On Saturday, October 8, 1938, at 2 p.m., units of the German armed forces entered Vimperk in the direction of Horní Vltavice. The following historical facts describe what preceded this moment..
Munich Agreement
The Munich Agreement was signed on September 29, 1938. Representatives of four countries - Neville Chamberlain (Great Britain), Edouard Daladier (France), Adolf Hitler (Germany) and Benito Mussolini (Italy) - agreed that Czechoslovakia must withdraw from the border with germany in Sudetenland by October 10. Representatives of the Czechoslovak party were present, but were not invited to the meeting itself. The Czechoslovak government, among other things, under pressure from France and Britain, finally accepted the Munich dictate.
Germany was thus ceded a territory with an area of 28,680 km, where there were a total of 3,751 municipalities, in which 3,653,292 inhabitants lived. Of these, 3,576,719 were Czechoslovak nationals, by nationality : 2,822,899 Germans, 738,502 Czechoslovaks, and 6,659 Jews.
As a result of this agreement, Czechoslovakia lost the system of border fortresses, which it had already begun to build in 1934. A general mobilization was announced in Czechoslovakia shortly before the signing of the Munich Agreement. It was announced by the head of the caretaker government, General Jan Syrový, who was appointed after the government of Milan Hodži resigned. Czechoslovakia managed to gather 1,500,000 troops within five days and was ready to defend itself.
Occupation of Sudetenland by German Nazis
October 1, 1938 became a black day for Czechoslovakia, when the German army entered Vimperk territory and began to occupy the Sudetenland. The occupation of the borderlands became a prelude to the seizure of the entire territory of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia, the creation of the protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the separation of Slovakia and Subcarpathian Rus from the common state.
The Sudetendeutschen Partei (SdP), led by the leader of the Sudeten Nazis, Konrád Henlein, with the help of the Freikorps units, already before the entry of the German army into the Sudetenland, began large-scale arrests of anti-Nazi-minded Czechoslovak Germans, especially among social democrats. Immediately after the occupation of the Sudetenland, the Germans banned all political parties except Henlein's Sudetendeutschen Partei. Many Czechs and all Jews were forced to leave the Sudetenland, it was - de facto - the first ethnic cleansing in this area in the 20th century. Even this could not satisfy Hitler's ambitions for lebensraum (expanding "living space" for Germans). It was clear in advance that the Nazi army would occupy the entire territory of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia, which happened later on March 15, 1939.
The occupation of the first zone begins
Saturday, October 1, 1938. At 2:00 p.m., the occupation of the first zone of the Czech Republic begins. When the German Army entered the borders, they were welcomed by the majority of Sudeten Germans as a liberator. In the same time, the Czechoslovak government also accepts Poland's ultimate demands.
Sunday, October 2, 1938 . A strong fight is taking place between the Czechoslovak security authorities and SdFK around Český Krumlov. The occupation of Těšín and other areas, including the Frýdlant and Šluknovské salients, is also underway.
The fight for Český Krumlov
The heaviest fighting from the beginning of October took place in Český Krumlov, through which the SOS units and incendiary patrols of Czechoslovak engineers retreated after the withdrawal of the border guards of the army. Already on the night of September 30, the convoy was ambushed here by the Henleins, while engineers belonging to one of the incendiary patrols were also captured. Then, when German forces attacked the district office building, the battle for the city in the truest sense of the word flared up. The defenders and employees of the district office were freed from the encirclement only by a concentrated attack by the gendarmerie emergency unit.
Already after midnight, three infantry platoons of the Czechoslovak Army arrived and occupied the city center, but later they were forced to withdraw again. When two SOS squads were then captured in the morning and another squad was forced to fight their way towards the line of light fortifications, the city found itself completely in German hands. On the evening of October 1, a strike group was formed in České Budějovice under the command of Captain Stejskal, consisting of engineers from the 23rd Engineer Company, two infantry platoons from the 9th Company of the 1st Infantry Regiment and a platoon of three light tanks of Lieutenant Vladimír Němeček, belonging to the 1st Tank Company VII . light tank battalion. These units, additionally supported by the armored train of Infantry Regiment 1, had the task of removing explosives from mined bridges and freeing prisoners from previous battles, as well as imprisoned Krumlov Czechs.
