Battlefield tour in Leningrad/Neva & Karelia

[Sathukles]

Hello everyone, I am planning to go to do a Battlefield tour in the Leningrad/Neva arera & also in the Karelia area where the 6SS Nord fought.
I only have to days in the Leningrad area and am most interested in touring places where the Waffen SS and FJ fought.

I also have 2 days in Karelia and would love to tour the areas where the 6th SS Nord Division fought. I would also like to visit German soldier cemetaries/war graves in both areas.
I am going in late May and also would love to participate in helping to repatriate the remains of fallen German soldiers back to their homelands. If I could do this for a couple of days as well, I would feel very happy to help in some way and thus would be willing to extend my stay a few more days.
Can anyone help me and give me some tips?
Thank you
Sath

[Napalm]

pm sent

[Sathukles]

Please help me with Neva/Leningrad battlefields...
Anyone?

[Mil-Archive]

That sounds like a fantastic trip, and I would also love to do that someday. I am looking forward to the replies here too.

[juoneen]

The Russians still haven't forgotten what happened, so i hope you know someone there, as your life may be in peril if you are not careful. Its well known Russian gangs , and such proliferate the country as gangs do in the usa. So just a word of caution when you speak of repatriating ex Nazi graves or remains, you may end up in one ,possibly robbed , or end up on the show" A thousand ways to die". .(by the way did you see the one on the Nazi shot in the head that survived?) But good luck to you anyway, as it sounds like you mean well ....the Japanese still hit the islands in the summer to locate missing Japanese remains, and build a pior out of all they locate. I'm sure the Russians won't allow digging without the Government permission, and will want to be paid . Now if they had tours where they allowed digging in cooperation with the German government that may be a different story, especially if sanctioned, and with Russians working for the military watched over you, but other than that , I'd say you must have had a relative in that SS division to want to go there so bad. . My suggestion is don't do this alone, as there is probably much munitions still underground . I would do a documentary , then you can sell it on cable if you survive.

[Daniel.S]

The Russians still haven't forgotten what happened, so i hope you know someone there, as your life may be in peril if you are not careful. Its well known Russian gangs , and such proliferate the country as gangs do in the usa. So just a word of caution when you speak of repatriating ex Nazi graves or remains, you may end up in one ,possibly robbed , or end up on the show" A thousand ways to die". .(by the way did you see the one on the Nazi shot in the head that survived?) But good luck to you anyway, as it sounds like you mean well ....the Japanese still hit the islands in the summer to locate missing Japanese remains, and build a pior out of all they locate. I'm sure the Russians won't allow digging without the Government permission, and will want to be paid . Now if they had tours where they allowed digging in cooperation with the German government that may be a different story, especially if sanctioned, and with Russians working for the military watched over you, but other than that , I'd say you must have had a relative in that SS division to want to go there so bad. . My suggestion is don't do this alone, as there is probably much munitions still underground . I would do a documentary , then you can sell it on cable if you survive.

You are joking, right?

[Jägermarty]

I don't think he is!
I can imagine its pretty rough n ready over there

[Sathukles]

The Russians still haven't forgotten what happened, so i hope you know someone there, as your life may be in peril if you are not careful. Its well known Russian gangs , and such proliferate the country as gangs do in the usa. So just a word of caution when you speak of repatriating ex Nazi graves or remains, you may end up in one ,possibly robbed , or end up on the show" A thousand ways to die". .(by the way did you see the one on the Nazi shot in the head that survived?) But good luck to you anyway, as it sounds like you mean well ....the Japanese still hit the islands in the summer to locate missing Japanese remains, and build a pior out of all they locate. I'm sure the Russians won't allow digging without the Government permission, and will want to be paid . Now if they had tours where they allowed digging in cooperation with the German government that may be a different story, especially if sanctioned, and with Russians working for the military watched over you, but other than that , I'd say you must have had a relative in that SS division to want to go there so bad. . My suggestion is don't do this alone, as there is probably much munitions still underground . I would do a documentary , then you can sell it on cable if you survive.

Juonen, thank for the fair warning. I'm just an amateur historian and I'm very grateful to you for the caution. I suppose I won't do any digging. I'll just try to walk around the area. Hopefully find a Russian who can guide me around....

Anyway, the reason I'm going to St Petersburg is because it's a brief stop over on the way to Karelia where I'm going hunting with a Russian hunting outfitter. I was going to wear a WSS replica smock, replica cap for the hunt. There's no Nazi regalia on them, so I wonder if I won't be shot in the back by my Russian guides while hunting...

