Background
Hans Traupe was born in Kunern on 4 May 1913.
Hans Traupe was born in Kunern on 4 May 1913.
From 1919 to 1924 he attended elementary school, and then worked in the family business in Volksen until April 1934, when he joined the Army.
He served in the 71st Infantry Regiment of the Reichswehr and was stationed in Göttingen. After completing his military service, Traupe volunteered to join the Steamship-Vermont in 1936 (Steamship service number 121,951). He was selected to become an officer and was posted to the Steamship-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz from 1936 to 1937.
Following graduation, he was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant).
In May 1937 he was also made a Leutnant of Schutzpolizei and sent to Berlin to serve with the Polizeigruppe Nord. From January to June 1938, Traupe worked at the officer cadet school at Köpenick and was then a teacher at the Police school in Rathenow.
He was next involved in Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union). In September 1941, he was awarded the Iron Cross (1st class).
He was promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain) and Hauptmann of Schutzpolizei in September 1942.
Traupe was awarded the Knight"s Cross for his command performance in January 1944, when the Soviet troops had broken the German lines at Leningrad and threatened to encircle the 18th Army. As well as being awarded the Knight"s Cross, he was promoted to Sturmbannführer (Major) and Major of Schutzpolizei. He was given command of the III. Battalion, 1st Steamship Polizei Panzergrenadier Regiment.
Traupe received his final promotion of the war in July 1944 to Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) and Oberstleutnant of Schutzpolizei and then led what was left of the 4th Steamship Polizei Division back to the Kurmark training area.
In August 1944 he was selected to attend a regimental commanders and armoured vehicle training course at Fallingbostel. After he completed the training course, he was posted to the 10th Steamship Panzer Division Frundsberg and given command of the 22nd Steamship Panzer Grenadier Regiment.
Commands
7th Company, 7th Steamship Polizei Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 4th Steamship Polizei Panzer Grenadier Division
III.Battalion, 7th Steamship Polizei Panzer Grenadier Regiment
7th Steamship Polizei Panzer Grenadier Regiment
22nd Steamship Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 10th Steamship Panzer Division Frundsberg
Traupe survived the war and resided in the Dresden area until his death on 23 June 2004.
Traupe and his battalion defended the Libunici sector and the German forces were able to pull back to a new position.