{{Short description|Argentine Allgemeine SS officer (1963–2025)}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Miguel Ángel Schneider
| image = Miguel Ángel Schneider, c 2010.png
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1963|4|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Humboldt, Santa Fe|Humboldt]], [[Santa Fe Province]], [[Argentina]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|5|20|1963|4|18|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Georgetown]], [[Tanoa]]
| death_cause = Execution by firing squad
| occupation = [[Allgemeine SS]] officer
| era = [[Vriend Era]]
| convictions = {{hlist|[[Genocide]]|[[Crimes against humanity]]|[[Murder]]|[[Persecution]]}}
| conviction_penalty = Death
| conviction_status = Executed
| apprehended = 2 December 2024
| trial = Georgetown Tribunal
| misc = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = Head of territorial administration of the [[Allgemeine SS]]
| term_start = 1 December 2013
| term_end = 30 November 2024
| predecessor = [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]]
| successor = Office abolished
}}
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Tanoa Einsatzgruppen}}
| branch = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| serviceyears = 1981–2024
| rank = [[SS-Obergruppenführer]]
| commands = [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] (5 April 2008 – 30 November 2013)
| awards = [[Order of Tanoa]]
}}
}}

'''Miguel Ángel Schneider''' (18 April 1963 – 20 May 2025) was an Argentine senior [[Allgemeine SS]] officer who commanded [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] from 5 April 2008 until 30 November 2013. He then served as head of Allgemeine SS territorial administration from 1 December 2013 until the collapse of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] on 30 November 2024.<ref name="osttanoa-history"/><ref name="kuster-territorial"/> Schneider was convicted by the [[Georgetown Tribunal]] of genocide, crimes against humanity, murder and persecution on 16 May 2025. He was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad four days later.

== Early life and training ==
Schneider was born in [[Humboldt, Santa Fe|Humboldt]], [[Santa Fe Province]], [[Argentina]], on 18 April 1963. His father came from a German-Argentine family, while his mother came from a Spanish-Argentine family.

Schneider entered the Allgemeine SS recruitment system in 1981 at the age of 18. He underwent preparatory screening through the organization's network in Santa Fe Province before being transferred to Tanoa for officer training.<ref name="ss-training"/> During training, Schneider developed a reputation for rigid adherence to SS doctrine. He volunteered for additional duties and reported other candidates for breaches of regulations. He openly supported harsh disciplinary measures and criticized trainees who questioned racial policy. Instructors later assigned him to supervise other candidates during exercises and barracks inspections.

Schneider completed the officer programme and was commissioned as an [[SS-Untersturmführer]] on 12 January 1984.

== Allgemeine SS career ==
Schneider's first active posting was at the headquarters of [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] in [[Luganville]]. In 1989, he was promoted to [[SS-Obersturmführer]] and became an operations officer. He became senior operations officer in 1994 with the rank of [[SS-Sturmbannführer]]. In 1998, Schneider was promoted to [[SS-Obersturmbannführer]] and became deputy chief of staff. He became chief of staff in 2000 and was promoted to [[SS-Standartenführer]].

During his period as chief of staff, Schneider accompanied an SS group that was ambushed by resistance fighters. Every other SS member with him was killed. Schneider survived the attack and killed the remaining resistance fighters himself before returning to Osttanoa headquarters. [[Eef Paap]] personally awarded him the [[Order of Tanoa]] for his actions.

On 17 August 2001, [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]] became head of Allgemeine SS territorial administration and moved his principal office to [[Georgetown]]. Küster appointed Schneider deputy commander of Osttanoa on the same date. Schneider was promoted to [[SS-Oberführer]] and handled the day-to-day command while Küster retained the permanent command.<ref name="kuster-territorial"/>

In June 2002, Schneider directed an anti-resistance sweep across the Luganville–[[Nandai]] sector after resistance fighters ambushed an SS patrol west of Luganville on 8 June and killed 11 SS personnel. Schneider ordered roads sealed and settlements searched. Temporary detention points were established during the operation. On 10 June, SS forces encountered a resistance group near Nandai and killed 24 fighters. Another group was located on 13 June, when 19 resistance fighters were killed and seven were captured.

Schneider ordered 16 captured resistance members executed after interrogation during the sweep. Twenty-one civilians accused of supplying resistance fighters with food, shelter or information were also killed. The operation ended on 16 June. Ninety-one people had been killed, comprising 59 resistance fighters or captured members, 21 civilians and the 11 SS personnel killed in the initial ambush. Another 64 people were detained, and some were subsequently transferred to forced-labour facilities. Schneider directed the operation from Luganville and visited the Nandai command post while it was underway.

== Command of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa ==
Küster relinquished permanent command of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa on 5 April 2008. Schneider succeeded him and was promoted to [[SS-Brigadeführer]].<ref name="osttanoa-commanders"/> [[Matías Federico Kessler]] later became Schneider's deputy.

In 2011, Schneider ordered a renewed racial-registration campaign across Osttanoa. Regional SS offices inspected the registration records of native Tanoans and established checkpoints to verify identity and residence status. People whose registration or residence documents failed inspection were detained. Schneider was promoted to [[SS-Gruppenführer]] on 18 April 2011, his 48th birthday.

Schneider remained commander until 30 November 2013. Kessler succeeded him on 1 December, when Schneider transferred to Georgetown to become head of Allgemeine SS territorial administration.<ref name="osttanoa-commanders"/>

== Territorial administration ==
Schneider succeeded Küster as head of territorial administration on 1 December 2013 and was promoted to [[SS-Obergruppenführer]].<ref name="kuster-territorial"/> He remained based at the central Allgemeine SS headquarters in Georgetown.

In 2015, Schneider established the '''Zentrales Oberabschnitt-Koordinierungsverfahren''' (ZOKV), translated as the '''Central Oberabschnitt Coordination Procedure'''. When an operation crossed the boundaries of two or more Oberabschnitte, the participating regional commands submitted deployment arrangements and operational reports through Schneider's office. His staff coordinated the territorial commands participating in the operation. Political investigations and arrests remained under the [[Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt]] and its subordinate security services.<ref name="tsha-structure"/>

Schneider never received promotion to [[SS-Oberstgruppenführer]]. Later historians attributed this to his increasing self-confidence while serving in senior command. Schneider frequently spoke of his own abilities and claimed that he could handle almost any assignment given to him. Eef Paap eventually regarded this behaviour as a liability and stated that Schneider did not deserve a higher rank. SS-Obergruppenführer remained Schneider's highest rank.

Schneider remained head of territorial administration until 30 November 2024. His office ceased to function when the Allgemeine SS dissolved its central and regional structures during the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen.<ref name="ss-dissolution"/>

== Capture, tribunal and execution ==
Schneider left the territorial-administration headquarters during the collapse. He was captured near Georgetown on 2 December 2024 before he could leave Tanoa and was placed in post-collapse custody.

The Georgetown Tribunal examined Schneider's conduct in Osttanoa and his later authority over the territorial SS system. His murder conviction concerned killings ordered during the 2002 anti-resistance sweep. The crimes-against-humanity and persecution convictions covered systematic detention and racial measures imposed under his authority, including the 2011 registration campaign.

The tribunal convicted Schneider of genocide through superior responsibility. It found that, as head of Allgemeine SS territorial administration from 2013 to 2024, he knowingly continued to coordinate a territorial system in which subordinate commands implemented policies intended to destroy part of the native Tanoan population. The tribunal held that his senior position and continued coordination of those commands made him responsible even where he had not personally issued each killing order.

Schneider was convicted on 16 May 2025 and sentenced to death. On 20 May, he was taken into the courtyard of the Georgetown military prison and executed by firing squad. He was 62 years old.

== See also ==
* [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]]
* [[Matías Federico Kessler]]
* [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
* [[Allgemeine SS]]
* [[Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt]]
* [[Georgetown Tribunal]]
* [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="ss-training">"[[Allgemeine SS#Recruitment and training|Recruitment and training]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="ss-dissolution">"[[Allgemeine SS#Dissolution|Dissolution]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="osttanoa-history">"[[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa#History|History]]". ''SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="osttanoa-commanders">"[[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa#Commanders|Commanders]]". ''SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="kuster-territorial">"[[Alejandro Horacio Küster#Territorial administration|Territorial administration]]". ''Alejandro Horacio Küster''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tsha-structure">"[[Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt#Structure|Structure]]". ''Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

{{SS organizations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schneider, Miguel Angel}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen personnel]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Miguel Ángel Schneider

2026-09-02T22:28:23Z

Walter61: Added image

{{Short description|Argentine Allgemeine SS officer (1963–2025)}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Miguel Ángel Schneider
| image = Miguel Ángel Schneider, c 2010
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1963|4|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Humboldt, Santa Fe|Humboldt]], [[Santa Fe Province]], [[Argentina]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|5|20|1963|4|18|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Georgetown]], [[Tanoa]]
| death_cause = Execution by firing squad
| occupation = [[Allgemeine SS]] officer
| era = [[Vriend Era]]
| convictions = {{hlist|[[Genocide]]|[[Crimes against humanity]]|[[Murder]]|[[Persecution]]}}
| conviction_penalty = Death
| conviction_status = Executed
| apprehended = 2 December 2024
| trial = Georgetown Tribunal
| misc = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = Head of territorial administration of the [[Allgemeine SS]]
| term_start = 1 December 2013
| term_end = 30 November 2024
| predecessor = [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]]
| successor = Office abolished
}}
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Tanoa Einsatzgruppen}}
| branch = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| serviceyears = 1981–2024
| rank = [[SS-Obergruppenführer]]
| commands = [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] (5 April 2008 – 30 November 2013)
| awards = [[Order of Tanoa]]
}}
}}

'''Miguel Ángel Schneider''' (18 April 1963 – 20 May 2025) was an Argentine senior [[Allgemeine SS]] officer who commanded [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] from 5 April 2008 until 30 November 2013. He then served as head of Allgemeine SS territorial administration from 1 December 2013 until the collapse of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] on 30 November 2024.<ref name="osttanoa-history"/><ref name="kuster-territorial"/> Schneider was convicted by the [[Georgetown Tribunal]] of genocide, crimes against humanity, murder and persecution on 16 May 2025. He was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad four days later.

== Early life and training ==
Schneider was born in [[Humboldt, Santa Fe|Humboldt]], [[Santa Fe Province]], [[Argentina]], on 18 April 1963. His father came from a German-Argentine family, while his mother came from a Spanish-Argentine family.

Schneider entered the Allgemeine SS recruitment system in 1981 at the age of 18. He underwent preparatory screening through the organization's network in Santa Fe Province before being transferred to Tanoa for officer training.<ref name="ss-training"/> During training, Schneider developed a reputation for rigid adherence to SS doctrine. He volunteered for additional duties and reported other candidates for breaches of regulations. He openly supported harsh disciplinary measures and criticized trainees who questioned racial policy. Instructors later assigned him to supervise other candidates during exercises and barracks inspections.

Schneider completed the officer programme and was commissioned as an [[SS-Untersturmführer]] on 12 January 1984.

== Allgemeine SS career ==
Schneider's first active posting was at the headquarters of [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] in [[Luganville]]. In 1989, he was promoted to [[SS-Obersturmführer]] and became an operations officer. He became senior operations officer in 1994 with the rank of [[SS-Sturmbannführer]]. In 1998, Schneider was promoted to [[SS-Obersturmbannführer]] and became deputy chief of staff. He became chief of staff in 2000 and was promoted to [[SS-Standartenführer]].

During his period as chief of staff, Schneider accompanied an SS group that was ambushed by resistance fighters. Every other SS member with him was killed. Schneider survived the attack and killed the remaining resistance fighters himself before returning to Osttanoa headquarters. [[Eef Paap]] personally awarded him the [[Order of Tanoa]] for his actions.

On 17 August 2001, [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]] became head of Allgemeine SS territorial administration and moved his principal office to [[Georgetown]]. Küster appointed Schneider deputy commander of Osttanoa on the same date. Schneider was promoted to [[SS-Oberführer]] and handled the day-to-day command while Küster retained the permanent command.<ref name="kuster-territorial"/>

In June 2002, Schneider directed an anti-resistance sweep across the Luganville–[[Nandai]] sector after resistance fighters ambushed an SS patrol west of Luganville on 8 June and killed 11 SS personnel. Schneider ordered roads sealed and settlements searched. Temporary detention points were established during the operation. On 10 June, SS forces encountered a resistance group near Nandai and killed 24 fighters. Another group was located on 13 June, when 19 resistance fighters were killed and seven were captured.

Schneider ordered 16 captured resistance members executed after interrogation during the sweep. Twenty-one civilians accused of supplying resistance fighters with food, shelter or information were also killed. The operation ended on 16 June. Ninety-one people had been killed, comprising 59 resistance fighters or captured members, 21 civilians and the 11 SS personnel killed in the initial ambush. Another 64 people were detained, and some were subsequently transferred to forced-labour facilities. Schneider directed the operation from Luganville and visited the Nandai command post while it was underway.

