Germany – Third Reich: An unusual General Assault Badge and War Merit Cross 2ndClass with Swords Document and Wehrpass Group to Nebelwerfer’s Document Group to Hauptmann Hermann Koopmann, 5thNebelwerfer Battalion later III Battalion, 70th Werfer Regiment
Germany – Third Reich: An unusual General Assault Badge and War Merit Cross 2ndClass with Swords Document and Wehrpass Group to Nebelwerfer’s Document Group to Hauptmann Hermann Koopmann, 5thNebelwerfer Battalion later III Battalion, 70th Werfer Regiment (motorised), who saw service throughout the war and survived, receiving the Iron Cross 2nd during the advance on Moscow and the Iron Cross 1st Class during the defence of the Leningrad area in early 1944. An unusual and interesting document group comprising three award certificates, a Wehrpass (issued 9th October 1937) and 15 documents which trace Koopmann’s military career in the German Army.
Award Certificates:
The 1stOctober 1938 Commemorative Medal awarded in Hamburg on 12thMarch 1940 as a Gefreiter, 3/2ndNebelwerfer Battalion. Signed for correctness by Janski as Major and Battalion Commanding Officer on behalf of Generalleutnant Ludke as Deputy General Officer Commanding X Army Corps and Commander in Chief Wehrkreis X.
The General Assault Badge awarded by Regimental HQ on 26thMay 1943 as Oberleutnant, III/70thWerfer Regiment (motorised). Signed by Buning as Oberstleutnant and Commanding Officer. Buning was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 4.7.1943 as Oberstleutnant and Commanding Officer 70 Werfer Regiment (motorised).
The War Merit Cross 2ndClass with Swords awarded by 18thArmy HQ on 1stSeptember 1944 as a Hauptmann, III/70thWerfer Regiment (motorised). Facsimile signature of Boege as General of Infantry and Commander in Chief 18thArmy.
Unfortunately, the award certificates for the award of the Iron Cross 2ndClass on 4thAugust 1941 as a Leutnant in the 5thNebelwerfer Battalion, and the Iron Cross 1stClass on 15thFebruary 1944 as a Hauptmann in the III/70thWerfer Regiment (motorised) are both missing, the confirmation of entitlement to these appears in Koopmann’s Wehrpass.
Documents:
A certificate dated 20thSeptember 1937 at Osterwana concerning the discharge of Koopmann from the German Labour Service (RAD) in the rank of Vormann. It is signed by Ratze as Feldmeister and Commander of 51173 Battalion.
A letter dated Celle (Seekt Barracks) 15.8.1940 from 3rdBattery, Nebel Lehr Battalion to Herman Koopmann, Rotenburg/Hannover, Soltauerstrasse 10:
‘The Battery presents to you the medal and certificate for the commemoration of 1stOctober 1938 for your son Gefreiter Hermann Koopmann. Field Post Number not known.
A copy of the notification of Koopmann’s promotion from Wachtmeister to Leutnant with effect from 1stMay 1940 (1583), Unit: 5thNebelwerfer Battalion.
The official notification of Koopmann’s promotion to Leutnant of the Reserve by the Bremen 11 Recruiting District HQ. It is addressed to Lt Koopmann (Fd Post No 03 762 = HQ 5thNebelwerfer Battalion). The promotion is with effect from 1stMay 1940 (1583). Signed by Strasser in Bremen on 26thJuly 1940 .
HQ 5thNebelwerfer Battalion 1.12.1941 – A Pass for Leave for the Professional Requirement. For Koopmann to study a course in Agriculture at Gottingen University between 13thDecember 1941 and 7thMarch 1942.
A copy of a note from 111thInfantry Regiment (35thInfantry Division) to 1/5thNebelwerfer Battalion – HQ 13.1.1942 – confirming days towards the award of the Infantry Assault Badge. Listed are 5 days between 2ndand 7thOctober 1941 by III Battalion, and 4 days between 2ndand 7thOctober 1941 by I Battalion. Signed for correctness by Antritter as Leutnant and Adjutant. – These combat days were during the Vyazma Battle and the penetration of the Dnieper position.
A copy of a note from 111thInfantry Regiment to 5thNebelwerfer Battalion dated 20.5.1942 – This recognises four days between 2.10.1941 and 7.10. 1941 towards the award Assault Badge and are relevant to the forward observers of No 2 and 3 Batterys.
Bremen Recruiting District HQ, - 19.6.1942 – Oberleutnant of the Reserve Koopmann, Rotenburg I Hann., Soltauerstrasse 10. – The official notification of Koopmann’s promotion from Leutnant to Oberleutnant with effect from 1stMay 1942.
5thNebelwerfer Battalion, Battalion HQ – 15.9.42: Notification of two dates, 2.10.1941 and 7.10.1941 can be counted towards the award of the Assault Badge to Oberleutnant Koopmann.
206thInfantry Division, Divisional HQ – 10.5.43: A note confirming that 22.8.1941 the day of the assault on Hill 176.6. can be noted as an assault day for those elements of 5thNebelwerfer Battalion deployed with the Regiment – this fighting was in the area around Velikiye Luki (Army Group Centre)
Nebel Troops School, Celle – 21.10.1943: A note confirming that Oberleutnant of the Reserve Hermann Koopmann has taken part in the 10thBattery Command Course from 1.10.1943 until 21.10.1943.
