Because so many people are so knowledgable on this list, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me which part of Germany a city named Embüren (or is that a region) is in? I speaking with my aunt, she told me a bout a family there that my grandmother corresponding with her were distantly related to my great-grandmother. Thanks. Joe Metz

The Iron Cross was designed for the Prussian King after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 by Fieldmarshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. Another source lists 10 March 1813. I could not find a list on the internet, but I am sure the Germans would have this reference somewhere. The medals are collectable and have some value. -- LTC (ret.) John C. Heiby Fmr. Consultant to US Army Marksmanship Unit Fort Benning, GA http://www.stadtweb.de/leute/alte/bluecher.asp http://www.dataphone.se/~ms/ubootw/medek2.htm (picture if EK 2) http://www.dataphone.se/~ms/ubootw/medek1.htm (picture if EK 1) http://www.panzermuseum.com/halle4/tour__orden1740-1921.htm Bis zum Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts gab es ausschließlich Orden, deren Verleihung dem Adel und Offizieren vorbehalten war. Dies entsprach ihrer gesellschaftlichen Stellung und dem besonderen Treueverhältnis zum Monarchen. Erst im Zuge der Befreiungskriege zu Beginn des 19. Jahrhunderts wurden Ehrenzeichen auch zur Auszeichnung von Unteroffizieren und Mannschaften eingeführt. Das am 10. März 1813 gestiftete "Eiserne Kreuz" ist ein solches Ehrenzeichen, das unabhängig von Stand und Rang verliehen wurde. Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher Der Blücherstern Am 3. August 1815 hatte der Preußenkönig Friedrich Wilhelm Geburtstag. Das hatte er jedes Jahr, aber 1815 war es doch etwas anders. Napoleon war im Juni endgültig geschlagen worden und die Verhandlungen in Paris versprachen reiche Beute für die Krone. Der Monarch fühlte sich in Geberlaune und anstatt sich beschenken zu lassen, beschenkte er - nicht wahllos, sondern es mußte schon der königlichen Würde angemessen sein. Einer, der in dieser Frage über jeden Zweifel erhaben war, war sein Feldmarschall Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. Der König ließ also seinen Sekretär kommen und diktierte: "Ich weiß, daß keine goldenen Strahlen den Glanz Ihrer Verdienste erhöhen können; es ist mir aber ein freudiges Geschäft, die volle Anerkennung derselben auch durch eine äußere Auszeichnung zu beurkunden, indem ich mir für ruhigere Verhältnisse das Vergnügen vorbehalte, Ihnen noch ferner Beweise meiner stets dauernden Erkenntlichkeit zu geben..." usw. usw. Hintergrund dieser blumigen Rede war die Verleihung des Eisernen Kreuzes in einem Strahlenkranz, das in dieser Form ausschließlich für Blücher angefertigt wurde. Auch später erhielt es nur noch einmal der Generalfeldmarschall Moltke. Blücher, der gebürtige Rostocker, hatte es eigentlich lieber, wenn er als Auszeichnung ein Gut oder Bargeld erhielt. So schrieb er dann an seine Frau in der für ihn typischen Direktheit: "... unser König hat mich einen gantz besonderen Orden gegeben, es ist ein großer golldner Stern worauf (in) der Mitte ein Eisernes Kreutz angebracht ist, es ist der eintzige Orden, der noch existirt, aber was helfen mich alle orden hetten wir einen guhten vor uns vortheilhaften Friden, der wehre mich liber..." In einem persönlichen Gespräch soll Blücher noch deutlicher geworden sein, wie einer seiner Chronisten berichtet: "Was soll ich nu wieder mit dem Ding da machen? Ich habe schon so viele ordens, des ich nich weeß, wo ich sie lassen soll. Wenn's noch ein Glas mit Blutigeln wär, so könnt ich sie mir ansetzen." Trotzdem trug er aber seinen Orden, wie zeitgenössische Abbildungen belegen.

