According to some friends in England, the German Occupation Museum on the island of Guernsey has been rocked by the theft of one of its most important artifacts -- the steel helmet of the German harbormaster, Kapitän Obermeyer. It was stolen from a locked glass case in the central display room, and it was the only item taken despite other, more valuable items in the case including the helmet of the German Kommandant of the Channel Islands, General Graf von Schmettow. Museum owner Richard Heaume believes that this helmet was stolen on specific orders of a wealthy helmet collector.

Description of the helmet mentions that it is a large size, in mint condition and is a double decal marine artillery helmet in the pre-war apple green color.

A reward of 500 English pounds (about $750 in US dollars) for information leading to the safe return of the helmet to the museum. If any Member has firm information, let us know and we’ll put you in contact with the proper people.

EDITOR NOTE

There appears to be a growing trend of theft of specific artifacts on orders of wealthy collectors who are not able to convince the owners of these artifacts to sell them honestly. The theft of artifacts from the home of ERICH TOPP (118-LIFE-1985) a year or so ago is a prime example, as is the theft of the Knights Cross of HANS-GEORG HESS (125-LIFE-1985) in which the thieves stole not only the medal, but also the safe in which the medal was kept! And a couple years before, a glib-talking American snookered quite a few American veterans out of their medals including several Congressional Medals of Honor and Navy Crosses. He was caught and is currently in jail. However, this is an alarming trend and it must be stopped. A slap on the wrist as punishment will not stop these thieves - they must receive long terms in prison. That will not only take those thieves out of circulation, it will also cause other thieves to think a second time if they wish to steal artifacts.