On October 2, Captain Stejskal's column passed through the suburbs of Český Krumlov to engage in fierce fighting with the insurgents at the Budějovická gate, which was barricaded, and also in the vicinity of the gate. In particular, the guns of three light tanks were crushed by the Henlein resistance, but eventually the promisingly developing attack was weakened by a senseless order from the reserve officers to withdraw the mounted infantry. Captain Stejskal, who was left with only tanks supported by engineers, was forced to give the order to retreat. At least partially, however, the task was fulfilled, because from all sides the Czech population flocked to the soldiers, who then left with the column in the direction of České Budějovice. As a result of the action, three engineers were wounded on the Czech side and the city was greatly scarred by the battle. On the same day, the captives were also released and the whole city began to depopulate. By October 8, when the city was occupied by the German army, the Czechoslovak state sovereignty was not restored in Český Krumlov.
Monday, October 3, 1938 . Hitler visits the Sudetenland for the first time. In the House of Commons, Duff Cooper explains in detail why he resigned as First Lord of the Admiralty. Chamberlain then justifies his action and emphasizes that he has nothing to be ashamed of. He further informs that the Czechoslovak government has asked the British government for a loan of 30 million poundsterling.
Tuesday, October 4, 1938. A new official government is elected, headed by General Jan Syrový. The newspaper reports that it is made up of soldiers and experts, with no politicians at all. Hitler makes another triumphant trip to the Sudetenland. In Těšín, the Polish army begins to occupy other regions and cities, for example Třinec or Jablunkov.
Wednesday, October 5, 1938. President Edvard Beneš resigns from his position. A major incident occurs south of Rimavská Sobota in Slovakia, when four companies of the Hungarian Honvéd undertake an organized raid on the Czechoslovak Republic. area. The international committee decides on the size of the fifth evacuation zone, which also includes a number of territories with a majority Czech population. Winston Churchill: “It's all over. Silent, sad, abandoned and broken, Czechoslovakia sinks into darkness. In any case, it had to pay tribute to its alliance with France, whose leadership and policies it had long been influenced by opportunists. The British people should know that the balance has been broken and that an ominous shadow has now fallen on Western democracy. It is only the first sip from the chalice that will be served to us year after year!”
Thursday, October 6, 1938 . According to the Žilina Agreement, the autonomy of Slovakia is declared. Among other things, Hitler visits Frýdlant in Bohemia, where he delivers a speech and also inspects several LO objects. The boundary of the 5th withdrawal zone is determined based on the nationality status according to the 1910 census.
Friday, October 7, 1938. Hitler's next visit to the Sudetenland, the 1st Slovak autonomous government headed by Jozef Tis is established in Slovakia. In the hinterland, for example near Poděbrady, Kolín, Kutná Hora and other cities, large numbers of refugees from the occupied territory are accumulating, of both Czech, German and Jewish nationality. None of them wants to voluntarily return to their former places of residence, as they are threatened with persecution there.
Saturday, October 8, 1938. The occupation of the ceded territory by the German and Polish armies continues, several serious incidents occur during the withdrawal of SOS units and on the demarcation line, when these units are attacked by the Sudeten German Freikorps despite the development of the political situation.
Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14230&hilit=otto+hartmann&start=10680
https://www.kohoutikriz.org/autor.html?id=anony17&t=p
https://zakrasnejsivimperk.cz/?p=77903
Date of Birth: 21.03.1913 - Alsenz, Bayern (German Empire)
Date of Death: 29.10.1974 - Gauting, Bayern (West Germany)
Promotions:
00.00.1933 Fähnrich
01.07.1938 Oberleutnant
01.07.1943 Major (9)
10.03.1945 Oberstleutnant (mit RDA vom 01.02.1945)
Career:
00.00.1940 Chef 3.Kompanie / Pionier-Bataillon 5
00.00.194_ Pionier-Bataillon 369 (Croatien)
27.05.1944 Führer Jäger-Regiment 75
20.08.1944 Führer Jäger-Regiment 56
11.11.1944 Führer Grenadier-Regiment 1077
24.02.1945 Führerreserve OKH
21.03.1945 Panzer-Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon 5
00.00.195_ Joined the postwar Bundeswehr
31.03.1971 Retired as an Oberst der Bundeswehr
Awards and Decorations:
00.00.1935 Ehrensäbel
15.07.1937 Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht IV.Klasse (4 Jahre)
01.12.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
27.05.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
14.06.1940 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
24.10.1940 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen
01.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
15.01.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (for the wound received on 14.01.1943)
25.03.1943 Željezni trolist (Croatian Military Order of the Iron Trefoil), 3rd Class
11.05.1944 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
07.09.1944 Panzervernichtungsabzeichen in Silber
15.09.1944 Nahkampfspange in Bronze
03.10.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber (for the wound received on 22.08.1944)
07.10.1944 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS (According to the Karteikarte, awarded on 29.09.1944)
18.11.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (for the wound received on 21.10.1944)
09.02.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Major and Führer Grenadier-Regiment 1077 / 542.Volksgrenadier-Division
13.02.1945 Nahkampfspange in Silber
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After attending high school and graduating with a high school diploma, Walter Kopp began studying engineering at the University of Munich in 1932. In the same year, however, he decided to pursue a military career and joined the engineer corps or the pioneers of the Reichswehr.