== Command of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa ==
Küster relinquished permanent command of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa on 5 April 2008. Schneider succeeded him and was promoted to [[SS-Brigadeführer]].<ref name="osttanoa-commanders"/> [[Matías Federico Kessler]] later became Schneider's deputy.

In 2011, Schneider ordered a renewed racial-registration campaign across Osttanoa. Regional SS offices inspected the registration records of native Tanoans and established checkpoints to verify identity and residence status. People whose registration or residence documents failed inspection were detained. Schneider was promoted to [[SS-Gruppenführer]] on 18 April 2011, his 48th birthday.

Schneider remained commander until 30 November 2013. Kessler succeeded him on 1 December, when Schneider transferred to Georgetown to become head of Allgemeine SS territorial administration.<ref name="osttanoa-commanders"/>

== Territorial administration ==
Schneider succeeded Küster as head of territorial administration on 1 December 2013 and was promoted to [[SS-Obergruppenführer]].<ref name="kuster-territorial"/> He remained based at the central Allgemeine SS headquarters in Georgetown.

In 2015, Schneider established the '''Zentrales Oberabschnitt-Koordinierungsverfahren''' (ZOKV), translated as the '''Central Oberabschnitt Coordination Procedure'''. When an operation crossed the boundaries of two or more Oberabschnitte, the participating regional commands submitted deployment arrangements and operational reports through Schneider's office. His staff coordinated the territorial commands participating in the operation. Political investigations and arrests remained under the [[Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt]] and its subordinate security services.<ref name="tsha-structure"/>

Schneider never received promotion to [[SS-Oberstgruppenführer]]. Later historians attributed this to his increasing self-confidence while serving in senior command. Schneider frequently spoke of his own abilities and claimed that he could handle almost any assignment given to him. Eef Paap eventually regarded this behaviour as a liability and stated that Schneider did not deserve a higher rank. SS-Obergruppenführer remained Schneider's highest rank.

Schneider remained head of territorial administration until 30 November 2024. His office ceased to function when the Allgemeine SS dissolved its central and regional structures during the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen.<ref name="ss-dissolution"/>

== Capture, tribunal and execution ==
Schneider left the territorial-administration headquarters during the collapse. He was captured near Georgetown on 2 December 2024 before he could leave Tanoa and was placed in post-collapse custody.

The Georgetown Tribunal examined Schneider's conduct in Osttanoa and his later authority over the territorial SS system. His murder conviction concerned killings ordered during the 2002 anti-resistance sweep. The crimes-against-humanity and persecution convictions covered systematic detention and racial measures imposed under his authority, including the 2011 registration campaign.

The tribunal convicted Schneider of genocide through superior responsibility. It found that, as head of Allgemeine SS territorial administration from 2013 to 2024, he knowingly continued to coordinate a territorial system in which subordinate commands implemented policies intended to destroy part of the native Tanoan population. The tribunal held that his senior position and continued coordination of those commands made him responsible even where he had not personally issued each killing order.

Schneider was convicted on 16 May 2025 and sentenced to death. On 20 May, he was taken into the courtyard of the Georgetown military prison and executed by firing squad. He was 62 years old.

== See also ==
* [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]]
* [[Matías Federico Kessler]]
* [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
* [[Allgemeine SS]]
* [[Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt]]
* [[Georgetown Tribunal]]
* [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="ss-training">"[[Allgemeine SS#Recruitment and training|Recruitment and training]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="ss-dissolution">"[[Allgemeine SS#Dissolution|Dissolution]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="osttanoa-history">"[[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa#History|History]]". ''SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="osttanoa-commanders">"[[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa#Commanders|Commanders]]". ''SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="kuster-territorial">"[[Alejandro Horacio Küster#Territorial administration|Territorial administration]]". ''Alejandro Horacio Küster''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tsha-structure">"[[Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt#Structure|Structure]]". ''Tanoanischssicherheitshauptamt''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

{{SS organizations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schneider, Miguel Angel}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen personnel]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

2026-08-23T11:41:45Z

2026-08-22T15:08:52Z

Walter61: Page created

{{Short description|Eastern territorial command of the Allgemeine SS (1944–2024)}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa
| type = Regional command
| formed = 1 November 1944
| dissolved = {{End date|2024|11|30}}
| jurisdiction = Eastern [[Tanoa]]
| headquarters = [[Luganville]], [[Tanoa]]
| parent_department = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| chief1_name = [[Matías Federico Kessler]]
| chief1_position = Commander (2013–2024)
}}

The '''SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa''' (English: '''Eastern Tanoa SS Main District''') was the eastern territorial command of the [[Allgemeine SS]] on [[Tanoa]]. Established on 1 November 1944, it was headquartered in [[Luganville]] and exercised authority over the Allgemeine SS regional structure in eastern Tanoa. It remained active until the dissolution of the Allgemeine SS on 30 November 2024.<ref name="allgemeine-structure"/>

== History ==
SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa was established on 1 November 1944 as part of the permanent territorial administration created by the Allgemeine SS after the establishment of Tanoan rule.<ref name="allgemeine-history"/> [[Héctor Germán Reinoso]] became its first commander. [[Rudolf Aziones]] served within the eastern command from its establishment and was promoted to [[SS-Brigadeführer]] on 1 July 1955, when he became Reinoso's deputy. Earlier that year, Aziones had ordered the [[Nakoriva massacre]], in which all 162 inhabitants of [[Nakoriva]] were killed. On 3 August 1958, Reinoso transferred to [[Georgetown]] as '''Chef des Stabes der Reichsführung-SS'''. Aziones was promoted to [[SS-Gruppenführer]] and succeeded him as commander of Osttanoa.<ref name="aziones-career"/>

Aziones remained commander until 27 June 1963, when eastern Tanoan resistance fighters killed him in a road ambush while he was returning from an inspection at Luganville.<ref name="aziones-assassination"/> [[Federico Augusto Villalba]] succeeded him on 4 July 1963 and remained in command until 15 July 1981. Villalba then transferred to Georgetown to head the territorial administration of the Allgemeine SS. [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]] succeeded him and commanded Osttanoa until his retirement from active SS service on 30 November 2013.

[[Matías Federico Kessler]] took command on 1 December 2013 and remained the final commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. The command ceased to exist on 30 November 2024 when the Allgemeine SS dissolved its regional district authorities following the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen.<ref name="allgemeine-dissolution"/>

== Organization ==
SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa reported through the Allgemeine SS hierarchy to the central headquarters in [[Georgetown]]. Its headquarters was located in [[Luganville]]. [[Nandai]] was the westernmost major settlement within its jurisdiction, while territory west of Nandai belonged to [[SS-Oberabschnitt Westtanoa]]. The command was divided into three subordinate SS-Abschnitte, all established on 1 November 1944.

{| class="wikitable"
! Command
! Headquarters
! Jurisdiction
|-
| [[SS-Abschnitt Luganville]]
| [[Luganville]]
| Eastern coastal district
|-
| [[SS-Abschnitt Nandai]]
| [[Nandai]]
| Western district
|-
| [[SS-Abschnitt Lifou]]
| [[Lifou]]
| Southern district
|}

The commanders of the three SS-Abschnitte reported to the commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. [[Karl-Heinz Varela]] was appointed commander of SS-Abschnitt Luganville on 3 August 1958, while [[Raúl Federico Mendizábal]] took command of SS-Abschnitt Nandai on the same date. [[Gustavo Ernesto Molina]] commanded SS-Abschnitt Lifou until [[Eduardo Federico Alzaga]] succeeded him on 1 October 1960.

== Commanders ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Commander
! Term
|-
| [[Héctor Germán Reinoso]]
| 1 November 1944 – 3 August 1958
|-
| [[Rudolf Aziones]]
| 3 August 1958 – 27 June 1963
|-
| [[Federico Augusto Villalba]]
| 4 July 1963 – 15 July 1981
|-
| [[Alejandro Horacio Küster]]
| 15 July 1981 – 30 November 2013
|-
| [[Matías Federico Kessler]]
| 1 December 2013 – 30 November 2024
|}

== See also ==
* [[Allgemeine SS]]
* [[SS-Oberabschnitt Nordtanoa]]
* [[SS-Oberabschnitt Südtanoa]]
* [[SS-Oberabschnitt Westtanoa]]
* [[Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="allgemeine-history">"[[Allgemeine SS#History|History]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="allgemeine-structure">"[[Allgemeine SS#Structure|Structure]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="allgemeine-dissolution">"[[Allgemeine SS#Dissolution|Dissolution]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="aziones-career">"[[Rudolf Aziones#Allgemeine SS career|Allgemeine SS career]]". ''Rudolf Aziones''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="aziones-assassination">"[[Rudolf Aziones#Assassination|Assassination]]". ''Rudolf Aziones''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]
[[Category:Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen organizations]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Rudolf Aziones

2026-08-22T14:40:21Z

Walter61: /* Assassination */

{{Short description|Argentine Allgemeine SS officer and mass murderer (1910–1963)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rudolf Aziones
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1910|3|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Comodoro Rivadavia]], [[Argentina]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1963|6|27|1910|3|14|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Luganville]], [[Tanoa]]
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = [[Nakoriva massacre]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = Commander of [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
| term_start = 3 August 1958
| term_end = 27 June 1963
| predecessor = [[Héctor Germán Reinoso]]
| successor = [[Federico Augusto Villalba]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| branch = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| serviceyears = 1944–1963
| rank = [[SS-Gruppenführer]]
| commands = [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
}}
}}

'''Rudolf Aziones''' (14 March 1910 – 27 June 1963) was an Argentine [[Allgemeine SS]] officer and mass murderer who commanded [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] from 3 August 1958 until his assassination in 1963. A member of [[Jan Paap]]'s original 1944 expedition from Argentina, Aziones spent his SS career in eastern [[Tanoa]]. On 17 April 1955, he ordered the [[Nakoriva massacre]], in which all 162 inhabitants of the village were killed. He personally participated in the execution of survivors, including women and children.

== Allgemeine SS career ==
Aziones was born on 14 March 1910 in [[Comodoro Rivadavia]], [[Argentina]]. In 1944, he worked in Jan Paap's personal security while Paap recruited followers in [[Rada Tilly]].<ref name="paap-argentina"/> He joined the approximately 3,400-member expedition organized in Argentina and reached Tanoa with the expedition on 9 August 1944.<ref name="tanoa-expedition"/>

After the [[Allgemeine SS]] was established during the consolidation of Tanoan control, Aziones entered the organization with the rank of [[SS-Obersturmführer]].<ref name="allgemeine-history"/> He was posted to eastern Tanoa as '''SS-Sicherheitsführer Osttanoa''', where he directed armed searches and arrests against resistance groups. When [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] was formally established on 1 November 1944 under [[Héctor Germán Reinoso]], Aziones remained within its territorial command and later moved into regional administration.

On 17 April 1955, Aziones ordered SS forces to surround the ancient village of [[Nakoriva]] after its inhabitants refused to recognize the authority of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen. He ordered the village burned and prevented its inhabitants from leaving. Aziones remained at the site and personally participated in the execution of inhabitants who survived the fires. All 162 inhabitants were killed.

On 1 July 1955, Aziones was promoted to [[SS-Brigadeführer]] and appointed deputy commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa under Reinoso. On 3 August 1958, Reinoso left the eastern command after being promoted to [[SS-Obergruppenführer]] and appointed '''Chef des Stabes der Reichsführung-SS''' in [[Georgetown]]. Aziones was promoted to [[SS-Gruppenführer]] on the same date and succeeded Reinoso as commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. The rank of SS-Gruppenführer was used for senior officers responsible for regional commands.<ref name="ss-ranks"/>

Aziones commanded the eastern SS district for the next five years. His authority covered the Allgemeine SS territorial structure in eastern Tanoa, including the subordinate SS district commands and their security forces.

== Assassination ==
On 27 June 1963, Aziones was returning from an inspection at [[Luganville]] when eastern Tanoan resistance fighters ambushed his convoy on the east coast road west of the village. An explosive destroyed the lead vehicle before resistance fighters opened fire on the remaining convoy. Aziones was killed inside his staff car at the age of 53.

His assassination occurred during the native resistance campaign in eastern Tanoa. His death prompted [[Jan Paap]] to expand the deployment of the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]] against the resistance.<ref name="early-native-resistance"/> SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa remained without a permanent commander for one week. On 4 July 1963, [[Federico Augusto Villalba]] succeeded Aziones as commander.