I recently returned from a trip to Rheinland Pfalz. I have pictures of churches at Undenheim, Udenheim, and Bermersheim. If you have ancestors from any of these villages and would like to see the churches, e-mail me privately and I will send you *.jpg files of those sites. Carol

A wonderful web site for FREE translations is www.babelfish.com. Karen Deeds-Jarvie B.G., Ohio

Hi Listers, Two questions: Is anyone familiar with a site where recipients of Germany's Iron Cross Award are listed? My great great grandfather supposedly was given this, level II Combat, in 1813 (first year offered?). A great aunt's son said he found the listing which confirmed family history of this fact but I cannot find it. Suggestions for searches? Second question: My mother in law will be in Stuttgart region in Sept., staying with her sister. My ancestors were from the Kirchheim Bolanden / Boerstadt area, Pfalz. She said she'd try to do some research for me. Relatives were married in Roman Catholic Church in Boerstadt. Would she go there for marriage/birth info or is it better to write? I'm clueless on any international searches so any advise or suggestion are appreciated. Bon

I would like to thank everyone who answered my query about Bad Duerkheim. If I were to write a letter do I write it in English or German? Thank You All, Missy

http://www.teleauskunft.de/ This is probably the best German telephone directory I've used. Marion ----- Original Message ----- From: <PFALZ-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <PFALZ-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 11:00 PM Subject: PFALZ-D Digest V00 #213 >I lost my hard drive and with it my "favorite places." Would some kind >researcher please e-mail me the URL for the telephone listings in Germany? <Thank you, Carol West

Am researching the KINDSAVATER, FREUND, and BECHTLOFF families from Kallstadt and Herxheim Am Berg, now in Bavaria a few Km north of Bad Durkheim. In doing so i copied a fair amount of LDS film 0193950 Evangelische Kirche, Kallstadt from approx 1839 to 1869 and would be happy to share info with anyone with interest in those families or that area

http://www.teleauskunft.de http://www.infobel.com Nancy Carolcathy@aol.com wrote: > > << I also looked in the Germany Telephone Book on the internet >> > > I lost my hard drive and with it my "favorite places." Would some kind > researcher please e-mail me the URL for the telephone listings in Germany? > > Thank you, > > Carol West

Bad Dürkheim is in the Rheinland-Pfalz, 308.8 miles SW of Berlin or about 20 miles due East of Kaiserslautern; postal code 67098. http://www.jewishgen.org/ShtetlSeeker/loctown.htm Nancy JHetterick@aol.com wrote: > > I have found Johannes Schmidt on the LDS for a birth. It says he was born in > CIVIL BAD DUERKHEIM PFALZ BAYERN. Is this all one place? If not which would > be the city where he was born? Thanks, > Missy

<< I also looked in the Germany Telephone Book on the internet >> I lost my hard drive and with it my "favorite places." Would some kind researcher please e-mail me the URL for the telephone listings in Germany? Thank you, Carol West

Subject g.grandfather arrived USA with wife Anna Maria and sons, 1744 from Pfalz area. Author is seeking any information of family history from Deutschland, Pfalz, Mainz, Weisbaden areas establishing subject 's life, occupations, etc. Anyone familiar with expert tracing techniques, suggestions, comments, please contact this writer. danke, Herr Fluck (pflugh)

I have found Johannes Schmidt on the LDS for a birth. It says he was born in CIVIL BAD DUERKHEIM PFALZ BAYERN. Is this all one place? If not which would be the city where he was born? Thanks, Missy

Please do not send anymore messages to this e-mail address. You have the wrong person. Please delete my name from your mailing list. Thank you. Mary Ann Baker

Hello List Members, I 'm new to the list (and foreign research) and am searching for two families LAUBENTHAL and THOMAS. According to the family bible (which I have not seen, but a copy of translation was sent to me) Adam Laubenthal was from Kaifenheim and Anna Maria Thomas was from Lutzerath. The following is what was in the bible Adam Laubenthal born on August 10, 1829, in Kaifenheim, Mayor's office, Kaisersesch in the district of Cochem, administrative district of Koblenz, Kingdom of Prussia . married with (engaged to) Anna Maria Thomas, nce von Gevenich born on September 20, 1830, Mayor's office, Lutzerat'h district of Cochem, Administrative district of Koblenz, Kingdom of Prussia Also according to the bible the couple was married in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., OH on 19 Nov 1849 by a missionary, however, I have not been able to locate the record. I have the LDS films for the Catholic Church records for both towns and have been thru them several times. The surname Laubenthal appears many times but no Adam/Adamus. The surname Thomas also appears many times, as does Anna Maria, with two that the baptism dates are close but I am not sure which or if one is the correct one. I also looked in the Germany Telephone Book on the internet and found 4 Laubenthal's living in Kaifenheim and 8 Thomas' living in Lutzerath. Question what should I do next and how can I write a letter when I don't know German? Any help will be greatly appreciated. JoAnn Spore, Tucson, AZ jodonspore@worldnet.att.net

