Will post re Knights Crosss Winners on this thread as and when i get the Todesfalle !

Hauptmann
Beier, Karl
* 30.06.1919 Plauen /Vogtland
+ 29.12.2007 Vogt
Ritterkreuz am: 06.12.1944
als: Oberleutnant
Funktion: Flugzeugführer, Beobachter u. Verb.Offz zur 5. rumänischen Kampfgruppe




Oberfeldwebel
Ensle, Wolfgang
* 29.07.1920 Mutlangen/Schwäb.Gmünd
+ 27.09.2007 München
Ritterkreuz am: 08.08.1944
als: Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel
Funktion: Flugzeugführer 3./SchlachtG 2 "Immelmann"

Regards

Paul

Oberstleutnant
Bennemann Dr. med. dent., Helmut
* 16.03.1915 Wanne-Eickel
+ 17.11.2007 Bad Sassendorf
Ritterkreuz am: 02.10.1942
als: Hauptmann
Funktion: Kommandeur I./JG 52


Paul

Major im Generalstab
Hopf, Theodor
* 23.09.1918 Schwarzenberg/Sachsen
+ 23.01.2008 Prien/Chiemsee
Ritterkreuz am: 21.09.1941
als: Oberleutnant
Funktion: Chef 1.(Radf.)/InfRgt 170
Bundeswehr: Von 01.03.1956 bis 30.09.1978
Zuletzt: Brigadegeneral

Leutnant
Bretz, Hans
* 29.07.1926 Rothenburg o.d.Tauber
+ 23.11.2007 Regensburg
Ritterkreuz am: 06.05.1945
als: Oberfähnrich
Funktion: Zugführer PzVernichtungsBrig Obeschlesien
Bes. Vermerke: 12. Verleihung durch HGR Mitte.

Thank you for your tireless work Paul, I recognize some of these names.

May they Rest in Peace.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Horst Weber: S-boot January 8, 2007

Friedrich Kemnade: S-boot January 29, 2008

Erich you've gone all Kriegsmarine ????

Korvettenkapitän
Rohweder, Hellmut
* 17.01.1914 Hagen/Westfalen
+ 09.02.2008 Flintbek
Ritterkreuz am: 14.11.1943
als: Kapitänleutnant (Ing.)
Funktion: Leitender Ingenieur U-69 u. U-514
Bundeswehr: Von 04.04.1956 bis 31.03.1972
Zuletzt: Kapitän zur See

Rest in Peace Kemnade, Rohweder.

I had not heard of Kemnades passing and thanks for posting his E and Paul, thanks for posting Rohweders info.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Oberleutnant der Reserve
Niggemeyer, Wilhelm
* 09.05.1918 Haan, Krs Düsseldorf/Rheinland
+ 14.02.2008 Erftstadt
Ritterkreuz am: 18.09.1942
als: Leutnant der Reserve
Funktion: Führer 2./PiBtl 26
241. Eichenlaub am: 17.05.1943 als Oberleutnant der Reserve
Bataillonsadjutant PiBtl 26
Bes. Vermerke: Laut eigenen Angaben war er zuletzt nur Oberleutnant der Reserve.
Bundeswehr: Von 10.11.1955 bis 30.09.1974
Zuletzt: Oberstleutnant

Oberleutnant zur See
Westphalen, Otto Emil
* 12.03.1920 Hamburg
+ 09.01.2008 Hamburg
Ritterkreuz am: 23.03.1945
als: Oberleutnant zur See
Funktion: Kommandant U-968

Sorry to hear about Niggemeyer and Westphalen. WHen I was visiting the Uboat Archiv in Altenbruch, Susanne and I were told that we had just missed by a day or so, Westphalens visit there.

I had heard that he was a tough one to get an autograph from-not for meanness or anything-just that he did not wish to be bothered more than necessary; about the war. I always wanted to ask him about the book: The Faustball Tunnel - which was about the 17 or so escapees from that POW camp in Arizona.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Rest your oar, sailor.