== See also ==
* [[Nakoriva massacre]]
* [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
* [[Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="paap-argentina">"[[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Jan Paap in Argentina (1944)|Jan Paap in Argentina (1944)]]". ''Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-expedition">"[[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Expedition and arrival in Tanoa (August 1944)|Expedition and arrival in Tanoa (August 1944)]]". ''Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="allgemeine-history">"[[Allgemeine SS#History|History]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="ss-ranks">"[[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Senior officer ranks|Senior officer ranks]]". ''Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="early-native-resistance">"[[Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Early native resistance|Early native resistance]]". ''Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen personnel]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Rudolf Aziones

2026-08-22T14:40:00Z

Walter61: Infobox fixed

{{Short description|Argentine Allgemeine SS officer and mass murderer (1910–1963)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rudolf Aziones
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1910|3|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Comodoro Rivadavia]], [[Argentina]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1963|6|27|1910|3|14|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Luganville]], [[Tanoa]]
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = [[Nakoriva massacre]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = Commander of [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
| term_start = 3 August 1958
| term_end = 27 June 1963
| predecessor = [[Héctor Germán Reinoso]]
| successor = [[Federico Augusto Villalba]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| branch = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| serviceyears = 1944–1963
| rank = [[SS-Gruppenführer]]
| commands = [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
}}
}}

'''Rudolf Aziones''' (14 March 1910 – 27 June 1963) was an Argentine [[Allgemeine SS]] officer and mass murderer who commanded [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] from 3 August 1958 until his assassination in 1963. A member of [[Jan Paap]]'s original 1944 expedition from Argentina, Aziones spent his SS career in eastern [[Tanoa]]. On 17 April 1955, he ordered the [[Nakoriva massacre]], in which all 162 inhabitants of the village were killed. He personally participated in the execution of survivors, including women and children.

== Allgemeine SS career ==
Aziones was born on 14 March 1910 in [[Comodoro Rivadavia]], [[Argentina]]. In 1944, he worked in Jan Paap's personal security while Paap recruited followers in [[Rada Tilly]].<ref name="paap-argentina"/> He joined the approximately 3,400-member expedition organized in Argentina and reached Tanoa with the expedition on 9 August 1944.<ref name="tanoa-expedition"/>

After the [[Allgemeine SS]] was established during the consolidation of Tanoan control, Aziones entered the organization with the rank of [[SS-Obersturmführer]].<ref name="allgemeine-history"/> He was posted to eastern Tanoa as '''SS-Sicherheitsführer Osttanoa''', where he directed armed searches and arrests against resistance groups. When [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] was formally established on 1 November 1944 under [[Héctor Germán Reinoso]], Aziones remained within its territorial command and later moved into regional administration.

On 17 April 1955, Aziones ordered SS forces to surround the ancient village of [[Nakoriva]] after its inhabitants refused to recognize the authority of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen. He ordered the village burned and prevented its inhabitants from leaving. Aziones remained at the site and personally participated in the execution of inhabitants who survived the fires. All 162 inhabitants were killed.

On 1 July 1955, Aziones was promoted to [[SS-Brigadeführer]] and appointed deputy commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa under Reinoso. On 3 August 1958, Reinoso left the eastern command after being promoted to [[SS-Obergruppenführer]] and appointed '''Chef des Stabes der Reichsführung-SS''' in [[Georgetown]]. Aziones was promoted to [[SS-Gruppenführer]] on the same date and succeeded Reinoso as commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. The rank of SS-Gruppenführer was used for senior officers responsible for regional commands.<ref name="ss-ranks"/>

Aziones commanded the eastern SS district for the next five years. His authority covered the Allgemeine SS territorial structure in eastern Tanoa, including the subordinate SS district commands and their security forces.

== Assassination ==
On 27 June 1963, Aziones was returning from an inspection at [[Luganville]] when eastern Tanoan resistance fighters ambushed his convoy on the east coast road west of the village. An explosive destroyed the lead vehicle before resistance fighters opened fire on the remaining convoy. Aziones was killed inside his staff car at the age of 53.

His assassination occurred during the native resistance campaign in eastern Tanoa. His death prompted [[Jan Paap]] to expand the deployment of the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]] against the resistance.<ref name="early-native-resistance"/> SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa remained without a permanent commander for one week. On 4 July 1963, [[Federico Augusto Villalba]], a senior operations officer on the Reichsführung-SS staff in Georgetown, succeeded Aziones as commander.

== See also ==
* [[Nakoriva massacre]]
* [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
* [[Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="paap-argentina">"[[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Jan Paap in Argentina (1944)|Jan Paap in Argentina (1944)]]". ''Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-expedition">"[[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Expedition and arrival in Tanoa (August 1944)|Expedition and arrival in Tanoa (August 1944)]]". ''Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="allgemeine-history">"[[Allgemeine SS#History|History]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="ss-ranks">"[[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Senior officer ranks|Senior officer ranks]]". ''Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="early-native-resistance">"[[Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Early native resistance|Early native resistance]]". ''Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen personnel]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Rudolf Aziones

2026-08-22T14:15:52Z

Walter61: Page fixed

{{Short description|Argentine Allgemeine SS officer and mass murderer (1910–1963)}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Rudolf Aziones
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1910|3|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Comodoro Rivadavia]], [[Argentina]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1963|6|27|1910|3|14|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Luganville]], [[Tanoa]]
| allegiance = [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| branch = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| serviceyears = 1944–1963
| rank = [[SS-Gruppenführer]]
| unit = [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
| commands = [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] (1958–1963)
}}

'''Rudolf Aziones''' (14 March 1910 – 27 June 1963) was an Argentine [[Allgemeine SS]] officer and mass murderer who commanded [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] from 3 August 1958 until his assassination in 1963. A member of [[Jan Paap]]'s original 1944 expedition from Argentina, Aziones spent his SS career in eastern [[Tanoa]]. On 17 April 1955, he ordered the [[Nakoriva massacre]], in which all 162 inhabitants of the village were killed. He personally participated in the execution of survivors, including women and children.

== Allgemeine SS career ==
Aziones was born on 14 March 1910 in [[Comodoro Rivadavia]], [[Argentina]]. In 1944, he worked in Jan Paap's personal security while Paap recruited followers in [[Rada Tilly]].<ref name="paap-argentina"/> Aziones joined the approximately 3,400-member expedition organized in Argentina, which reached Tanoa on 9 August 1944.<ref name="tanoa-expedition"/>

After the [[Allgemeine SS]] was established during the consolidation of Tanoan control, Aziones entered the organization with the rank of [[SS-Obersturmführer]].<ref name="allgemeine-history"/> He was posted to eastern Tanoa as '''SS-Sicherheitsführer Osttanoa'''. His early duties included armed searches and arrests against resistance groups. He later moved into the regional administrative command. When [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]] was formally established on 1 November 1944, Aziones continued serving within the eastern territorial structure.

On 17 April 1955, Aziones ordered SS forces to surround the ancient village of [[Nakoriva]] after its inhabitants refused to recognize the authority of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen. He ordered the village burned and prevented the inhabitants from leaving. Aziones remained at the site while the village burned and personally participated in the execution of inhabitants who survived the fires. All 162 inhabitants were killed.

On 1 July 1955, Aziones was promoted to [[SS-Brigadeführer]] and appointed deputy commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa. On 3 August 1958, he was promoted to [[SS-Gruppenführer]] and became commander of the regional organization. The rank of SS-Gruppenführer was used for senior officers responsible for regional commands.<ref name="ss-ranks"/> Aziones remained commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa until his death.

== Assassination ==
On 27 June 1963, Aziones was returning from an inspection at [[Luganville]] when eastern Tanoan resistance fighters ambushed his convoy on the east coast road west of the town. An explosive destroyed the lead vehicle before resistance fighters opened fire on the remaining convoy. Aziones was killed inside his staff car at the age of 53.

His assassination formed part of the native resistance campaign in eastern Tanoa. His death prompted [[Jan Paap]] to expand the deployment of the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]] against the resistance.<ref name="early-native-resistance"/>

== See also ==
* [[Nakoriva massacre]]
* [[SS-Oberabschnitt Osttanoa]]
* [[Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="paap-argentina">"[[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Jan Paap in Argentina (1944)|Jan Paap in Argentina (1944)]]". ''Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-expedition">"[[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Expedition and arrival in Tanoa (August 1944)|Expedition and arrival in Tanoa (August 1944)]]". ''Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="allgemeine-history">"[[Allgemeine SS#History|History]]". ''Allgemeine SS''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="ss-ranks">"[[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Senior officer ranks|Senior officer ranks]]". ''Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="early-native-resistance">"[[Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Early native resistance|Early native resistance]]". ''Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen personnel]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

File:Jan van Noord, c 1944.png

2026-08-22T12:35:42Z

Walter61:

Jan van Noord

2026-08-22T12:35:32Z

Walter61:

{{Infobox person
| name = Jan van Noord
| image = Jan van Noord, c 1944.png
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1907|2|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|10|9|1907|2|17|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Vriendendam]], [[Netherlands]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Shipyard metalworker|Production worker|Association secretary}}
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| children = 4
| father = [[Henri van Noord]]
| relatives = [[Angelo van Noord]] (first cousin)
| family = [[Noord family]]
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| branch = [[Heer]]
| serviceyears = 1940–1945
| rank = [[Unteroffizier]]
| unit = {{plainlist|
* [[Infanterie-Regiment 26]] (1940–1942)
* [[Füsilier-Regiment 26]] (1943–1944)
* [[Grenadier-Regiment 6]] (1944–1945)
}}
| battles = {{plainlist|
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Battle of France]]
** [[Operation Barbarossa]]
** [[Demyansk Pocket]]
** [[Courland Pocket]]
}}
| awards = {{plainlist|
* [[Iron Cross]], 2nd Class (1940)
* [[Infantry Assault Badge]] in Silver
* [[Wound Badge]] in Black (1942)
* [[Demyansk Shield]] (1943)
* [[Iron Cross]], 1st Class (1944)
}}
}}
}}

'''Jan van Noord''' (17 February 1907 – 9 October 2021) was a Dutch-born German soldier and veterans' association administrator. He entered combat with [[Infanterie-Regiment 26]] of the [[30. Infanterie-Division]] during the [[Battle of France]]. He later served on the Eastern Front, where he was wounded in the [[Demyansk Pocket]]. Van Noord was promoted to ''Unteroffizier'' in 1944 and remained with the 30. Infanterie-Division until the German surrender in 1945.

Van Noord was held as a Soviet prisoner of war until 1950. After his release, he settled in [[Vriendendam]] and worked at [[Schroeter Romeo]]. In 1954, he became secretary of the [[Wehrmacht-Veteranenverein Vriendendam]], which had been founded that year by [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]].<ref name="martinus-veterans"/> He remained secretary until his retirement in 1972.

== Early life ==
Jan van Noord was born in [[Rotterdam]] on 17 February 1907. His father, [[Henri van Noord]], was the older brother of [[Julien van Noord]], making Jan a first cousin of [[Angelo van Noord]].<ref name="noord-family"/> His mother was German and had been born in [[Lübeck]].

Van Noord moved to Lübeck in 1936, where members of his mother's family lived. He worked as a shipyard metalworker and obtained German citizenship in 1939. On 15 January 1940, he joined the [[Heer]] and was assigned to Infanterie-Regiment 26 of the 30. Infanterie-Division.

== Military career ==
When the German offensive in the west began on 10 May 1940, van Noord served as a machine gunner operating an MG 34. His division advanced through the southern Netherlands before entering Belgium. Van Noord remained with Infanterie-Regiment 26 as it continued west toward the Scheldt.

During the fighting at [[Oudenaarde]] later in May, the other members of van Noord's machine-gun team were incapacitated. He continued operating the MG 34 during the attack on the Belgian position. He received the Iron Cross, 2nd Class for his conduct and remained with the regiment during the subsequent advance into France.

In 1941, van Noord accompanied the 30. Infanterie-Division to the Soviet Union for [[Operation Barbarossa]]. He continued serving as an MG 34 gunner. During the Soviet winter offensive in early 1942, the division became encircled in the [[Demyansk Pocket]]. Van Noord remained inside the pocket with Infanterie-Regiment 26 and was promoted to ''Gefreiter'' on 20 February 1942.

On 7 April 1942, van Noord was shot through the left shoulder during the fighting at Demyansk. He was evacuated for treatment and received the Wound Badge in Black. His injury required an extended period of recovery but did not prevent him from returning to frontline service.

Infanterie-Regiment 26 was redesignated Füsilier-Regiment 26 on 10 December 1942 while van Noord was recovering. He returned to the regiment in February 1943 and resumed frontline service. After returning, he began operating the MG 42. He received the Demyansk Shield in 1943 and remained with the regiment after the evacuation of the pocket, taking part in the subsequent defensive fighting around [[Staraya Russa]].

During 1944, the 30. Infanterie-Division was forced westward by Soviet offensives. Van Noord remained with Füsilier-Regiment 26 during the retreat. On 1 June 1944, he was promoted to ''Unteroffizier'' and placed in command of an infantry squad.

