robert39

Dave, A Mecklenburg-S. cross on the photo would make sense, all within the same 17th division . GRAND DUCHY OF M-S You guys are amazing _____________ Robert

David, I should have done this before... after doing close-ups of the crosses and facial features , I can verify that the photo was not Erwin's but most certainly of his third oldest brother. Looks like that he has two ribbons at a tunic button hole, and I hope that you have an idea about the two crosses. [attachmentid=59884] Thank you for your help, ____________ Robert

To Rick and Chris, THANK YOU very much for your comments , It will make the E.K. grouping that much more interesting. Cheers ____________ Robert

Second oldest boy from the Koopmann family. [attachmentid=59867]

MOTHER AND SON (ERWIN), dated 1927 [attachmentid=59865]

Rick, E.K. had three older brothers, one was killed in action in 1914. I have a photo of the second oldest in full combat gear for a studio shot . NOTHING would please me more to know that the photo posted is of the third brother, I had nothing on his military life. It would be dated prior to oct. 1924 (the father's death ), everything would make much more sense. Erwin does have three ww1 medals besides his baltic cross , I figured that I was missing a first class FA cross . I will post two more pics. __________ Robert

David, Erwin ....??? I do not really wish to bring up the TR stuff in this Imperial forum but there you go ,see this link ; Erwin Koopmann I still have a LOT to learn about this soldier (and his family),and you will see why on my next post. Regards, _________ Robert

David, I figured that I had all of the important pages from the Wehrpass kept in a file in my computer , but today I had another look at the book and guess what.... _____________ Robert [attachmentid=59862]

Young Erwin with his parents, see the way he wears his crosses on his tunic ( just like his hero W. CASPARI) Thanks again _____________ Robert [attachmentid=59582]

W. CASPARI (photo from the grouping) [attachmentid=59581]

Dave and David !!! I can't thank you enough for the outstanding info. that you have posted. The young soldier was barely 18 years old at the time,( there are no details of his 1918 service on page 12 ). As you can see on the Wehrpass ,there is a Kurland entry.He was also given the baltic cross for his service with the Freikorps in 1919. In his "grouping", there was the photo of a PLM winner ( WALTER CASPARI ,IR. 75 and later formed "FREIKORPS CASPARI" FROM IR.75 ) I was quite certain that he was related in some way to the young man . I now know for sure that he was his commander. Dave has provided me with the key to the puzzle . Here are some interesting links. FREIKORPS CASPARI axis history Cheers _________________ Robert

Hello, I have a Wehrpass that has some WW1 battles listed (....Aisne,Champagne and Argonne ). The soldier was born in Oldenburg and was awarded the FA cross and the Bremen cross. He might have possibly served with the Infanterie-Regiment Bremen Nr.75 or the Oldenburg Infanterie-Regiment Nr.91.... Can it be possible to associate the locations listed on the Wehrpass with one of those two Regiments ? Thanks in advance for your help. ___________ Robert [attachmentid=59380]

With 72 cm ribbon....Robert [attachmentid=45751]

Dan, Sorry, but I got a little bit ahead of myself on this thread ,I wanted to post only one photo and..... I intend to present the whole grouping in the collectors showcase forum later this summer. I want to do this properly and in chronological order. It was acquired from Erwin's daughter Ingeborg(she had moved to Canada with it). Regards, _______________ Robert

WEHRPASS ENTRY. (HE was listed on the"HONOR ROLL OF GERMAN ARMY " 3 months before the KC, but both entries were made at the same time in MAJOR KOOPMANN's wehrpass) [attachmentid=45013]

The FUHRER's headquarter December 21,(1943) " The FUHRER confered the knightscross to MAJOR ERWIN KOOPMANN,commander of a grenadier regiment.... He was responsible for the failure of a break-through of the enemy south-east of KIEV.When the Soviets broke with strong forces into the german lines , he threw himself againts them with only a few of his Hamburg grenadiers.He destroyed several broken through forces in a counter attack and repulsed all further mass attacks of the Bolshevics" [attachmentid=45003]

Rich, don't you read the newspapers? It's on the front page!!!!! [attachmentid=45001]

Kjell, REF. ; Dietrich Maerz's die flaw article (Wehrmacht-Awards.com) S&L , A-type, micro "800", with die flaw located at the outside of beading curve between the 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock arm. I am sure that D.Maerz is well known among members of this forum for his outstanding research. ______________ Robert

Thank you everybody for your comments, I just figured that all the EK's on this forum needed a big RK brother. Regards, ________________ Robert [attachmentid=44879]

" Like the Excalibur sword waiting for its king,this cross of merit will never see the worthy knight again. But it will stand as a testament of his courage."__________Robert

Many thanks to stogieman and Joe for your kind help. ______________ Robert

BACK[attachmentid=44722]

Hello, Please have a look at this medal,(it is part of a ww1/ww2 grouping). It is magnetic and has same paint finish than a FA cross or EK2. Could it be a commemorative medallion or related to an award? THANK YOU, Robert

My previous reply should have read A.HITLER..... THANK YOU , Robert

Hello, I am sorry to revive an old topic, but Gordon's HONOR ROLL document shows a date of september 1943, since the clasp itself was not instituded before the end of january 1944,it is not really a "clasp'"award document. I do not believe that it was hand signed by H.HITLER . The same signature is found on my example, and it is printed. Robert [attachmentid=43803]