Groppe, Theodor, 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 Generalmajor, under Generalfeldmarschall der Infanterie, Werner von Blomberg
. Meanwhile Generalleutnant, 01-11-1939, he is commander of the 214th Infantry Division
with the outbreak of World War II. His successor was Generalleutnant der Infanterie, Max Horn,
Horn would die at the old age of 92, on 02-11-1992, in Nuremburg. When Groppe heard of the excesses against Jews in his region, he ordered the whole 1st Army under Generaloberst der Infanterie, Johannes Blaskowitz,
to stop this, even when armed forces were necessary. He also protested when Heinrich 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 der Artillerie, OB Army Group Noord, Ritter Wilhem von 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 was ordered on 27-04-1945.

















Death and burial of Groppe, Theodor.





