Erich, Paul, Rodrigo, Timo, Otto, and anyone interested.

THIS is a VERY sad moment. Im sure you ALL have heard of Rudolf Witzig?? the man who commanded the Fallschirmjagers for the Eban Emael Operation, well he has passed away.

Rudolf Witzig, passed away on Oct 3rd, I just found out today.

This message is also for you Gunny, Juerg and Ben.

 

Just a bump.

 

Again, another sad loss, and they mount every day.......from Jägerblatt.

Rudolf Ulbrich JG 53
Frank Werner Rott JG 53-JG 11-JG 27
Karl Reifenhäuser NJG 100
Adolf Lenz JG 5
Kurt Kötter JG 11
Kurt Siebert JG 5-JG 101
Heinrich Starke SG 1-SG 2-SG 10-SKG 10
Helmut Beckmann, ace with JG 27
Peter Feiger JG 26,54,SKG 10, SG 10
Alfred Würzinger FAG 101-NJG 101
Horst Wiedemann JG 27
Horst-Dieter Kallerhof JG 3 and the new luftwaffe-JG 71

the list grows......and it sucks !

E

 

Thats very sad news, he was no doubt one of those that changed modern warfare. I often wounder how many of these vets are still alive. I have gathered in the short time i have been here that you have contacts with many of these vets. It is a pity, but if he was British or American, we would all hear about it. but how many brave Germans have passed away with out a word. At least there are some who appreciate what these guys did and the bravery they showed.

Chris, as you seem to be a guy in the know, do you know the fate of Rudel and Kretschmer, the U-Boat Capt.

 

Thanks for your kind words guys and I appreciate your list Erich.

Darn it all, at least 1,000 vets each from each major participant in ww2, pass away each day--thats up 104,000 in just ONE year and thats just the American figure.

Rudolf Witzig was a man that many from all over learned a great deal from. He tought things to U.S. and U.K. Paratroopers during the 1950s and 1960s--just as Erich Hartmann tought many U.S. and U.K. pilots in the late 1950s and 1960s, many of his "tricks of the trades" I agree with you, no doubt he helped change modern warfare.

You are correct Bish, I have over 550 addreses for German servicemen, with appx 520 of those are Knights Cross Recipients. Thanks to my great friend Paul in England, I also have my first Victoria Cross Recipients address--Captain Annand, and he might be able to get me a few more. Plus I have appx 5o American vets addresses, many are celebrated ww2 vets and are famous--like men from VMF-214, over half the crew who flew on the Memphis Belle, and many Doolittle Raiders, and some odd and ends like Flying Tiger pilots--2, and some other aces and Generals and test pilots.

One person I am trying to get an address to, is a Russian Major--Dyatlenko. He was the man who got Field Marshall, Friedrich Paulus, to surrender at Stalingrad. Last I heard was that he was still alive but very ill.

Im sort of in the know and mainly because of friends like Christian who is a full member of the Knights Cross Vets Org, and to friends like Erich on our forums, Paul in England, Ryan in Australia, and some others.

I dont know really anything about Rudel after the war except that he had no part of the New Luftwaffe.

Otto Kretschmer was killed a few years ago in a car accident while on vacation. Damn shame

If you want any addresses I have--just send me en email and let me know what your interests are. I have about 20 or so Waffen SS, about the same Kriegsmarine, and the rest are Heer and Luftwaffe.

See you here tomorrow--cheers...