> >To Lin and all others, my apologies >for the incorrect URL for the Pirmasens >Genealogy Group. > >The following should work. > >http://home.t-online.de/home/braun.b/geneengl.html > >Rob Hausman ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Robert E. Hausman hausman@bu.edu www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/a/u/Robert-E-Hausman/index.html

This is my first posting, so I hope someone can help. For years I have been trying to father definitive information on the founding member of my Dietz line. CONRAD DIETZ and his wife CATHARINA BRACHER came to America on September 19, 1738 on the "Thistle." Conrad was born 7/1711 in Althornbach. He was married 11/11/1734 (location unknown, but wife was from Rimschweiler). He and his wife lived in Alt Weiler for a few years before coming to America. I have traced him back to Hinterweidenthal in the duchy of Zweibruchen. I have at least found his confirmation record there. Also I have quite a bit on his sister, Apollonia, married to Johann Adam Dorrland in 1735. Most researchers state that his father was John Dietz and his mother Maria Catharina. But when I went back to the existing records, I found not only the above mentioned couple, but several other very possible combinations that might also have been his parents. If anyone is working on the Conrad Dietz line, I would appreciate an exchange of information. I have never been able to locate Conrad's birth record. This would be most helpful as it would identify his mother's name and perhaps the ages of his parents. Then I would know for sure which set of parents were his. To date I have searched every film available on Zweibruchen and Althornbach available through the LDS library. (At least I believe I have!) Any guidance you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks, Karen Deeds-Jarvie Bowling Green, Ohio

Lin Morin inquired about the records for Schonau. While I do not have the answer, I suggest looking at the web site of the Pirmasens Genealogy group. They have done much work in the area and I have found them very helpful and personable. www.home.t-online/home/braun.b/geneengl.html Rob Hausman At 10:27 AM 6/20/2000 -0400, you wrote: >Hi All > >I am trying to research my FRIEDLY/FRIEDLE line in Hirschthal, Germany. This >town is in the Pirmasens area right on the French - German border. While >searching the LDS library catalogue I found that the parish records for >Hirschthal were included in the parish records of Schönau beginning in 1821. >Does anyone know what parish contains the earlier records for this area? I >am looking for records in the early to mid 1700's. Thank you for your time >and help. > >Lin Morin >LinLB5@aol.com ********************************* Robert E. Hausman Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Department of Biology Boston University 5 Cummington Street Boston, MA 02215 USA e-mail: hausman@bu.edu phone: 617 353-2470 fax: 617 353-6340

Hi All I am trying to research my FRIEDLY/FRIEDLE line in Hirschthal, Germany. This town is in the Pirmasens area right on the French - German border. While searching the LDS library catalogue I found that the parish records for Hirschthal were included in the parish records of Schönau beginning in 1821. Does anyone know what parish contains the earlier records for this area? I am looking for records in the early to mid 1700's. Thank you for your time and help. Lin Morin LinLB5@aol.com

The town name of Groswalstadt was changed to Grosswallstadt in Bayern; postal code 63868. It is 258 miles SW of Berlin or about 35-40 miles SE of Wiesbaden. Maybe 50 or so miles from Mainz. I'm not exactly sure of the miles. You can use the ShtetlSeeker to view the town. http://www.jewishgen.org/ShtetlSeeker/loctown.htm Nancy Wimado@aol.com wrote: > > Hello Listers, > > I'm been told that ancestors I'm researching (Bath or Baireuth) may have been > from a town called Groswalstadt, somewhere near the Main River. I can find > the river but not Groswalstadt. Has anyone heard of this town and able to > give me an idea of where it is located? Thank you in advance. Bon