Knights Cross Recipients Photo Collection

Hi everyone

Was asked to share my collection of photos of Knights Cross Recipients. It is modest, compared to some I know. I didn't get started in collecting photos till 2008, which is very late, so I am thankful for the collection I do have.

Unfortunately I have not had a chance to update it. I have added about 2 dozen since the last time the page was updated (Aug. 2009). Hopefully I will be able to get to it shortly.

Knight's Cross

In addition, I was asked if I wouldn't mind sharing the list that I started over at another forum. I believe that collecting also involves sharing knowledge, so here it is:

http://www.ww2f.com/military-servic...s-recipients-who-still-living.html#post489962

 

Great start you have there. I collect them to and had a nice amount but gave many away and sold a few. i still have abiout 20.

E, kai and a few others here also collect them.

 

Thanks, it's been both rewarding and frustrating as more and more that I have come to know pass away away. It's inevitable, but still sad.

 

Andrew, great collection sad only 1 KM chap. say really like the Hein. Koller pic with his crew sitting on the front of the Stug, very classy, is the man still with us ??

E ~

 

Eric, Thanks for the kind words. Tracking down the addresses for KM RKT has always been difficult for me.

Sadly no, Herr Kohler passed away. My site is outdated and needs an update very badly.

Andrew

 

understood sending you a private now

 

Andrew you have a very impressive collcetion. Mine is really small compared to yours. I know quite a few LW vets this being said and I will check if I have one or two you might not have yet

 

Skipper

Thanks for the kind words about the collection. I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know a few of them on a personal level.

I actually gave up on writing. There comes a time when you realize that keeping up with the mail becomes a burden for them, most have health issues they must contend with that makes it difficult. So I decided some time ago to begin to look to private means of adding to my collection.

Now I only stay in contact with those that I have a personal relationship with. To me that is a true honor. Here I am, a generation removed from the "enemy" and we laugh about things like wishing they still had their pistol from the war so they could shoot their doctors !!

Andrew

 

Hi Andrew, the same with me. I basically quit writing to them because many are no longer interested in the war, or too sick or just want to be left alone. All the RKTs I had any frienship with are all now gone. Losing them all took a lot out of me and thats when my interests in contacting other RKTs-basically ended. I still stay in touch with a couple o the U 181 Vets though. My friend Karl, turns 91 this year-God willing ;-)) Karl is also like a Grandfather to me (and I never had a chance to meet any of mine as one died back in the late 1930s and the other about when I was two.

 

You are 100% correct. It is amazing the bond you can develop and the emotional toll it takes when you lose someone.

I enjoy the relationships I have now, even though I know they are fleeting. For most, their stories are legend and easy to track down, it is the other parts of their life that seemed to add so much more. How they felt about their post war lives, how they see the world now, home and family.

Sad to me is that in some instances, it is only us who truly understand and appreciate what they did and went through. One SS officer told me that it was the mail that he got that kept him positive, because it was not a topic that could really come up in his family because of the stigma attached to the SS. So he appreciated the fact that there were others who appreciated his military achievements.

Andrew

 

so true guys the interviews and closeness in friendship is something that cannot be compared to when listening to some video or TV representation. am still in contact with several RK and DK awardee's but the correspondance even by email is not what it was even 5 years ago. Besides their ages it is just plain burn-out and also the desire to leave the war far behind them. This is for ALL veterans of both sides ...........

 

I thought I would spice up the thread with a couple of recent photo pickups. Not your run of the mill private shots:

1st up is Jacob Briehl-Fick, Obersturmbannfuhrer who served with Das Reich & Götz von Berlichingen. This one has both Himmler and Sepp Dietrich in it.

 

Next up is Helmuth Schreiber. He was a Sturmbannfuhrer who served with Das Reich & Deutschland. In addition to the Knights Cross, he also received the Close Combat Clasp in Gold and the German Cross in Gold.

 

very nice pics Andrew and as you say rare.

here is a bordfünker to a famous ace, he received the RK but have enver seen a pic with him wearing it,,,,,,,,,,,, A. Heinemann, do think he passed away, was very informative when we chatted by mail for the 1945 year and facing Bomber Command. another great guy.

 

Erich

Nice photo. Actually it is not uncommon for later war RKT. I have and have seen several pictures where if you look closely you will see that the KC is actually "added" to the photo.

Obviously post May 45 wasn't a time where you'd walk to the local photographer to get your KC photo.............

Andrew

 

yes Andrew when I interviewed RK Bordfünker Carlos Nugent of Heinz Rökkers crew he told me the same, there was no pic of him currently that showed him with RK only upon receiving it then filed away and or lost to time. by the way I have interviewed Heinz and his radio-op/rear gunner as well, quite a neat bit of info collected from the 3 men for late war text being prepared.

same applied with Karl-Johanssen and his pilot"Tino" Becker of Stab./NJG 6. just 1 of 6 photos Karl sent to me with a lengthy 3 page letter of his missions in 1945

too bad the time just goes by us way too fast............

 

Outstanding !!!! I would love to have the opportunity to sit down with one of the old vets. Sadly, I don't think this will ever happen.

A few years back I had been planning a trip to Germany. I had been invited to visit with one of my friends, although I think he was using a visit as an excuse to do some drinking.

But I got caught up in a custody case with my ex. I won, but the attorney bills left me strapped. Sadly he passed away before we could enjoy our drinks. I am still paying off the case so my vacation plans are "zero" for the near future.

 

Hi Andrew, i too get that from rthe vets quite a bit. also sometimes they were extrememly greatful just to be thought of in a positive manner.

 

Hi Andrew,

Good to see you here !!!

Nice photo of Jopp Fick as well !!

Carl i'm glad to hear that Karl is still going at 91 , just been to see a LAH veteran , what an interetsing guy , was going to take some photos but my camera batteries died on me !!

regards

Paul

 

Carl

Yes, I guess after being painted as the "evil" of the 3rd Reich military machine, it is nice to get some praise !!


Paul

Good to see you as well. Hope all is going good on your end. Sorry to hear about the camera problems. Never fail's does it, you have a great opportunity and then you run into technical problems !!!

Andrew