UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons German Sword & Miniatures Forum Luft Dedication Sword-Who was he?

Hi Everyone

I recently bought this Luftwaffe sword which has an etched dedication on both sides of the blade. The sword is an aluminium Eickhorn with the following inscription deeply etched;

Herrn Hauptmann H. Ehrich
Bur Erinnerung an Weihaachten/Neujahr 1941/42

I think translates as:
Captain H. Ehrich
In Rememberance of Christmas/New Year 1941/42

I am really interested in trying to locate some information or career history on this officer, does anyone have an idea how I could go about this? I know a few collectors specialise in personalised blades, Gustavo comes to mind with some of his pieces which he managed to locate amazing documentation on...

Any ideas on where to start, anyone I should contact, anybody offer a tracing service??? Is there a Luftwaffe rank list I could find? I have had some good advice on this sword already from some willing collectors, so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I would sure like to know what captain Ehrich did over Christmas and New Year 1941 to get given this sword

Red

Etch Obverse

Etch Reverse

Johnson or Wittmann sometimes have Rangeliste for sale.
The Luftwaffe can be difficult.I just asked McDivitt to look for one for me but he declined.
I have used successfuly but sometimes painfully;
Bundesarchiv
Zentralnachweisstelle
52076 Aachen
Abteigarten 6
Germany
Herr Meentz.
He is an OK guy but you will have to persevere.There are new laws
in Germany
Good luck
Seiler (Yank in UK)

Hi Red,

Wittmann also lists:

Bundesarchiv Militarchiv
78 Freiburg i. Br.
Wiesentalstrasse 10
Germany

and

Bundesarchiv
6 Frankfurt/Main
SeckbacherGasse 4
Germany

Along with one or two others

The Freiburg Archiv does not keep Personnel files nor does
Frankfurt.
The other might be Koblenz
Seiler (Yank in UK)

Thanks for the info Guys...

Seiler, I will try a letter to the Bundesarchiv and see what happens. I was hoping there might be some type of Internet research tool, this seems way more difficult than I originally thought it would be. I guess the hunt makes the reward all the more sweeter...

Thanks, Red

Hi Redbaron,
Usually the trigger for an official search will be full name AND date of birth.
You just have to be patient with these places,
Another is:
Deutsche Dienststelle
WASt)
13400 Berlin
Germany
Attn Frau Foth-Muller Room 107
tel.(0 030)4 1904 235
Or a newer tracing service German/French?English
Try internet..http://www.dd-wast.de
e-mail wast@com-de.com
Remember PATIENCE!!
Love to hear how you get on.
Cheers
Seiler (Yank in UK)

Great sword! Good luck on your search. If all else fails try Robert McDivitt.

Red,
I had good luck using a researcher in Germany. His name is Peter Steinkamp and his e-mail address is SteinkampP@aol.com. He charges you by the hour. You can contact him regarding his hourly rate. He's a nice guy and was very helpful. Thanks and good luck in your search.
It's a great sword.
Hunter1

Thanks for the info Guys

I will try Peter Steinkamp via e-mail, so thanks Hunter1, it will be interesting to see what this will cost, but I think the satisfaction of knowing about Capatain Ehrich will be most rewarding...

Dale, how would I go about contacting Robert McDivitt? Seiler also suggested contacting him, so I would like to give him a call as well.

One of the members on the Axis History Archive Forum has given me a small but most welcome snippet:

Hans Ehrich. Promoted to Major 01/09/42 d.R./Flak)

Thanks again, its really appreciated

Red

Here is a link to his website: http://www.militariaresearch.com

Hello Red.

Just a quick follow-up to my previous e-mail. I was finally able to see the photos of your sword on GDs.com.

I hope you are able to find out more about the Hauptmann. It's always neat to put a history w/ a named piece!

good luck!

Just an update on tracking down the owner of this sword...

Thanks for the advice on the research, I wrote to all the German Archives and also enlisted the help of Peter Steinkamp, so thanks for the contact "Hunter 1". The Bundesarchiv was quite helpful, but the process was very slow...

