Die
Eiserne Faust
Die
Eiserne Faust
Nummer
#40 17. SS “Götz von Berlichingen” Abteilung KriegNachrichten
|
Division
Order of the Day (originally dated May 4, 1945) “After
its glorious actions both offensive and defensive,
17.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen” has ceased to
exist. Hardly
had it been raised than the Division was thrown into the fiercest battles and
constantly fought the enemy with abnegation. With
no regard for losses, it has always put up very tough resistance to the enemy;
wherever things were the hardest and decisions were sought, the “Götz von
Berlichingen” Division was there, especially in the battles before and for the
Westwall, at the time of engagements in and around Nuremberg, and the Jagst and
Kocher sectors. The Division is the last to have held out to the very end. To
each soldier of the Division individually, the strength must be given to look to
the future with pride and each man must keep within him the firm conviction that
Germany will be reborn from its ashes. Let
our model be for us and for always Adolf Hitler. Long live Germany.” Signed: Bochman SS-Oberfuhrer u.Div.Kdr. |
Achtung!
On
February 4, 2007 a meeting was held with the following members represented:
Bill Person
Marc Schnieder
Wil Heffelfinger
Ryan Crawford
Randy Knauss
Doug Perdick Allen
Brenneman
Chris Herr
Chris Karr
Bob Brenneman
At
that meeting, concerns by several members were brought up on the present state
of our position in the local reenacting community and what could be done.
Apparently, because of our small unit size and lack of vehicles, any influences
in the filed have dwindled for us and this is leading to unfavorable positions
at events, including not being invited to events.
This
seemed to reach a climax during this year’s Bulge campaign at Ft. Indiantown
Gap and the fact that GvB was not invited to GD’s event at the same location
in March.
In
order to keep our group intact and continue enjoying events, alternatives were
checked out before hand. Doug Doyle of the 9th WSS Hohenstaufen made the offer
to accept us into his unit as a whole entity with any and all rank, positions,
and awards intact, albeit with a new
cuff
title. Randy Knauss, Chris
Karr and Doug Perdick had been in contact with Mr. Doyle previously about this.
Bill
Person brought this to a vote before all attending members and these members
voted to accept the offer. (George Skrapits was contacted later and said he was
in favor, as of this writing of this journal Jim Helm was still uncertain)
Dues
for the 9th WSS Hohenstaufen are $120/year, except this year will be $100 for us
since we were not with them at the Bulge. No initiation fee will be charged
either.
Thus
ends the 17th WSS GvB (PA) after an existence of over seven years in the field.
Dues will be returned to each individual. Members of 1 year or less will get $15
while members who had been in longer will get $15 plus their share of the
remainder divided evenly.
I
wish to thanks all members for making out „little“ unit what is has been.
The memories of good times on and off the field and the people that I had the
privilege to be associated with will always be cherished. The „GvB“ will
always be the first in my heart. Good luck to everyone!
Götz Heil!
William Person