Date of birth:

October 10th, 1921 (Groß Bösitz/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

June 23rd, 1987 (Baden-Baden/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:
01.08.1940 Gefreiter
15.12.1940 Unteroffizier
01.04.1941 Feldwebel
01.04.1941 Fahnenjunker
01.04.1941 Leutnant (1349)
01.03.1943 Oberleutnant (39)
01.11.1944 Rittmeister - RDA 01.11.1944 (146)

Career:
01.12.1939 Schütze, Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 29
09.06.1940 Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 188
13.06.1940 Infanterie-Regiment 188
15.01.1941 Offizier-Anwärter-Lehrgang
01.05.1941 II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 196
15.05.1941 Zugführer
02.08.1941 Ordonnanz-Offizier und Adjutant
23.09.1941 Kompanieführer
07.11.1941 Adjutant
17.09.1942 WIA (Granatsplitter li. Unterarm)
19.09.1942 WIA (Granatsplitter Gesicht)
15.10.1942 Grenadier-Regiment 196
25.11.1942 Schwadronsführer, Ski-Bataillon 168
19.01.1943 WIA (Granatsplitter li. Unterschenkel)
16.03.1943 Radfahr-Abteilung 168
22.04.1943 Aufklärungs-Abteilung 168
05.07.1943 WIA (Handgranatsplitter Gesicht)
19.08.1943 Schwadronschef
06.09.1943 WIA (Granatsplitter re. Unterarm)
09.09.1943-15.11.1943 Abteilungsführer
09.09.1943 WIA (Granatsplitter li. Unterschenkel)
21.10.1943 Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A) 68
16.11.1943 Schwadronschef
14.06.1944 Karpathen-Brigade
23.06.1944 Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A) 68
01.07.1944 Führerreserve OKH (III)
05.11.1944 292. Infanterie-Division
10.11.1944 7. Infanterie-Division
17.11.1944 Aufklärungs- und Kavallerieschule Bromberg
24.11.1944 Führer, Aufklärungs-Lehr-Abteilung, 1. Infanterie-Division
15.01.1945 Kommandeur, Aufklärungs-Lehr-Abteilung
00.01.1945 Kommandeur, I. Bataillon, Radfahr-Jäger-Bataillon 10, 10. Radfahr-Jäger-Brigade

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 196, 68. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

June 27th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 196, 68. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

September 11th, 1941

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 196, 68. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

October 27th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 196, 68. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

July 21st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

II. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment 196, 68. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

September 29th, 1942

WIA 17.09.1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Schwadronsführer, Ski-Bataillon 168, 68. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

January 1943

WIA 17.09.1942 + 19.09.1942 + 19.01.1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer, 3. Schwadron, Radfahr-Abteilung 168, 68. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

April 21st, 1943

Award 363/20.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Abteilungsführer, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 168, 68. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

September 17th, 1943

2097th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Abteilungsführer, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 168, 68. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 25th, 1943

WIA 17.09.1942 + 19.09.1942 + 19.01.1943 + 05.07.1943 + 06.09.1943 + 09.09.1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Abteilungsführer, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 168, 68. Infanterie-Division, Heer

Awarded on:

October 25th, 1943

other sources give 01.12.1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Führer, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 168, 68. Infanterie-Division, XXXXII. Armee-Korps, 4. Panzer-Armee, Heeresgruppe Süd

Awarded on:

December 19th, 1943

In late 1943 the Soviets thrust across the Dnieper north of Kiev. In this context the a Kampfgruppe based on the Aufklärungs-Abteilung 168, led by Oberleutnant Konopacki, was ordered to defend the village of R. Here it came under attack by a much superior foe and had every reason to retreat. However Oberleutnant Konopacki knew that reinforcements were on the way, and in order to give them the best chance he decided to grimly hold on, accepting that that implied becoming encircled.

Despite their best efforts, the Soviets could not overrun the village and lost 10 tanks destroyed (some in close combat). When the ammunition had finally almost run out, Konopacki and his troops broke out of the Soviet encirclement. The newly arrived reinforcements were then able to finally bring the hostile advance to a standstill for good. For this action Konopacki would receive the Knight’s Cross.

2450th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)

Unit:

Schwadronschef, Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A) 68, 68. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

December 21st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Rittmeister

Unit:

Kommandeur, Aufklärungs-Lehr-Abteilung, 1. Infanterie-Division

Awarded on:

March 17th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Rittmeister

Unit:

Kommandeur, 1. Aufklärungs-Lehr-Abteilung, 10. Radfahr-Jäger-Brigade, XXVI. Armee-Korps, 4. Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord

Awarded on:

March 23rd, 1945

On the 26.01.1945 Rittmeister Konopacki personally received a mission from the commander of Heeresgruppe Nord, Generaloberst Reinhardt, at the Wormditt airfield. With his Aufklärungs-Lehr-Abteilung he was to form the spearhead for the attempted breakout of the 4. Armee from the Heilsberg triangle, located south of Braunsberg. At 22:00 on that day Konopacki and his men began their breakthrough against the 40 km wide Soviet cordon.

After getting around 15 km behind the opposing frontline they were cut off from the follow-up German units. However over the course of four heavy days of fighting Konopacki and his Kampfgruppe were able to complete the journey on their own and reach Elbing. A notable success came on the second day of the breakthrough, when Konopacki and his Abteilung were able to annihilate the staff of a Soviet tank corps/army at the southern edge of Mühlhausen. The Soviet commander and 35 officers of his staff were killed after putting up a bitter defense.

For successfully breaking out of the trap against the odds, Konopacki would receive the Oakleaves.

797th Award.

• Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer
• Photo 2:
• - BERGER, F, Ritterkreuzträger mit Nahkampfspange in Gold, Berger, Florian, Wien, 2004.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
  - Ehrenliste DKiG.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945
  - Die Ritterkreuztraeger der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS