Contacting Knights' Cross Recipients

[Death-Ace]

Heya!

I was hoping if anyone knows of any RK recipients who are willing to to be contacted by their adoring fans!

While I'm doing because I would like to greet and speak with the members of the German military who served gallantly in WWII, it is also (to a lesser extent) a part of a project to interview any MOH, VC, and RK recipient.

I was wondering, in particular of:
Otto Carius
Joachim Boosfeld
Walter Schuck
Georg Lassen

However, any RK recipient will get a warm greeting from me!

Thanks in advance!
Lev

[ardennes1944]

Hi

Lassen and Boosfeld no responding now.
For others, look in the German telephone directory .

Phil.

[Death-Ace]

Hi and thanks for the comment! Guess these guys want their peace...which is rightfully deserved!

Does anyone know of those who'll respond? Waffen SS in particular?

[blitzkrieg gsd]

The guys that got the info want something for the info good luck i tryed and was shot down for i have no offerings as a fng oh well let me know if you have any luck

[blitzkrieg gsd]

by the way what do you write them it seems weird to treat them like a sports star

[Death-Ace]

Yea, seems kinda sad and greedy...kinda like the world today in most parts.

Back in "their day," they were treated with the equality of most sports stars. Photos and such being sent for them to sign, letters of gratitude, etc. Only difference is that the majority of their time was spent at Hell's doorstep (aka, the battlefield). Even if these may have been annoying, it'd would've given some comfort to know that their actions gave that same comfort to folks back home. It would've been a little slice of heaven to hear from anybody who gave a damn (pardon my French) from home, even for a split second.

My own reason to ask them, other from the reasons given, is about themselves, sorta like a German pen pal. I would like to know about their time in the military, how they got through crap, and what they did to pass the time, pranks, and their conduct on the field of battle. Their own tactics, bravery, loyalty to his own comrades in arms and his views on the "invaders." With that, I'd thank them for their time and if I was ever to meet one (which I shall!), salute, and handshake. Men like these as well as the ones serving today in our American armed forces inspire me to join as well ('bout the only thing I can do right is shoot! ) and to pass on that own inspiration to my friends in arms and here at home

Sorry if that was a "lil" bit long!

[Lasse L]

Personaly I find it ridicilous when people write to veterans to "greet" them or such. Write to them if you have serious questions about their service, their unit or such, but to treat them like some kind of celebrities?

[ardennes1944]

Personaly I find it ridicilous when people write to veterans to "greet" them or such. Write to them if you have serious questions about their service, their unit or such, but to treat them like some kind of celebrities?

This is your comment is ridiculous.
request a signed photo is a way to honor a veteran.

I have a veteran in my family who participate in the Second World War, and it is an honor for him when someone asks him a signed photo.

[ardennes1944]

The guys that got the info want something for the info good luck i tryed and was shot down for i have no offerings as a fng oh well let me know if you have any luck

to find an address, it sometimes takes a long time.
And you arrive and you think that the addresses are coming from the sky.
If you think I ask for money to give an address.....

[Lasse L]

This is your comment is ridiculous.
request a signed photo is a way to honor a veteran.

I have a veteran in my family who participate in the Second World War, and it is an honor for him when someone asks him a signed photo.

I have actually heard from several veterans that they found it quite strange when people asked them for signed photos, especially when americans wrote and asked for them since they had been the enemy. A LSSAH veteran told me that it made him happy that atleast one of all the people who wrote to him asked questions and dident just beg for a photo, since most of them seamed to know nothing about his unit or service.

[Huntzman]

I am going to chime in since I was the one that started the "Knights Cross Recipients Who Are Living" thread.

First, I will speak only from experience in that I don't believe or treat RKT's as "rock stars." Actually, I think that's insulting based on the activities of many rock stars.