During the Russian campaign, he distinguished himself as a company commander of the pioneers. Later, as a major and commander of the 5th Pioneer Battalion (5th Infantry Division), Kopp distinguished himself particularly during the heavy defensive and retreat battles in the summer of 1944. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold on May 11, 1944, was named in the German Army's Honor Sheet and was awarded the Honor Sheet Clasp on October 17, 1944. Kopp then led the Volksgrenadier Regiment 1077 (542nd Volksgrenadier Division) and was awarded the Knight's Cross on February 9, 1945.
At the end of the war, Kopp was taken prisoner by the US and released in June 1945.
After his release, he returned home and took over the management of the family business. He did this very successfully and became wealthy.
At the end of 1948, the headquarters of the CIA's "Office of Special Operations" (OSO) in the Federal Republic of Germany began the first stay-behind programs. The KIBITZ and VULTURE projects were run from the OSO headquarters in Karlsruhe to provide agents and the radio equipment they needed for this purpose. One of the agents recruited for KIBITZ was Walter Kopp (code name "KIBITZ 15"). In 1950, Kopp wrote to High Commissioner John Jay McCloy because, as a patriot and anti-communist, he no longer wanted to tolerate the communist activities in the Palatinate (KPD and the armed left wing of the SPD), nor the influence of the Soviet Union on post-war politics. The group around Kopp feared a Russian invasion and wanted to make themselves available to the US in the event of a national defense, including as partisans.
He brought his own network of agents into the program, which comprised around 60 people. Kopp, who initially received 1,000 DM in monthly expenses plus travel expenses and additional food expenses, saw himself as an independent freelance employee and partner, not as an "agent of a foreign occupying power" who stubbornly defended his men against the US attacks. This network consisted essentially of former Wehrmacht officers; the CIA leadership in Washington, which only wanted vassals and not "patriotic employees", finally dissolved the network in the spring of 1953 against the resistance of the German CIA section.
The CIA documents on Kopp were released in 2005 and show that as late as April 1953 the German CIA section was still trying to pass on Chief Agent (main agent) Kopp as an informant to another secret service or another CIA section. His commanding officer described him as "powerful, dynamic and energetic", he was a "typical German", Kopp was "nationalistic, educated, a tireless worker, a strong leader, albeit with a tendency towards daring and recklessness" ("Rashness"), which was, however, "balanced out by the prudence of his adjutant". The Americans, who neither know nor understand the German concept of honor "loyalty for loyalty", were annoyed that Kopp described his men as "good, honorable Germans" and was not prepared to distrust them or question them. Kopp and the CIA finally parted ways "extremely amicably" in May 1953.
In mid- or late 1953, Kopp was transferred to the "Blank" office, then joined the newly founded Bundeswehr. He retired as a colonel on March 31, 1971.
In the 1960s, Kopp was, among other things, the liaison officer of the military district command in Munich to the political parties. As such, in 1968 he confirmed the statement of NPD leader Adolf von Thadden
"I estimate the number of members of our party in the Bundeswehr to be around 1,500. Half are non-commissioned officers, around 250 are officers."
Walter Kopp did not think von Thadden's estimate was exaggerated to Spiegel:
"There is increasing interest in the NPD's slogans in the young officer corps."