Westphalen was a tough autograph to get. That's for sure. But the reason was Westphalen suffered a stroke in 1994 or 95 and he was unable to write his name. That's why many of his signed photos are 'rubber stamped' facsimile's of his signature. He was a kind gentleman and felt badly because he couldn't fulfill the signature requests in his own hand.

Btw, Westphalen could speak very fluent English until his suffered his stroke. After that, he couldn't. Oddly enough, he didn't lose his ability to speak German.

__________________
"Angriff, Ran, Versenken!"-Onkel Karl
"Sink 'Em All"-Uncle Charlie

Ivan thanks for the additions as they are appreciated. question I have seen several photos of him with a blue signature and very vertical and tight sig, can we assume this is pre-stamped before the terrible stroke in the 90's ?

thanks E ~

E...I do know that he liked to sign with a blue pen! His signature is very unique in the way you described.

Most of the stamped signatures are in a strange, dark purple ink and the edges aren't as crisp as those with a pen. I have a couple of examples of his authentic signature and one of the stamped variety. I'll scan them and post them in the Militaria section so as not to hijack this thread anymore than I already have.

__________________
"Angriff, Ran, Versenken!"-Onkel Karl
"Sink 'Em All"-Uncle Charlie

Major
Rapräger Dr. jur., Ernst-Willi
* 15.09.1918 Straßburg/Elsaß
+ 16.02.2008 Saarbrücken
Ritterkreuz am: 10.05.1943
als: Oberleutnant
Funktion: Kampfgruppenführer LuftwaffenRgt "Barenthien"
Bes. Vermerke: Laut Biblio RK als Olt der Reserve.


HK i think this is as good a place as any to discuss the passed on RKT's so post away my friend,

Paul

Hi Ivan, I too echo the thanks for the additional info. Like I said, I did not think he was not sigining because of meanness or anything. Just from others I know who collect signatures, and also from someone who knew the author of The Faustball Tunnel. I tend to think that what was said in a statement printed in that book-and what i'd heard from others, that he was simply one who did not wish to be constantly reminded about the war-by folks asking for his autograph. And from what I heard-and as you said, the man was nothing less than a Gentleman.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Gents well for the Kriegsmarine it appears that any RK award winner and above, less than 30 are still alive. Carl, did you know that Klaus Feldt is still among the living ? the last of the S-boot arm at the RK level.

Hi E, thanks for that and on Klaus Feldt, i'd heard from my friend Karl Kaiser, that he was told by the Sboot vets org, that Klaus Feldt had passed away sometime ago? If it's true that he is still alive, i'd love to write to him and also see if he would sign that H.H. PK press foto I bought of him being awarded his KC by Grossadmiral Erich Raeder.

If by some miracle that he is alive and that you or Paul have his address, please send it my way as I would almost bet that Herr Feldt, would get a hoot out of seeing that presse foto. I paid $145.00 for this foto about 8 years ago. So if you and or Paul have his addy, please send and I will make you guys a nice copy of this pic as my thanks and maybe you guys can have him sign that pic for you ;-))

You got my heart beating for sure, with this announcement. ;-))

PS, do either of you have any other info on him?

PSS, please make sure on this and in that the name is not mixed up with Kurt Feldt-because both are always mixed up-and also still is in Fellgiebels book. Kurt Feldt was an Army Generalmajor if im not mistaken?

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Since Paul has given his consent, I will continue the Westphalen signature discussion.

Here is an example of a stamped signature. Note the 'jaggies' and lack of smooth flowing pressure of a real signature.

Attached Images

westphalenstampedsig.jpg (165.0 KB, 5 views)

__________________
"Angriff, Ran, Versenken!"-Onkel Karl
"Sink 'Em All"-Uncle Charlie

Here is an authentic Westphalen signature for comparison.

Attached Images

westphalensig.jpg (181.2 KB, 4 views)

__________________
"Angriff, Ran, Versenken!"-Onkel Karl
"Sink 'Em All"-Uncle Charlie

Here is a RARE full signature from Westphalen from some years back.

Attached Images