Searching Volksbund website

[Jean-Loup]

I have several names of german soldiers I would like to try to find on the Volksbund grave search thing:
http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche/content_suche.asp

I used it before and it was fine, but now after I press the "search" button, it asks me to write in my name, why I am looking, if I am a familly memeber, etc, etc.
Is that normal? If I want to search the graves of 10 guys, do I then have to fill in all that stuff 10 times? Isnt there a quick way to get an answere to know if the guy is in their database or not?

JL

[Waffenreich]

JL,

All that registration nonsense is required unfortunately. The fields with the asterisk recognize any character entered. What I do is just hit any key, then Tab, the same character, then Tab again, .... I repeat this till all fields with the asterisk have at least one character in them. Again, the system just has to recognize an entry has been made. Don't bother with the reason (correct one would be "Geschichtliches Interesse" if you really feel compelled to put an "x" in one), then put an "x" in "Ich erkläre mich mit den Bestimmungen zur Datenverarbeitung des Volksbundes Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. einverstanden".

As far as repeat/multiple searches; use the link at the lower left of the name search result list titled "züruck zur Abfrage".

If you have anymore problems don't hesitate to ask/PM me and I'll look them up. Don't forget to try different configurations of the name meaning if you have a Hans Schmitt and nothing comes up try Johannes Schmitt, or Heinz.... try Heinrich etc...

Good luck!!

Bob

[Jean-Loup]

Thanks a lot for that answer. I will try again later on today and see how things go.

JL

[F L Clemens]

Once you have signed into the site and done the registration, you do not need to repeat the registration - UNLESS you clear the site cookie from your browser cache. Unfortunately, good computer security does recommend clearing your stored information on a regular basis, so doing the registration over again is a necessary evil, but at least you only have to do it once per session.

[Jean-Loup]

I did what you guys told me to do, and everything turned out fine. I am finding some great info!!!

[carl b]

German war graves website

Has anyone had any luck using this database? I have tried following the instructions of Roland Fogt, but cannot get the website to accept my search data page. I did fill out all necessary fields. I am trying to find any record of Feldwebel Hans Keilberth, born 9 April 1923, died in East on 21 August 1943.

[naxos]

Feldwebel Hans Keilberth, born 9 April 1923, died in East on 21 August 1943.

He is not listed in the database

[Jean-Loup]

A good way to do it is to type in a name like "Schmidt" that way a bunch of answers come up and you knwo the thing is working. Then you can try your name and if there is no result you know there really is no result.

By the way, did you guys notice they 'improved' the search motor, and now the name must be written excatly correctly otherwise no answers come up?
Before only the three first letters of the name were enaugh to do a search.

[Tora_Tora_Tora!]

I have several names of german soldiers I would like to try to find on the Volksbund grave search thing:
http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche/content_suche.asp

I used it before and it was fine, but now after I press the "search" button, it asks me to write in my name, why I am looking, if I am a familly memeber, etc, etc.
Is that normal? If I want to search the graves of 10 guys, do I then have to fill in all that stuff 10 times? Isnt there a quick way to get an answere to know if the guy is in their database or not?

JL

Things like this happen everytime you change computer, it is like the VB server doesn't recognize more your IP address.

[bsmith56]

By the way, did you guys notice they 'improved' the search motor, and now the name must be written excatly correctly otherwise no answers come up?
Before only the three first letters of the name were enaugh to do a search.

Oh man I noticed. The 3 letter thing used to be very handy when I couldn't make out the whole last name, it would give me something to go on. But no I just put it my many guesses and hope I find it from there.

Let's face it, I don't think they designed the site and search function for collectors researching items so they probably aren't too concerned about changing the search in a way that hurts us.