Okay, so many men came out of the war as a decorated survivor. But I wonder and perhaps we can list some here: what do we know of the post war occupation(s) of the Ritterkreuzträger? What was their new profession? I can imagine that many of them had a hard time to fit into normal civilian live after all they went through during the war.

For a start:
Stubaf. Gustav Knittel (who else ) became a car salesman after his release from Landsberg prison in December 1953. He suffered from health problems (due to the serious wounds he received throughout the war) and depressions untill he died in the summer 1976, aged 62.

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Also spricht der Narr: 'der Umgang mit Menschen verdirbt den Charakter, sonderlich wenn man keinen hat.'

RK bordfünker Karl Ludwing Johannssen went for his doctoral degree and took a profession in Pharmasucticals.....

Ernst Barkmann of SS Panzer Regiment 2 fame, became a farmer and then a mayor of his village correct ? not sure actually

Carl, what did Remy do after his release from captivity ?

I can give you possibly 2/3 more German night fighter guys if interested......

E

Erich Hartmann -

After the war, was sent to the Gulag for 10 years. Upon his release, he entered the lecture circuit around Germany and became a key figure in the new NATO-supervised Luftwaffe. Served as special advisor and evaluator with the USAF, and was a key supporter of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (which was a highly controversial topic at the time). Retired from the service and entered the lecture tour once again, only on a world basis. Met quite a few interesting names along the way. I'll have to compile a list for everyone - you'll be suprised!

Not sure where, but I remember reading that Otto Carius opened a chemist's shop (??) in the Saar region following the war.
I'll try and find more info and update post later...

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Seriously, all today is missing is free cotton candy and the annual Bay State Hooker Parade to make it any better.

They may not be RKT, but Timo's post reminded me that some of Knittel's former colleagues subsequent lives seem quite melancholy.

For instance, Max Hansen who ran a cleaning and laundry shop and became very ill, 'his brain and soul already being in Valhalla' before eventually dying in 1990.
And Jupp Diefenthal, who worked quietly in a finance office, never attending reunions and his wife refusing to allow any interviewers access to him.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Refusing interviews....oh yes been through that several times as well from the wives. Received the monies and letter and told to go to H*** !

guys, whatever happened to J. Peiper before he was murdered ?

E

Well, my grandfather, after the war, scaped from Soviet captivity in May 1945 and headed South. He lived in Buenos Aires and made a business of importing beer, salchichs and German products. He sold it and went back home in 1952. He lived in Cologne for some ten years and then, incredibly chose to cross the border and stay in his beloved Dresden, where he reopened his father's shop. Obviously he did not earn much money, but he was happy along my grandmother. After the reunification he started making money. When my grandmother died he sold the shop and made a trip. After that he travelled to Spain and moved with us. Since then he has been a retired man who has invested his money hither and thither...

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Yep, both men won the Ritterkreuz.

Gerd Bremer ran a camping place in Denia (Spain) until his death.

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Also spricht der Narr: 'der Umgang mit Menschen verdirbt den Charakter, sonderlich wenn man keinen hat.'

Jochen Peiper....

Released from prison at Christmas 1956, Peiper joined Porsche Stuttgart in January '57. Starting at the bottom, Peiper quickly worked his way up to become head of sales promotion. Released from US parole in 1958, Peiper continued to work hard and in fact was considered for a senior executive role in 1960. This sparked a 'whispering campaign' among co-workers, with secret intrigues and office politics leading to Peiper's dismissal by Porsche on grounds that he had upset union-management relations, was careerist and..had committed war crimes. Peiper sued Porsche for breach of contract and, helped by other former Waffen-SS working at Volkswagen, moved to that company, and again seemed to prosper. But this time, visiting workers from Italy began to persecute Peiper during 1963 and, in 1965, the Stuttgart District Court began a legal investigation of accusations that Peiper was involved in the killing of civilians at Boves, Italy in 1943.
This dragged on for over three years until, in Christmas 1968, Peiper was absolved of all accusations,leaving Peiper depressed and embittered. A friend,the editor-in-chief of 'Auto Motor und Sport', prevailed on Peiper to move to a job at Motor-Presse-Verlag.
In the meantime, Peiper had become attracted by the countryside of eastern France, buying a smal piece of land near Traves in 1964. At weekends, he oversaw the construction of a small house, helped by fomer army colleagues and his son.This became a weekend retreat for Peiper and his family until, in 1971, his friend and colleague died. Again, Motor-Presse dismissed Peiper - this time, depressed and embittered, he decided to leave Germany.
His application to live in France was legally granted in 1972 and Peiper moved fulltime to Traves, working freelance as a translator for Motor-Buch-Verlag. He also enjoyed working in the forest and corresponding with authors about WWII.
Peiper seemed to achieve some inner peace, although his wife was unhappy at missing the city life of Stuttgart.

And then came the disgusting events of 1976...

This information is condensed from Patrick Agte.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Wolfgang Falck became a farmer right after the war and then thjrough various odd jobs then became a student attending night school, sales rep for a playing card company, then an aviation consultant, finally for McDonnell douglas, retiring finally in 1986 at age of 76. Lives quitely in the Tirol Of Austria..... Pauke, pauke Wolfgang !

Georg Hermann Greiner moved to the Swiss/German border, trying to go into business with Heinz Schnaufer, but it did not work out. Imprisoned in Switzerland and sent to France for crossing the border illegally.....what ? !, yep ! moved to Bonn after this imprisonment of 6 months, studying law, gave this up and became a sales rep for one of his relatives in a textile factory. Joined the new Bundesluftwaffe in August of 1957. Became an Oberstleutnant and fianlly a staff offizier in Bonn in 1972. Retired and lives in Bayern.

more later....

E

Sepp Dietrich spent most of post war years in prison due to crimes committed by his command and then because of his participation in the night of Long Knives. Because of health-problems; Dietrich was released from prison, and settled in Ludwingsburg, where he was active in the HIAG, a support-organisation for former Waffen-SS soldiers. He died in 1974 of a Heart Attack and there was a huge funeral that was organized by Wilhelm Bittrich and attended by comrades.

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

Hi Erich, I dont remember what Remt did after his release. I do know that he had a few small jobs and I think was also into Carpentry for awhile.

Many though did rejoin the new "Wehrmacht" and retired. Others lent their expertise out to other nations and also many became Doctors. There were two living here in the states Felgenhauer, who did mainly odd-jobs and I cant think of the other getns name off hand--but he still lives in Virginia, and he had become a writer.

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