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A German farmer is refusing to allow British families to recover the remains of crew members of a Lancaster bomber shot down during the Second World War - unless they pay him €7,500 (£5,080).
The families of the crew are furious at the farmer's demands and are refusing to pay. They say that the farmer, Horst Bender, must not be allowed to make a profit from allowing them to give their dead relatives a proper burial with full military honours.
One relative described his demands as "shockingly greedy and insensitive".
from the article.... Mr Bender said he needed the money to cover the cost of returning the field to its original state after the remains had been dug up.
"Everyone wants to come on my land and dig, but no one has offered any money to cover the damages," he said. "I have nothing against giving my permission, but the costs have got to be covered. I can't say how much it would cost without making a thorough estimate, but it will not be less than €7,500."
Mr Bender said that grave robbers had been on the land looking for souvenirs from the aircraft and he was "fed up" with people trespassing.
I don't know who should pay the farmer to restore his land, but someone should. It isn't right that he should have to pay for this himself.
If he's only trying to break even for the damages to his livelihood, I can't blame him. I don't know about in Germany, but the farmers I've known need every cent they earn. And they do earn it.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
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It would be a nice gesture if the British and German military forces joined together to return the remains for burial, I'm sure they participate in training exercises, may as well put the manpower to good use.
A German farmer is refusing to allow British families to recover the remains of crew members of a Lancaster bomber shot down during the Second World War - unless they pay him €7,500 (£5,080).
The families of the crew are furious at the farmer's demands and are refusing to pay. They say that the farmer, Horst Bender, must not be allowed to make a profit from allowing them to give their dead relatives a proper burial with full military honours.
One relative described his demands as "shockingly greedy and insensitive".
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