Dr. Oskar Kopp - 14th Div. der SS "Galicia"

[Hunter2]

Hi,

I am looking for imformation, please, on Dr. Oskar Kopp (Oberstrumbannfuhrer) who was a medical doctor with the 14th "Galician" division der SS. The doctor was German and what I'm trying to find out is when he joined the SS/party to determine if he qualified as an "old fighter" and was entitled to wear the "old fighter" chevron on his tunic. If any one can please provide any information, I'd be very greatful.

Thank you,
George

[Phil Nix]

Dr Oscar Kopp born 30.5.1910 Party Nr 4879435 SS Nr 422153 SS Sbf and Waffen SS SBf 1.4.1942 Awarded the War Service Cross 2nd Class
Phil Nix

[Hunter2]

Thank you very much, Phil. I appreciate the information. Not an "old fighter".

Thank you,
George

[Hunter2]

If anyone has more information about the doctor I would cerainly like to learn more about him. Was he part of the group that was interned in Italy at wars end? Did he survive the war? Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you very much,
George

[Askold]

Hey Hunter,

It would help your research a lot (and me, so I can help you) if you can find out how many doctors in a rank of major should be assigned per Waffen SS division. The reason I am asking is simple - if we have more then one person with such rank - then we can trace others, to who the tunic might belong to (it obviously does not belong to Kopp as he was not entitled to Old Fighter chevron). If there is only one person with such high rank per division (and that is what I suspect), then sadly the tunic is a put together.

[Hunter2]

Hi Askold,

Thank you very much for your input. At this point, as I'd have to do more research, I can't speak to the number of doctors
with the rank of Major in a SS division. I have, however, found the following information right here courtsey of
Mike Melnyk. Unless I'm mistaken and reading the rank incorrectly it appears that Kopp held the rank of Oberstrumbannfuhrer by wars end although the garment we are looking at has the rank of Strumbannfuhrer.

Officer - Service Positions of 14 Galician Division Winter 1944/45

Division Staff: Feld Post Nr. 15 000
Div.-Kdr.: SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Freitag

1.Gen.St.Offz. Major Wolf Dietrich Heike
Ord.Offz.1: SS-Ostuf. Rudolph Michel
Ia / Gabo: SS-Ostuf. Hermann Schneider
Ic: SS-Hstuf. Fritz Niermann
IcA: SS-Hstuf. Heinrich Wiens
Ord.Off.3: SS-Ostuf. Wilhelm Schenker
IIa: SS-Strm. Erich Finder
Ib: SS-Hstuf. Herbert Schaaf
Ord. Off.II: SS- Ostuf. Dr Werner Rubneow
Wa-Mn.: SS-Hstuf. German Christl
III: SS-Strm. Hans-Georg Ziegler, SS-Ustuf. Wilhem Bethke
IVa: SS-Strm. Otto Sulzbach
IVb: SS-Strm. Dr. Max Specht
IVc: SS-Ostubaf. Dr. Oskar Kopp - OBERSTRUMBANNFUHRER?
V: SS-Strm. Heinz Behrndt
VI: SS-Strm. Karl-Robert Zoglauer
IVb/Z. SS-Strm. Dr. Georg Coldeway
IVz: SS-Ostuf. Meyer
KdtSt.Qu.: SS-Ostuf. Ernst Gebhardt
Musikm.: SS-Oberscharführer Johannes Thiessen
Feldgen.: SS-Ostuf. Wilhelm Drappatz

Again, from Mike Melnyk, here is a list of the other medical personnel in the division:

Sanitäts-Truppen 14.
Stab F.P.Nr. 12 102
Kdr. SS-Strm. Dr. Max Specht
Adj. Ostuf. Dr. Herbert Günther
1. San.Kp. F.P.Nr. 22 317
Oberstabsarzt Dr. Helmut Schmidt
2. San.Kp. F.P.Nr. 18 480
SS-Hstuf. Dr Gerhard Stridde

Not to show my ignorance but is the abbreviation "Strum." for Strumbannfuhrer? If that be the case there are two other doctors, Dr. Max Specht & Dr. Georg Coldeway both of whom hold the rank of SS-Strum. I'm making the assumption that an "Alter Kampfer" would have to be a German national, so I guess the next step would be to determine if both these individuals are German. Much more research needed to be done! Thank you for your help, Askold. Have a good weekend!

