Hi fellow collectors! I am back from a trip to Germany and had a great time. The places i visited were Heidelberg, Würzburg, Ulm, Lindau and Konstanz. Besides normal holiday activities I also added some WO II things in it. I went to the shop of Carsten Baldes and bought a mint KVK 1st class and a collar patch for a Kreisleiter of the NSDAP. Carl- I said hello to Carsten for you. Before my holiday I visited the website: http://www.thirdreichruins.com/ and printed some pages. I managed to find a lot of spots in Würzburg and Heidelberg. In Konstanz I managed to find places were pictures were taken from a photobook I bought from Detlev some months ago. The book was from a artillery soldier who died in Russsia. Pictures of him with his son were taken in Konstanz. I even tried an old adress of the son in the book and spoke with some neighbours. They told me he was still alive. Unfortunately they didn't have his tel. number but they do had the number of his son. I called him and left a message. He didn't answer. Last but not least. The last night I ate in the hotel in Konstanz and met a veteran. He was 86 and told me he fought in Russia and at Seelow. He told me some stories and I showed him my last purchases from Carsten. Barbara made a picture of him, the waiter and me. What a holiday! Pictures are not ready yet. Carl - Barbara and I had lunch at Zum Roten Ochsen. Good place, nice pictures on the wall and german food!
Volkbert - Sounds as if you had a great vacation in Germany indeed. It is always interesting to actually meet with a German veteran. Last night, I received a phone call from a friend of mine who informs me that he has meet another German veteran living in Oregon. This man is 81 years young and served in the SS with the Hunyadi #5 Division. This now makes five German veterans living in the Washington - Oregon area that we are aware of. One Army Panzer veteran, two Luftwaffe, one in the Fallschirmjager, and one on flying status with Ju52's, one Kreigsmarine, and now the SS veteran. All are in good shape less the Army Panzer gentleman who has been having some health issues as of late. Hopefully though, we will be able to all get together in July or August and have a barb-b-que in their honor and listen to them speak of their service time in the German military during the war. Again, glad to hear that you enjoyed your vacation, and were able to meet up with a veteran. Bill
Volkbert--thank you my friend. What was it like at Carsten's mil shop? Speaking of him--this week I got in tweo sets of Imperial German Oberleutnants boards for: 1) Olt Prussia 1 Madgeburger Rgmt Furst Leopold v Sachsen-Anhalt Inf Rgmt Nr 26. 2) Olt Grand Duchy Hessian 4 Rheinisches Inf Rgmt "Graf Werder" Nr. 30. I also got two DRL Sports badges in bronze stickpins each one with a different pin assembly. I picked up a German Civilian Cross for 15 yrs Long service -or 25 yrs--i'm not sure as i'm not into that stuff. Also, I got a nice Garde Rgmt Cross and a Mint westwall stickpin, and a mint Silver Inf Assault Badge stickpin and piece de resistance--my friend Dieter--GAVE me a Knights CRoss w/ Oak Leaves stickpin--these go for about $200.00 clams. Ahhh--glad you and Barb liked eating at Zum Rothen Ochsen--I miss the atmosphere. Did you two wonder around that huge church/cathedral that was nearby? and did you get the chance to tour Heiderlberg Schloss or see the lighted Bridge? I love Heidelberg and sure do miss being there. I'm VERY glad you and Barb had a great time. If you can--I would love a copy of that pic with you and the vet.
It was great to be in Carsten's shop. It's a small and clean shop. Good displays and book shelf. I really enjoyed it to be in the shop and spent more than an hour there. It's good Barbara brought a book I want to write the veteran and send him a copy of the picture. I will make a copy of the picture for you too. Did you buy all the items you mentioned from Carsten? You are a good customer for him! You also pointed me in his direction. When does he give you a bonus like a In Heidelberg we did not visited the cathedral but we do visited the schloss. It was really beuatifull!
I would love to visit his shop. Barbara was in the same situation as Susanne was with me when we were in Goslar. I just happened to see an antique and militaria shop, and Susanne did her best too keep me out of it. Lucky for Herr Menzel--Susanne allowed me to go into it. I told her all I wanted was 10 minutes--it was about 90 minutes--past Herr Menzels lunchtime, and he had to close for lunch. Susanne and I went and had lunch at some restaurant about 10 minutes walk up the street--at the town square. After lunch--we went back to his shop--I bought my Luftwaffe Officers M-43 cap as part of a trade for my Black Cowboy hat and got 4 sets of shoulderboards and then he gave me 3 antique silver schnapps glasses valued at $150.00. From the items listed above--I only got the two sets of shoulderboards and the two DRL in Bronze stickpins from Carsten at that time. The 25 yr cross I got a the gunshow here about 10 days ago and the regimental Cross I got from Jorg Kalies. The other stickpins Dieter gave to me--rather he gave me the RK w/Oaks pin--but i'm buying the Silver IAB and the Westwall pins from him. I greatly appreciate that future picc my friend--I have a few copies of pics I want to send your way as well. Glad Carsten thinks i'm a good customer of his--I do like his offerings and would like to be able to keep buying items from him. I wish he would let me have a bonus item Ah yessss-----The Heldelberg Schloss. Just before you went in, did you see off to your eft by the Schloss's gate a gift shop? That is where I bought three of my bier steins including one that has the Red Baron on it. Also before you go through the gate--was there a nice German lady there off to the right still selling her paintings and other artwork? If so, then I can contact someone at Heidelberg Schloss for the address to the guy who I bought my steins from and see if he can get me her adress? I would like to buy some of her artwork. The Schloss sure was beautiful. I got to it at about 5:00 PM and took alot of pictures and at 6:00 PM--I heard all the Kirche bells ringing around Heidelberg--what sounds. Also at that time--it was getting pretty foggy but I was still able to see most of Heidelberg. Also, instead of walking down--I took a railcar down to the town itself. From there--I went in search of Zum Rothen Ochsen. By the way--what did you eat and drink there if you don't mind me asking?
I didn't see a girl selling artwork or I can't remember it. I saw the gift shop besides a snack counter but did not visit it. We took the railway up and down to the schloss. That's better for Barbara because the kid is growing right now and now Barabara gets tired of walking and climbing. We ate wiener schnitzel in Zum Roten Ochsen. Btw I took something from Zum Roten Ochsen for you. I will send it when I sent the picture of the veteran. Maybe I am going to visit Hamburg next weekend. I hope I can be there on Friday. I will be in Detlev's shop before he updates and then I WILL BE THE FIRST TO CHOOSE FROM HIS NEW UPDATE.
Hi my freund. Maybe the lady only sells there a few days of the week or month? Oh well..... Ah Wienerschnitzel--I had that there as well. Did it come with potato's that were like round pegs? Mine did and I thought that was a very interesting way to cut potato's up and cook them. Thank you for the soon to be gift from there. Also--was all the antlers adn fotos and things still on the walls and ceiling? And was the place crowded when you wnet there? When I did the large backroom was crowded with japanese tourists singing a song called Suki Yaki--or something like that. You lucky friend you--visiting Detlev before he updates Take care my friend I have to be going so I can get things in the mail today.
Zum roten ochsen had still all the pictures on the wall. And when we were almost finished eating a large group of Japanese tourists came in. What a noise. Luckily they didn't sing! Here is a picture of Barbara and me before dinner in The Red Ox inn. Did you know they have a website? http://www.roterochsen.de/e/index.htm
Hey--that's great! And it also looks like you sat at the same table I sat at. Your also in my chair! Heh heh--I do remember the noise the japanese tourists made--and they sang a song called Suki Yaki--or something like that. Your making me droll over their site.
