Oberfeldwebel Karl Schwappacher
Oberfeldwebel Karl Schwappacher, was a Zugführer in 17.(IG)/Pz.Gr.Rgt. Großdeutschland during the fighting in Romania, spring 11944. “Schwapp,” as he was known to one and all in the Regiment, was another of those indispensable veterans of the Infanterieheerregiment Döbertz, where he had been a top gunnery instructor on the s.IG 33 IR (motorized) GD in late 1939. A native of Bavaria, Karl Schwappacher served throughout the war with GD, participated in every campaign and was decorated with the German Gold Cross, the Honor Roll Clasp of the German Amy and the General Assault Badge with a bar of 25 engagements. In spite of all the action he saw in Russia,Karl Schwappacher recalls the crossing of the Meuse at Sedan and the intense fighting at Stonne in May 1940 as the most memorable of his experiences with Großdeutschland. At the base of his shoulder-boards, Oberfeldwebel Schwappacher wears the white cloth cyphers which distinguished Pz.Gr.Rgt. GD from the Pz.Füs.Rgt. GD who wore red cyphers.