Owner of WW11 German Iron Cross?

[Eymesy]

Re Charles Ryder RAF 1131560 he was stationed in Rhodes Greece to spy on the Germans 1944/5? anyway he captured a German General who was trying to escape as he knew the war wasn’t going well for the Germans. Charlie kept the General’s Iron Cross. My question is how do I find out the General’s name and then search for his family to return their Iron Cross? Any help appreciated. My uncle died in 2014 and he agreed to this. Thanks

[brentor boy]

If he was engaged in some sort of clandestine "spying" operation it suggests to me that this was not a routine RAF deployment. Is it possible he was attached to some specialist unit? Perhaps his service record would have some note of this. ( You can apply for a copy). If that was the case, the records of that unit might provide details of his activities which in turn might give some clue as to the identity of the German general.

[brentor boy]

It is just possible that he was a member of the R A F Regiment which, although primarily tasked with defending RAF units and airfields, also occasionally became involved in more general action. The regiment was part of Dodocanese (Rhodes) campaign 13 September-22 November 1943

[gilian rowland]

I'm always keen to help but can't with this posting but did find that one can google List of Iron Cross recipients not that that will help you very much, if at all but might make for some interesting/boring
reading. Since you're in Sydney do you think the Australian Army Museum of New South Wales
Victoria Barracks,Paddington, Sydney would be able to help at all identify what type of Iron Cross as
seem to be various types. (I remember going to a Christmas Carol concert there!!) Jill

[Eymesy]

Thanks for your replies. He says in his book he “detailed” off to Rhodes to “get the feeling of the Germans”.He dressed in Greek clothes and had a damaged arm and didn’t speak so the disguise worked and the Germans treated him like a fool. He made friends and some of these worked at the Generals office so he tagged along. He became the coffee maker and eventually was serving the General with his coffee. He had a 4.5mm camera which he hung around his neck and hid under his clothes. I remember him telling me when no one was in the office he would take photos of documents in their filing cabinets. He knew a Greek person who he would pass messages to and they would pass them onto the British authorities. He would meet him at a special place and he did the rest. He captured the General who was dressed as a Greek with 2 Greek friends and then they signalled their own boat who picked them all up. The General was carrying his Iron Cross which my uncle took and kept it. I wish I had’ve asked him more when he was alive.
Re Iron Cross it doesn’t have any number or letters on it unfortunately.
I think this was his only posting in Rhodes.
He was a fitter engines that’s what he calls it in his book.
I was hoping that his number would make it easy to find a file all about him.
Do you think a researcher would have any luck?
Thanks

[Lesley Robertson]

I think that the best thing to do is to apply for a copy of his service record. It may not say much - some of my Dad’s records just give a date and the place he was sent, but it’s your best hope.
I don’t see how you’ll identify the German General though… There were quite a few around.

[Eymesy]

Ok thanks yes it’s been a rather unsuccessful quest so far. Do you have a link to apply for his service record please?

[christanel]

Here is the 'Sticky' where Lesley explains about WW11 service records and gives the link where you can download the application forms. It will be a rather long wait before you receive the records though.
Christina

[Eymesy]

Hi Christina
Thanks for your help I will check it out.
Through a friend a researcher has contacted me and wants to help so I’ll give home the information he has asked for and see how we go.[/QUOTE]

[christanel]

Hi Eymesy
It took me a while to get around to it but I have now changed the title of this thread to read
Owner of WW11 German Iron Cross? which better suits the subject and may also get the attention of anyone searching the net re the same subject. If you need/want it done differently so say so.
Christina