Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John w schmidt on June 16, 2015 at 8:59

sounds like a Neet teacher to talk to Tobias! There are so few of the old folks left. I took care a fellow who flew 45 b-17 missions over Germany,shot down twice,had more medals than I've seen. Didn't think he did anything special. What a man! Tobias Gibson said:

My German Teacher from High School was a German Soldier soldier in World War II. Before "joining" the Wehrmacht he "joined" the Hitler Youth.   These things were mandatory in Nazi Germany.  He was was wounded twice on the Russian Front.  He was recuperating in Hospital that was captured by the Americans at the end of the War. By then he was a seasoned army veteran and was all of 16 years old!  You can pretty much do the math.  He was 4 when Hitler came to power.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on June 16, 2015 at 9:10

Michael, I'm not sure if that is 100% true.  When I was stationed in Bamberg, Germany there was a memorial to the fallen German Soldiers of WWI right outside the gates and Warner Barracks and right in front of the Officer's Club.  We used to lay a wreath on it every November 11 back in the 1980s. Not sure if they still do it today.  The barracks dated back to before World War I.  Before they were leased by the United States Army they belong to German Panzer Brigade and before the German Cavalry Regiment.

Also the German Air Force  has Tactical Air Force Group Richthofen as well as Tac Air Wings Boelke and Immelmann.  All of these were World War I flying aces. 

And then there is  Tactical Air Force Wing Steinhoff.  Steinhoff was credited with 176 victories during World War II. So there is some recognition of prominent war heroes in Germany.

Michael D. said:

I definitely agree that you need to keep your collecting interests in perspective, That it is HISTORY, You do have a fascinating collection.

I think it boils down to "symbols". Symbols are what ties groups together in strong bonds.If that group ain't the good guys then their symbols are reminders of their actions. It's difficult to overcome that aspect, even if you want to study and collect them. What other collectible do you need to give a reason as preface to your collecting interests?

Unfortunately symbols - and their accompanying "memory" do not fade easily. One hundred fifty years later one of the most contentious areas of symbols and memory is our own Civil War!!!

I do know that in modern Germany such symbols are legally banned. Yes Germans do have such collectibles as yours but showing such items can sometimes lead to complications. I also believe that because such items are banned, Germans of today's generation know less about WW II than other countries. So yes memory and history are fading. For example, to this day there is no veterans day, decoration day, memorial day, veterans organizations like VFW, etc. in Germany. The German soldier, whether he fought in the Napoleonic Wars or WW II, is not remembered.

Permalink Reply by John w schmidt on June 16, 2015 at 9:15

Your a smart feller too Tobias. You guys are showing me how little I really know. Keep talkin!

Tobias Gibson said:

Michael, I'm not sure if that is 100% true.  When I was stationed in Bamberg, Germany there was a memorial to the fallen German Soldiers of WWI right outside the gates and Warner Barracks and right in front of the Officer's Club.  We used to lay a wreath on it every November 11 back in the 1980s. Not sure if they still do it today.  The barracks dated back to before World War I.  Before they were leased by the United States Army they belong to German Panzer Brigade and before the German Cavalry Regiment.

Also the German Air Force  has Tactical Air Force Group Richthofen as well as Tac Air Wings Boelke and Immelmann.  All of these were World War I flying aces. 

And then there is  Tactical Air Force Wing Steinhoff.  Steinhoff was credited with 176 victories during World War II. So there is some recognition of prominent war heroes in Germany.

Michael D. said:

I definitely agree that you need to keep your collecting interests in perspective, That it is HISTORY, You do have a fascinating collection.

I think it boils down to "symbols". Symbols are what ties groups together in strong bonds.If that group ain't the good guys then their symbols are reminders of their actions. It's difficult to overcome that aspect, even if you want to study and collect them. What other collectible do you need to give a reason as preface to your collecting interests?

Unfortunately symbols - and their accompanying "memory" do not fade easily. One hundred fifty years later one of the most contentious areas of symbols and memory is our own Civil War!!!