I managed to get a copy of Hans Ehrich's complete personal file from the Bundesarchive. It's a nice complete one, about 70 pages with his military values, history and lots of stuff I don't understand, and even a pic in uniform.

Red

This was also interesting...

Below is a letter from Major Ehrich's surviving son who I tracked down via his Father's personal file and is now 78. I have written to him several times to try and learn more about his Father. It's research like this that really makes collecting interesting, as soon there will be nobody left to relate facts first-hand... the letter was written in German with a typewriter Here's his last reply;


"Thank you for your letter which I received with great interest with the picture of my Father's sword, which I can still remember exactly. It was kept in the back of our wardrobe in Magdeburg where I saw it last. From 1944 we were given Luftwaffe shelter and I was no longer living at home, and on 16 January 1945 our house in Magdeburg was totally destroyed in a heavy bomb attack and I had always assumed that the sword was also destroyed in the bombing.

I am astounded so see that the sword was not destroyed and that it is now in your possession, and I find it hard to believe myself, and how it could of been rescued from the terrible destruction that took place in Magdeburg. It is possible that my Father took it together with our clothes and other valuables to a Friend in a small village, where he fled before the end of the War.

With regard to his medals and decorations, I later buried them at his grave in his beloved Homeland, so his Iron Crosses and other decorations no longer exist. His weapons had to be returned to the authorities by Law.

The only remaining relics of my Father are old photographs which are in my private album and would prefer not to make them articles of sale. There is little more I can tell you and wish you goodbye with kind regards.

Dr Hans-Jürgen Ehrich"

This has really been interesting, I can understand how people get hooked on named or numbered blades...

Red

;Red,
Glad you were successful in your search.Its great when you can tie things together and worth the wait.Congrats.
Cheers
Seiler (Yank in UK))

Unfortunately, the son seems to be rather distant and unwilling to assist.
No information concerning the dates on the sword and, if the son wanted, could have offered to copy some of the existing photos for you.
Maybe you should ask if you could pay for the copy service concerning any futher military photos in the album and one might be at the award of the sword or one in which he is wearing a sword??
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

Now this is just the way I feel, I'm not trying to start a debate but establishing contact would make me feel that he was the rightful owner of his father's sword and that it should be returned to him. JMO JohnJ

Hi JohnJ

It is an interesting point, and one that did concern me before making contact with this Officer's Family. There are a few things to consider though before just a broad opinion that named war memorabilia should be returned to the families of their original owners

Questions like... How was the item "liberated"? Was it surrendered? Was it captured? Was it stolen? or perhaps it may have been given to somebody? or traded for a pack of cigarettes? Items like swords, daggers and bayonets were generally surrendered and disposed of, huge piles of weapons massed at the end of the War and many were destroyed, others were picked off for souvenirs, so there are many factors to consider... It's just not that simple. The daggers my Father left me were taken off what he described as enormous piles on uniforms, gear, firearms and daggers/bayonets.

In my particular case with this sword, the family chose to close the era by burying all his Fathers medals and decorations at his grave. They did not ask for the sword and readily gave information about it, albeit sketchy. If his Father's War souvenirs had great sentimental value, I doubt he would have buried all his War accolades, and there were many to be proud of. I wouldn't even think to bury my Fathers Medals and War Memorabilia, but many Germans view it differently due to the stigma attached to the era, and graphically portrayed by the Swastica.

Perhaps if the sword were sent back to his family, they would bury it alongside his Fathers medals and decorations... A huge loss in my opinion

Food for thought in any event...

Red

Here's a representation of his medals, I think its a great loss that they were buried

Hi Red, I definitely would never send it back unless they said they desired to have it and I agree with all the points you discussed. I was just curious how someone else felt about it that was in that situation. Definitely was not trying to make a broad opinion on what everyone should do. Thanks, JohnJ

That is ashame about the medals! I could see it if he was buried wearing them but not the way they did it, you're right, a huge loss. Take care, JohnJ