Ritterkreuzträger: Grouping of Walter Kopp

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 €