8/70thWerfer Regiment, 28.12.1943: Confirmation that Oberleutenant Hermann Koopmann (8/70thWerfer Regiment (motorised) has passed the driving test for Prime movers up to 10 tons. Test result No: 131.
A carbon copy of a character assessment which appears to form some kind of report. It also includes details of his unit postings and combat awards, including his Iron Cross 1stClass and 2ndClass. He is described as ‘An upright, cheerful character. Determined, decisive, devoted to duty. Fair and firm as a Commander. Complete commitment as an individual in front of the enemy, courageous and brave. Assessed as mentally sound and clear of thought. Physically completely capable. Good military knowledge.
Firm command nature which goes without saying asserts itself in all situations. Hitherto no evidence to the contrary of the above. Signed by Martens as Oberstleutnant and Commanding Officer.
An assessment notice regarding Hauptmann of the Reserve Koopmann, born on 20.12.1917 – An officer of quiet character and is very much appreciated by his fellow officers and in general. Although has only been a Battalion commander for a short time, he is respected in his position. He is a good leader of troops who has proved himself in difficult situations and is good example to his men. Above average in intellect and physical very able. Good military knowledge and achievements. A good National Socialist. Suitable as a Battalion Commander, signed by Ohm, Oberstleutnant and Commanding Officer, dated 5thMay 1945.
The official Certificate of Discharge from the German Armed Forces dated 28.7.1945 and signed by the Mayor of Hemslingen in Kreis Rotenburg/Hannover. Discharge dated 26thJuly 1945.
Below is a list of Koopmann’s Nebelwerfer units with which he served:
4.11.1937-31.03.1938 – 3/2ndNebel Battalion: Entry into the Sudetenland (1stOctober 1938)
27.1 – 4.12.1942 – 5thNebelwerfer Battalion – had seen service in Arras, La Bassee Canal, Lille, Aisne and Veneq during the campaign in France in 1940, and went on to see service in Russia at Grodno, Polozk, Nevel, Velikiye Luki, Vyazma, Gshatsk on the advance to Moscow. 16-18.6.1942 – 4thNebelwerfer Battalion (motorised)
19.6.1942-20.9.1944 – 111/70thWerfer Regiment (motorised), which saw service in Russia, originally in the Crimea, before moving North to the Leningrad area, seeing service in the defence battles at Leningrad, the 2ndLadoga battle, Staraya Russa and at the 3rdLadoga Battle.
8.3.1945 – end – 18thVolkswerfer Brigade (22ndheavy Werfer Regiment) which saw service in north-west Europe including in the defence of the West Wall, the Upper Rhine, and then in southern Germany, along the Danube, in Southern Bavaria and finishing the war in the Alps.
Wehrpass:
Koopmann’s Wehrpass, confirming that he was born on 20thDecember 1917 in Rotenburg/Stade, his date of marriage as 12.1.1945. It also confirms all units that Koopmann served with throughout the war, a list of his promotions, decorations and his training and appointments. Koopmann was born on 20thDecember 1917 and having seen service with the German Labour Service between April and September 1937, then enlisted into the German Army on 4thNovember 1937 and spent his entire Army Service with Nebel (Smoke) troops until his discharge on 26thJuly 1945. Taking part in the takeover of the Sudetenland, he was to receive the Commemorative Medal for the 1stOctober on 12thMarch 1940, this being sent to his family as his frontline unit could not be ascertained. Having spent the winter on the frontline on the West Wall defences, he would have then taken part in the invasion of France and the low countries. Seeing service on the Eastern Front after the start of Operation Barbarossa, he would have taken part in actions at Grodno, Polozk, on the Nevel, at Velikiye Luki for which he was to receive the Iron Cross 2ndClass, subsequently at Vyazma and Gshatsk on the advance to Moscow. Having transferred to the southern part of the front, Koopmann was involved in the fighting in the Crimea in the early summer of 1942, before his unit moved to the north and saw action in the area around Leningrad, encompassing several attempts of the Red Army to relieve the siege of that city, before finally being pushed back from the city and through the Baltics in the spring and summer of 1944. It was during the fighting in the region that Koopmann was to be awarded the General Assault Badge on 26thMay 1943 as a result of his frontline project. Later on 15thFebruary 1944 as a Hauptmann in the III.70thWerfer Regiment he was to be awarded the Iron Cross 1stClass, most likely for an act of gallantry in the Russian offensive that began in January and pushed the Wehrmacht back from the outskirts of the city of Leningrad. Koopmann was most likely serving in a non-combat role by the time of his final award, a War Merit Cross 2ndClass with Swords which he was to receive on 1stSeptember 1944. He was to go on to be married on 12thJanuary 1945, presumably in a short break from the front, and finished the war fighting against the western allies, firstly on the Rhine, and finishing in southern Germany on the Danube, and then into southern Bavaria and the Alps. It is clear from his discharge in July 1945 that Koopmann survived the war to be taken prisoner by either the American, French or British Army. His early release may be indicative of his qualification in Agriculture that he had obtained during the war, as the occupying powers were in need of manpower and expertise to bring in that year’s harvest in the late summer and autumn.