason and sentenced to life in prison at Leavenworth.
His broadcasts were delusional — rants dressed up as patriotism.
He died in federal custody in 1952, alone and forgotten.
Disclaimer
This episode contains historical material involving treason, war propaganda, and mental illness.
It is intended for educational and documentary purposes only.
Listener discretion advised.
Resources & References
U.S. Department of Justice Archives – United States v. Robert Henry Best (Case File, 1948)
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) – Treason Trials Collection: WWII Broadcasters
Time Magazine – “Treason—None Too Good,” May 1948 Issue
The New York Times – Coverage of Best’s Capture and Trial, 1946–1948
Reuters Historical Reports – “American Broadcaster Convicted of Treason”
Oddly Historical – “Mr. Guess Who: The Strange Story of Robert Henry Best”
U.S. Army Corrections Command – Federal Prisoners at Leavenworth, 1900–1960
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