Absolutely amazing! It shows that each researcher must have their own method of attack. I think it is great.
John
John
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Hi
I think this is a wonderful success story and shows the value of never giving up on when researching an item. You may hit dead ends, but the results can be amazing.
The majority of the time, if you hit a dead end, then that will be it, as around 25% of officer records were destroyed in a fire. But on a few occasions, you get results like this.
To go from:
"Dear Mr Stevenson, we have recieved your recent letter. Unfortunately we are not in a position to be of assistance."
To:
A file with around 70 scans and three photographs is, well, just fantastic.
I always hope you can get a photograph from the RuSHA file and sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. With Ade, I am not totally sure that he is happy he got what he wished for as Eickemeyer looks like Mike Jagger!
I had a similiar experience with a research file that came with a TK ring. It came with around 6 pages of information on the owner. Not content, I contacted John P Moore, who pulled up a further 60+ pages and an excellent photograph of the original owner.
I hope that a few collectors who have not thought about researching their numbered, or named SS items, will read this and post a few up to keep me and my fellow forum members busy for a while
Now new information is coming up all the time and just because no one could identify your Gold Party Badge owner 10 years ago, does not mean that it has not been attributed now. It is well worth re-visiting some of these numbers periodically as Ade has done.
Nice one Ade and hearty congratulations as I know you have been looking for far too many years to mention on this one!
Raymond
PS - The dagger is a fake! ENVY is a terrible thing!
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Ade, fantastic dagger & research
!!
You are absolutely right, any member of the Waffen SS could also have a totally different rank in the Allg.SS, and a third in the Heer (or other unit).
So care must be taken when talking about rank..
Cheers,Comment
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Hi Guys, thanks for the comments and PM's.
I have been doing a bit more digging this week. When Gerard provided me with the initial research which provided me the name, I was told that he was KIA in April 1945. However, his name fails to appear on the German war graves database. Here are the Eickemeyer's that are listed (thank you Fred and Raymond) :
Nachname Vorname Geburtsdatum Todes-/Vermisstendatum
Eickemeyer Alfred 01.06.1908 01.01.1945
Eickemeyer Hans 07.07.1925 01.02.1945
Eickemeyer Horst 15.05.1926 11.02.1945
Eickemeyer Johann 01.09.1901 29.12.1945
Eickemeyer Reimar 09.04.1915 01.01.1945
As you can see, no name or date of birth matches?
I have asked Gerard to contact the researcher he used (he used to offer this service via his website, but no longer does this) to see where he obtained this info from.
He is another image of Hans Eickemeyer. I have cleaned this up a bit with Photoshop. Most images which are obtained from these SS files are poor to start with. Taken from his RuSHA file.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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As you may already know, the RuSHA looked into every SS man's family tree. If he wanted to marry, his prospective bride had to undergo the same kind of examination into her family background.
Here is his wife, Elizabeth. She was a bit younger than him, being born in 1914. She submited three photos of herself, all taken at the same time.Comment
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Here is my final pic to share with you all. Again taken from his RuSHA file.Comment
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Here is a 1945 dated document from his file after a request for an update from the SS Personel Office. Here he lists his postings, a hospital stay and details of his family's evacuation. Looks like they had to move more than once due to the bombings.
As you can see, his postings were all of an admin nature. But I guess every job in wartime is still important, as someone has to do them. The hospital stay mentions bruised ribs etc.
Well guys, than about finishes my thread. I hope that you have enjoyed the story and that it inspires you to do some research if you can.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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Fantastic Research Thread ! Good Going.......
Ade,
What Wonderful Luck & Splendid Results from your Persistence .....
In finding your "Mann" Wonderful.....
The insights into his life .... reveal fascinating aspects of the Time & Place....
The Photos are quite a BONUS indeed!
The extreme good fortune which you have Shared - is an inspiration for us All to keep looking, when doors seem Shut!
It Also brings up a Good Idea:
1) Do we have a Listing on WAF of the Various Individuals who perform Research of SS Files?
2) "IF" we currently do have a Listing..can you please Post a Link.....
3) "IF" we do NOT have a Listing - then this is an Opportune Time to develop a Listing......(I am aware of 4-5 Individuals, but will await your response.)
txs, Dave/dblmedComment
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Hi Dave, thanks again the comments.
At present we do not have a list of researchers who do this kind of work. I have mentioned those who helped me out of gratitude and courtsey. A list is a good idea in principal, but it does raise a couple of issues. Firstly, such a list, would in effect, constitute a free advert for those who do this work, as all charge for the service. (We have paid sponsors on the forum and I am sure that they would be upset to see someone getting a freebie) Secondly, a list might seem like we, as a forum, endorse their work. I know some do better work than others.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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I Agree.......Researcher's Listing
Ade,
After reviewing your very Sound Reasoning Regarding the Listing
on WAF of SS Researchers - I Do Agree Fully
Collectors Seeking out an SS Researcher will, most likely,
Perform a 'Search' for RESEARCH ... & can Review the Posts.
I Understand & Agree with the 'Big' Picture of things
Txs, Dave/dblmed
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Wow! Extremely fascinating Ade!
I wish I had such luck with my Serialized SS.Comment
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Wow, a nice research project, with a very happy ending. If any of your new friends "in the research world" know how to find me a couple of German vets who served on the French riviera, I would be very happy to get to talk to them.
JLComment
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Hi Pvluger - you should post up the number. You never, ever know. Information is being uncovered all the time and I keep saying that was unattributed ten years ago, may just have a name against it now. Always wort a try.Originally posted by pvluger View PostWow! Extremely fascinating Ade!
I wish I had such luck with my Serialized SS.
Ade mentions a good point about a list of researchers. If you do it for one, then you have to do it for all researchers, otherwise the forum would be open to favouritism, which is not fair on other researchers who we miss off.
In addition, any list is essentially a free advert and other members pay for the privilege of sponsoring the site and that is also unfair.
If you run searches on successful research that has been undertaken by members, then you will find some names. Otherwise, if you contact members, I am sure they will be able to supply details of researchers they use.
Best wishes
RaymondComment
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A spectacular development with your dagger, Ade - Congratulations! I can only imagine how thrilled you must be to have this information – not to mention multiple pictures of the original owner - especially after the initial dead end you ran into. This story is a perfect example why I enjoy collecting and researching attributable items. As the headline states, never give up on research!
Raymond, I applaud your generosity and your willingness to provide others with help, advice and information on their various research projects. It’s people like you and John Moore who are true assets to our hobby. I find it such a relief to know that there are fellow collectors with the right intentions willing to help others with their research – doing it for the good of the hobby and the study and preservation of history - instead of being driven by dollar signs and focusing primarily on “boosting the dollar value” of a item.
RobComment
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Hi Rob
Many thanks for your kind comments. The usual $10 fee will be in the post tomorrow!
RaymondComment
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