www.Das-Ritterkreuz.de is no longer online!!!!

[jpipes]

If you are looking for biographical information on ALL of the RK holders (as in all 7000+ of them), check out my site, as I have a new database online that contains information about them all.

My site: Feldgrau.com

The RK database

I also have on Feldrau a massive Officer database which lists nearly 2500 Heer officers so far, basically every single commander above regimental level and then some!

Lastly, I am now in the process of finishing the creation of a massive unit database that so far includes every German division complete with gobs of info for each, including formation, lineage, traditions, commanders, war service, text history, bibliography, all RK holders, oobs, etc. It's sure to be one of the most detailed sources available anywhere in English once it's complete.

Here's an example: 1.Infanterie-Division

Thanks for reading!!

Jason Pipes

[Prosper Keating]

Originally posted by stalwart
Hi all,

I contacted the webmaster of Das-Ritterkreuz.de shortly after the site had been removed. I received a non-personalized message (due to dozens of anxious inquiries no doubt). The webmaster expressed his apologies for having taken this step, and appended a short explanation.

Apparently he was forced to remove the site because of legal trouble. Not imposed by our ever-vigilant German authorities this time, but by a poster from the Das-Ritterkreuz.de forum. That user, who is somehow related to a publishing house, demanded that certain pictures were to be removed as the publisher would own exclusive rights to them. The webmaster then received a cease and desist order from the publisher, as well as an outrageous bill.

Since the webpage had never generated enough revenue to cover its costs, and since this legal action had aggravated the situation (with the looming threat of further claims for indemnification) he was forced to remove the site.

AFAIK all the data has been kept, however I cannot tell if or when the webmaster will agree to make the information available. From the message he seemed to be quite devastated by the events.

A Cease and Desist Order doubtless prepared by some thirdrate in-house lawyer who couldn't get a job in a proper legal partnership. Where WW2 photos are concerned, my initial response to anyone claiming the copyright in any image I was using would be fire a legal response back - most people have friends who are lawyers - demanding that the claimants prove their copyright by producing a document such as an assignation of copyright by the original author of the photograph or an authority properly delegated by the author to dispose of copyright permanently. A long-winded way of telling them to f**k off, in other words. The onus is on them to prove ownership. Of course, if the publisher or agency in question is very wealthy, they might use litigation to bully one into submission for fear of the risk that people will rumble their little game. The owner of the Das Ritterkreuz website shouldn't let himself be bullied by these swine. He ought to make a counter-demand and a counter-claim for harassment and mental anguish. I think one can do this quite easily in Germany.

Prosper Keating

[bhholst]

Das Ritterkreuz site back on line

Hello,
Just received the good news that :
www.das-ritterkreuz.de
is back on line. I looked it up and it seems to work ok.
Bernhard H. Holst

[Ian Jewison]

Excellent!!!

[Douglas Jr.]

Great news!!!

Hi everybody!,

Great news, indeed!

I spent some time there today, and they are running great as ever!! Nice to see it back again!

Wishes,

Douglas.