Source :
Agustin Vazquez photo collection
https://www.alamy.com/the-first-military-officers-are-being-introduced-to-the-public-by-lieutenant-colonel-walter-kopp-ron-a-press-conference-in-munich-bavaria-germany-on-26-january-1956-usage-worldwide-image243758289.html?imageid=17F49B68-3757-46ED-BAE7-FF09749A05D7&p=173981&pn=1&searchId=6eb46a111f6eb74f6c4ca0344b541ce8&searchtype=0
https://www.andreas-thies.de/katalog/A81.html
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Kopp,_Walter_(1913)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Kopp
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=168068&hilit=walter+kopp
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/the-first-military-officers-are-being-introduced-to-the-news-photo/1137802917
https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/agnse/wiki-Kopp.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/10266/Kopp-Walter-WH-GrenRgt-1077.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20110105151154fw_/http://ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.de/Infanterie/K/Kopp-Walter.htm
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/-1957-medals-orders-and-decorations/646561-vets-wearing-their-57ers?p=7353270#post7353270
Auctioned by Andreas Thies :
Award and document grouping of the Knight's Cross recipient Major Walter Kopp, Commander Grenadier Regiment 1077, 542nd Volksgrenadier-Division.
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded on 9 February 1945 to Major Walter Kopp, Commander Gren. Rgt.1077, 542. Volksgrenadier-Division.
Iron core with silver frame. On the reverse below the eyelet the maker's mark in the form of the "lazy 2" of the firm C.E Juncker, Berlin as well as the silver mark "800". The ring also with silver mark "800". On original neck ribbon section with sewn press studs.
The black lacquer with slight traces of corrosion and wear.
In beautiful original case of issue made of black imitation leather. Hinge and press stud magnetic. Black velvet inlay and white imitation silk lining on the inside.
Comes with an official duplicate of the preliminary award certificate issued by the Heerespersonalamt. With service seal and original signature of the officer on duty (originally signed by Lieutenant General Maisel).
Extremely rare awarded and worn original Knight's Cross of the last type of the Juncker production. The piece shows authentic traces of wear, especially on the tips of the arms of the cross and the beading.
Knight's crosses of the type with the "lazy 2" occur almost exclusively in unworn, i.e. unissued condition. Only very few examples are known to have actually been awarded and worn, and are of the greatest rarity especially in the context of a grouping of awards to the same recipient.
Rare opportunity to acquire an issued and worn original example with solid recipient's provenance.
This and the following lot numbers from Major Kopp's estate will first be auctioned individually (subject to a possible total bid for the entire group), after which there is the possibility of submitting a total bid on all lot numbers of the group to Major Kopp. If no total bid is made that exceeds the sum of the individual bids by at least 10%, these remain valid. Otherwise the highest bidder for the entire group will win the items.
Walter Kopp (1913 in Alsenz - 1974 in Gauting) was a lieutenant colonel in the Wehrmacht:
1933: Ensign. 1 July 1938: First Lieutenant. 1 July 1943: Major.
10 March 1945: Lieutenant Colonel with RDA from 1 February 1945.
1940: Chief, 3rd / Pioneer Battalion 5
27 May 1944: Leader Jg.Rgt. 75.
20. 08.1944: Führer Jg.Rgt. 56.
11 Nov. 1944: mdFb Gren.Rgt. 1077, 542nd Volksgrenadier-Division
24.02. 1945: Führer-Reserve OKH.
21.03. 1945: Mldg.Pz.Pi.Ers.Btl. 5.
Walter Kopp (1913 in Alsenz – 1974 in Gauting was a lieutenant colonel in the Wehrmacht in Nazi Germany. After the Nazi defeat in 1945, he became the chief of one stay-behind network in West Germany, code-named KIBITZ-15. The British and US intelligence services had set up clandestine anti-communist organisations supposed to "stay-behind" in case of a Soviet invasion. Walter Kopp was described by his own North-American handlers as an "unreconstructed Nazi," and the KIBITZ-15 network as "a group with Nazi tendencies" in CIA documents released in June 2006.
In May 1945 Kopp wrote a letter to High Commissioner McCloy stating that he and a group of his friends were concerned over what might happen in case of a Russian invasion of Germany and wished to place themselves at the disposal of the Americans. Walter Kopp was later made chief agent of the KIBITZ stay-behind network.
In May 1953 Kopp's contract with the CIA was terminated "on the friendliest terms".
In 1968 he was Liaison officer of the Military District Command in Munich to the political parties.
A copy of his published CIA file will be given to the buyer of this lot.
15.000,00 €
Source :
https://www.andreas-thies.de/katalog/A81.html