I do know that in modern Germany such symbols are legally banned. Yes Germans do have such collectibles as yours but showing such items can sometimes lead to complications. I also believe that because such items are banned, Germans of today's generation know less about WW II than other countries. So yes memory and history are fading. For example, to this day there is no veterans day, decoration day, memorial day, veterans organizations like VFW, etc. in Germany. The German soldier, whether he fought in the Napoleonic Wars or WW II, is not remembered.

Permalink Reply by John w schmidt on June 16, 2015 at 9:35

If any of you want to know the real truth about Nazi Germany,if you have the time,and intellect,all you need do is TUNE INTO HOGANS HEROS! It's great!

John w schmidt said:

Your a smart feller too Tobias. You guys are showing me how little I really know. Keep talkin!

Tobias Gibson said:

Michael, I'm not sure if that is 100% true.  When I was stationed in Bamberg, Germany there was a memorial to the fallen German Soldiers of WWI right outside the gates and Warner Barracks and right in front of the Officer's Club.  We used to lay a wreath on it every November 11 back in the 1980s. Not sure if they still do it today.  The barracks dated back to before World War I.  Before they were leased by the United States Army they belong to German Panzer Brigade and before the German Cavalry Regiment.

Also the German Air Force  has Tactical Air Force Group Richthofen as well as Tac Air Wings Boelke and Immelmann.  All of these were World War I flying aces. 

And then there is  Tactical Air Force Wing Steinhoff.  Steinhoff was credited with 176 victories during World War II. So there is some recognition of prominent war heroes in Germany.

Michael D. said:

I definitely agree that you need to keep your collecting interests in perspective, That it is HISTORY, You do have a fascinating collection.

I think it boils down to "symbols". Symbols are what ties groups together in strong bonds.If that group ain't the good guys then their symbols are reminders of their actions. It's difficult to overcome that aspect, even if you want to study and collect them. What other collectible do you need to give a reason as preface to your collecting interests?

Unfortunately symbols - and their accompanying "memory" do not fade easily. One hundred fifty years later one of the most contentious areas of symbols and memory is our own Civil War!!!

I do know that in modern Germany such symbols are legally banned. Yes Germans do have such collectibles as yours but showing such items can sometimes lead to complications. I also believe that because such items are banned, Germans of today's generation know less about WW II than other countries. So yes memory and history are fading. For example, to this day there is no veterans day, decoration day, memorial day, veterans organizations like VFW, etc. in Germany. The German soldier, whether he fought in the Napoleonic Wars or WW II, is not remembered.

Permalink Reply by John w schmidt on June 16, 2015 at 9:49

You guys don't know it yet but I'm not a very serious fellow most of the time.KLINK! WHAT ARE THESE MEN DOING HERE?! :)

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on June 16, 2015 at 10:02

John did you know that many of the stars of Hogan's Heroes who played Nazis were Jews who escaped Nazi Germany before the war? 

John "Sgt. Schultz" Banner was an Austrian Jew who was immegrated to the US when Hitler Annexed Austria.Banner served with the United States Army Air Crops and even posed for recruiting posters!

Werner "Col. Klink" Klemperer fled Germany in 1935 when his father a world renowned Violinist decided it wasn't safe to stay in Germany. His father was born Jewish but converted to Catholicism when he married.  Col Klink was also an accomplished musician in real life and served in the United States Army in the Pacific during World War II. 

Leon "General Burkhalter" Askin was another Austrian Jew who escaped to America. He also served in the United States Army Air Corps.

John w schmidt said:

If any of you want to know the real truth about Nazi Germany,if you have the time,and intellect,all you need do is TUNE INTO HOGANS HEROS! It's great!

Permalink Reply by John w schmidt on June 16, 2015 at 10:29

Yes I did! Love Werner K. We need more shows like that! Ya laugh and learn!

Tobias Gibson said:

John did you know that many of the stars of Hogan's Heroes who played Nazis were Jews who escaped Nazi Germany before the war? 

John "Sgt. Schultz" Banner was an Austrian Jew who was immegrated to the US when Hitler Annexed Austria.Banner served with the United States Army Air Crops and even posed for recruiting posters!

Werner "Col. Klink" Klemperer fled Germany in 1935 when his father a world renowned Violinist decided it wasn't safe to stay in Germany. His father was born Jewish but converted to Catholicism when he married.  Col Klink was also an accomplished musician in real life and served in the United States Army in the Pacific during World War II. 

