Serching for Luftwaffe Crew & Relatives.

[Chris Goss]

In this case, 3 came from cities which makes things even harder

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

In this case, 3 came from cities which makes things even harder

Chris is right on this. Never got anything out of Nurnberg. Nor from big cities like Munich, Stuttgart, Hanover and Berlin.

[John Manrho]

Right, big cities can be a nightmare to track somebody down. Some charge you with a lot of cost and do almost nothing. However, if you try hard enough and have some spare time left....you can track almost everyone if you are persistent. Might take you a year or so, but nowadays is easier than ever.

John

Ps. JV, like the youtube link!

[Ciara Redman]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for this suggestions, I had an email last night from a gentleman suggesting the same thing, as he did something similar in the 90's. I will give it a go this afternoon. Thank you, I'll let you know how i get on.

best wishes,
Ciara

[Ciara Redman]

John M, Chris & John V,

I think you are right, we may get so far and stumble with the big cities, unfortunately time is not on our side as we have deadlines. However, I'm determined to try every avenue in the time available. I will be sure to let you know how I get on.

Please continue to spread the word, you never know, someone may know a friendly officer at one of the Town Halls! :-)

best wishes
Ciara

[John Vasco]

Ciara,

With regard to the big cities, another approach might be to write to the main newspapers in circulation in them asking for them to publish your letter requesting assistance to trace the family of 'X' who flew with the Luftwaffe in WW2. Worth a try.

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by John Manrho

Ps. JV, like the youtube link!

Thank you, John. Appreciated!

[FrankieS]

Hi !
I think the best first step would be to contact the following office
by regular mail using your BBC stationery.
Tell them that you want to do a historical research of public interest and ask them if one (or more) of the 5 Diltheys on the phonelist is a relative of Karl Dilthey. I bet at least one of them is in fact related!!!
Ask them also whether there exists another office at Siegen public service that handles such inquiries, maybe they pass it over then.

Weidenau is a district of Siegen !

Abteilung 6/3 Bürgerbüro Weidenau
Rathaus Weidenau
Weidenauer Straße 211-213
57076 Siegen

ciao,
FrankieS

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, guys.

Just back from a couple of weeks in Bandol, southern France. Great place!!

Have been battling with a few similar issues myself and had success by thinking a bit out of the box - by using two lines if searching -

1. Simply the phonebook and Google - and contacting people in a polite way in the right area and with the right surnames.

In one case I got in contact with the crew members sister - 10 years his junior. As both he and both her parents perished in the war she in fact never knew what had become of her older brother - living in DDR after the war the issue was never pursued. She and her family was in fact very grateful to know of what had happened.

2. Believe it or not - Facebook... ;-) In that case I got in touch with the relevant crew members brothers grandson... do not know what that relation is called in english.

Besides the official records - often a bit tricky to come by when it concerns relations - I think this approach is quite unintrusive - a polite letter or a polite introduction stating your issue - it is then up to the recipient to decide if they will help you out. And of course I always respect a no, for whatever reason.

Regards,
Andreas B

[Ciara Redman]

Hey,

I just wanted to update you all after you were so kind with all your suggestions. Last week we made good progress and spoke to some friendly people that a couple of the Einwohnermeldeamt offices who we have since contacted in writing.

We made good progress with one member of the crew in that we believe we have found two of his relatives. At the moment we are preparing to write to them in the hope that they will make contact with us.

Thank you all very much, we are continuing our searches for the relatives of this crew but also any other crew that took part in the raid on Coventry on the 14th November.

best wishes
Ciara