I'm adding a photo page to my BDM re-enacting guide so that people can see there are other BDM re-enactors out there (and maybe it will show the vendors that there's a demand for the kit, too, so it'll be come more easily available).

If anyone has photos of BDM re-enactors, would you pretty please send them to me so I can include them on the site?

Just wanted to say BDMHistorian that I like your site. Very well presented and intriguing information. Have you ever thought of doing a book? Or has it already been done?

I've thought of doing a book.

Right now, my priority is getting together the rest of the website sections that say "under construction". I want to go more in-depth about the things the BDM did.

I also need to do more interviews with former members for my book. I am in correspondence with about six or seven former members who've all said lots of very interesting things so far, but there are more questions I want to ask.

First time I've visited your site.................brilliant...............you've put so much work into it. I only wish I'd have visited earlier!

Keep up the good work!!!

There must be a fair few of these genial old dears about (given that women tend to outlive men). Look forward to seeing your book on the shelf some day.

hi bdm can you send me a link to your site as i would like to have a look at it , thank you shergar

Click on the "www" underneath her posts

thank you mp44

I'm sure there are quite a few of them still around. (My own grandmother lived to be 96... though she was not in the BDM.) The problem is finding them, because most don't have Internet, and if you're in Germany it's not like they're wearing a sign that says, "former BDM member".

I was able to get mailing addresses for the ones I am corresponding with through different websites in Germany that get people in touch with Zeitzeugen (witnesses to the times). There are a couple of different such sites, but the one I personally liked best was Bildungsserver Hessen (http://lernen.bildung.hessen.de/geschichte/zeitzeugen/). Their site lists the people with their year of birth, subjects they're willing to talk about, and their addresses so you can write them. You will need to write in German as most of them don't speak English and it all needs to be "snail mail". One exception is one of the ladies I write with, who has email and so we email back and forth (when she's not on vacation - she goes on vacation a lot).



I don't know about "on the shelf" because I'm planning to self-publish. Less costs and hassle involved for me that way. I've published a translation of the "Jungmaedel Dienst" manual from 1940 through a place called Lulu and the books turned out really nice. I have the book linked from my website and sold a few just based on that alone, so I'm happy with the service and I'm happy with the quality. I figure the people looking for BDM books will find my website eventually.

Hi BDM,
A good link you posted there. The people you are writing to are obviously OK with corresponding with people outside Germany then?

I have bookmarked your site so will keep reading it, I like your sense of humour

Yes, most of them were happy to answer questions. Some were interested to find that "people outside Germany are even interested in this stuff", as one of the ladies told me. The only catch, like I said, is that you need to write in German.

keine problem

I'm sure I will manage somehow. If I get any interesting quotes for you I will let you know. I'm just curious to hear from them in person.

MP44