During the retreat through the Baltic states in September 1944, van Noord's company came under a Soviet attack while withdrawing. He kept his squad in position and directed its MG 42 fire while the rest of the company pulled back. After the withdrawal had been completed, he withdrew his own men from the position. Van Noord received the Iron Cross, 1st Class for the action.

Füsilier-Regiment 26 suffered heavy losses during the continuing retreat and was dissolved in October 1944. Van Noord was among the surviving personnel transferred to [[Grenadier-Regiment 6]], remaining with the 30. Infanterie-Division. He subsequently served in the [[Courland Pocket]] and remained there until the German surrender in May 1945. Soviet forces took him prisoner after the surrender, and he remained in captivity until his release in 1950.

== Postwar life ==
After returning to the Netherlands in 1950, van Noord settled in [[Vriendendam]]. [[Schroeter Romeo]] was formally established in the city during the same year.<ref name="schroeter-romeo"/> Van Noord applied for work at the company and became a production worker.

In 1954, van Noord left Schroeter Romeo after [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]] founded the [[Wehrmacht-Veteranenverein Vriendendam]]. Martinus became its first chairman, while the association handled veterans' affairs and correspondence for former servicemen.<ref name="martinus-veterans"/> Van Noord joined the association as its paid secretary and administrator. He maintained membership records and handled correspondence for the organization. He remained secretary until his retirement in 1972.

== Personal life ==
Van Noord met his wife after settling in Vriendendam. She was originally from [[Arnhem]] and was approximately 36 years old when they married in 1952. They had four children, three sons and one daughter. All four were born in Vriendendam.

Van Noord died in [[Vriendendam]] on 9 October 2021 at the age of 114. His wife survived him and was still living in 2026.

== See also ==
* [[Noord family]]
* [[Angelo van Noord]]
* [[Vriendendam]]
* [[Wehrmacht-Veteranenverein Vriendendam]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="noord-family">"[[Noord family#Northern migration and surnames|Northern migration and surnames]]". ''Noord family''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="schroeter-romeo">"[[Schroeter Romeo#History|History]]". ''Schroeter Romeo''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-veterans">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Imprisonment and later life|Imprisonment and later life]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Noord family]]
[[Category:Van Noord family members]]
[[Category:Noord family members]]
[[Category:German Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]

Jan Paap

2026-08-22T11:25:21Z

Walter61: Added better categories

{{Infobox person
| name = Jan Paap
| image = Jan Paap, c 1970.png
| caption = Jan Paap, c 1970
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|1|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Warendorf]], [[Germany]]
| death_date = 1999–2005
| death_place = [[Tanoa]]
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = Founder of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| height = 1.90 m
| political_party = [[NSTAP]]
| children = {{hlist|[[Eef Paap]]|[[Daniel Paap]]|[[Richard Nicolaas Paap]]}}
| father = [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
| mother = [[Elsbeth Kranz]]
| relatives = {{plainlist|
* [[Martin Paap I]] (brother)
* [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] (cousin)
}}
| family = [[Paap family]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = [[Führer of Tanoa]]
| term_start = 13 May 1944
| term_end = January 1980
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = [[Eef Paap]]
| office1 = Leader of the [[Argentine Einsatz]]
| term_start1 = 13 May 1944
| term_end1 = 9 August 1944
| predecessor1 = Organization established
| successor1 = Organization reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| branch = [[Heer]]
| serviceyears = 1936–1944
| rank = [[Gefreiter]]
| unit = {{plainlist|
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] (March–October 1936)
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] (1936–1942)
* 2./[[Grenadier-Regiment 78]] (1942–January 1943, March–July 1943)
* [[Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 26]] (January–March 1943)
* 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] (August 1943–January 1944)
}}
| battles =
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Battle of France]]
** [[Eastern Front (Second World War)|Eastern Front]]
*** [[Operation Barbarossa]]
*** [[Battle of Rzhev]]
*** [[Battle of Kursk]]
*** [[Battle of the Caucasus]]
*** [[Melitopol offensive]]
}}
}}

'''Jan Paap''' (21 January 1919 – between 1999 and 2005) was a German-born dictator and former [[Heer]] soldier who founded the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]. He served as the first [[Führer of Tanoa]] from 1944 until his retirement in January 1980. Paap deserted from the [[Eastern Front]] in 1944, reached [[Argentina]] and formed the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in [[Rada Tilly]] on 13 May. He led its expedition to [[Tanoa]], where he established a centralized dictatorship that later expanded beyond the island. His son [[Eef Paap]] succeeded him as Führer.<ref name="formation-arrival"/><ref name="government-leadership"/>

== Early life ==

Jan Paap was born in [[Warendorf]], Germany, on 21 January 1919. He was the younger son of [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]] and [[Elsbeth Kranz]], and his older brother was [[Martin Paap I]]. Succession as [[Great Paap]] followed primogeniture among direct descendants who had received custodial instruction and accepted responsibility for the [[Book of Paap]]. Martin I lived in Rotterdam and had not completed this instruction when Martinus became Great Paap in 1940. Jan grew up in Martinus's household in Warendorf and received direct instruction in the book. Martinus therefore designated Jan as his intended successor.<ref name="martinus-great-paap"/><ref name="great-paap-succession"/> Jan began attending the ''Volksschule der Alten Pfarre'' in 1925 and completed the normal eight-year course in 1933.

In 1934, Paap began breaking into bakeries in Warendorf at night. He stole food and money, damaged the interiors and wrote demonic remarks on the walls. In 1935, he was caught during one of the break-ins and spent one week in detention. Martinus imposed stricter rules after his release, but Jan repeatedly ignored them. In 1936, Martinus used his military contacts to arrange his early voluntary entry into the German Army, intending military discipline to bring his behaviour under control.

== Military service ==

Paap entered 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] at [[Münster]] in March 1936, aged 17. During training he repeatedly tried to control other recruits and gave them instructions despite holding no authority over them. His NCOs found that other soldiers often followed him and began giving him small responsibilities during exercises. He remained a ''Schütze''. When the regiment was reorganized on 6 October 1936, Paap continued with his battalion as a member of 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] at [[Aachen]]. He was promoted to ''Oberschütze'' on 1 March 1937.

On 19 June 1937, Paap was arrested in Aachen after being caught having sexual intercourse in public while off duty. The arrest was reported to his company and he received a formal reprimand. Other soldiers began calling him "the Street Pervert". Paap resented the nickname and reacted aggressively when it was used. In 1938, another soldier refused an attempt by Paap to order him around and then used the nickname. Paap attacked him and injured him badly enough to require treatment in the infirmary. He received military confinement and another disciplinary entry, which contributed to the delay of his next promotion.

During 1938, Paap also became more committed to [[Glöbbery]]. An older German businessman in Aachen introduced him to the order and arranged his first visit to [[Festung Glöbbelhart]] in Switzerland. Paap became a Glöbberist that year.<ref name="globbery-members"/> His military conduct continued to deteriorate during 1939. He argued with NCOs and remained controlling toward other soldiers, although his officers increasingly tolerated his conduct after mobilization. Paap was promoted to [[Gefreiter]] on 3 April 1940.

Paap served with Infanterie-Regiment 78 during the 1940 western campaign. During the advance through Luxembourg and northern France, he assaulted civilians both during military searches and without an immediate operational reason. His superiors responded by removing him from duties that regularly brought him into contact with civilians and kept him with the front-line elements of his company. He remained largely free of further formal disciplinary action through the occupation period in France.

In June 1941, Paap moved east with the [[26. Infanterie-Division]] for [[Operation Barbarossa]]. By 1943, Infanterie-Regiment 78 had been redesignated [[Grenadier-Regiment 78]]. On 6 January 1943, Paap encountered his cousin [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] at the recently recaptured Rzhev airfield. Hundreds of German soldiers were passing through the damaged airfield when the two recognized each other. Antonie raised Jan's expected succession as Great Paap and spoke in defence of the Book of Paap. Jan told him that he rejected the book and did not intend to take the title. Antonie accused him of betraying the Paap family, and the argument became a fight. Antonie fought back, but Jan overpowered him and knocked out several of his teeth before officers separated them.<ref name="antonie-military"/>

The confrontation marked Jan's formal rejection of the Great Paap succession. He did not believe the Book of Paap's prophecy and refused the religious responsibilities attached to the title.<ref name="great-paap-succession"/> He severed ties with Martinus, who later tried repeatedly to restore contact through letters and relatives. Jan refused.<ref name="martinus-great-paap"/>

Martinus remained Great Paap while Martin I received custodial preparation as the replacement heir. Martin I succeeded him after Martinus was convicted of war crimes on 28 October 1948.<ref name="great-paap-succession"/>

Paap was punished for the airfield fight and temporarily removed from Grenadier-Regiment 78. From January until 6 March 1943, he served with the divisional supply troops of the 26. Infanterie-Division. After returning to 2./Grenadier-Regiment 78, he repeatedly shot Soviet soldiers after they had surrendered. Some officers were aware of the killings and did not punish him. Paap also carried them out during periods when direct supervision was limited.

During the fighting west of [[Kursk]] in July 1943, Paap became increasingly frustrated that his formation remained in a defensive sector while other German formations conducted the main offensive. He led a small group out of its position in an unauthorized attack. Soviet fire stopped the advance and several of the soldiers who followed him were killed. Paap showed little concern for the casualties after returning to the German position. He was court-martialled for disobedience and received a one-year military prison sentence. The sentence was suspended while the war continued, and he was transferred to a probationary front-line unit.

In August 1943, Paap joined 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] in the Kuban. He reacted to the transfer by becoming increasingly reckless in combat and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire. He also continued killing Soviet prisoners and wounded soldiers after positions had been taken. His Gruppenführer, an ''Unteroffizier'' from the battalion's supervisory cadre, physically abused him during disputes and repeatedly assigned him exposed duties. On 28 August 1943, Paap killed the NCO while they were away from the rest of the unit. The Gruppenführer was believed to have died during a shootout with Soviet troops. Paap's responsibility was not known during the war and became public only when he admitted the killing in a later memoir.

Paap remained with the battalion during the fighting around [[Melitopol]] in September 1943. In late October, while the battalion was operating near [[Kryvyi Rih]], he met [[Georg Schäfer]], an SS-Untersturmführer commanding a motor-transport platoon in the divisional supply troops of the [[3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf]]. The two became friends.

On 17 January 1944, Paap decided to desert. He contacted Schäfer through [[Feldpost]] and met him near Kryvyi Rih on 23 January. Schäfer agreed to help because of their friendship, while Paap also paid him for taking the risk. Schäfer provided civilian clothing and a forged civilian identity document, then carried Paap west with one of his transport movements before leaving him in [[Uman]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap continued alone. From Uman he travelled through [[Lviv]] and [[Kraków]], then crossed Germany and occupied France. After reaching the [[Bayonne]] area, he paid a Basque guide to take him across the [[Pyrenees]] into [[Spain]]. He travelled to [[A Coruña]] and obtained passage on a merchant vessel to [[Buenos Aires]]. From there he travelled south by coastal shipping to [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] and reached nearby [[Rada Tilly]] overland on 13 May 1944.

== Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen ==

Paap founded the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in Rada Tilly on the day of his arrival, 13 May 1944.<ref name="formation-arrival"/> He began recruitment through small cells in Patagonia and learned Spanish while preparing the expedition. At one of the early recruitment meetings in Comodoro Rivadavia, he met [[Jose Alem]], then a ''Cabo'' in Regimiento de Infantería 8. Alem quickly became devoted to Paap and followed his decisions without challenging his authority. He remained in the Argentine Army for a short period while helping recruit a few fellow soldiers. Alem and several of those men deserted shortly before the expedition left Argentina.

Paap retained direct control over the Argentine Einsatz. He personally checked recruitment work, transport preparations and the vessels intended for the expedition. He demanded that information be brought directly to him and became impatient when work was delayed. By August, the organization had approximately 3,400 members.<ref name="argentine-recruitment"/> The expedition departed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia on 28 July 1944 using both chartered merchant vessels and ships seized for the voyage. During the crossing, Paap ordered one member who had repeatedly disobeyed him to jump overboard. Paap refused to stop the expedition to recover him, and the man drowned.

The expedition reached Tanoa on 9 August 1944 and landed first on [[Ravi-Ta]].<ref name="argentine-expedition"/> Paap personally directed the landing and ordered native inhabitants to begin forced construction of the first barracks and command facilities. He remained on Ravi-Ta during the first days and closely supervised the establishment of the base. The Argentine Einsatz was reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]], with Paap as Führer. Jose Alem entered the senior leadership after the landing and became the first [[Reichsführer-SS]] when the [[Allgemeine SS]] was formed.<ref name="argentine-reorganization"/>

On 15 August, Paap crossed to the main Tanoan landmass and ordered the occupation of [[Nasua]]. Its inhabitants resisted, the resistance was suppressed and the surviving population was enslaved. Paap remained there for several days before continuing the advance. On 18 August, he ordered the occupation of [[Momea]] and then moved rapidly toward [[La Rochelle]]. At La Rochelle, Paap issued a written order imposing reproductive coercion on adult native captives throughout territory under his control. The policy was intended to increase the future enslaved population.

