Gerhard Konopka

Gerhard Konopka
Born	(1911-03-27)27 March 1911
Died	29 January 1997(1997-01-29) (aged 85)
Place of birth	Tirschtiegel
Place of death	Darmstadt
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1934–1945
Rank	Major der Reserve
Commands held	II./Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of Belgium Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Voronezh (1942) Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Kursk Battle of Berlin
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gerhard Konopka (27 March 1911 – 29 January 1997) was a highly decorated Major der Reserves in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was also awarded the very rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold one of only 631 awards.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (18 January 1941)
  • 1st Class (1 July 1941)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• 4 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Gold (25 June 1943)
• German Cross in Gold (9 October 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 August 1943 as Oberleutnant der Reserves and commander of II. / Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Berger, Florian (2004). Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold. Selbstverlag Florian Berger ISBN 3-9501307-3-X.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkeuztraeger 1939-1945