Heinz Gropp
Heinz Gropp | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 January 1912 Zwickau |
| Died | 14 February 1990 (aged 78) Ensdorf |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1939–45 |
| Rank | Obersturmführer |
| Unit | 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class Tank Destruction Badge |
Heinz Gropp (29 January 1912 – 14 February 1990) was an Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. This was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Obersturmführer Heinz Gropp was awarded the Knight's Cross when in command of the 9th SS Flak Battalion on the 6 May 1945. There is some dispute over the award as it was authorised by Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich in his position as commander of the German Sixth SS Panzer Army, who claimed to have been given the authority by Adolf Hitler in person.[1][2][Note 1]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Fellgiebel the award was presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich, which would make it an unlawful presentation. Fellgiebel's sources are Hermann Buch, the former IIa (personnel administration) of the 2. SS-Division "Das Reich", and Wilhelm Kment, the adjutant of Heinrich Himmler and liaison officer to the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office). According to Buch—note from 25 June 2005—he has nothing to do with this presentation. And Kment can't be the source, since Buch stated that Kment died in the early 1970s. If indeed Kment would have been the source then von Seemen would have listed Heinz Gropp in either the first or second edition of his book, which isn't the case. The source thus remains uncertain. Krätschmer lists Gropp in his third edition with a date of 1 May 1945 without stating a source as well. Fellgiebel dated the award on 6 May 1945. He may have done this to justify this as an Dietrich award.[3]
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ↑ "frontkjemper".
- ↑ "axishistory".
- ↑ Scherzer 2007, pp. 134–135.
Bibliography[edit]
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. Unknown parameter
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- Henschler, Henri; Fey, Willi (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS, 1943–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5. Search this book on
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7. Search this book on
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7. Search this book on
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. Unknown parameter
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