Knight's Cross Recipient Gerhard Konopka "GD"

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WEIDINGER1945
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Knight's Cross Recipient Gerhard Konopka "GD"

#1

Post by WEIDINGER1945 » 17 Dec 2003, 14:24

Does anyone have any biographical info, in particular his Dates of Birth and Death?
Thanks

Denis
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#2

Post by Denis » 17 Dec 2003, 14:35

Hello
Here is info :

KONOPKA GERHARD
DoB : 27/03/1911
DoD : 29/01/1997
Last rank : MAJOR GRE. RGT. "F.L. JAHN" (RAD-DIV. "F.L. JAHN")
EK1 : 01/07/1941
DKiG : 09/10/1942 as Lt. d.R. STBSKP/INF. RGT. "GD" 1
NKSiG : 20/04/1945
RK : 29/08/1943 (2053rd) as Oblt. d.R. II/GRE. RGT. "GD" (PZ. GRE. DIV. "GD")
Regards
Denis


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Xavier
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#3

Post by Xavier » 14 Apr 2004, 18:52

some pics of Konopka, here on this very forum

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... ht=konopka

while checking the sources for the book "God, Honor, Fatherland" about the Grossdeutschland division, there is mention of an unpublished work By Konopka, regarding the Panzernacker school, anyone with access to the writings?
(will post complete name of the unpublished works later tomorrow..book is at home, promised)

Regards

Xavier
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Dieter Zinke
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#4

Post by Dieter Zinke » 15 Apr 2004, 14:23

Hi all ,
Here are two pics from 19 November 1942 showing Konopka with Dr. Goebbels and (in the middle) Generalleutnant Paul von Hase (State Commandant of Berlin, in Berlin-Plötzensee executed 8 August 1944 because of his participation on the 20 July conspiracy). The general at right is to identify. The two holders of the KC with oakleaves at left (first row) are Heinrich Borgmann and Ernst-Georg Buchterkirch.
Best
Oberstab
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Daniel L
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#5

Post by Daniel L » 15 Apr 2004, 14:54

Very nice pictures Oberstab. I have an original photo from this meeting showing Goebbels congratulating (and awarding EKI?) to a number of solders, Konopka is standing in the background on that photo. It's also interesting that the tall soldier on the photos also is present a that photo. Any idea who he is?

It's also nice to have Buchterkirch identified, I've been wondering who it is for quite some time now. You should really take a look at the panzerknacker thread, I'm sure you can add some names to that thread. Page nineteen has the present update of the list. Do you know who the other tank destruction badge holder is, he has the DKiG but not the Knight's cross. There's also another Knight's cross holder standing behind Buchterkirch.

May I ask where you found the photos, are these press photos?

I believe that the photo below comes from the same meeting. Generalleutnant von Hase is clearly visible. Any idea about the identities of the men in the background? I'm especially interested in the tank destruction badge holder.

Image

Best regards/ Daniel

FlorianBerger
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Konopka was the 1st holder of the CCC in Gold

#6

Post by FlorianBerger » 17 Apr 2004, 21:48

Hallo,

some hot information, I found during the work for my book and maybe found your interest.
Gerhard Konopka of "GD" got the CCC in Gold in June 1943 as 1st soldier and so was a view weeks before Hans Juchem from "Wiking". The date 1945 in Dörrs Book in complete wrong. I found the correct date in Konopkas Wehrpass.

regards,
Florian

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Elwyn W
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#7

Post by Elwyn W » 17 Apr 2004, 23:32

Hi Daniel and Oberstab,

I think the RKT in Daniel's pic immediately to the left of Goebbels was ObLt Otto Benzin.

I am not sure if the RKT(ELT?) next to Heinrich Borgmann was Buchterkirch. Here are two pics of Buchterkirch. The second one came from Akira Takeguchi's site.

Cheers
Freiherr
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Daniel L
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#8

Post by Daniel L » 17 Apr 2004, 23:45

freiherr wrote:I think the RKT in Daniel's pic immediately to the left of Goebbels was ObLt Otto Benzin.
Thank you,

the tank destruction badge holder could be Bruno Hinz, Pi.Bat. 14 who later received the German Cross in Gold and was depicted on a Willrich card. If someone could say when he received his German Cross in Gold it would be helpful since we then could be able to include or exclude Hinz from the possible persons.

Best regards/ Daniel

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FANGIO
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#9

Post by FANGIO » 18 Apr 2004, 18:11

Hi everybody!
Freiherr, according to http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de Buchterkirch did win the Oakleaves:

Oberstleutnant im Generalstab Buchterkirch, Ernst-Georg
* 10.09.1914 Stolp/Pommern
+ 17.07.1969
Ritterkreuz am: 29.06.1940 als: Oberleutnant Funktion: Zugführer 2./PzRgt 6
44. Eichenlaub am: 31.12.1941 als Oberleutnant Chef 2./PzRgt 6

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Waland66
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#10

Post by Waland66 » 18 Apr 2004, 19:41

Hi!
Is realy number 2 from the left an Eichenlaubträger?

Regards
Paal

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Waland66
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#11

Post by Waland66 » 18 Apr 2004, 19:43

Hi again

If it is, can it be Georg Michael ?

Regards
Paal

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Daniel L
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#12

Post by Daniel L » 18 Apr 2004, 20:26

Pål, these photos were taken in 1942, Michael received the Oakleaves in 1943.

Best regards/ Daniel

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Waland66
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#13

Post by Waland66 » 18 Apr 2004, 20:52

Hi!

OK, but does this person have Oakleaves?

Regards
Paal

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Elwyn W
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#14

Post by Elwyn W » 19 Apr 2004, 21:40

Exactly, the RK seems to be dangling a little short for an oakleaf. Fangio, I never said Buchterkirch was not an ELT. Infact he was one of the earliest from Heer, like Borgmann. I am sure that's why Oberstab guessed it was him. But the person IMHO did not resemble Buchterkirch.

Cheers
Freiherr.

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FANGIO
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#15

Post by FANGIO » 19 Apr 2004, 21:55

Sorry Freiherr, my mistake. You wrote: "I am not sure if the RKT(ELT?) next to Heinrich Borgmann was Buchterkirch". I thought that you were not sure that he was an Eichenlaubträger.
Best regards.

FANGIO

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