Original German WWI & WWII Major Friedrich “Fritz” Schaper Grouping with Atlantic Wall Photo Album & Trunks from Both Wars
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Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is an unprecedented multi-war grouping to Leutnant and later Major Friedrich “Fritz” Schaper, a German officer who fought through the First World War as a Leutnant in RIR 73. This once-in-a-lifetime grouping comes with both Schaper’s WWI and WWII field desks, his RIR 73 shoulder boards, his WWII Heer dagger, and so much more.
But without a doubt, the crown jewel of this collection is the 1943-44 photo album that spans Schaper’s service as an officer on staff of the Reserve-Grenadier-Regiment 19 and, later, Battalion Commander of I./Grenadier-Regiment 128 on the Belgian Channel Coast. Containing approximately 200 original snapshots, the album carefully documents rarely seen Atlantic Wall bunkers and emplacements in West Flanders. Original images in the album extensively document bunkers camouflaged as houses, machinegun and artillery emplacements, command posts, and beach obstacles. Specific positions were extensively photographed, including “Stützpunkt Puma,” “Stützpunkt von Seekt,” and “Stützpunkt Leopard” (Strongpoints Puma, von Seeckt, and Leopard, among others). Bunkers of these positions still exist today in part along the Belgian channel coast. There is also a photo of a French Char B heavy tank near a coastal bunker. Also included is a rare image of a crashed USAAF B-17 heavy bomber of the 92nd Bomb Group, which includes a caption indicating it was shot down by the famous Bismarck-class battleship Tirpitz.
Amazingly, this album also contains seven original, candid snapshots of none other than Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. These personal snapshots were taken on one of Rommel’s famous inspection tours of Atlantic Wall defenses. It appears that he made his inspection of this section of defenses in West Flanders (in Westende, Roon, Nieuwpoort area) in December 1943. He is seen meeting with officers and men of Schaper’s unit, Gren-Reg. 128 and touring defensive positions in Roon and Middelkerke. Photos also include training exercises, recreation behind the lines, and Schaper’s visit to the WWI Langemarck German Military Cemetery.
The album itself appears to have been presented to Major Schaper on the occasion of his birthday. Tucked in the album pages are multiple beautiful handwritten calligraphy cards for both his 46th and 47th birthdays given to him by fellow officers of both the Reserve-Grenadier-Regiment 19 in 1943 and I./Grenadier-Regiment 128 in 1944; also a 1941 certificate inducting Schaper into the order of the “Weißer Schimmel des Alten Dessauer” (White/Grey Horse of the Old Dessauer) - possibly poking fun at his age. (Photos included indicate that Schaper was an avid horseman, though always an infantry officer.)
The rest of this extensive collection consists of:
- Schaper’s WWI Field Desk marked “Ltn Schaper, RIR 73”. It measures 26 ¼ x 12 ¾ x 12”. The interior of the lid has a pasted-on print of an Iron Cross 1st Class over the written phrase “Vorsicht! Dem Deutsche stützen!!” or “Caution! Support the Germans!!”. The original handles of the desk are in a bag inside of the desk, and could be reattached.
- WWII Field Desk / document chest marked “Major Schaper” with more writing that has worn away. Measures 23 ½ x 10 ½ x 15 ½”.
- Framed photo of Schaper on horseback as Lieutenant from his World War I service, measuring 15½ x 17½”.
- Riker mount of postcard photos spanning from 1911 to 1918.
- Riker mount of Schaper Family and WWI items – Including 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and cased 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class.
- Riker mount of post-WWII (1940s-60s) veteran memorabilia/paperwork.
- Riker Mount with Schaper’s M1935 JA Henckels Officer Dagger with Knot, breast eagle for white officer tunic, two photos of Schaper from WWII service. This is a lovely patinated Heer Army Officer dagger by the desirable firm of J.A. Henckels AG, Zwillingswerk, located in Solingen, Germany. Complete with scabbard, belt hanger, and portepee, this is the full setup! The fittings are silver plated, which have tarnished to a lovely blue color overall, and the celluloid grip has faded to a lovely "pumpkin" color due to light exposure. The hanger is in very good shape, however the portepee has definitely deteriorated from long use and age. It is quite literally falling apart, so we recommend handling it as little as possible to avoid further deterioration of the aluminum bullion. Blade condition is very good, still showing much of the original factory final polish grind crossgrain, an iconic texture seen on German WWII era blades. There is a bit if staining and runner wear, but it has held up quite nicely with no major oxidation or damage. Next to the dagger, there is a photo of Schaper wearing said dagger. (The photo may have been removed from the album at some point for reference - but not by us.) The same mount has an officer’s metal breast eagle that appears to be removed from a summer white officer’s jacket. There are also photos included in the album of Schaper and fellow officers wearing these jackets while in service on the Atlantic Wall positions on the Belgian coast.
- Modern Copy of Storm of Steel. Schaper is mentioned on Page 279 of this edition.
Schaper’s Extensive Military Career
While we don’t have a complete record of Schaper’s military service, we can piece together much of his personal history and awards. Born on April 26, 1897 in Hannover, Schaper volunteered for military service – “Kriegsfreiwilliger” – in 1914 or 1915. He served with the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 73 (Reserve Infantry Regiment 73) of the 19. Reserve-Division on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, participating in such notable battles as Verdun, the Somme, Passchendaele, and countering the Oise-Aisne Offensive in 1918. At the rank of “Vizefeldewebel” (senior sergeant), Schaper was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (included). Later in his WWI service, he was promoted to lieutenant. Schaper was also awarded the Braunschweig Ernst August Cross 1st Class (not included) and Iron Cross 1st Class (included).
While we lose Schaper’s trail after WWI, we know that he was active in his RIR 73 veteran’s organization and helped to compile the official unit history titled Die Geschichte des Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 73 (RIR 73), published in 1940. We pick up his trail again after Operation Barbarossa, when he was awarded the German Cross in Gold (not included) in January 1942 while serving in Infanterie-Regiment 434 of the 131. Infanterie-Division on the Eastern Front with Army Group Center. While the dates are unknown, Schaper was also awarded the “Spange” (or clasp) to both his 1914 Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class – re-earning these medals for valor in his WWII service. Transferred to the staff of the Reserve-Grenadier-Regiment 19 on the Western Front, his unit was the cadre for the newly-formed Grenadier-Regiment 128, formed in February 1944 in Ostende, Belgium. It is at this time that Schaper became the commander of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier-Regiment 128. While Schaper’s personal story is unclear after this point, his unit was forced to retreat; the regiment later fought in Lorraine and was destroyed - according to existing German military records. Beginning in December 1944, there was an attempt to reconstitute the unit in Slovakia with the rest of the 48. Infanterie-Division, but the war ended before the unit was ready for action. It is unknown if Schaper stayed with the unit during this period, or was transferred to other duties.
This is one of the greatest German groups we have ever offered, spanning both World Wars with a phenomenal amount of character. Ready to become the centerpiece of any World War I or World War II collection.
- This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
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- Due to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.
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