[Daniel.S]

hehe, i have a repro-smock when im flyfishing, those pockets are perfect for my flyboxes

[juoneen]

All you have to do is google dangers of traveling in present day russia, as there is much more you need to know like not to drink the water, make any dates with russian women, and more. It may suprise you at all the things that can befall you without knowing what is up over there. Just words to the wise , and worth looking into before attempting this trip. I also have noticed no one from there has offered to befriend you, even being on the waf, and as much as they glean to making their repros, or learn from this site . Says a lot about how they are out only for themselves, as otherwise they would . Here is just a start: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...ia-TG-C-1.html

There is much more online on the subject, so search for a while before you decide what course you may take, and again no disrespect to the good russians as there are many, but remember there are many who are not as in my own country, as it is in many , if you dont have an "IN". Cooperation by longtime members on here from there who are honest will be few and far between, and it is still an impoverished country where cash is scarce , thusly leading to playing any unsuspecting foreigners any time the bad guys smell blood, and get the chance. Don't believe me if you don't want to...but for heavens sake search for all the information you can online prior, and soon you will see what im referring to, and more.Lots of people from some troubled spots in the world who collect , who are also members here, will deny lots of opinions, but ... the internet will set you straight on if they are telling you straight, as i see no one from there has commented....And again good luck on your trip. I hope if you do go, that it is a pleasant one, and that some of the good folks here from there will offer somehow to assist you in some capacity of brotherhood in our common hobby.

[Sathukles]

All you have to do is google dangers of traveling in present day russia, as there is much more you need to know like not to drink the water, make any dates with russian women, and more. It may suprise you at all the things that can befall you without knowing what is up over there. Just words to the wise , and worth looking into before attempting this trip. I also have noticed no one from there has offered to befriend you, even being on the waf, and as much as they glean to making their repros, or learn from this site . Says a lot about how they are out only for themselves, as otherwise they would . Here is just a start: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...ia-TG-C-1.html

There is much more online on the subject, so search for a while before you decide what course you may take, and again no disrespect to the good russians as there are many, but remember there are many who are not as in my own country, as it is in many , if you dont have an "IN". Cooperation by longtime members on here from there who are honest will be few and far between, and it is still an impoverished country where cash is scarce , thusly leading to playing any unsuspecting foreigners any time the bad guys smell blood, and get the chance. Don't believe me if you don't want to...but for heavens sake search for all the information you can online prior, and soon you will see what im referring to, and more.Lots of people from some troubled spots in the world who collect , who are also members here, will deny lots of opinions, but ... the internet will set you straight on if they are telling you straight, as i see no one from there has commented....And again good luck on your trip. I hope if you do go, that it is a pleasant one, and that some of the good folks here from there will offer somehow to assist you in some capacity of brotherhood in our common hobby.

Juoneen, thank you very much. I was in fact going to the Karelia region for a bear hunt and now I am having second thoughts. I do not want to be shot in the back by my hunting guide. And to think I was going to hunt whilst wearing an SS smock! I feel really stupid now. I am now having an image of me being shot in the back by my guide while I am bear hunting in my repro SS smock.
I really appreciate your concerns, especially I have a dark appearance and not blond.

[Sathukles]

Juoneen, thank you very much. I was in fact going to the Karelia region for a bear hunt and now I am having second thoughts. I do not want to be shot in the back by my hunting guide. And to think I was going to hunt whilst wearing an SS smock! I feel really stupid now. I am now having an image of me being shot in the back by my guide while I am bear hunting in my repro SS smock.
I really appreciate your concerns, especially I have a dark appearance and not blond.

Juoneen, I'm from New York City and have encountered many unsavoury Russians, so I really should have known better.
This is my recent reply to Karel Gott on War Relics. He is Russian and has posted photos of digging up graves of fallen German soldiers and sells their belongings. Just as you said, he did not answer my several pm's and emails. I am very wary of Russians because of what I've read about their behavioue during many periods in history. I won't get into the controversy and talk about things they did in East Prussia/Berlin etc, since I don't want to get kicked off this forum, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about,

Here's my message to Karel Gott on War Relics. I'm posting this as a friendly caution/advice for any unsuspecting member of WAF for their safety.

"Hello Karel Gott, I sent you 2 pm's as well as the post about me coming to Karelia to explore the battlefields. You never replied. You always welcomed members, so I'm curious why you have not replied. Perhaps, because the whole country is a failed state run by the mob and even WW2 relics are mob controlled for the financial benefits? I was also warned that if I went to dig on my own, I would be shot and buried by those who "CONTROL" all the relics.
It is very telling that no Russian has answered my question about where to visit battlefields in Neva as well as Karelia. I won;t be be visiting Mother russia anytime soon. Frankly it concerns my safety."

[Marcel Banziger]

I've been to Russia many times myself and I wouldn't go out and start digging for war relics on my own. I am convinced the police will give you a HARD time when doing so.

But on the other hand Russia is not as bad as people think. First impressions don't always show reality

In May I will go there again to visit the Victory of Germany parade in Moscow and from there I will join my girlfriend's mom who's a teacher, together with her colleague who's history teacher/historian/WW enthusiast to the battlefields from the battle of Moscow. Looking very much forward to this trip

[Daniel.S]

Guys.

How safe are those Stalingrad tours then?

Is this the same?

[Jägermarty]

I feel really stupid now. I am now having an image of me being shot in the back by my guide while I am bear hunting in my repro SS smock.
I really appreciate your concerns, especially I have a dark appearance and not blond.

Leave the bears alone mate ....