West Point RK Research

[Marc Garlasco]

I just returned from an amazing day at the West Point Museum assisting Dietrich with his research on the RK book in the Heukemes series. I was also looking for information for my Flak book. Mike from Camp Smith was kind enough to set things up for us and we were able to handle, scan, and photograph a number of high awards & documents, including some never before published. Dietrich was kind enough to let me read the manuscript for the RK book and it is of the highest quality! Here are a few photos for you to feast your eyes upon:


Dietrich, the preservation specialist, and Mike


It is so much lighter than I thought it would be...


Can I borrow this? So heavy it was difficult to lift...


Wonder what it looks like OUT of the case...


A new eagle for Frank???


My thanks to Mike. He is a really great guy. And Dietrich was so nice in letting me assist him and do some research as well.
Regards,
Marc

[Jeff V]

A feast for the eyes! I can't wait for these books! Keep up the good work! best wishes,
jeff

[münster]

Strictly amazing Flak! Nice to see some photos like that.

[Bob Hritz]

About 4 decades ago, when Dr. Rich was the cataloging official for the West Point Museum, he advised me the three Knight's Crosses in the museum were all Steinhauer and Luck, non magnetic types. I believe he said they were unmarked. Unfortunately, this was just what I was told and had never had the opportunity to examine then, in hand.

Dietrich, perhaps you can advise us if Dr. Rich was incorrect.

Bob Hritz

[Marc Garlasco]

Bob,
We made many interesting "discoveries" but I will leave all for Dietrich...
Marc

[Bob Hritz]

Dietrich,

The Star to the Grand Cross, the 3 DK with diamonds, and the Social Welfare with diamonds in jewelled case were all stolen from the veteran who brought them back from the war. In the early 1950's the treasury department agents came to the door of the veteran and threatened him and his family with imprisonment if he did not surrender the medals to them for the West Point Museum. I know the man personally as do several other prominent collectors. I believe he describes the museum as the West Point Thieves Museum, rightly so!

I have heard that many of the 'donations' were made under the pressure of the same heavy hand.

Bob Hritz

[Chet Sowersby]

Great pictures. I eagerly await whatever Dietrich will share with us

Chet

[OdeSSa1976]

What I have reed was , the Star of the Iron Cross was found in a castle in Austria in 1948 by GI'S. Only 1 known example .
But if you say it was stolen .
And now in the West Piont museum in New York .
thieves

[münster]

Very impressive guys,would love to see closeups

[münster]

What I have reed was , the Star of the Iron Cross was found in a castle in Austria in 1948 by GI'S. Only 1 known example .
But if you say it was stolen .
And now in the West Piont museum in New York .
thieves

I thought one was destroyed by fire???

[Peter Wiking]

Looking forward to your book Dietrich.

Cheers.
Peter

[johannes post]

fantastic

when this museum works with the collecters too get a amazing book

looking forward too the heukemes series


regards johan

[OdeSSa1976]

I thought one was destroyed by fire???

Hello Münster
In my books there is only one known example and that is the US West Point.
Even by Lothar Hartung , he says , only one example known.
If there is one destroyed by fire I do not know that friend.
But thanks for telling me .
Where is it destroyed ?
Regards

[münster]

Iam way out of my league here, but I thought there was one recently moved in Germany

[Bob Hritz]

The items I described in my above post were taken from Schloss Kleissheim, in Austria by a US soldier. In the 1950's the US Treasury Department sent agents to this now discharged soldier's home to confiscate (STEAL) the medals for the West Point Museum collection. This soldier spent many thousands of dollars on lawyers trying to get HIS medals back from the thieves at West Point. Even his US Senators tried, without success to get the medals he captured returned. When the US government wants something, the owner has no rights.

Please read what I wrote.

There is only ONE Star to the Grand Cross, and that was stolen from the veteran and currently resides at West Point, along with his 3 German Crosses with diamonds, his Social Welfare Medal with hiamonds and jewelled case.

Bob Hritz