RKT, or CMOH recipients, or any other nations hero's, are men have gone above and beyond on the field of battle. I have had the good fortune of not only writing a few and obtaining signed photos, but also getting to know them. I have never had one tell me they objected to it, although the argument could be made that the ones that did not respond felt this way. Most were honored, and a few made mention that they appreciated this contact because it made them understand that all these years later they were no longer being vilified. Although a few also said that the only positive contact they got was from outside Germany, and that many Germans still looked down on them. Remember, the great many of them were simply soldiers, doing their jobs. Politicians do not fight wars, they send proxies to do it.

On the other issue, and this is to the new people. Please do not take the silence of those here to mean we don't want to help. Unfortunately in many instances a brand new member will come in only asking for addresses. What has taken many of us a long time of research is not the type of thing we want to share with someone who has only 1-2 posts.

How do we get them ? In most instances it is research. Internet searches, phones searches, etc. Unlike the US, many of these soldiers returned to the city of their birth or close by. Use your thinking cap. Show an effort, not just expect it. We all start off at the beginning. But if you show that you are serious and contributing, you will find that others are more willing to "help".

I know, because that's exactly how it happened for me.

Andrew

[Death-Ace]

Thanks for your part in this, Phil and everyone else who's spoken!

I understand how some of ya guys do feel. I was once had a "quest" to contact the 2nd SS tank Ace, Ernst Barkmann, who I first heard of since my transition from "somewhat" Japanese to German culture and miltary history about six years ago. Unfortunately, once I had the chance, he had allready passed away. Felt kinda bad I never got the chance to greet him an thank him, but now I know he's safe in the right hand of God among the other fighters of WWII who've passed on.

I'm still on the quest and since my first post on this thread, have looked to the German phone books.

Thanks!
Lev

[Huntzman]

Lev

Don't feel bad about Ernst, he hadn't been answering letters for quite some time before his passing. I had mailed him about a year earlier without a reply.

Unfortunately, many are at the point in their lives where they are not able to see very well nor write. It is a shame, but time waits for no man.

When I first started out their was not even a listing of who was alive. It was all guess work. I spent a lot of time trying to figure things out, and then started my thread, which received a lot of support. I think it is probably the most comprehensive list there is for the average person seeking information.

My suggestion is the same one I used.

1. Locate a name
2. Check wiki, look for where they were born
3. Search the phone book

Time consuming, but very rewarding. You would also be surprised what you can find on the website of autograph dealers who sometimes scan "all" documents associated with a RKT.

Like my grandfather used to tell me, a word to the wise is sufficient.

Thanks for your part in this, Phil and everyone else who's spoken!

I understand how some of ya guys do feel. I was once had a "quest" to contact the 2nd SS tank Ace, Ernst Barkmann, who I first heard of since my transition from "somewhat" Japanese to German culture and miltary history about six years ago. Unfortunately, once I had the chance, he had allready passed away. Felt kinda bad I never got the chance to greet him an thank him, but now I know he's safe in the right hand of God among the other fighters of WWII who've passed on.

I'm still on the quest and since my first post on this thread, have looked to the German phone books.

Thanks!
Lev

[Death-Ace]

Lev

Don't feel bad about Ernst, he hadn't been answering letters for quite some time before his passing. I had mailed him about a year earlier without a reply.

Unfortunately, many are at the point in their lives where they are not able to see very well nor write. It is a shame, but time waits for no man.

When I first started out their was not even a listing of who was alive. It was all guess work. I spent a lot of time trying to figure things out, and then started my thread, which received a lot of support. I think it is probably the most comprehensive list there is for the average person seeking information.

My suggestion is the same one I used.

1. Locate a name
2. Check wiki, look for where they were born
3. Search the phone book

Time consuming, but very rewarding. You would also be surprised what you can find on the website of autograph dealers who sometimes scan "all" documents associated with a RKT.

Like my grandfather used to tell me, a word to the wise is sufficient.

Indeed it's true. My pa's dad was said to always say: "Time marches on!" And these soldiers do march on to Heaven.

It's kinda sad, but the "youngest" RK recipient is 84! Still, some of these guys sure sound like the ain't wanna give up their youth to old age, so that's a plus and a score for the old timers!

Hopefully I won't overdue any letters to the folks in Europe, besides, it's not a right to contact these guys, it's an honor.