Paap continued west and personally ordered [[Savu]] burned during its occupation. The destruction and killings became known as the [[1944 Savu massacre]]. He then advanced toward [[Saint-Paul]], where local resistance was suppressed and the surviving inhabitants were enslaved. His forces initially passed [[Petit Nicolet]] without occupying it. They later returned to impose the new administration. Most inhabitants who resisted during the return were shot, while the survivors were enslaved. Forced labour remained central to construction and resource extraction as Paap's control expanded across Tanoa.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap founded the [[NSTAP]] in 1944 as the ruling political organization of the new state. On 8 May 1945, following the German surrender, he personally authorized [[Operation Sternzug]] to obtain German rocket personnel and technical records. The first copied V-2 archive reached Tanoan custody in June.<ref name="weltraum-origins"/> During 1945, he also established the [[Paapjugend]] and the [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

On 10 October 1945, Paap founded [[Georgetown]]. He personally selected the site because he preferred the location and named the city after Georg Schäfer.<ref name="georgetown-history"/> Georgetown became the main administrative centre of the regime. In 1949, Paap named the [[1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche"]] after the birth of [[Chiche Alem]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

== Rule as Führer ==

Paap held supreme authority over the state throughout his rule. Major political decisions remained subordinate to him, and no independent legislature or judiciary limited the office of Führer.<ref name="government-leadership"/> He routinely demanded direct reports from subordinate officials and intervened personally in matters that could otherwise have been delegated. Forced labour was expanded for construction and resource extraction. Security forces confiscated property, punished resistance and carried out killings without judicial proceedings.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

In 1950, Paap established the [[Oberkommando der Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] as the central command authority of the state. The same year, he proposed the [[Reichsvilla]] project. Construction planning began, but the project was later abandoned after resistance activity disrupted the work. Paap also continued expanding the administrative offices placed under his authority. The [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]] introduced the [[Tanoanische Reichsmark]], whose coins carried Paap's portrait.<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/>

In 1952, Paap authorized a biological reconstruction programme intended to revive extinct species for military use. The first successful prototype was produced in 1956 and the programme developed into the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/> In 1953, Patagonia came under de facto Tanoan control. Paap continued to intervene directly in government during the following decade, while additional administrative offices remained subordinate to the Führer. Argentina was formally annexed in 1965 and brought under the regime's financial and population-control systems.<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s"/>

During the 1970s, Paap oversaw the [[Tanoa Einsatz Expansionist Campaign]]. [[Liberia]] was placed under the puppet administration of [[Großliberia]] in 1974. [[Fiji]] was annexed in 1975 and placed under direct military rule. In 1976, Paap's government introduced the [[Neger Buch]] as a compulsory registration document for native inhabitants of Tanoa. [[Rwanda]] became a Tanoan puppet state in 1979.<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s"/>

== Retirement and death ==

During the late 1970s, Paap selected his son [[Eef Paap]] as his successor. He formally retired in January 1980 after thirty-six years as Führer. Eef was formally promoted during a state ceremony in Georgetown on 6 November 1980. Because Eef was still a child, Jan continued advising him until 1987.<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s"/><ref name="eef-succession"/>

Paap remained in Tanoa after withdrawing from government. The date of his death was not documented and has been estimated as occurring between 1999 and 2005. Old age was generally given as the cause. After the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen, members of the [[Fish Collective]] claimed that fragmented records recovered from the [[Führerhaus]] indicated that Eef may have killed Jan in 2005 to secure undisputed control of the regime. The surviving records did not establish the claim conclusively.

== See also ==
* [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Argentine Einsatz]]
* [[Führer of Tanoa]]
* [[Eef Paap]]
* [[Great Paap]]
* [[Book of Paap]]
* [[Glöbbery]]
* [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
* [[Martin Paap I]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="antonie-military">"[[Antonie Ronald Paap#Military service|Military service]]". ''Antonie Ronald Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-expedition">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Expedition to Tanoa|Expedition to Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="formation-arrival">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Formation and arrival in Tanoa|Formation and arrival in Tanoa]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-recruitment">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Recruitment and preparation|Recruitment and preparation]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-reorganization">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Reorganization in Tanoa|Reorganization in Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="eef-succession">"[[Eef Paap#Succession|Succession]]". ''Eef Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="georgetown-history">"[[Georgetown#History|History]]". ''Georgetown''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="globbery-members">"[[Glöbbery#Members|Members]]". ''Glöbbery''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="government-leadership">"[[Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Leadership principle|Leadership principle]]". ''Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="great-paap-succession">"[[Great Paap#Succession|Succession]]". ''Great Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-great-paap">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Great Paap|Great Paap]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1940s|The 1940s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1950s|The 1950s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1960s|The 1960s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1970s|The 1970s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1980s|The 1980s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="weltraum-origins">"[[Weltraumgruppen#Origins and formation|Origins and formation]]". ''Weltraumgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Vaders]]
[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:Paap family members]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:NSTAP]]
[[Category:Glöbberists]]
[[Category:German Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:People from Warendorf]]
[[Category:Founders]]
[[Category:Dictators]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Jan Paap

2026-08-22T11:14:23Z

Walter61: Page updated

{{Infobox person
| name = Jan Paap
| image = Jan Paap, c 1970.png
| caption = Jan Paap, c 1970
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|1|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Warendorf]], [[Germany]]
| death_date = 1999–2005
| death_place = [[Tanoa]]
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = Founder of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| height = 1.90 m
| political_party = [[NSTAP]]
| children = {{hlist|[[Eef Paap]]|[[Daniel Paap]]|[[Richard Nicolaas Paap]]}}
| father = [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
| mother = [[Elsbeth Kranz]]
| relatives = {{plainlist|
* [[Martin Paap I]] (brother)
* [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] (cousin)
}}
| family = [[Paap family]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = [[Führer of Tanoa]]
| term_start = 13 May 1944
| term_end = January 1980
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = [[Eef Paap]]
| office1 = Leader of the [[Argentine Einsatz]]
| term_start1 = 13 May 1944
| term_end1 = 9 August 1944
| predecessor1 = Organization established
| successor1 = Organization reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| branch = [[Heer]]
| serviceyears = 1936–1944
| rank = [[Gefreiter]]
| unit = {{plainlist|
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] (March–October 1936)
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] (1936–1942)
* 2./[[Grenadier-Regiment 78]] (1942–January 1943, March–July 1943)
* [[Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 26]] (January–March 1943)
* 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] (August 1943–January 1944)
}}
| battles =
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Battle of France]]
** [[Eastern Front (Second World War)|Eastern Front]]
*** [[Operation Barbarossa]]
*** [[Battle of Rzhev]]
*** [[Battle of Kursk]]
*** [[Battle of the Caucasus]]
*** [[Melitopol offensive]]
}}
}}

'''Jan Paap''' (21 January 1919 – between 1999 and 2005) was a German-born dictator and former [[Heer]] soldier who founded the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]. He served as the first [[Führer of Tanoa]] from 1944 until his retirement in January 1980. Paap deserted from the [[Eastern Front]] in 1944, reached [[Argentina]] and formed the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in [[Rada Tilly]] on 13 May. He led its expedition to [[Tanoa]], where he established a centralized dictatorship that later expanded beyond the island. His son [[Eef Paap]] succeeded him as Führer.<ref name="formation-arrival"/><ref name="government-leadership"/>

== Early life ==

Jan Paap was born in [[Warendorf]], Germany, on 21 January 1919. He was the younger son of [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]] and [[Elsbeth Kranz]], and his older brother was [[Martin Paap I]]. Succession as [[Great Paap]] followed primogeniture among direct descendants who had received custodial instruction and accepted responsibility for the [[Book of Paap]]. Martin I lived in Rotterdam and had not completed this instruction when Martinus became Great Paap in 1940. Jan grew up in Martinus's household in Warendorf and received direct instruction in the book. Martinus therefore designated Jan as his intended successor.<ref name="martinus-great-paap"/><ref name="great-paap-succession"/> Jan began attending the ''Volksschule der Alten Pfarre'' in 1925 and completed the normal eight-year course in 1933.

In 1934, Paap began breaking into bakeries in Warendorf at night. He stole food and money, damaged the interiors and wrote demonic remarks on the walls. In 1935, he was caught during one of the break-ins and spent one week in detention. Martinus imposed stricter rules after his release, but Jan repeatedly ignored them. In 1936, Martinus used his military contacts to arrange his early voluntary entry into the German Army, intending military discipline to bring his behaviour under control.

== Military service ==

Paap entered 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] at [[Münster]] in March 1936, aged 17. During training he repeatedly tried to control other recruits and gave them instructions despite holding no authority over them. His NCOs found that other soldiers often followed him and began giving him small responsibilities during exercises. He remained a ''Schütze''. When the regiment was reorganized on 6 October 1936, Paap continued with his battalion as a member of 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] at [[Aachen]]. He was promoted to ''Oberschütze'' on 1 March 1937.

On 19 June 1937, Paap was arrested in Aachen after being caught having sexual intercourse in public while off duty. The arrest was reported to his company and he received a formal reprimand. Other soldiers began calling him "the Street Pervert". Paap resented the nickname and reacted aggressively when it was used. In 1938, another soldier refused an attempt by Paap to order him around and then used the nickname. Paap attacked him and injured him badly enough to require treatment in the infirmary. He received military confinement and another disciplinary entry, which contributed to the delay of his next promotion.

During 1938, Paap also became more committed to [[Glöbbery]]. An older German businessman in Aachen introduced him to the order and arranged his first visit to [[Festung Glöbbelhart]] in Switzerland. Paap became a Glöbberist that year.<ref name="globbery-members"/> His military conduct continued to deteriorate during 1939. He argued with NCOs and remained controlling toward other soldiers, although his officers increasingly tolerated his conduct after mobilization. Paap was promoted to [[Gefreiter]] on 3 April 1940.

Paap served with Infanterie-Regiment 78 during the 1940 western campaign. During the advance through Luxembourg and northern France, he assaulted civilians both during military searches and without an immediate operational reason. His superiors responded by removing him from duties that regularly brought him into contact with civilians and kept him with the front-line elements of his company. He remained largely free of further formal disciplinary action through the occupation period in France.

In June 1941, Paap moved east with the [[26. Infanterie-Division]] for [[Operation Barbarossa]]. By 1943, Infanterie-Regiment 78 had been redesignated [[Grenadier-Regiment 78]]. On 6 January 1943, Paap encountered his cousin [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] at the recently recaptured Rzhev airfield. Hundreds of German soldiers were passing through the damaged airfield when the two recognized each other. Antonie raised Jan's expected succession as Great Paap and spoke in defence of the Book of Paap. Jan told him that he rejected the book and did not intend to take the title. Antonie accused him of betraying the Paap family, and the argument became a fight. Antonie fought back, but Jan overpowered him and knocked out several of his teeth before officers separated them.<ref name="antonie-military"/>

The confrontation marked Jan's formal rejection of the Great Paap succession. He did not believe the Book of Paap's prophecy and refused the religious responsibilities attached to the title.<ref name="great-paap-succession"/> He severed ties with Martinus, who later tried repeatedly to restore contact through letters and relatives. Jan refused.<ref name="martinus-great-paap"/>

Martinus remained Great Paap while Martin I received custodial preparation as the replacement heir. Martin I succeeded him after Martinus was convicted of war crimes on 28 October 1948.<ref name="great-paap-succession"/>

Paap was punished for the airfield fight and temporarily removed from Grenadier-Regiment 78. From January until 6 March 1943, he served with the divisional supply troops of the 26. Infanterie-Division. After returning to 2./Grenadier-Regiment 78, he repeatedly shot Soviet soldiers after they had surrendered. Some officers were aware of the killings and did not punish him. Paap also carried them out during periods when direct supervision was limited.

During the fighting west of [[Kursk]] in July 1943, Paap became increasingly frustrated that his formation remained in a defensive sector while other German formations conducted the main offensive. He led a small group out of its position in an unauthorized attack. Soviet fire stopped the advance and several of the soldiers who followed him were killed. Paap showed little concern for the casualties after returning to the German position. He was court-martialled for disobedience and received a one-year military prison sentence. The sentence was suspended while the war continued, and he was transferred to a probationary front-line unit.

In August 1943, Paap joined 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] in the Kuban. He reacted to the transfer by becoming increasingly reckless in combat and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire. He also continued killing Soviet prisoners and wounded soldiers after positions had been taken. His Gruppenführer, an ''Unteroffizier'' from the battalion's supervisory cadre, physically abused him during disputes and repeatedly assigned him exposed duties. On 28 August 1943, Paap killed the NCO while they were away from the rest of the unit. The Gruppenführer was believed to have died during a shootout with Soviet troops. Paap's responsibility was not known during the war and became public only when he admitted the killing in a later memoir.

