what is this ?

[kennethc]

Found this last week....

look old and authentic...

what is this?

regards
ken

[James Noble]

By the looks of it I would say it's a memorial piece for a soldier KIA

[Simon O.]

Gave the name a spin with the Volksbund database and it came up with:

Unteroffizier Rudolf Thoellden, born at Lahr

Died South of Fouy Ecrauves now buried at Reillon.




regards

Simon

[Phil_C]

Simon,

I've tried thevolksbund database a few times in the past and I was unable to find what I was after because my german isn't that great, also please can you post the web address for the volksbund as I am unable to find it.

Regards

Rick

[kennethc]

Too bad I don't read german...

[kennethc]

more information about this guy

Nachname: Thoellden first name: Rudolf service degree: corporal date of birth: 04.09.1920 place of birth: Lahr
death-/Vermisstendatum: 19.06.1940 Todesort: sdl. Fouy Ecrauves
Your member Rudolf Thoellden rests on the war graves site arranged by the people alliance in Reillon (France). Endgrablage: block 1 row 19 graves 1100 information to this cemetery you receive would approach here.

[kennethc]

german translation website

hey. my german is really suck but try this website to translate
everything for free

http://www.freetranslation.com/

[Mark S.]

Pretty elaborate for a mere Unteroffizier ..are these at all common?

[kennethc]

about the date of his death

I am wondering how could he end up in France year 1940.
German invaded Poland on 1939 and France 1942?

Probably this guy was a German spy?

Anyway, for the experts out there... was this thing supposed
to place right beside the tomb stone?

[Stijn David]

germany invading country's

Hello,


Just a sidenote regaring the following textline

German invaded Poland on 1939 and France 1942

Could it be that you are mistaking dates my friend ? , as far as the history is correctly written Germany invaded Belgium, Holland, France etc ... during Mai 1940 so it is perfectly possible that your person was KIA in France during 06.1940 as it seems the case with this person ( certainly he did not have to be a Spy ) , every war has its casualty's .

Just a quick note and hoping to be of some help

[Frank Heukemes]

....and it is not a German custom to have these next to the tombstone. These were made for the sad father´s desk, a special place in the family´s living room, etc.

Of course, after 1945, these items also left their places in people´s houses to be locked away, thrown away in fear or sold. It was not politically correct anymore to have these exposed in the house.

Cheers, Frank H.

[kennethc]

correct

yes, both of you did make a good point. In fact, i spent 3 hours
checking mr. Rudolf Thoellden info. his was buried at Reillon which is super tiny mini town of France Near south of Nancy.

I think the place he was killed mis-spelled as Fouy Ecrauves.
The closest town I found was Foul Crey near Reillon.
Usually people will bury the death near to where he was killed
(not thousand miles away ...)

According to the map of German advance during WWII.
The panzer army Group B actually passed through that region
during 1940 France invasion that could explain why some of the panzer items I found among this plaque from the collection (just speculation).

Just another note: There is an RZM M/100 stamp at the back
of steel eagle.

[Adrian]

Hello kchuah, (are you named after a sneeze?? )

Picking up on the point about the possible mis-spelling of the town name, I spent months pouring over maps, the internet and local books trying to find a village in Normandy called St Mauvieu with no luck.
Just by chance I was browsing in a book store and I picked up a book about panzers in Normandy, I opened it and on the exact page I opened I saw the name I was looking for, and then, "(now called St Manvieu)". The name had apparently changed after the war and there are now two of them within a few miles of each other!!
This may be of no consequence in your case but it maybe something to bear in mind when looking for places in France.

Best regards,
Adrian.

[kennethc]

Adrian,

ha ha ... yeah, I'm really allergic to pollen.
My name is Ken Chuah. Some how, when I registered it I type
kchuah as login user id. it end up became my screen name.

Anyway, may I know what is the name of the book on old
town name?

regards
kenneth

[Adrian]

Hello Ken,

I was just joking with your screen name, it appealed to my soh!!

I hope you didn`t misunderstand me, the book is not just about old town names, it just happened that I discovered an old town name within it.
Anyway the book is called Steel Inferno, SS Panzer Corps in Normandy. It is by Michael Reynolds and published in the UK by Spellmount Ltd, The Old Rectory, Staplehurst, Kent, England, TN12 OAZ. The ISBN is 1-873376-90-1.
I haven`t sat down and read it cover to cover yet but I have read sections and it seems very informative.

Hope this is of use to you,

Best regards,
Adrian.