Vets wearing their 57ers!!!

[Sepp45]

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 Guy! But another question remains: did Meyer had any replacement for his cross? What about RK documents?

[Tom B]

Thanks Guy! But another question remains: did Meyer had any replacement for his cross? What about RK documents?

Hello Sepp ! Meyer's medals & doc's have always been kind of a mystery. We now know he had 57 type. As for original 39 replacements I have never heard anything. Since he died just a few years after the 57's became available, and he spent many years behind bars, makes me doubt it. His Doc's...again ???? Tom

[GHP]

Thanks Guy! But another question remains: did Meyer had any replacement for his cross? What about RK documents?

He said while being processed he asked to be escorted to the latrine, where he dumped his soldbuch ... but the pipes were broken and he hoped to clear the area before it was discovered. Later, while undergoing more processing, he said his soldbuch was taken when captured. [From memory ... I can't remember if he blamed it on the French or Americans.] It was a good story and the processing person accepted his story.

He mentioned nothing about his award documents.

--Guy

[Sepp45]

Kapitän zur See Karl-Friedrich Merten

This photo was taken by WAF member Kondor; credits to him.

[Sepp45]

Oberfähnrich Herbert Fries

.

[Nigel N]

Fantastic photo of Merten, not only does he have his Oaks in the rare early style case, but his RK also appears to be in the even rarer round cornered type RK case!!
Great!!!!!!!!
-Nigel

[Sepp45]

Obergefreiter Willi Hopfe

[Sepp45]

Gen. Lyman Lemitzer, NATO supreme commander, confers the legion of Merit on Gen. Johann Adolf Graf Von Kielmansegg, German Commander of land forces in central Europe, at NATO Headquarters.

Crappy picture, but you can see Von Kielmansegg wearing his '57 set.

[GHP]

Same occasion, different angle ... after the LoM was adjusted properly:



Source warrelics.eu

--Guy

[GHP]

Another:



source

--Guy

[Sepp45]

Same occasion, different angle ... after the LoM was adjusted properly:

Yes, I posted that same photo many post before

But thanks anyway Guy

[Sepp45]

Despite the fact it's a small picture, the one of Hartmann is very rare. First time I've ever seen him with only the RK ribbon..

[Sepp45]

.

[Sepp45]

Vizeadmiral Walter Zenner

[Sepp45]

Bundesmarine Officer.