Thank you,
George

[Hunter2]

In doing a bit more research, I''ve found that Max Specht held the rank of Sturmbannführer (also found a Dr. Max Specht with rank of Obersturmannführer) plus I located a web site (German) http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic.php?t=5736 where I found a few more individuals with the rank of Strumbannführer that were doctors, Dr. Gerhard Stridde, Dr. Helmth Schmitt, and Dr. Friedrich-Wilhelm Lüdtke, but not sure if all were actual medical doctors. A lot of doctors associated with this Division! I'll continue to research.

Thank you,
George

[Melnyk]

Hi

I have several pictures of Dr Oskar kopp and none show him wearing the old fighters cheveron

best wishes

Mike Melnyk

[Phil Nix]

In doing a bit more research, I''ve found that Max Specht held the rank of Strumbannfuhrer (also found a Dr. Max Specht with rank of Oberstrumbannfuhrer) plus I located a web site (German) http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic.php?t=5736 where I found a few more individuals with the rank of Strumbannfuhrer that were doctors, Dr. Gerhard Stridde, Dr. Helmth Schmitt, and Dr. Friedrich-Wilhelm Ludtke, but not sure if all were actual medical doctors. A lot of doctors associated with this Division! I'll continue to research.

Thank you,
George

It should be Sturmbannführer not Strumbannführer sorry to be so picky
Phil Nix

[Hunter2]

Thank you, Mike, for the information. Appreciate it.

Phil, no problem. Pick away, I'm always happy to learn.

Thank you,
George

[Melnyk]

Hi

the following German Dres. were serving with the Galician division with the rank of SS Stubaf. in May 1945

Dr. Thomas Andresen, 19.7.06, SS No: 137 169
Dr. Herbert Booß, 21. 8.08, SS No: 139 223
Dr. Georg Coldeway, 11. 7.10, SS No: 337 728
Dr. Helmut Pickardt, 19. 3.06, SS No: 251 099
Dr. Helmut Schmitt, 6. 3.10, SS No: 28 967
Dr. Gerhard Stridde, 26.12.93, SS No: 187 591


best wishes

Mike

[Melnyk]

Hi

Party no's of Helmut Schmitt party No 661,338
Gerhatd Stridde party No 4,206,368

at this point I would suggest the most likely candidate would be Dr. Helmut Schmitt as he had a relatively low SS No.

best wishes

Mike Melnyk

[Hunter2]

Hi Mike,

Thank you very much for looking into this. I appreciate the information. I will see if I can research Dr. Schmitt to find out if he was Alter Kämpfer.

Thank you,
George

[Melnyk]

Hi

I read somewhere a question as to what the complement of mdeical doctors was for the 14 Galician division.

Answer according to the KSt (and in actual fact) : 33

best wishes

mike Melnyk

[Mikedc]

Mike Melnyk wrote:

The following German Drs were serving with the Galician division with the rank of SS Stubaf. in May 1945
Dr. Thomas Andresen, 19.7.06, SS No: 137 169
Dr. Herbert Booß, 21. 8.08, SS No: 139 223
Dr. Georg Coldeway, 11. 7.10, SS No: 337 728
Dr Helmut Pickardt, 19. 3.06, SS No: 251 099
Dr. Helmut Schmitt, 6. 3.10, SS No: 28 967
Dr. Gerhard Stridde, 26.12.93, SS No: 187 591

Here some more info/promodates from these mentioned officers:
Dr. Pickardt: promoted to SS-Stubaf on 9-11-44.
Dr. Stridde: promoted to SS-Stubaf on 30-1-44.
Dr. Schmitt: promoted to SS-Stubaf, and SS-Stubaf d.R. when I'm correct, on 30-1-44. In 1944 he served with the Staff from the SS-Abschnitt XXX.
Dr. Andresen: promoted to SS-Stubaf on 30-1-45.

Greetings, Mike