Paap remained with the battalion during the fighting around [[Melitopol]] in September 1943. In late October, while the battalion was operating near [[Kryvyi Rih]], he met [[Georg Schäfer]], an SS-Untersturmführer commanding a motor-transport platoon in the divisional supply troops of the [[3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf]]. The two became friends.

On 17 January 1944, Paap decided to desert. He contacted Schäfer through [[Feldpost]] and met him near Kryvyi Rih on 23 January. Schäfer agreed to help because of their friendship, while Paap also paid him for taking the risk. Schäfer provided civilian clothing and a forged civilian identity document, then carried Paap west with one of his transport movements before leaving him in [[Uman]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap continued alone. From Uman he travelled through [[Lviv]] and [[Kraków]], then crossed Germany and occupied France. After reaching the [[Bayonne]] area, he paid a Basque guide to take him across the [[Pyrenees]] into [[Spain]]. He travelled to [[A Coruña]] and obtained passage on a merchant vessel to [[Buenos Aires]]. From there he travelled south by coastal shipping to [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] and reached nearby [[Rada Tilly]] overland on 13 May 1944.

== Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen ==

Paap founded the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in Rada Tilly on the day of his arrival, 13 May 1944.<ref name="formation-arrival"/> He began recruitment through small cells in Patagonia and learned Spanish while preparing the expedition. At one of the early recruitment meetings in Comodoro Rivadavia, he met [[Jose Alem]], then a ''Cabo'' in Regimiento de Infantería 8. Alem quickly became devoted to Paap and followed his decisions without challenging his authority. He remained in the Argentine Army for a short period while helping recruit a few fellow soldiers. Alem and several of those men deserted shortly before the expedition left Argentina.

Paap retained direct control over the Argentine Einsatz. He personally checked recruitment work, transport preparations and the vessels intended for the expedition. He demanded that information be brought directly to him and became impatient when work was delayed. By August, the organization had approximately 3,400 members.<ref name="argentine-recruitment"/> The expedition departed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia on 28 July 1944 using both chartered merchant vessels and ships seized for the voyage. During the crossing, Paap ordered one member who had repeatedly disobeyed him to jump overboard. Paap refused to stop the expedition to recover him, and the man drowned.

The expedition reached Tanoa on 9 August 1944 and landed first on [[Ravi-Ta]].<ref name="argentine-expedition"/> Paap personally directed the landing and ordered native inhabitants to begin forced construction of the first barracks and command facilities. He remained on Ravi-Ta during the first days and closely supervised the establishment of the base. The Argentine Einsatz was reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]], with Paap as Führer. Jose Alem entered the senior leadership after the landing and became the first [[Reichsführer-SS]] when the [[Allgemeine SS]] was formed.<ref name="argentine-reorganization"/>

On 15 August, Paap crossed to the main Tanoan landmass and ordered the occupation of [[Nasua]]. Its inhabitants resisted, the resistance was suppressed and the surviving population was enslaved. Paap remained there for several days before continuing the advance. On 18 August, he ordered the occupation of [[Momea]] and then moved rapidly toward [[La Rochelle]]. At La Rochelle, Paap issued a written order imposing reproductive coercion on adult native captives throughout territory under his control. The policy was intended to increase the future enslaved population.

Paap continued west and personally ordered [[Savu]] burned during its occupation. The destruction and killings became known as the [[1944 Savu massacre]]. He then advanced toward [[Saint-Paul]], where local resistance was suppressed and the surviving inhabitants were enslaved. His forces initially passed [[Petit Nicolet]] without occupying it. They later returned to impose the new administration. Most inhabitants who resisted during the return were shot, while the survivors were enslaved. Forced labour remained central to construction and resource extraction as Paap's control expanded across Tanoa.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap founded the [[NSTAP]] in 1944 as the ruling political organization of the new state. On 8 May 1945, following the German surrender, he personally authorized [[Operation Sternzug]] to obtain German rocket personnel and technical records. The first copied V-2 archive reached Tanoan custody in June.<ref name="weltraum-origins"/> During 1945, he also established the [[Paapjugend]] and the [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

On 10 October 1945, Paap founded [[Georgetown]]. He personally selected the site because he preferred the location and named the city after Georg Schäfer.<ref name="georgetown-history"/> Georgetown became the main administrative centre of the regime. In 1949, Paap named the [[1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche"]] after the birth of [[Chiche Alem]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

== Rule as Führer ==

Paap held supreme authority over the state throughout his rule. Major political decisions remained subordinate to him, and no independent legislature or judiciary limited the office of Führer.<ref name="government-leadership"/> He routinely demanded direct reports from subordinate officials and intervened personally in matters that could otherwise have been delegated. Forced labour was expanded for construction and resource extraction. Security forces confiscated property, punished resistance and carried out killings without judicial proceedings.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

In 1950, Paap established the [[Oberkommando der Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] as the central command authority of the state. The same year, he proposed the [[Reichsvilla]] project. Construction planning began, but the project was later abandoned after resistance activity disrupted the work. Paap also continued expanding the administrative offices placed under his authority. The [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]] introduced the [[Tanoanische Reichsmark]], whose coins carried Paap's portrait.<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/>

In 1952, Paap authorized a biological reconstruction programme intended to revive extinct species for military use. The first successful prototype was produced in 1956 and the programme developed into the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/> In 1953, Patagonia came under de facto Tanoan control. Paap continued to intervene directly in government during the following decade, while additional administrative offices remained subordinate to the Führer. Argentina was formally annexed in 1965 and brought under the regime's financial and population-control systems.<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s"/>

During the 1970s, Paap oversaw the [[Tanoa Einsatz Expansionist Campaign]]. [[Liberia]] was placed under the puppet administration of [[Großliberia]] in 1974. [[Fiji]] was annexed in 1975 and placed under direct military rule. In 1976, Paap's government introduced the [[Neger Buch]] as a compulsory registration document for native inhabitants of Tanoa. [[Rwanda]] became a Tanoan puppet state in 1979.<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s"/>

== Retirement and death ==

During the late 1970s, Paap selected his son [[Eef Paap]] as his successor. He formally retired in January 1980 after thirty-six years as Führer. Eef was formally promoted during a state ceremony in Georgetown on 6 November 1980. Because Eef was still a child, Jan continued advising him until 1987.<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s"/><ref name="eef-succession"/>

Paap remained in Tanoa after withdrawing from government. The date of his death was not documented and has been estimated as occurring between 1999 and 2005. Old age was generally given as the cause. After the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen, members of the [[Fish Collective]] claimed that fragmented records recovered from the [[Führerhaus]] indicated that Eef may have killed Jan in 2005 to secure undisputed control of the regime. The surviving records did not establish the claim conclusively.

== See also ==
* [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Argentine Einsatz]]
* [[Führer of Tanoa]]
* [[Eef Paap]]
* [[Great Paap]]
* [[Book of Paap]]
* [[Glöbbery]]
* [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
* [[Martin Paap I]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="antonie-military">"[[Antonie Ronald Paap#Military service|Military service]]". ''Antonie Ronald Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-expedition">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Expedition to Tanoa|Expedition to Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="formation-arrival">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Formation and arrival in Tanoa|Formation and arrival in Tanoa]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-recruitment">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Recruitment and preparation|Recruitment and preparation]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-reorganization">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Reorganization in Tanoa|Reorganization in Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="eef-succession">"[[Eef Paap#Succession|Succession]]". ''Eef Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="georgetown-history">"[[Georgetown#History|History]]". ''Georgetown''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="globbery-members">"[[Glöbbery#Members|Members]]". ''Glöbbery''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="government-leadership">"[[Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Leadership principle|Leadership principle]]". ''Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="great-paap-succession">"[[Great Paap#Succession|Succession]]". ''Great Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-great-paap">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Great Paap|Great Paap]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1940s|The 1940s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1950s|The 1950s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1960s|The 1960s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1970s|The 1970s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1980s|The 1980s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="weltraum-origins">"[[Weltraumgruppen#Origins and formation|Origins and formation]]". ''Weltraumgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Vaders]]
[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:Paap family members]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Glöbberists]]
[[Category:Military personnel]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Jan Paap

2026-08-21T18:05:50Z

Walter61:

{{Infobox person
| name = Jan Paap
| image = Jan Paap, c 1970.png
| caption = Jan Paap, c 1970
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|1|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Warendorf]], [[Germany]]
| death_date = 1999–2005
| death_place = [[Tanoa]]
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = Founder of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| height = 1.90 m
| political_party = [[NSTAP]]
| children = {{hlist|[[Eef Paap]]|[[Daniel Paap]]|[[Richard Nicolaas Paap]]}}
| father = [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
| mother = [[Elsbeth Kranz]]
| relatives = {{plainlist|
* [[Martin Paap I]] (brother)
* [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] (cousin)
}}
| family = [[Paap family]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = [[Führer of Tanoa]]
| term_start = 13 May 1944
| term_end = January 1980
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = [[Eef Paap]]
| office1 = Leader of the [[Argentine Einsatz]]
| term_start1 = 13 May 1944
| term_end1 = 9 August 1944
| predecessor1 = Organization established
| successor1 = Organization reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| branch = [[Heer]]
| serviceyears = 1936–1944
| rank = [[Gefreiter]]
| unit = {{plainlist|
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] (March–October 1936)
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] (1936–1942)
* 2./[[Grenadier-Regiment 78]] (1942–January 1943, March–July 1943)
* [[Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 26]] (January–March 1943)
* 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] (August 1943–January 1944)
}}
| battles =
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Battle of France]]
** [[Eastern Front (Second World War)|Eastern Front]]
*** [[Operation Barbarossa]]
*** [[Battle of Rzhev]]
*** [[Battle of Kursk]]
*** [[Battle of the Caucasus]]
*** [[Melitopol offensive]]
}}
}}

'''Jan Paap''' (21 January 1919 – between 1999 and 2005) was a German-born dictator and former [[Heer]] soldier who founded the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]. He served as the first [[Führer of Tanoa]] from 1944 until his retirement in January 1980. Paap deserted from the [[Eastern Front]] in 1944, reached [[Argentina]] and formed the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in [[Rada Tilly]] on 13 May. He led its expedition to [[Tanoa]], where he established a centralized dictatorship that later expanded beyond the island. His son [[Eef Paap]] succeeded him as Führer.<ref name="argentine-history"/><ref name="government-leadership"/>

== Early life ==

Jan Paap was born in [[Warendorf]], Germany, on 21 January 1919. He was the younger son of [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]] and [[Elsbeth Kranz]], and his older brother was [[Martin Paap I]]. Martinus intended Jan to succeed him as [[Great Paap]] and inherit responsibility for the [[Book of Paap]].<ref name="martinus-personal"/><ref name="great-paap-rejection"/> Jan grew up in Warendorf and began attending the ''Volksschule der Alten Pfarre'' in 1925. He completed the normal eight-year course in 1933.

In 1934, Paap began breaking into bakeries in Warendorf at night. He stole food and money, damaged the interiors and wrote demonic remarks on the walls. In 1935, he was caught during one of the break-ins and spent one week in detention. Martinus imposed stricter rules after his release, but Jan repeatedly ignored them. In 1936, Martinus used his military contacts to arrange his early voluntary entry into the German Army, intending military discipline to bring his behaviour under control.

== Military service ==

Paap entered 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] at [[Münster]] in March 1936, aged 17. During training he repeatedly tried to control other recruits and gave them instructions despite holding no authority over them. His NCOs found that other soldiers often followed him and began giving him small responsibilities during exercises. He remained a ''Schütze''. When the regiment was reorganized on 6 October 1936, Paap continued with his battalion as a member of 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] at [[Aachen]]. He was promoted to ''Oberschütze'' on 1 March 1937.

On 19 June 1937, Paap was arrested in Aachen after being caught having sexual intercourse in public while off duty. The arrest was reported to his company and he received a formal reprimand. Other soldiers began calling him "the Street Pervert". Paap resented the nickname and reacted aggressively when it was used. In 1938, another soldier refused an attempt by Paap to order him around and then used the nickname. Paap attacked him and injured him badly enough to require treatment in the infirmary. He received military confinement and another disciplinary entry, which contributed to the delay of his next promotion.

During 1938, Paap also became more committed to [[Glöbbery]]. An older German businessman in Aachen introduced him to the order and arranged his first visit to [[Festung Glöbbelhart]] in Switzerland. Paap became a Glöbberist that year.<ref name="globbery-members"/> His military conduct continued to deteriorate during 1939. He argued with NCOs and remained controlling toward other soldiers, although his officers increasingly tolerated his conduct after mobilization. Paap was promoted to [[Gefreiter]] on 3 April 1940.

