Gifts from Veterans

[John P. Moore]

This commemorative poster was given to those attending the SS-Kavallerie Treffen in Sonthofen, Germany in October 1995. I was there as the guest of the former Obersturmbannführer Eugen Schlotter. Hundreds of veterans attended the reunion and I was introduced to people such as Johannes Göhler and Waldemar Fegelein. I met a veteran living in Los Angeles, California where he owned a number of dry cleaning businesses who told me of his encounters of concentration camp inmates at the Debica training area in Poland during the war.

Sonthofen-1995---1.jpg (131.13 KiB) Viewed 2852 times

[John P. Moore]

One day at the Kavallerie reunion the former SD Obersturmbannführer Hermann Rossner introduced himself to me. He spoke perfect English and his daughter lives in Boston, married to a former US serviceman. He gave me the page below from a 1986 issue of the "Mennonite Life" published in the USA where he was featured with his cavalry troop in the Ukraine during a 1942 visit by Himmler. Rossner appears as a member of the "Florian Geyer" division staff on personnel rosters and was not an actual member of the Waffen-SS.

Rossner.jpg (132.52 KiB) Viewed 2844 times

[Annelie]

Extremely interesting John, thanks for sharing.

[John P. Moore]

This commemorative poster was given to those attending the SS-Kavallerie Treffen in Sonthofen, Germany in September 1992. The cavalry reunions were always held in the Soldatenheim just outside a local Bundeswehr barrracks. The poster was made by Otto Schaser, the same veteran from SS-Kavallerie Regiment 15 who made the certificate for Eugen Schlotter's gift of his Führerdegen to me.

Kav-Treffen-1992.jpg (184.75 KiB) Viewed 2758 times

[chambers]

You've been posting some great stuff, John. How do you display it?

[John P. Moore]

Most of what I have been showing on this thread is not displayed and is kept locked away.

Below is an award certificate for the Iron Cross 1st Class from SS-Hauptsturmführer Johann Stahl. He received the EK I as signal platoon leader of SS-Kavallerie Rgt. 2 of the SS-Kavallerie Brigade. Stahl was severely wounded in the hip on February 8, 1942 and that was the end of his days at the front.

Stahl,-Johann----EK-I.jpg (117.94 KiB) Viewed 2670 times

[John P. Moore]

Here's a photo of Johann Stahl with his horse from March 1945 at the signal School at Melnik. He remained a horsemen into his retirement.

Stahl,-Johann----Melnik.jpg (24.73 KiB) Viewed 2329 times

[Annelie]

Most of what I have been showing on this thread is not displayed and is kept locked away.

Good idea. I often wonder when people post what collections they have that they could be setting themselves
up for a loss..meaning theft.

[Konigsberger]

Hi Kamaraden! Grus aus Konigsberg! This are my souvenirs- HIAG mug, marble tottenkopf ring emblem and t-shirt. These things have got to me from Gustav Miller in 2004. His father Guido Miller was born in Konigsberg in 1924. I have got acquainted with Gustav at a meeting of military collectors in my city Kaliningrad (Konigsberg) and he to me has told about the father. Herr Miller battled in Ukraine in 1944 as a sapper in 5 SS panzer division "Wiking". In the end of 1944 he was wounded in Hungary. Till the end of war it has stayed in hospital. After the war Herr Miller worked as lorry driver in build company, was a HIAG member an he died in 1998. Mug and marble emblem I changed at Gustav on some subjects about old Konigsberg. This t-shirt Gustav present me. On a photo it me in it!

[haen2]

Thank you for sharing your treasures with us John.
I have seen part of it, and it certainly needs to be kept secure. In one word: AWSOME !
My small "replacements" selection hangs in my den, probably not worth stealing.
and . . . also thank you for your valuable comments to the forum.
Keep up the good works.
Haen

[haen2]

Not really a "reply", but rather a word of warning.
I visited some other fora for collectors, and commented on some posts describing fake decorations and other militaria.
I had identified myself as a vet at registration. Just about immediately after my comments: "that I could not see the difference, and would not mind having them on my wall, fake or not .. .", I received several offers to send me stuff to my home.
I declined gracefully, because don't want to be perceived as a kind of old moocher. But actually it is amazing how many people are willing to share their treasures with someone. I wish I had some of my own, like John's friends to donate to serious historian/collectors as John, but alas.
My wife always has had a saying: 'be careful what you wish for, you might just get it" She turns out to be right.
So, for my fellow veterans, unless you would like to get some things, don't say a stupid thing like i did.
Cheers, and all that good stuff.
HN

[Annelie]

Its really nice to see some of the gifts from Veterans. Its a great honour to be bestowed upon.

There are only one thing that disturbs me to no end is those that seek/given things from the Veterans
and then later find out that they sold these items whether articles or autographs.

To give such items to another because of the respect and care they have for the article and
what it means is one thing but to sell for money is another!

HaEn's wife is correct, its better to be careful for what you ask for.

[Franz Repper]

Its really nice to see some of the gifts from Veterans. Its a great honour to be bestowed upon.

There are only one thing that disturbs me to no end is those that seek/given things from the Veterans
and then later find out that they sold these items whether articles or autographs.

annelie yes i agree with you on this

[haen2]

Annelie,
Yes you are right.
Worse is yet, when a small group, posing as historians "visit" an old lonesome vet, and while one or two write down what he tells them, the others, more or less ransack his home for valuables.
I sometimes wonder how much of the stuff, offered for sale on line, actually are stolen memories.
Oh well.
HN

[chambers]

I've always wondered that, too Haen. I'd NEVER sell my grandpa's stuff or anything anyone has given me.