Leon "General Burkhalter" Askin was another Austrian Jew who escaped to America. He also served in the United States Army Air Corps.

John w schmidt said:

If any of you want to know the real truth about Nazi Germany,if you have the time,and intellect,all you need do is TUNE INTO HOGANS HEROS! It's great!

Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on June 16, 2015 at 14:31

Tobias, I did not know anout the actors, very interesting. I do enjoy Hogans Heros when its on. 

Permalink Reply by Michael D. on June 16, 2015 at 14:45

I absolutely agree on that point. There are small ceremonies like that all the time. There were even unit reunions. But unfortunately nothing is on a national level. Remember the hullabaloo that occured when Reagan laid a wreath at a cemetery that contained three SS graves!

I read on a site called Axis History that even the reunions had to be hushed up affairs. On the site someone mentioned an SS unit was going to hold a reunion and when the neighboors found out they pelted them with bricks and stones from some of the rubble that laid around.

I recently saw a documentary from the 70s-80s of veterans touring a museum - I don't know if it was Krupps or Mercedes - and they were reminising about the war. The museum had tanks on display. This was on the computer. The comments afterwards were not complimentary at all. Basically called them a bunch of comtemptuous bastards. Memory does not fade easily!

Needless to say I still think it is important to collect such items.

Tobias Gibson said:

Michael, I'm not sure if that is 100% true.  When I was stationed in Bamberg, Germany there was a memorial to the fallen German Soldiers of WWI right outside the gates and Warner Barracks and right in front of the Officer's Club.  We used to lay a wreath on it every November 11 back in the 1980s. Not sure if they still do it today.  The barracks dated back to before World War I.  Before they were leased by the United States Army they belong to German Panzer Brigade and before the German Cavalry Regiment.

Also the German Air Force  has Tactical Air Force Group Richthofen as well as Tac Air Wings Boelke and Immelmann.  All of these were World War I flying aces. 

And then there is  Tactical Air Force Wing Steinhoff.  Steinhoff was credited with 176 victories during World War II. So there is some recognition of prominent war heroes in Germany.

Michael D. said:

I definitely agree that you need to keep your collecting interests in perspective, That it is HISTORY, You do have a fascinating collection.

I think it boils down to "symbols". Symbols are what ties groups together in strong bonds.If that group ain't the good guys then their symbols are reminders of their actions. It's difficult to overcome that aspect, even if you want to study and collect them. What other collectible do you need to give a reason as preface to your collecting interests?

Unfortunately symbols - and their accompanying "memory" do not fade easily. One hundred fifty years later one of the most contentious areas of symbols and memory is our own Civil War!!!

I do know that in modern Germany such symbols are legally banned. Yes Germans do have such collectibles as yours but showing such items can sometimes lead to complications. I also believe that because such items are banned, Germans of today's generation know less about WW II than other countries. So yes memory and history are fading. For example, to this day there is no veterans day, decoration day, memorial day, veterans organizations like VFW, etc. in Germany. The German soldier, whether he fought in the Napoleonic Wars or WW II, is not remembered.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on June 16, 2015 at 15:55

Michael said "But unfortunately nothing is on a national level" (plus a lot more stuff!)  I'm also in agreement with you.  No doubt any time the SS are brought up things really get ugly. 

Here are some pics of my Deutschland Erwacht pen knife.  I was of the impression that this is a copy of one that was actually made but it may also just be one of the Fantasy Knives that were produced by Rhett Stidhamm or Jim Parker.

The Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge is a cast copy of an original that I bought back in the 1970s.  The flashlight in the second photo is an issued West German Army flashlight from the 1980s. I used it while stationed in Bamberg, Germany.  It's an updated version of the flashlight used in WWII. Much more compact and practical that the U.S Army Issued flashlight back in the day.

Permalink Reply by John w schmidt on June 16, 2015 at 16:20

Tobias: did you see this one? It was marked Rosterfee or something like that and Germany. It looked old but I don't know.

Attachments:

• image.jpg, 2 MB

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Jeremy B. Buchanan on June 16, 2015 at 19:17

Very interesting knives and info. I can see why you enjoy collecting the military knives and bayonets John!

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