Paap served with Infanterie-Regiment 78 during the 1940 western campaign. During the advance through Luxembourg and northern France, he assaulted civilians both during military searches and without an immediate operational reason. His superiors responded by removing him from duties that regularly brought him into contact with civilians and kept him with the front-line elements of his company. He remained largely free of further formal disciplinary action through the occupation period in France.

In June 1941, Paap moved east with the [[26. Infanterie-Division]] for [[Operation Barbarossa]]. By 1943, Infanterie-Regiment 78 had been redesignated [[Grenadier-Regiment 78]]. On 6 January 1943, Paap encountered his cousin [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] at the recently recaptured Rzhev airfield. Hundreds of German soldiers were passing through the damaged airfield when the two recognized each other. Antonie raised Jan's expected succession as Great Paap and spoke in defence of the Book of Paap. Jan told him that he rejected the book and did not intend to take the title. Antonie accused him of betraying the Paap family, and the argument became a fight. Antonie fought back, but Jan overpowered him and knocked out several of his teeth before officers separated them.<ref name="antonie-military"/>

The confrontation marked Jan's formal rejection of the Great Paap succession. He severed ties with Martinus and rejected the religious responsibilities associated with the title.<ref name="great-paap-rejection"/> Martinus remained Great Paap until his conviction for war crimes on 28 October 1948, when Martin Paap I succeeded him. Martinus later tried repeatedly to restore contact through letters and relatives, but Jan refused.<ref name="martinus-great-paap"/>

Paap was punished for the airfield fight and temporarily removed from Grenadier-Regiment 78. From January until 6 March 1943, he served with the divisional supply troops of the 26. Infanterie-Division. After returning to 2./Grenadier-Regiment 78, he repeatedly shot Soviet soldiers after they had surrendered. Some officers were aware of the killings and did not punish him. Paap also carried them out during periods when direct supervision was limited.

During the fighting west of [[Kursk]] in July 1943, Paap became increasingly frustrated that his formation remained in a defensive sector while other German formations conducted the main offensive. He led a small group out of its position in an unauthorized attack. Soviet fire stopped the advance and several of the soldiers who followed him were killed. Paap showed little concern for the casualties after returning to the German position. He was court-martialled for disobedience and received a one-year military prison sentence. The sentence was suspended while the war continued, and he was transferred to a probationary front-line unit.

In August 1943, Paap joined 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] in the Kuban. He reacted to the transfer by becoming increasingly reckless in combat and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire. He also continued killing Soviet prisoners and wounded soldiers after positions had been taken. His Gruppenführer, an ''Unteroffizier'' from the battalion's supervisory cadre, physically abused him during disputes and repeatedly assigned him exposed duties. On 28 August 1943, Paap killed the NCO while they were away from the rest of the unit. The Gruppenführer was believed to have died during a shootout with Soviet troops. Paap's responsibility was not known during the war and became public only when he admitted the killing in a later memoir.

Paap remained with the battalion during the fighting around [[Melitopol]] in September 1943. In late October, while the battalion was operating near [[Kryvyi Rih]], he met [[Georg Schäfer]], an SS-Untersturmführer commanding a motor-transport platoon in the divisional supply troops of the [[3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf]]. The two became friends.

On 17 January 1944, Paap decided to desert. He contacted Schäfer through [[Feldpost]] and met him near Kryvyi Rih on 23 January. Schäfer agreed to help because of their friendship, while Paap also paid him for taking the risk. Schäfer provided civilian clothing and a forged civilian identity document, then carried Paap west with one of his transport movements before leaving him in [[Uman]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap continued alone. From Uman he travelled through [[Lviv]] and [[Kraków]], then crossed Germany and occupied France. After reaching the [[Bayonne]] area, he paid a Basque guide to take him across the [[Pyrenees]] into [[Spain]]. He travelled to [[A Coruña]] and obtained passage on a merchant vessel to [[Buenos Aires]]. From there he travelled south by coastal shipping to [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] and reached nearby [[Rada Tilly]] overland on 13 May 1944.

== Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen ==

Paap founded the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in Rada Tilly on the day of his arrival, 13 May 1944.<ref name="argentine-formation"/> He began recruitment through small cells in Patagonia and learned Spanish while preparing the expedition. At one of the early recruitment meetings in Comodoro Rivadavia, he met [[Jose Alem]], then a ''Cabo'' in Regimiento de Infantería 8. Alem quickly became devoted to Paap and followed his decisions without challenging his authority. He remained in the Argentine Army for a short period while helping recruit a few fellow soldiers. Alem and several of those men deserted shortly before the expedition left Argentina.

Paap retained direct control over the Argentine Einsatz. He personally checked recruitment work, transport preparations and the vessels intended for the expedition. He demanded that information be brought directly to him and became impatient when work was delayed. By August, the organization had approximately 3,400 members.<ref name="argentine-recruitment"/> The expedition departed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia on 28 July 1944 using both chartered merchant vessels and ships seized for the voyage. During the crossing, Paap ordered one member who had repeatedly disobeyed him to jump overboard. Paap refused to stop the expedition to recover him, and the man drowned.

The expedition reached Tanoa on 9 August 1944 and landed first on [[Ravi-Ta]].<ref name="argentine-expedition"/> Paap personally directed the landing and ordered native inhabitants to begin forced construction of the first barracks and command facilities. He remained on Ravi-Ta during the first days and closely supervised the establishment of the base. The Argentine Einsatz was reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]], with Paap as Führer. Jose Alem entered the senior leadership after the landing and became the first [[Reichsführer-SS]] when the [[Allgemeine SS]] was formed.<ref name="argentine-reorganization"/>

On 15 August, Paap crossed to the main Tanoan landmass and ordered the occupation of [[Nasua]]. Its inhabitants resisted, the resistance was suppressed and the surviving population was enslaved. Paap remained there for several days before continuing the advance. On 18 August, he ordered the occupation of [[Momea]] and then moved rapidly toward [[La Rochelle]]. At La Rochelle, Paap issued a written order imposing reproductive coercion on adult native captives throughout territory under his control. The policy was intended to increase the future enslaved population.

Paap continued west and personally ordered [[Savu]] burned during its occupation. The destruction and killings became known as the [[1944 Savu massacre]]. He then advanced toward [[Saint-Paul]], where local resistance was suppressed and the surviving inhabitants were enslaved. His forces initially passed [[Petit Nicolet]] without occupying it. They later returned to impose the new administration. Most inhabitants who resisted during the return were shot, while the survivors were enslaved. Forced labour remained central to construction and resource extraction as Paap's control expanded across Tanoa.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap founded the [[NSTAP]] in 1944 as the ruling political organization of the new state. On 8 May 1945, following the German surrender, he personally authorized [[Operation Sternzug]] to obtain German rocket personnel and technical records. The first copied V-2 archive reached Tanoan custody in June.<ref name="weltraum-origins"/> During 1945, he also established the [[Paapjugend]] and the [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

On 10 October 1945, Paap founded [[Georgetown]]. He personally selected the site because he preferred the location and named the city after Georg Schäfer.<ref name="georgetown-history"/> Georgetown became the main administrative centre of the regime. In 1949, Paap named the [[1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche"]] after the birth of [[Chiche Alem]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

== Rule as Führer ==

Paap held supreme authority over the state throughout his rule. Major political decisions remained subordinate to him, and no independent legislature or judiciary limited the office of Führer.<ref name="government-leadership"/> He routinely demanded direct reports from subordinate officials and intervened personally in matters that could otherwise have been delegated. Forced labour was expanded for construction and resource extraction. Security forces confiscated property, punished resistance and carried out killings without judicial proceedings.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

In 1950, Paap established the [[Oberkommando der Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] as the central command authority of the state. The same year, he proposed the [[Reichsvilla]] project. Construction planning began, but the project was later abandoned after resistance activity disrupted the work. Paap also continued expanding the administrative offices placed under his authority. The [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]] introduced the [[Tanoanische Reichsmark]], whose coins carried Paap's portrait.<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/>

In 1952, Paap authorized a biological reconstruction programme intended to revive extinct species for military use. The first successful prototype was produced in 1956 and the programme developed into the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/> In 1953, Patagonia came under de facto Tanoan control. Paap continued to intervene directly in government during the following decade, while additional administrative offices remained subordinate to the Führer. Argentina was formally annexed in 1965 and brought under the regime's financial and population-control systems.<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s"/>

During the 1970s, Paap oversaw the [[Tanoa Einsatz Expansionist Campaign]]. [[Liberia]] was placed under the puppet administration of [[Großliberia]] in 1974. [[Fiji]] was annexed in 1975 and placed under direct military rule. In 1976, Paap's government introduced the [[Neger Buch]] as a compulsory registration document for native inhabitants of Tanoa. [[Rwanda]] became a Tanoan puppet state in 1979.<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s"/>

== Retirement and death ==

During the late 1970s, Paap selected his son [[Eef Paap]] as his successor. He formally retired in January 1980 after thirty-six years as Führer. Eef was formally promoted during a state ceremony in Georgetown on 6 November 1980. Because Eef was still a child, Jan continued advising him until 1987.<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s"/><ref name="eef-succession"/>

Paap remained in Tanoa after withdrawing from government. The date of his death was not documented and has been estimated as occurring between 1999 and 2005. Old age was generally given as the cause. After the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen, members of the [[Fish Collective]] claimed that fragmented records recovered from the [[Führerhaus]] indicated that Eef may have killed Jan in 2005 to secure undisputed control of the regime. The surviving records did not establish the claim conclusively.

== See also ==
* [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Argentine Einsatz]]
* [[Führer of Tanoa]]
* [[Eef Paap]]
* [[Great Paap]]
* [[Book of Paap]]
* [[Glöbbery]]
* [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
* [[Martin Paap I]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="antonie-military">"[[Antonie Ronald Paap#Military service|Military service]]". ''Antonie Ronald Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-expedition">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Expedition to Tanoa|Expedition to Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-formation">"[[Argentine Einsatz#History|History]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-history">"[[Argentine Einsatz#History|History]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-recruitment">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Recruitment and preparation|Recruitment and preparation]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-reorganization">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Reorganization in Tanoa|Reorganization in Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="eef-succession">"[[Eef Paap#Succession|Succession]]". ''Eef Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="georgetown-history">"[[Georgetown#History|History]]". ''Georgetown''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="globbery-members">"[[Glöbbery#Members|Members]]". ''Glöbbery''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="government-leadership">"[[Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Leadership principle|Leadership principle]]". ''Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="great-paap-rejection">"[[Great Paap#Jan Paap's rejection|Jan Paap's rejection]]". ''Great Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-great-paap">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Great Paap|Great Paap]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-personal">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Personal life|Personal life]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1940s|The 1940s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1950s|The 1950s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1960s|The 1960s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1970s|The 1970s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1980s|The 1980s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="weltraum-origins">"[[Weltraumgruppen#Origins and formation|Origins and formation]]". ''Weltraumgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Vaders]]
[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:Paap family members]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Glöbberists]]
[[Category:Military personnel]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

File:Jan Paap, c 1970.png

2026-08-21T18:05:12Z

Walter61:

Jan Paap

2026-08-21T18:03:26Z

Walter61: Added image

{{Infobox person
| name = Jan Paap
| image = Jan Paap, c 1970.png
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|1|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Warendorf]], [[Germany]]
| death_date = 1999–2005
| death_place = [[Tanoa]]
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = Founder of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| height = 1.90 m
| political_party = [[NSTAP]]
| children = {{hlist|[[Eef Paap]]|[[Daniel Paap]]|[[Richard Nicolaas Paap]]}}
| father = [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
| mother = [[Elsbeth Kranz]]
| relatives = {{plainlist|
* [[Martin Paap I]] (brother)
* [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] (cousin)
}}
| family = [[Paap family]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = [[Führer of Tanoa]]
| term_start = 13 May 1944
| term_end = January 1980
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = [[Eef Paap]]
| office1 = Leader of the [[Argentine Einsatz]]
| term_start1 = 13 May 1944
| term_end1 = 9 August 1944
| predecessor1 = Organization established
| successor1 = Organization reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| branch = [[Heer]]
| serviceyears = 1936–1944
| rank = [[Gefreiter]]
| unit = {{plainlist|
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] (March–October 1936)
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] (1936–1942)
* 2./[[Grenadier-Regiment 78]] (1942–January 1943, March–July 1943)
* [[Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 26]] (January–March 1943)
* 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] (August 1943–January 1944)
}}
| battles =
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Battle of France]]
** [[Eastern Front (Second World War)|Eastern Front]]
*** [[Operation Barbarossa]]
*** [[Battle of Rzhev]]
*** [[Battle of Kursk]]
*** [[Battle of the Caucasus]]
*** [[Melitopol offensive]]
}}
}}

'''Jan Paap''' (21 January 1919 – between 1999 and 2005) was a German-born dictator and former [[Heer]] soldier who founded the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]. He served as the first [[Führer of Tanoa]] from 1944 until his retirement in January 1980. Paap deserted from the [[Eastern Front]] in 1944, reached [[Argentina]] and formed the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in [[Rada Tilly]] on 13 May. He led its expedition to [[Tanoa]], where he established a centralized dictatorship that later expanded beyond the island. His son [[Eef Paap]] succeeded him as Führer.<ref name="argentine-history"/><ref name="government-leadership"/>

== Early life ==

Jan Paap was born in [[Warendorf]], Germany, on 21 January 1919. He was the younger son of [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]] and [[Elsbeth Kranz]], and his older brother was [[Martin Paap I]]. Martinus intended Jan to succeed him as [[Great Paap]] and inherit responsibility for the [[Book of Paap]].<ref name="martinus-personal"/><ref name="great-paap-rejection"/> Jan grew up in Warendorf and began attending the ''Volksschule der Alten Pfarre'' in 1925. He completed the normal eight-year course in 1933.

