SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Martin Tappe

[grip3846]

Martin Tappe was awarded the Knights Cross on 11th Dec 1944.He was Commander of the 4th SS-Polizei.Panzer Grenadier Div.
He survived the War.
He was a very accomplished horseman,here are his riding boots,stamped inside with the Unit stamp,along with some photos.Note the killer crusher.
I must mention the great work done by Ross J. Kelbaugh in his patient and time consuming research that put a face to the boots.Thanks Ross.
I must also thank Markus Bertram for letting me purchase the boots,he aquired them from Herr Tappes Son.
Hope you enjoy.Ivan.

[grip3846]

boots

Boots

[grip3846]

Unit Stamp

Unit Stamp

[grip3846]

Tappe

Tappe

[grip3846]

Tappe

Fantastic picture,not a man to be messed with!

[Mark C. Yerger]

Nice to have something belonging to a Knight's Cross holders, especially Waffen-SS.

But Tappe was never the commander of the Polizei Division. He was only a Sturmbannführer when recommended for the Knight's Cross by Standartenführer Walter Harzer on February 10, 1945 (later approved awarded on March 28, 1945).

Harzer was the divisional commander and remained so to the end of the war. Tappe commanded SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 8, a component of the 4.SS-Polizei-Panzer-Grenadier-Division.

Tappe's elaborate biography is in a soon to come volume of "German Cross in Gold Holders of the SS and Police." He won that award on March 24, 1945, as a result of an earlier request submitted by eventual Swords winner Helmut Dörner. I can assure you the dates I've given for both awards are correct. They are initialed on the Vorschlagsliste covers by Kment, Himmler's decorations officer. I have no idea where a date of December 11, 1944, is supposed to have come from.

Below one of several photos that will be with his biography in the above mentioned volume.

[Mark C. Yerger]

Vorschlag cover for Tappe's Knight's Cross, signed by Walter Harzer and indicating his position as divisional commander, with the official awarded date confirmation written by Kment as given in my previous post.

[grip3846]

Thanks

Thank you so much for the informaton Mark,I appreciate it so much.
Ivan.

[Mark C. Yerger]

Thank you so much for the informaton Mark,I appreciate it so much.
Ivan.

You're very welcome. Just sent you a PM with further help.

[Ilse]

Ss

Ivan, what exactly did Kelbaugh do research wise for you? Because if he told you that Martin Tappe was the commander of the 4th SS, you should get your money back.

[Mark C. Yerger]

I think the "research" provided was probaly just charging for Personalakte documents with nothing translated, explained, or anything else. Not really research, just charging for document copies in the archives. "research" seems to be a word used a bit more liberally than it should be by some.

[Robert T.]

Ivan, what exactly did Kelbaugh do research wise for you? Because if he told you that Martin Tappe was the commander of the 4th SS, you should get your money back.

Do research ??? You can easily find all this basic information in "Their Honor was loyalty!" by Jost W. Schneider on page 412 and on the web; http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/SS...tubaf_Q-T.html

TAPPE, Martin (RK; DKiG)
(1910 - 1969)
SS-Obersturmbannführer und Oberstleutnant der Schutzpolizei:
Born: 10.01.1910 in Löhne/Westfalen.
Died: 19.04.1969 in Wuppertal-Barmen.
NSDAP-Nr.: /SS-Nr.:
Promotions:
SS-OStubaf.: ;
Assignments:
Decorations & Awards:
Ritterkreuz des E.K.: 28.03.1945 as SS-Stubaf.u.Major d. Schupo, Kdr. II./SS-Pol.Pz.Gren.Rgt. 8/4.SS-Pol.Pz.Gren.Div./VII.Pz.Korps/2.AOK/Heeresgruppe Nord, Eastern Front;
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold: 24.03.1945;
1939 EK I: 3.10.1941; 1939 EK II: 20.8.1941;


_____________
Robert

[grip3846]

"Research"

Thanks for the input.What you posted I have in my dossier,a straight copy.I appreciate all the help,I was "green"when the research was requested.I posted this thread to share the boots and the pictures.
I have gained a lot of knowledge since the post,thank you Mark.
Regards,Ivan.

[Mark C. Yerger]

Do research ??? You can easily find all this basic information in "Their Honor was loyalty!" by Jost W. Schneider on page 412 and on the web; http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/SS...tubaf_Q-T.html

TAPPE, Martin (RK; DKiG)
(1910 - 1969)
SS-Obersturmbannführer und Oberstleutnant der Schutzpolizei:
Born: 10.01.1910 in Löhne/Westfalen.
Died: 19.04.1969 in Wuppertal-Barmen.
NSDAP-Nr.: /SS-Nr.:
Promotions:
SS-OStubaf.: ;
Assignments:
Decorations & Awards:
Ritterkreuz des E.K.: 28.03.1945 as SS-Stubaf.u.Major d. Schupo, Kdr. II./SS-Pol.Pz.Gren.Rgt. 8/4.SS-Pol.Pz.Gren.Div./VII.Pz.Korps/2.AOK/Heeresgruppe Nord, Eastern Front;
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold: 24.03.1945;
1939 EK I: 3.10.1941; 1939 EK II: 20.8.1941;


_____________
Robert

Most assume to get considerably more than base data available from a superficial book when paying for research. Book quoted is far out of date regards any detail level of any type compared to texts written now, and item owner was simply looking for that newer level of complete from the service used.

[Dr. Strangelove]

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Now that is the kind of Cat I would trust with my back when the going get's rough.