Groppe Theodor

Theodor Groppe, born 16-08-1882 in Trier, joined the Army on 25-04-1900, age 17, as a Fahnenjunker in the 2nd Lothringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 131. He is in the fields of the first war as a Hauptman in his Regiment and awarded with both the Iron Crosses. Groppe is wounded in 1915 and assigned to the General Staff and is wounded again in 1918 and received the Pour le Merité decoration. He is allowed in the new Reichswehr and on 31-01-1933 promoted to Major General, under General von Blomberg (see Blomberg). Meanwhile Lieutenant General, 01-11-1939, he is commander of the 214th Infantry Division with the outbreak of World War II. When he heard of the excesses against Jews in his region, he ordered the whole 1st Army, to stop this, even when armed forces were necessary. He also protested when Himmler (see Himmler) admonished the SS members to propagate themselves without marriage agreements.

Because of these protests he looses his command and lands in the infamous Führer Reserve. He is supported by Generaloberst Ritter von Leeb (see Leeb) but they can’t change Himmler’s decision. He is retired from the Army, political unreliable, and looses also his rank and the rights of wearing a uniform anymore in the spring of 1942. He looses his retirement compensation too and pushed out from the community. Trailed by the Gestapo on 21-07-1944, for cowardice and resistance, he is condemned to death and transferred to the Fortress Küstrin.  On 26-04-1945 he escaped with the help of Major Leussing from the fortress, as his execution   He was released from all accusations by the Bundesministry and got all the rights of a Lieutenant General in 1952. Retiring in Trier, he at the very old age of 90 died, on 28-04-1973 and is buried with his wife Irma, born Schwarz, who died at the very old age 99, on 22-05-2001, on the Hauptfriedhof of Trier.