Hi,
I am new to your forum and..... I am after some information I am sure someone could help please.
I hope I am posting this in the right spot.
Let me tell you a story very quickly; about 6 months ago I found out my wife's grandfather was in the SS. He is still alive at present and has a month or two left to lung cancer. I have known him for at least 10 years.
He seems to only share his time in the SS lately with me when I go visit.
I am wondering if anyone could lead me in the right direction to reclaiming his medals, insignia and the 1957 reissue as well.
He served from the beginning of WW II and was captured in France in 1944 where his medals were taken with his service numbers, He was questioned / tortured for a couple of weeks under close guard. Then he was taken as a P.O.W in Canada then in England before he was released after the war.
His brother worked beside Himmler and got him into the SS. He served in the 10th Panzer division and was captured when his tiger II had the turret torn off (he doesn't know exactly but says it was one hell of a bomb of some sort) killing his crew apart from himself and his side at the front.
Communication is difficult with him now but what I can make out is that he had 2 pips per side on his shoulder boards and 2 pips on his collar, I am not sure of the rank in German but my guess is that he was an officer or NCO equivalent to lieutenant or commander? (please someone correct me if I am wrong as I am not sure) but he was definitely above sergeant.
He says he had the silver Panzer badge an 1st and 2nd class Iron Crosses.
I am not sure about this either but I think he said one iron cross had EK II and EK I in the centre but I have not seen this badge during my googling.
He may have just ment both Iron Crosses.
So my question are:
Who do I contact about his medal entitlements? And how can we get them without his number? (We have birth cert's and family tree info though)
Who do I contact about his service history?
How do I find out his Insignia
Where is the best place to purchase original German WW II medals?
Any help would truly be appreciated.
cheers
Peter
I am new to your forum and..... I am after some information I am sure someone could help please.
I hope I am posting this in the right spot.
Let me tell you a story very quickly; about 6 months ago I found out my wife's grandfather was in the SS. He is still alive at present and has a month or two left to lung cancer. I have known him for at least 10 years.
He seems to only share his time in the SS lately with me when I go visit.
I am wondering if anyone could lead me in the right direction to reclaiming his medals, insignia and the 1957 reissue as well.
He served from the beginning of WW II and was captured in France in 1944 where his medals were taken with his service numbers, He was questioned / tortured for a couple of weeks under close guard. Then he was taken as a P.O.W in Canada then in England before he was released after the war.
His brother worked beside Himmler and got him into the SS. He served in the 10th Panzer division and was captured when his tiger II had the turret torn off (he doesn't know exactly but says it was one hell of a bomb of some sort) killing his crew apart from himself and his side at the front.
Communication is difficult with him now but what I can make out is that he had 2 pips per side on his shoulder boards and 2 pips on his collar, I am not sure of the rank in German but my guess is that he was an officer or NCO equivalent to lieutenant or commander? (please someone correct me if I am wrong as I am not sure) but he was definitely above sergeant.
He says he had the silver Panzer badge an 1st and 2nd class Iron Crosses.
I am not sure about this either but I think he said one iron cross had EK II and EK I in the centre but I have not seen this badge during my googling.
He may have just ment both Iron Crosses.
So my question are:
Who do I contact about his medal entitlements? And how can we get them without his number? (We have birth cert's and family tree info though)
Who do I contact about his service history?
How do I find out his Insignia
Where is the best place to purchase original German WW II medals?
Any help would truly be appreciated.
cheers
Peter
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