Walter Poppe

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Walter Poppe im Jahr 1943.jpg
Birth name Walter Fritz Rudolf Poppe
Birth date 8 August 1892(1892-08-08)
Place of birth Kassel, Province of Hesse-Nassau, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Death date 17 August 1968 (aged 76)
Place of death Schötmar near Bad Salzuflen, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Allegiance  German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 National Socialist Germany
Service/branch War and service flag of Prussia (1895–1918).png Prussian Army
Iron Cross of the Luftstreitkräfte.png Imperial German Army
War Ensign of the Reichswehr, 1919 - 1935.png Reichswehr
Balkenkreuz.jpg Heer
Years of service 1914–1945
Rank Generalleutnant
Battles/wars World War I

World War II

Awards Iron Cross
Hanseatic Cross
Eastern Front Medal
German Cross in Gold
Relations ∞ 1917 Else Matthias

Walter Fritz Rudolf Poppe (8 August 1892 – 17 August 1968) was a German officer of the Prussian Army, the Imperial German Army, the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht, finally Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) and divisional commander in World War II. On 3 May 1945, he was taken prisoner of war near Aidenbach by the US Army and was released on 25 June 1947.

Life

Poppe attended the Prussian cadet school and entered the Prussian Army as a 2nd Lieutenant on 20 January 1914. He served with the 4. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 72 in Torgau. As of 14 August 1914, the regiment advanced through Belgium and fight their first battle in WWI near Quiévrain on 24 August 1914. In May 1915, he was appointed leader of the 2nd Company of his regiment. In the fall of 1916, he was in military hospital. From 16 January to 19 March 1917, he was adjutant of the 510. Infanterie-Brigade. On 20 April 1917, he was appointed leader of the 1st Machine Gun Company/Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 263. On 22 October 1917, he was commanded to the 79. Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade. On 26 September 1918, he was appointed adjutant of the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 263.

After the war, he served with the Reichswehr. He was appointed adjutant to the Infantry Leader (Infanterie-Führer) of the Reichswehr Brigade 10 in Hanover on 30 June 1919. 1920, he served withe the 16. Infanterie-Regiment in Oldenburg, in 1921, he received his secret general staff training (Führergehilfenausbildung) which was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles. In 1923, he became platoon leader, in 1925 regimental adjutant (16. Infanterie-Regiment) and in 1929 commander of the 8th Machine Gun Company/16. Infanterie-Regiment as successor of Friedrich Köchling. In 1936, he became commander of the II. Bataillon/Infanterie-Regiment 37 in Osnabrück, only days later of the I. Bataillon/Infanterie-Regiment 39 in Düsseldorf. In 1938, he was trained to be a regiment commander, on 26 August 1939, he was appointed commander of the Infanterie-Regiment 465 (255. Infanterie-Division).

WWII

In 1942, Poppe was appointed commander of the 255. Infanterie-Division, in October/November 1943, he was delegated with the leadership of the 217. Infanterie-Division. On 15 December 1943, he was appointed commander of the 364. Infanterie-Division and on 1 February 1944 of the 77. Infanterie-Division. On 5 July 1944, he was appointed commander of the 59. Infanteriedivision (22 March to 9 April 1945 sick and in military hospital). On 17 April 1945, he was appointed commander of the Division z. b. V. 469. Some sources state, that he took over the Division Nr. 467 from Rudolf Sintzenich, however, this cannot be proven or documented.

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Monday, 8 November 1943 In diesen mit unverminderter Heftigkeit andauernden schweren Abwehrkämpfen haben sich die fränkisch-sudetendeutsche 183. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Dettling und die ostpreußische 217. Infanteriedivision unter Führung von Generalleutnant Poppe besonders ausgezeichnet. In these continuously heavy defensive battles with unreduced fierceness, the Franconian-Sudeten German 183rd Infantry Division under the leadership of Generalleutnant Dettling and the East Prussian 217th Infantry Division under the leadership of Generalleutnant Poppe distinguished themselves exceptionally.

Family

Walter was the son of Dr. med. Friedrich Wilhelm Poppe and his wife Marie Helene, née Tillemann. On 19 December 1917, 1st Lieutenant Poppe married his fiancée Alma Else Erna Matthias with whom he would have two sons. One of their sons was ⚔ near Brody in 1944.[1]

Promotions

  • 20.1.1914 Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) with Patent from 22.6.1912
  • 18.8.1917 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)[2]
  • 1.4.1925 Hauptmann (Captain)
  • 1.5.1934 Major
  • 1.10.1936 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
  • 1.6.1939 Oberst (Colonel)
  • 12.4.1942 Generalmajor (Major General) with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1.4.1942
  • 21.1.1943 Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1.1.1943[3]

Awards and decorations

Lieutenant General, retired (a. D.), post-WWII

Gallery

  • Walter Poppe I.jpg
  • Walter Poppe verlieht Orden.jpg
  • Walter Poppe III.jpg
  • Der ehemalige Wehrmachtsgeneral Walter Poppe (im Vordergrund im Trenchcoat) bei einer Katastrophenübung im Jahr 1956.jpg

Writings

  • Kurze Geschichte der 77. Infanterie-Division, 1954[5]

References

  1. ↑ Generalleutnant Walter Poppe (1892–1968)
  2. ↑ Dienstalters-Liste der Offiziere der Königlich Preußischen Armee, 1918, p. 70
  3. ↑ Poppe, Walter (Generalleutnant)
  4. ↑ Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres, 1931, p. 137
  5. ↑ Poppe, Walter Fritz Rudolf
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