Date of birth:

March 27th, 1911 (Tirschtiefel/Brandenburg, Germany)

Date of death:

January 29th, 1997 (Darmstadt/Hesse, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

1934: RAD - Oberarbeitsführer
1939: Offizier-Anwärter in the Heer
1939-1940: Leutnant der Reserve and Zugführer, Infanterie Regiment 8, 3. Infanterie Division - campaigns in Poland, Belgium and France
Summer 1941: Leutnant d.R., fightings in Luga, Demjansk, Dünaburg, Smolensk, Roslawl and near Moscow
End 1941: WIA - fightings in the Rshew region then transferred to the Stabs-Pionierzug, Infanterie Regiment 'Grossdeutschland'
Beginning 1942: Leutnant d.R. and Chef Stabs-Pionierzug - Infanterie Regiment „Großdeutschland"
Fightings in the Rshew bridgehead and near Voronej, 2 tanks destroyed single-handedly and WIA 2 times
„Zug Konopka" builded and defended a bridgehead near Radsorskaja on the Don River
01.09.1942: promoted to Oberleutnant der Reserve
12.1942: Oberleutnant d.R. and Chef 5./ Inf.Reg. 'Grossdeutschland' - winter combat near Voronej and north-west of the Stalingrad pocket - WIA for the 4th time
12.1942-07.1943: instructor in diverse infanterie and anti-tanks schools and courses
07.1943: Oberleutnant d.R. and Führer II./ Inf.Reg. 'Grossdeutschland' - Eastern Front: Orel, 'Yellow Hill' near Alissowa, severely WIA and evacuated to the Lazarett where he was awarded the RK
25.06.1943: Oberleutnant d.R. and Führer II./ IR 'GD' awarded as 1st soldier the Close Combat Clasp in Gold
01.11.1943: promoted to Hauptmann der Reserve
11.1943: WIA for the 9th time and sent to the rear
End 1943-03.1945: instructor in diverse courses and infanterie schools
01.04.1944: promoted to Major der Reserve
03.-05.1945: Major d.R. and Kdr Grenadierregiment 1 - Reichsarbeits-Infanteriedivision „Friedrich-Ludwig Jahn"
Fightings near Berlin, in the Halbe pocket and crossed the Elbe River to reach US troops
04.1945: Arbeitsführer-Major der Reserve and Führer Grenadier Regiment 'Friedrich Ludwig Jahn' 1 - RAD-DIV. "F.L. JAHN"

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Zugführer, Infanterie-Regiment 8, 3. Infanterie Division

Awarded on:

January 18th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Zugführer, Infanterie-Regiment 8, 3. Infanterie Division (mot.)

Awarded on:

July 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Zugführer, Infanterie-Regiment 8, 3. Infanterie Division (mot.)

Awarded on:

July 25th, 1941

Silver version.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Zugführer, Infanterie-Regiment 8, 3. Infanterie Division (mot.)

Awarded on:

February 23rd, 1942

WIA 00.12.1941 + 00.02.1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Stabs-Pionierzug, Infanterie-Regiment „Großdeutschland“

Awarded on:

July 28th, 1942

WIA 00.12.1941 + 00.02.1942 + 00.07.1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Stabs-Pionierzug, Infanterie-Regiment „Großdeutschland“

Awarded on:

September 1st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Stabs-Pionierzug, Infanterie-Regiment „Großdeutschland“

Awarded on:

September 5th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Stabs-Pionierzug, Infanterie-Regiment „Großdeutschland“

Awarded on:

September 22nd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Stabs-Pionierzug, Infanterie-Regiment „Großdeutschland“

Awarded on:

September 23rd, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve (2nd Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Stabskompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 1 "Großdeutschland", Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) "Großdeutschland", Heer

Awarded on:

October 9th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Awarded on:

October 12th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"

Awarded on:

June 25th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"

Awarded on:

July 18th, 1943

WIA 00.11.1941 + 00.02.1942 + 00.07.1942 + 00.12.1942 + 00.07.1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant der Reserve (1st Lieutenant of Reserves)

Unit:

Führer, II. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"

Awarded on:

August 29th, 1943

Following the battle of Kursk, the ‘Großdeutschland’ Panzergrenadier-Division was deployed to the area around Orel to counter the Soviet Operation Kutuzov. During this time Oberleutnant Konopka, commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment GD, was able to storm the heavily fortified “Yellow Hill” (near Allisowa) with his Bataillon. Several hostile guns were captured in the process. The next day, taking advantage of the favourable situation, Konopka launched a new attack on his own initiative and was able to achieve some decisive territorial gains. From these newly conquered positions the whole Grenadier-Regiment GD was able to launch a successful major attack on the following day.

During the course of this fighting Konopka would be badly wounded. But his successes were deemed worthy enough to merit him the Knight’s Cross.

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - TEGETHOFF, RALPH, Die Ritterkreuzträger des Panzerkorps Großdeutschland und seiner Schwesterverbände, DS- Vlg. o.J., Riesa, 1998.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Andrew Straube via www.Death-Cards.com
  - Axis Biographical Research
  - Die Ritterkreuztraeger der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS
  - WaffenHQ.de
  - Dörr M., Die träger der Nahkampfspange in Gold, Heer- Luftwaffe- Waffen-SS 1943-1945, Biblio Verlag Bisendorf, 2006.