Major Hugo Böpple, IV./Art.Rgt. 178

[Leonid4]

I need any info about this soldier.

German Cross in Gold Holder of 78. Infanterie-Division
Böpple, Hugo, 15.12.1941, Major d.R., IV./Art.Rgt. 178

[Heimatschuss]

Hello Leonid,

there's a remark in the autobiography of a former soldier once belonging to the battalion staff of IV./Artillerie-Regiment 178 that Major d.R. Böpple was a high-ranking forestry official in Württemberg (Lachenmaier, 2001, p.93). That allows to find at least some basic biographical information on him.

Hugo Böpple
* 28.01.1888 in Nürtingen
+ 24.02.1965 in Bebenhausen

Picture from the 1930s (http://www.enz-nagold.de/archiv/13_sep.pdf, p.17)

Hugo Boepple.jpg (14.94 KiB) Viewed 795 times

He married Irene Elisabeth Wilhelmine Henriette von Carnap on 24.05.1924 in Nagold, divorced in 1942.
(Gotha, 1941, p.82; GHdA, 1977, p.66)

In 1915 Böpple was Lt. d.R. and served in württembergisches Train-Bataillon 13 (13th Wurttemberg supply battalion). In civilian life he was Königlich württembergischer Forstreferendar (trainee in Royal Wurttemberg forestry administration).
(Deutsche Forst-Zeitung, Vol.30, 1915, p.252)

From at least 1933 to 1937 Böpple was NSDAP-Kreisleiter in County Neuenbürg. He resigned from the office in 1937 when County Neuenbürg was disbanded (Ruck, 1996, p.93, footnote 33; Arbogast, 1998, p.134).

When Lachenmaier came to IV./Artillerie-Regiment 178 in about April 1940 Böpple was already CO of the battalion (Lachenmaier, 2001, p.93).

From 18.11.1941 - 06.12.1941 Major d.R. Böpple led Artillerie-Regiment 178 while Oberst Hitter, the regular CO took over command of 78. Infanterie-Division until General Völckers arrived (Geyer, 1969, p.197).

By mid-April 1945 Böpple had already left the Wehrmacht. He'd become director of the complete Württemberg forestry administration with the title Oberlandforstmeister. After the air raids on Stuttgart in 1944 the offices had been evacuated to Bebenhausen castle. In April 1945 Böpple relocated them to Mochental castle near Ehingen and finally to Zeil castle in the Allgäu Mountains (Rubner, 1997, p.312).

Hugo Böpple ran as a candidate for the conservative party GB/BHE (Gesamtdeutscher Block/Bund der Heimatvertriebenen und Entrechteten) in the 1953 elections to the German federal parliament (Bundestag), without success (Schumacher, p.129).

Further additions to his CV always welcome.

References:

Arbogast, Christine
Herrschaftsinstanzen der württembergischen NSDAP. Funktion, Sozialprofil und Lebenswege einer regionalen NS-Elite 1920 - 1960
Oldenbourg Verlag; Munich; 1998

Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels (GHdA)
Band 64; Verlag C. A. Starke; Limburg a. d. Lahn; 1977

Geyer, Hermann
Das IX. Armeekorps im Ostfeldzug 1941.
Kurt Vowinckel Verlag; Neckargemünd; 1969

Gothaisches genealogisches Taschenbuch der adeligen Häuser
Teil B; 33. Jahrgang; Verlag J. Perthes; Gotha; 1941

Lachenmaier, Walter
Dafür oder dagegen? Meine Jugend 1925 bis 1947.
Verlag M. Hennecke; Remshalden; 2001

Rubner, Heinrich
Deutsche Forstgeschichte 1933-1945. Forstwirtschaft, Jagd und Umwelt im NS-Staat.
Scripta Mercaturae Verlag; Sankt Katharinen; 1997

Ruck, Michael
Korpsgeist und Staatsbewusstsein. Beamte im deutschen Südwesten 1928 bis 1972
Oldenbourg Verlag; Munich; 1996

Schumacher, Martin
M.d.B. – Die Volksvertretung 1946 – 1972
http://www.kgparl.de/online-volksvertre ... /mdb-b.pdf

Best regards
Torsten

[Leonid4]

Hello Torsten.
Thanks for the detailed answer. I didn't know this information.
I am interested in history of defense of the Russian city of Zvenigorod (50 km to the west of Moscow) in October - December, 1941.
Now I want to understand, why in documents different dates.


NARA



Das IX. Armeekorps im Ostfeldzug 1941 von Hermann Geyer (1969)

I apologize for bad English - I write by means of the translator.

Best regards
Leonid

[histan]

The reason for the different dates is straightforward:

His official post was IV/AR 178 and the HPA changed this official post, effective 25.11.41, to be an Abt.Kdr. in AR 5

His actual post, from 18.11.941 was mstFb AR 178 and he remained in this post until 6.12.1941 after which, I suggest, he moved to AR 5 and assumed actual command of an Abt. on some date in December.

It is not clear from the extract from Geyer who was in command of IV/AR 178 after 6.12.1941.

It is very common that there is a difference between the official date of command change issued by the HPA and the actual date an officer left or assumed command. My guess is that Korps/Division wanted to keep him in command of AR 178 until the new Div Kdr arrived and Hitter could resume command.

For example, there are differences in dates of official and actual command change at 78 Div. Curt Gallenkamp transferred to the FR effective 20.11.1941 with Paul Völckers appointed mFb 20.11.941. But we see from Geyer that Hitter was mstFb 18.11.1941 - 06.12.1941. So Gallenkamp left command before 20.11.1941 and Völckers did not assume command until 6.12.1941.

Regards

John

[Leonid4]

Thanks John. It is very reasoned.

Best regards
Leonid

[CNE503]

Actually, I have Generalmajor Emil Markgraf leading the 78. Infanterie-Division between September 29th and November 19th, 1941. It is confirmed by several sources, including the divisional history written by later general Merker (who headed an infantry regiment in the division at this time).

Concerning Böpple, he was yet, as a captain (Hauptmann), CO for the IV./Artillerie-Regiment 178 on January 20th, 1940. A document in the divisional archives ascertains that clearly. I presume he held this command since the mobilization, around August 26th, 1939.

CNE503