Günther Krappe

Günther Ernst Karl Krappe was a German officer in the Second World War. He commanded the 61st Infantry Division. On March 5, 1945, in the village of Wollchow near Szczecin, Krappe was captured by soldiers of the 10th Polish Infantry Regiment from the 4th Infantry Division. He remained in captivity until March 1, 1949.

Career

Entered Army Service

Fahnenjunker in the 34th Fusilier-Regiment

Platoon & Company Leader

Transferred into the 4th Reichswehr-Infantry-Regiment

Adjutant of II. Battalion of the 4th Infantry-Regiment

Company-Chief in the 4th Infantry-Regiment

Chief Intelligence Officer in the Staff of the 2nd Division

Commander of II. Battalion of the 59th Infantry-Regiment

Commander of III. Battalion of the 73rd Infantry-Regiment

Commander of the 1st Supplemental-Regiment, Danzig

Military-Attaché in Budapest

Military-Attaché in Madrid

Führer-Reserve OKH

Division-Leader-Course, Panzer Troop School Wünsdorf

Delegated with the Leadership of the 61st Infantry Division

Commander of the 61st Infantry-Division

Führer-Reserve OKH

3rd Course for Commanding Generals

Commander of the Oder-Korps/Korps "Oder"

Delegated with the Leadership of X. Waffen SS-Corps der SS

In Soviet captivity

Released

Promotions

25 September 1912 Fahnenjunker
27 January 1913 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
20 May 1913 Fähnrich
22 March 1914 Leutnant with Patent from 23 March 1912
20 May 1917 Oberleutnant
1 February 1925 Hauptmann
* 1 April 1931 re-designated Rittmeister
* 1 May 1933 re-designated Hauptmann
1 April 1934 Major
2 August 1936 Oberstleutnant with effect from 1 August 1936
31 March 1939 Oberst with effect and Rank Seniority from 1 April 1939
16 October 1942 Generalmajor with effect and RDA from 1 November 1942
1 October 1943 Generalleutnant

Awards and decorations

Iron Cross, 2nd and 1st Class
* 2nd Class on 25 October 1914
* 1st Class on 30 June 1917
War Merit Cross, 2nd Class on 26 February 1918
Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords on 30 October 1934
Hungarian World War Commemorative Medal with Swords and Helmet on 25 April 1936
Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th to 1st Class
* 2nd Class on 2 October 1936
* 1st Class on 30 September 1937
Repetition Clasp 1939 to the Iron Cross 1914, 2nd and 1st Class
* 2nd Class on 16 September 1939
* 1st Class on 5 October 1939
Danzig Cross, 1st Class
War Merit Cross (1939), 2nd Class with Swords on 30 January 1943
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 April 1944 as Generalleutnant and Commander of the 61st Infantry Division.