LZ 37 grave memorial at Ghent

[jempie]

Hi!

Latest news about this LZ 37 memorial at Gent-Westerbegraafplaats is that this memorial wasn't erected by the German Military, but was erected at charge an cost of the family Ackermann! Probably they had some agreement with also the family from Van der Haegen (or Haeghen) and the memorial was erected on the original graves of both which were until that moment part of the German Cemetry!
However seen the Family Ackermann bought the eternal concession of the ground, this memorial was no longer part of the Military German Cemetry!
(Based on a letter received from the German Embassy at Brussels!)

This explains why the Verein Für Kriegsgraber Fürsorge about 1956-1957 when moving all German Military buried at that Military Cemetry did left these graves untouched! They had not the right anymore to move them to Vladslo as they did with all others! Reason why they are not listed up by the VDK as well! It became private civil graves!

This means that in fact it's now so good as sure both Oblt's Kurt Ackermann and Otto Van der Haegen are still buried under this memorial into their original former Military Friedhoff graves!

The memorial isn't a military erected one, but a civil gravetumb paid by the family of Ackermann, but it's possible the family of Van der Haegen also did some financial efforts...

One researcher at Ghent, pretends that Van der Haegen (eventually also Ackerman(n) should have been a (or) Belgian(s) or at least his or the family was originally living into the region of Ghent!
My correspondent wrote : from Van der Haegen is known he was family of a wel known importantfamily living at Gent... (????)
He also pretends the name was Ackerman and not Ackermann and his familyroots were probably also from the region of Gent.. (???????)

This I found myself a very strange claim, seen both have as birthplace a village or city located into Germany, but indeed Ackerman(n) or
Van der Haeg(h)en in special than are familynames forecoming also in Belgium!
It might be their familyroots were from Belgium ???

He also kept as possibility in this case the remains might have been moved in all secrety by both families to proper own family graves...but that's a guess..
seen these families if living at Gent, were ashamed for reason they fought with the Germans...

However such should have been registered by the administration of the grave yard! Otherwise thsi administration had no idea if the remains from both OBLT's were still resting there or not...strange is it because they didn't mention this "grave memorial" was in fact a "private concession" and they told me all Germans from the former Friedhoff were moved by the VDK...
Thus they "suggested me" also both OBLT's included, but they werent moved by the VDK! And the VDK didn't know them!

Seems some regional collector there has the cascet (Kepi) and the watch from Van der Haegen.. and some pieces from the airships skeletton!

Still not all is revealed about this LZ 327 crew history, but there is progress!

VBR

Jempie

P.S. RICK DUIVEN has someone his address?
My correspondent from Ghent (Piet Dhanens) seems to need it!
(He has no e-mail! He is researching the history of all airfields around Ghent!)
I guess Rick Duiven was here also on the Forum...isn't it?

I fso

[Paul Siemons]

Jempie,

Maybe this guy (Regulus I) can help You:

http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.n...uiven&start=25


Groeten uit Antwerpen Belgium.


Paul Siemons

[Regulus]

Hi Paul,

Same Regulus here you know

Jempie,

Best to give Rick a Private Message, he's known here as just Rick, so easy to find. Or otherwise mail me what he needs and I'll forward it to Rick.

Best from Johan

[Regulus]

BTW JP, a most fascinating story. And the Van der Haegen family possibly rings a bell to me. Will check if that might be correct.

Best from Johan

[Rick]

Originally Posted by jempie

P.S. RICK DUIVEN has someone his address?
My correspondent from Ghent (Piet Dhanens) seems to need it!
(He has no e-mail! He is researching the history of all airfields around Ghent!)
I guess Rick Duiven was here also on the Forum...isn't it?

Jempie, I sent you a PM with my address. My E-Mail is Duiven@Yahoo

[Regulus]

Oh my God ! The man sees everything, hears everything and even knows everything !



Johan

The WW1 German aviation casualties book shows

Otto van der Haegen was born 23 May 1887 in Creuzthal and

Kurt Ackermann was born 14 May 1886 in Berlin.

Both were career Prussian army airship officers before the war--

v.d. Haegen with seniority as Leutnant 14.2.06 F3f in Luftschiffer Baon 3 (originally in Eisenbahn Regt 3) and

Ackermann with Leutnant seniority 27.1.07 W in Luftschiffer Baon 5 (originally in Feldart Regt 39).

[jempie]

Hi!
Thanks all!

I lnow indeed where both were born and when!

However thanks!

Now I got via mr Dhanens (Ghent) a copy of a letter in in which the VDK indeed stated that they didn't move both OBLT's because this grave was part
of a family private concession!
They still are convinced by the VDK the both OBLT's remains are still resting into their original graves!


Now wondeing when I contatced the VDK myself why they didn't than give me the same response? (Curious!)

Tha before I contacted the Ghent-West administration and there I got also as answer "all were broughtover by the VDK, but on question of both OBLT's they seemed not to be aware themselves this was a "private concession or grave "!

Well if people I contacted there by the VDK or Ghent-West administration, didn't give me the correct answers , I couldn't help!

But let's say the mystery is solved and let's accept momentanous both Oberleutants have their grave still there!

At least it's known now where they rest to many of us know!

However if there would be a change coming (I don't expect it in fact)
I'll try to let it know!

VB

Jempie.