What's up with the 9th SS Panzer Association? Why don't they respond to Americans? Has anyone tried to contact them recently/ Let me know.
Sometimes mail gets lost or stolen--happens to me alot when I send letters to vets and vets orgs. I know that the vets org for the 17th Waffen SS P.G. Div Gotz von Berlichingen, doesnt like to reply to the Amis because we badly kicked their arses in 1944.
Also, you cant really deal with Patrick Agate--unless you have a LOT of money you wish to part with. He runs the vets org I think for either LSSAH or Das Reich.
My gut feeling.....is to leave the repsective W-SS divisional traditonsverbands alone ! Try and get personal interviews only and maybe you can connect on a higher level.. by the way patrick is the rep for the 1st SS LSSAH and the 1st SS panzer korps. Hate to say it guys but the W-SS, Heer, Kriegsmarin and Luftwaffe organizations are getting bombarded with quesions/letters, autogrpahs and photos, and they are just truly getting burned out. Be adivsed that almost any vet that has received a high award is most likely going through the letters and tossing many in the garbage can or fireplace. Geez, that is a happy thought.... E
That's unfortunate but understandable. In light of the recent resurgance of the popularity of the second world war, the amount of mail must be staggering. I appreciate the advice and info. I will continue with the German veterans' organizations anyway. It is worth the time to reach these guys, whose time is short.
One thing I just remembered, go to Marcus Wendels Third Reich Factbook site--he has a listing of German vets orgs almost as good as my list was. Id merely copy what he has as most are ones I had or still have somewhere--including I think around 20 alone to Luftwaffe vets orgs and to the GD Div and Pz Lehr Div.
Carl : I agree, Marcus has some pretty nice listings, and I added a Luftwaffe one to his site a while ago. maybe writing the organizations plus adding some monies might get the gears rolling in your direction.... ! squeak, squeak....also definately write them in German so they know you are serious. E
I also recently tried to contact the 9th W-SS PD veterans group, and also included a small "donation" in the hope that it might grease the wheels a bit. Never heard anything back. My understanding is that many former WWII German soldiers, especially Waffen SS, are very, very cautious and leery of contact withone they are not familiar with. Fears of being labled a "jew killer" or being caught up in a Holocaust related investigation or actually fearful of legitimate skeletons in their closets makes most very private. It is unfortunate, as these men are rapidly shuffling off of this planet, and once they are gone, their stories and experiences leave with them.
Maybe the question is : What are you asking for in the way of information and are you writing your letter(s) in German ? Again as I mentioned the reps and the higher authorities are getting burned out. In a case(s) when writing the fliegergemeinschaft they will post the question(s), maybe, to their official magazine Jägerblatt, for anyone reading. This sometimes is the only way you may receive an answer, if you receive one at all. As I said try and find a vet of the Division and then go from there with your inquiries. E E
Personally, the only vet I have ever had a problem with was Ernst Barkmann. It turned out that it wasnt his fault at all--which I had figured) but at that time--I was much more hurting for money to pay bills with than now. The problem I had was that he had not answered a friends letter to him--even though he sent him 20 pounds, to cover costs--and did so twice at that--and recieved no reply. It was due to theft of mail.
