What is your most unique and one of a kind item?

[coloradocowboy]

very cool items. Here is an interesting item that is written in the history books. Read the story it is good. You will see why this letter is one of a kind in the second to last paragraph
http://ericwiberg.com/uboats/statements2/grenanger.html

[coloradocowboy]

A silver platter from Capt. Rusti along with a picture of him

[ralfsnart]

Ya





Well............


thanks for reinforcing my collection sucks really badly









But many thanks for letting me live through your pictures

[Larry Lipps]

My most unique item is actually pretty unimpressive in itself, but the story isn’t. It was given to me by a local vet who said this was all he brought back. As a B-25 pilot, flying a mission in Italy, they received some flak damage and was unable to make it back to friendly territory. Because his crew wanted to try and stay together, he belly landed the plane in a field. They cautiously approached a small, nearby town and saw no signs of German activity so they decided to try and get some assistance from the locals. They managed to communicate enough with the locals to find out that the Germans had left a couple of days earlier. They were trying to figure out how to contact someone to let them know they were alive and figure how to get back to the American lines. The locals told them that there was a working phone in the local tavern. The pilot said he was actually able to call back to a command post and let them know that the German’s were gone and they needed to get back. They dispatched a tank and half-track to come pick them up. While they were waiting, the tavern owner gave each of them several of these beer tokens and told them that that’s what the Germans had to have to get a beer (apparently he was paid by the German Army based on the amount of tokens he collected, no more Germans, no more payment). The crew enjoyed a couple beers and were eventually picked up and returned to their base. He actually won a bronze star for his information that advanced the American lines by 13 miles. Anyway, I liked the story and since the guy died a couple years ago, it’s somewhat of a comical remembrance.

[ErichS]

Mine is the 1935 RPT medal that once belonged to Hitler. This medal was one of two, with the other being in silver given to Hitler by the Deschler firm. This medal was part of the Frau Winter estate auctioned off in Germany in 1971 a year after her death.

[coloradocowboy]

Larry what a great piece and a very nice story. Erich, That is truly one of a kind and belongs in a museum.

[Adam S.]

Larry what a great piece and a very nice story. Erich, That is truly one of a kind and belongs in a museum.

I fully agree. Great story!

[coloradocowboy]

thought I would give this a bump as no one has posted in a while. Dont be shy lets see your best.

[Robert T.]

"Slaughter of the Innocents" at Langemarck


Last letters of a young law student from Oldenburg addressed to his parents.

_________________________

“Saturday, the 7th of November 1914

Dear Parents!

Today begins with great joy. The dear letters of father, mother and Erwin from the 17th to the 19th of October arrived, and in addition to that, a care parcel sent by mother came into my hands. Thank you very much, dear parents. I have already read the letters once, but I will peruse them several times again today and in the following days. I must shamefully confess that I have not written yet to dear M. G. who delighted me by sending some chocolate. At the same time four newspapers arrived, among them one from the 29th and 30th of October. Thank God, now I have got something to do again. Yesterday it was no longer pleasant. Now you can see bright faces everywhere and people indulging in chocolate and other things. Do not send any more tins and rags to swaddle my shoes, rather send sweets and sausages. Last night everybody received hot soup, half a loaf of bread and a small piece of bacon. We can really be satisfied with that. If nothing unexpected happens, I will right away snuggle up in my hole, write a letter to M. G. and then read the “news for town and village” while enjoying chocolate and peppermint. I also found H’s postcard. Until now he has not been through much. I really believe that the artillery is much better off. I am healthy as can be.
Farewell and thank you very much and best wishes.

Your Hermann.”

________________________________________

“Sunday, the 8th of November 1914

Dear Parents!

Sunday, a day of peace. A magnificent morning. The sky is wholly blue and the
November sun is spreading its warm rays upon our cold hands and clothes which are soaked from the nightly fog and humidity. I can hear the Sunday bells ringing in the distance – I am certain of it! This beautiful Sunday calm is disturbed only by the bullets hissing above us, aimed at us from the enemy trenches only 250 meters away, and the cannons that are roaring further away from us today. We are lying on straw and I have never been so content and serenely cheerful as on this wonderful day.

