SS-Schutze erich zipprich
awards: |
promotions: |
SS-Schutze: 17. Okt. 1938
SS-Oberschutze: 22. Sep. 1939 SS-Schutze: 4. Feb. 1940 |
Erich Zipprich was born in Holzkirchen on April 17, 1918. He came from a middle class family, and his father was a carpenter, and he learned the trade from his father. However, he always longed to leave his village of Holzkirchen and see the world. When he saw a local rally in Munich, he saw his ticket to see the world. Erich, along with several friends from his hometown enlisted in the SS.
He was assigned to SS-Totenkopfstandarten 1. 'Oberbayern', stationed in Dachau. He served in the camp system, for several months before participating in the invasion of Poland. Just prior to the invasion of Poland he was promoted to SS-Oberschutze.
Following the campaign in Poland, he was part of the cadre that formed SS-Division "Totenkopf". He enjoyed the tough training, and began working on a machine gun team, operating a ZB-26. For a year the new division trained every day to prove to the Heer and to it self that it was an effective fighting unit.
Erich was doing well in the division and was being looked at for a possible Truppenfuhrer position, however his Kompaniefuhrer demoted him on 4. Feb. 1940, for undisclosed reasons, although it was commonly known to the men in his company that it involved being intoxicated on post. However, due to Theodor Eicke's harsh punishment it would appear his commander tried to avoid having Erich expelled from the SS by not listing the actual reasons for the demotion.
He was transferred to 2. Kompanie and served with this unit during the invasion of France. He was commended for his bravery during the fighting around Bethune on the Le Blassee Canal. Erich survived the campaign in France, and during the units refitting in Southern France began training as a machine gunner, once again operating a Czech ZB-26. He looked forward to a chance to prove himself as an effective machine gunner in combat, and soon he would have his chance when the division would invade Russia the following summer.
He was assigned to SS-Totenkopfstandarten 1. 'Oberbayern', stationed in Dachau. He served in the camp system, for several months before participating in the invasion of Poland. Just prior to the invasion of Poland he was promoted to SS-Oberschutze.
Following the campaign in Poland, he was part of the cadre that formed SS-Division "Totenkopf". He enjoyed the tough training, and began working on a machine gun team, operating a ZB-26. For a year the new division trained every day to prove to the Heer and to it self that it was an effective fighting unit.
Erich was doing well in the division and was being looked at for a possible Truppenfuhrer position, however his Kompaniefuhrer demoted him on 4. Feb. 1940, for undisclosed reasons, although it was commonly known to the men in his company that it involved being intoxicated on post. However, due to Theodor Eicke's harsh punishment it would appear his commander tried to avoid having Erich expelled from the SS by not listing the actual reasons for the demotion.
He was transferred to 2. Kompanie and served with this unit during the invasion of France. He was commended for his bravery during the fighting around Bethune on the Le Blassee Canal. Erich survived the campaign in France, and during the units refitting in Southern France began training as a machine gunner, once again operating a Czech ZB-26. He looked forward to a chance to prove himself as an effective machine gunner in combat, and soon he would have his chance when the division would invade Russia the following summer.
DISCLAIMER: 2. Kompanie is a non-political organization We do not support naziism, or fascism. We are not associated with nor do we condone the actions of the Third Reich or the actual 3.SS Division.