Knights Cross Recipients Who Are Still Living

[LB023]

I have just received a letter from Mr.Soren Kam....refused.......
So i guess he doesn't respond anymore....very sad, I would love to have his autograph in my collection, but we have to respect it.

Kind regards,

Laurens

[LB023]

I have an Idea for you guy's......Did you EVER consider LEAVING these RKT's ALONE in their old age....DAMN !

Absolute nonsense, my experience is that a lot of RKT's still love to correspond.
Those who respond all wrote me a very kind letter back.

[vonkoenigsberg]

Absolute nonsense, my experience is that a lot of RKT's still love to correspond.
Those who respond all wrote me a very kind letter back.

I completely agree. If they don't want to answer, then they won't answer. They don't need anybody speaking for them. I understand this "leaving them alone" point of view, but we are only sending letters through the mail, not showing up on their doorstep. They must know we appreciate their efforts, and will respect whatever they choose to do.

[don_kihotis7]

So, maybe you should send more money? I was happy to once he had asked me, I just didn't realized he needed more! But of course it's understandable given the amount of requests he must get, and the increasing difficulty given his age.

Hello.
That is not the case because it was just a Christmas card with wishes without asking for anything in return. But anyway he couldn't know because he never opened the envelope. It was stamped "refused" which means he denied receiving the letter.

The previous time i had sent him a letter and photos with request for signing and returning them, i had included 20 euros and he sent them back to me (signed). I have posted the photos in this thread.

That's why i assumed, since he denied to receive a Christmas card, that he must have quit correspondence with collectors, historians etc

[Paul E]

I have an Idea for you guy's......Did you EVER consider LEAVING these RKT's ALONE in their old age....DAMN !

Tom why do you periodically post the same sentence ??

As has been pointed out some of these men are still despite their age more than willing to correspond , if they didn't want to reply they wouldn't and if they have had enough and want to be left in peace then this and threads like it can be used to put out that message or via the OdR etc.

If an RKT or veteran has indicated that they no longer wish to correspond and collectors still try and contact them then they need to be called out but why you keep posting comments like this i'm at a loss !!

[Tom B]

I think your Bone Picking !

I don't like it because I think your Bone Picking on Old Men ! I wrote to every member of the OdR back when they were young and able to write and send photos. NOW they must be left alone in their final years !! Many of these men are my friends, and I think they would agree with what I have said about this matter....Leave them alone !!!! My final word on this !

[tystgaard]

Hmm

I understand Toms point of view.. But think a few of these vets still
are fresh and injoy the attention... Old age do not mean you just want
to sit and do nothing all day. Just do your homework before sending a letter in my opinion.

Best
Nicolai

[PerMilitaria]

I agree with Nicolai.
Some veterans maybe doesn't have anything to do during the weeks and like the feeling of having "fans" and get letters to answer.

[Paul E]

I don't like it because I think your Bone Picking on Old Men ! I wrote to every member of the OdR back when they were young and able to write and send photos. NOW they must be left alone in their final years !! Many of these men are my friends, and I think they would agree with what I have said about this matter....Leave them alone !!!! My final word on this !

Tom whilst appreciating your point of view and the fact that you were contacting and meeting RK winners many years before a lot of the folk on here my standpoint is that i followed on from you and began writing to and meeting RK's and German veterans from the late 90's onwards becoming a member of the OdR . Korps Steiner and other veterans associations along the way , many of who like you have become personal friends and confidantes , however i do still appreciate that many younger collectors and historians also still want to contact these men who were part of the making of history.

To that end there are clearly many RKT's and veterans despite their advanced age who are more than willing to continue to respond to letters / meetings as the posts on this thread testify to , many of them assisted by younger members of their families and in fact they still welcome the interest in their service.

I do abhor those collectors who continue to contact veterans who are known to be too ill to correspond or no longer wish to and that information is widely known , those guys should be left in peace but if the vets are willing then who has the right to say that they shouldn't be contacted.

Those who perhaps have more knowledge in this matter should be willing to part with information to prevent unecessary or unwanted contact and assist the younger collectors in the correct way to proceed not carte blanche say that no further contact should be made but with a caveat that some collectors clearly have a me , me , me modern attitude and can't understand why some 90 year old hasn't replied to them within a week . Correct standards of conduct and a contribution towards covering any expenses should be the minimum that the veterans should expect.

That's my take on it

Cheers

Paul

[Tomo]

Hi,

Well said Paul - I received a reply on Friday from a veteran who is in his 102nd year and while he pointed out that his letter writing is limited, he really appreciates the acknowledgement he receives from the younger generations!

Unfortunately some of us did not have the opportunity to contact these veterans in their prime... cheers,
Thomas

[Annelie]

Veterans are appreciative of being remembered and what they went
through. They do like to know people remember.

However, many are not lucky enough to have pensions that can sustain
them and their health needs.

I think nobody should request a signed photograph unless you put at
least $20, in the envolope for them. Just look at ebay and see the prices
they are getting there. Stamps are expensive also.

Strange that so many ask for their autograph and
then you see lots of them on ebay.

Anyway that is MHO

[Paul E]

Veterans are appreciative of being remembered and what they went
through. They do like to know people remember.

However, many are not lucky enough to have pensions that can sustain
them and their health needs.

I think nobody should request a signed photograph unless you put at
least $20, in the envolope for them. Just look at ebay and see the prices
they are getting there. Stamps are expensive also.

Strange that so many ask for their autograph and
then you see lots of them on ebay.

Anyway that is MHO

Good points Annelie our friend who sent 5 euro is way off ther mark for a contribution and no wonder he was asked for more as you quite rightly point out many of these Rentner are not receiving huge pensions and many in life post war did not work in employments that have left them well off. When the cost of copying photos , stamps , envelopes , cost of getting to the post office etc is taken into consideration a minimum 10 euros / $20 should be sent.

As you say look at the cost of those that are being sold on E Bay , the OdR meetings are now full of parasites many with no interest in the men or their history only intertested in getting 50 photos signed whilst the RKT's are still on the go so they can get them on E Bay as quick as possible and then continue to sell them in the years to come.

The above comment does not apply to some of the esteemed members here who i know attend meetings but i am sure you have seen these people.It is one of the reasons why i like others no longer attend the OdR meetings,

cheers

Paul

[Michael Miller]

For those with artistic talent, maybe start by giving something to the RKT, e.g. a pencil portrait of the man. That's what I did with Remi Schrijnen and I received a stack of photos and yearly Christmas cards from him until his passing in 2006.

~ Mike

[don_kihotis7]

Good points Annelie our friend who sent 5 euro is way off ther mark for a contribution and no wonder he was asked for more as you quite rightly point out many of these Rentner are not receiving huge pensions and many in life post war did not work in employments that have left them well off. When the cost of copying photos , stamps , envelopes , cost of getting to the post office etc is taken into consideration a minimum 10 euros / $20 should be sent.

As you say look at the cost of those that are being sold on E Bay , the OdR meetings are now full of parasites many with no interest in the men or their history only intertested in getting 50 photos signed whilst the RKT's are still on the go so they can get them on E Bay as quick as possible and then continue to sell them in the years to come.

The above comment does not apply to some of the esteemed members here who i know attend meetings but i am sure you have seen these people.It is one of the reasons why i like others no longer attend the OdR meetings,

cheers

Paul

Well said. I also send a 10 euro note in every letter and 20 in the case that i send a book to have it signed.

[Hetzenauer]

I always add an envelope with my adress and a stamp on it, so the veterans don't have to pay for sending the letter and don't have to write my adress. Besides I put 5€ in the letter