Father’s dear third letter and the “news” from October 31st which arrived this morning are lying just next to me. They have made us extremely happy. Thank you very much, my dear parents, for the good news. So you have heard about my experiences from the wounded soldiers and meanwhile you must have also received my accounts. I am overjoyed even to receive the smallest message from you, and I am especially pleased that everything arrives, it seems, even though often quite late. The chocolate tastes wonderful! I don’t want to be immodest, but send more of it. May I list all my wishes? I believe that I am immodest and have talked too much about such things, but on the other hand, it is all part of our diet as the food is always the same here and often there is none at all.
It seems that the enemy knows that we receive a hot dinner at 7 p.m. when night falls. In the last few days they have regularly opened such murderous fire around that time that our cooking team could not come near to us, and as a consequence we had cold pea or bean soup at half past eight – there is nothing else but we are satisfied. Otherwise there is just bread and every now and then we receive a small piece of bacon as a special treat –father was right. So you can imagine how delicious your presents are. Please send more and plenty! Above all, it is chocolate we wish for, or candy, sausages and simply anything which is edible. Quantity is more important than quality. And now the joyous Christmas season is approaching, so there will be soon marzipan and other delicious wonders. You might think that your Hermann is quite demanding, but if you could see what is going on here and how happy you will make us with your presents, then you will pardon my gluttony.
Our battle is hard and, as I have read in the newspaper, the subject is being followed with the greatest interest and suspense. How many lives it has cost us! Last night, our third company commander succumbed to his wounds and D. was wounded, there is a spot in our trench where 20 soldiers were killed or wounded. God has really been mercifully protecting me until now and truly I have a premonition that I will see my native country again. And these premonitions often come true. How many have had premonitions about their death and, as I have heard in many cases, were then killed in action. Whatever that might mean, the most important thing is to be brave and that is what I have been doing so far. Victory is imperative and thank God that the chances are favourable. Sincerely,

Your Hermann.”

______________________________


“Monday, the 9th of November

Dear father!

Thank you very much for your card from the third of November that I received today. We are still lying in the same trench, but unfortunately the beautiful and sunny weather has changed – it started to rain which has made our stay far less than comfortable. I hope that we will soon be replaced so that we can leave the trenches. Our bones are becoming terribly stiff and I am afraid that when it starts raining I may have to deal with a case of rheumatism, something from which I fortunately had been spared so far. Farewell sincerely,

Your Hermann.”

__________________________




Hermann’s last ever message, written down as he was suffering from his wounds and hopelessly expecting to die. The laboured characters bearing witness to painful effort and losing strength, along with some comments from the publisher;


“My dearest parents!
Myself too, I must die the most
beautiful death. These are my
last regards. Farewell and
do not weep. I am
eternally grateful for
all the good that I have
received from you. Farewell
eternally. I will see you
in heaven. Your
Hermann.



These last farewell greetings dated the 10th of November were written from the battlefield half an hour after an assault in which H. was gravely wounded. H. succumbed to his wounds on the 18th of November and lies buried in consecrated ground in Flanders. Deeply moved and shaken we read your last letters, dear, young hero. We did not know you, but we have grown fond of you and let you into our heart. When one day the great hour of reunion in heaven draws near, we will also look out for you, press your hand firmly and persistently and look into your dear, big, childlike, heroic eyes. Until then, sleep protected by God’s care! You have done your duty for our dear Fatherland, and nobody could have achieved a greater feat. We thank you!
GERMANY, WHAT HEROIC SONS YOU HAVE GOT!”

[Robert T.]

The full story of the Koopmann family was posted here:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=320235

Cheers,
Robert

[Adam S.]

Wow Robert. That's quite the story/grouping. Very 'real.'

[kyles bullets]

I guess my named DRK armband fits here also re-sized or repaired back....

[coloradocowboy]

bump

[Schlange]

Promote poster for 13. Waffen SS division Handzar and Croatian SS police.

[Brig]

Personal effects of Smedley Butler, legendary Marine General and 1 of only 2 Marines to earn 2 Medals of Honor for separate actions