Vets wearing their 57ers!!!

[U-558]

Post 1090

Willi Dippberger with Wife. Willi Dipberger Beobachter Stab./KG 6
KC 09.01.1945

best regards
Markus

[Sepp45]

Oberst Johannes Wiese

You can see both crosses on his display, the wartime and '57 editions!

Pure gold! A color version of this magnificent photo

[Sepp45]

And a close-up on the awards!

Hope you like it

[Tony T-S]

Sepp that's a great shot. A complete set of clasps and all. Is one of those RKs a 57er, I can't tell on my screen?

[Tom B]

And a close-up on the awards!

Hope you like it

Sepp, Any idea of where his awards are now ?? Tom

[Sepp45]

Sepp, Any idea of where his awards are now ?? Tom

No idea Tom.. Wiese passed away in 1991, but I haven't seen those medals on any private collections, so far.

Maybe his awards are in the hands of the family.

[Sepp45]

Sepp that's a great shot. A complete set of clasps and all. Is one of those RKs a 57er, I can't tell on my screen?

If I'm not mistaken, the first one is a 57er.

[Tom B]

Like I told Nigel, The ONLY place I'll be posting ANYTHING is on this part of the 57 section. So just the "Vets wearing their 57ers!!!" With the REST, I'm finished ! Tom

[GHP]

Meyer was captured in 1945 wearing an Army uniform (he disguised himself using the identity of one fictional Colonel Meyer of the Heer's 2nd Panzer-Division), without his RK. Maybe his original cross is still in the hands of the family?

If I correctly recall from Meyer's autobiography, Grenadiers, he complained that his decorations were stolen from him when he surrendered.

If I'm mistaken, PLEASE!, someone correct me.

--Guy

[GHP]

....Don't know the name of the porky little guy?

Benni Hügel?



Forgive my sillyness ... I can't help it sometimes.

--Guy

[Tony T-S]

No silliness, that's exactly who I thought of as well.

[Tom B]

If I correctly recall from Meyer's autobiography, Grenadiers, he complained that his decorations were stolen from him when he surrendered.

If I'm mistaken, PLEASE!, someone correct me.

--Guy

I heard & read the same thing Guy. I have never heard of any of his awards showing up ? Tom

[GHP]

Kurt Meyer, Grenadiers (Stackpole Books, 2005), p. 309. [The "chicken coop incident".]

"...My astonishment vanished quickly; a submachine gun was pointed at my stomach. At the same time, a second American shouted: "Don't resist! My buddy wants your medals as a souvenir." Powerless with rage, I allowed my Knight's Cross to be stolen. It had been with me since April 1941...."

--Guy

[Tony T-S]

Soldiers of every nation have done this to other soldiers, I guess it's just part of it. It's still a disgrace, but that's war for you. It is, as we've seen so often, also part of the collecting world as well.

[Tom B]

Kurt Meyer, Grenadiers (Stackpole Books, 2005), p. 309. [The "chicken coop incident".]

"...My astonishment vanished quickly; a submachine gun was pointed at my stomach. At the same time, a second American shouted: "Don't resist! My buddy wants your medals as a souvenir." Powerless with rage, I allowed my Knight's Cross to be stolen. It had been with me since April 1941...."

--Guy

Thanks for posting the quote ! Tom