In 1934, Paap began breaking into bakeries in Warendorf at night. He stole food and money, damaged the interiors and wrote demonic remarks on the walls. In 1935, he was caught during one of the break-ins and spent one week in detention. Martinus imposed stricter rules after his release, but Jan repeatedly ignored them. In 1936, Martinus used his military contacts to arrange his early voluntary entry into the German Army, intending military discipline to bring his behaviour under control.

== Military service ==

Paap entered 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] at [[Münster]] in March 1936, aged 17. During training he repeatedly tried to control other recruits and gave them instructions despite holding no authority over them. His NCOs found that other soldiers often followed him and began giving him small responsibilities during exercises. He remained a ''Schütze''. When the regiment was reorganized on 6 October 1936, Paap continued with his battalion as a member of 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] at [[Aachen]]. He was promoted to ''Oberschütze'' on 1 March 1937.

On 19 June 1937, Paap was arrested in Aachen after being caught having sexual intercourse in public while off duty. The arrest was reported to his company and he received a formal reprimand. Other soldiers began calling him "the Street Pervert". Paap resented the nickname and reacted aggressively when it was used. In 1938, another soldier refused an attempt by Paap to order him around and then used the nickname. Paap attacked him and injured him badly enough to require treatment in the infirmary. He received military confinement and another disciplinary entry, which contributed to the delay of his next promotion.

During 1938, Paap also became more committed to [[Glöbbery]]. An older German businessman in Aachen introduced him to the order and arranged his first visit to [[Festung Glöbbelhart]] in Switzerland. Paap became a Glöbberist that year.<ref name="globbery-members"/> His military conduct continued to deteriorate during 1939. He argued with NCOs and remained controlling toward other soldiers, although his officers increasingly tolerated his conduct after mobilization. Paap was promoted to [[Gefreiter]] on 3 April 1940.

Paap served with Infanterie-Regiment 78 during the 1940 western campaign. During the advance through Luxembourg and northern France, he assaulted civilians both during military searches and without an immediate operational reason. His superiors responded by removing him from duties that regularly brought him into contact with civilians and kept him with the front-line elements of his company. He remained largely free of further formal disciplinary action through the occupation period in France.

In June 1941, Paap moved east with the [[26. Infanterie-Division]] for [[Operation Barbarossa]]. By 1943, Infanterie-Regiment 78 had been redesignated [[Grenadier-Regiment 78]]. On 6 January 1943, Paap encountered his cousin [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] at the recently recaptured Rzhev airfield. Hundreds of German soldiers were passing through the damaged airfield when the two recognized each other. Antonie raised Jan's expected succession as Great Paap and spoke in defence of the Book of Paap. Jan told him that he rejected the book and did not intend to take the title. Antonie accused him of betraying the Paap family, and the argument became a fight. Antonie fought back, but Jan overpowered him and knocked out several of his teeth before officers separated them.<ref name="antonie-military"/>

The confrontation marked Jan's formal rejection of the Great Paap succession. He severed ties with Martinus and rejected the religious responsibilities associated with the title.<ref name="great-paap-rejection"/> Martinus remained Great Paap until his conviction for war crimes on 28 October 1948, when Martin Paap I succeeded him. Martinus later tried repeatedly to restore contact through letters and relatives, but Jan refused.<ref name="martinus-great-paap"/>

Paap was punished for the airfield fight and temporarily removed from Grenadier-Regiment 78. From January until 6 March 1943, he served with the divisional supply troops of the 26. Infanterie-Division. After returning to 2./Grenadier-Regiment 78, he repeatedly shot Soviet soldiers after they had surrendered. Some officers were aware of the killings and did not punish him. Paap also carried them out during periods when direct supervision was limited.

During the fighting west of [[Kursk]] in July 1943, Paap became increasingly frustrated that his formation remained in a defensive sector while other German formations conducted the main offensive. He led a small group out of its position in an unauthorized attack. Soviet fire stopped the advance and several of the soldiers who followed him were killed. Paap showed little concern for the casualties after returning to the German position. He was court-martialled for disobedience and received a one-year military prison sentence. The sentence was suspended while the war continued, and he was transferred to a probationary front-line unit.

In August 1943, Paap joined 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] in the Kuban. He reacted to the transfer by becoming increasingly reckless in combat and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire. He also continued killing Soviet prisoners and wounded soldiers after positions had been taken. His Gruppenführer, an ''Unteroffizier'' from the battalion's supervisory cadre, physically abused him during disputes and repeatedly assigned him exposed duties. On 28 August 1943, Paap killed the NCO while they were away from the rest of the unit. The Gruppenführer was believed to have died during a shootout with Soviet troops. Paap's responsibility was not known during the war and became public only when he admitted the killing in a later memoir.

Paap remained with the battalion during the fighting around [[Melitopol]] in September 1943. In late October, while the battalion was operating near [[Kryvyi Rih]], he met [[Georg Schäfer]], an SS-Untersturmführer commanding a motor-transport platoon in the divisional supply troops of the [[3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf]]. The two became friends.

On 17 January 1944, Paap decided to desert. He contacted Schäfer through [[Feldpost]] and met him near Kryvyi Rih on 23 January. Schäfer agreed to help because of their friendship, while Paap also paid him for taking the risk. Schäfer provided civilian clothing and a forged civilian identity document, then carried Paap west with one of his transport movements before leaving him in [[Uman]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap continued alone. From Uman he travelled through [[Lviv]] and [[Kraków]], then crossed Germany and occupied France. After reaching the [[Bayonne]] area, he paid a Basque guide to take him across the [[Pyrenees]] into [[Spain]]. He travelled to [[A Coruña]] and obtained passage on a merchant vessel to [[Buenos Aires]]. From there he travelled south by coastal shipping to [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] and reached nearby [[Rada Tilly]] overland on 13 May 1944.

== Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen ==

Paap founded the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in Rada Tilly on the day of his arrival, 13 May 1944.<ref name="argentine-formation"/> He began recruitment through small cells in Patagonia and learned Spanish while preparing the expedition. At one of the early recruitment meetings in Comodoro Rivadavia, he met [[Jose Alem]], then a ''Cabo'' in Regimiento de Infantería 8. Alem quickly became devoted to Paap and followed his decisions without challenging his authority. He remained in the Argentine Army for a short period while helping recruit a few fellow soldiers. Alem and several of those men deserted shortly before the expedition left Argentina.

Paap retained direct control over the Argentine Einsatz. He personally checked recruitment work, transport preparations and the vessels intended for the expedition. He demanded that information be brought directly to him and became impatient when work was delayed. By August, the organization had approximately 3,400 members.<ref name="argentine-recruitment"/> The expedition departed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia on 28 July 1944 using both chartered merchant vessels and ships seized for the voyage. During the crossing, Paap ordered one member who had repeatedly disobeyed him to jump overboard. Paap refused to stop the expedition to recover him, and the man drowned.

The expedition reached Tanoa on 9 August 1944 and landed first on [[Ravi-Ta]].<ref name="argentine-expedition"/> Paap personally directed the landing and ordered native inhabitants to begin forced construction of the first barracks and command facilities. He remained on Ravi-Ta during the first days and closely supervised the establishment of the base. The Argentine Einsatz was reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]], with Paap as Führer. Jose Alem entered the senior leadership after the landing and became the first [[Reichsführer-SS]] when the [[Allgemeine SS]] was formed.<ref name="argentine-reorganization"/>

On 15 August, Paap crossed to the main Tanoan landmass and ordered the occupation of [[Nasua]]. Its inhabitants resisted, the resistance was suppressed and the surviving population was enslaved. Paap remained there for several days before continuing the advance. On 18 August, he ordered the occupation of [[Momea]] and then moved rapidly toward [[La Rochelle]]. At La Rochelle, Paap issued a written order imposing reproductive coercion on adult native captives throughout territory under his control. The policy was intended to increase the future enslaved population.

Paap continued west and personally ordered [[Savu]] burned during its occupation. The destruction and killings became known as the [[1944 Savu massacre]]. He then advanced toward [[Saint-Paul]], where local resistance was suppressed and the surviving inhabitants were enslaved. His forces initially passed [[Petit Nicolet]] without occupying it. They later returned to impose the new administration. Most inhabitants who resisted during the return were shot, while the survivors were enslaved. Forced labour remained central to construction and resource extraction as Paap's control expanded across Tanoa.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap founded the [[NSTAP]] in 1944 as the ruling political organization of the new state. On 8 May 1945, following the German surrender, he personally authorized [[Operation Sternzug]] to obtain German rocket personnel and technical records. The first copied V-2 archive reached Tanoan custody in June.<ref name="weltraum-origins"/> During 1945, he also established the [[Paapjugend]] and the [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

On 10 October 1945, Paap founded [[Georgetown]]. He personally selected the site because he preferred the location and named the city after Georg Schäfer.<ref name="georgetown-history"/> Georgetown became the main administrative centre of the regime. In 1949, Paap named the [[1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche"]] after the birth of [[Chiche Alem]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

== Rule as Führer ==

Paap held supreme authority over the state throughout his rule. Major political decisions remained subordinate to him, and no independent legislature or judiciary limited the office of Führer.<ref name="government-leadership"/> He routinely demanded direct reports from subordinate officials and intervened personally in matters that could otherwise have been delegated. Forced labour was expanded for construction and resource extraction. Security forces confiscated property, punished resistance and carried out killings without judicial proceedings.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

In 1950, Paap established the [[Oberkommando der Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] as the central command authority of the state. The same year, he proposed the [[Reichsvilla]] project. Construction planning began, but the project was later abandoned after resistance activity disrupted the work. Paap also continued expanding the administrative offices placed under his authority. The [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]] introduced the [[Tanoanische Reichsmark]], whose coins carried Paap's portrait.<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/>

In 1952, Paap authorized a biological reconstruction programme intended to revive extinct species for military use. The first successful prototype was produced in 1956 and the programme developed into the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/> In 1953, Patagonia came under de facto Tanoan control. Paap continued to intervene directly in government during the following decade, while additional administrative offices remained subordinate to the Führer. Argentina was formally annexed in 1965 and brought under the regime's financial and population-control systems.<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s"/>

During the 1970s, Paap oversaw the [[Tanoa Einsatz Expansionist Campaign]]. [[Liberia]] was placed under the puppet administration of [[Großliberia]] in 1974. [[Fiji]] was annexed in 1975 and placed under direct military rule. In 1976, Paap's government introduced the [[Neger Buch]] as a compulsory registration document for native inhabitants of Tanoa. [[Rwanda]] became a Tanoan puppet state in 1979.<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s"/>

== Retirement and death ==

During the late 1970s, Paap selected his son [[Eef Paap]] as his successor. He formally retired in January 1980 after thirty-six years as Führer. Eef was formally promoted during a state ceremony in Georgetown on 6 November 1980. Because Eef was still a child, Jan continued advising him until 1987.<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s"/><ref name="eef-succession"/>

Paap remained in Tanoa after withdrawing from government. The date of his death was not documented and has been estimated as occurring between 1999 and 2005. Old age was generally given as the cause. After the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen, members of the [[Fish Collective]] claimed that fragmented records recovered from the [[Führerhaus]] indicated that Eef may have killed Jan in 2005 to secure undisputed control of the regime. The surviving records did not establish the claim conclusively.

== See also ==
* [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Argentine Einsatz]]
* [[Führer of Tanoa]]
* [[Eef Paap]]
* [[Great Paap]]
* [[Book of Paap]]
* [[Glöbbery]]
* [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
* [[Martin Paap I]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="antonie-military">"[[Antonie Ronald Paap#Military service|Military service]]". ''Antonie Ronald Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-expedition">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Expedition to Tanoa|Expedition to Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-formation">"[[Argentine Einsatz#History|History]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-history">"[[Argentine Einsatz#History|History]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-recruitment">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Recruitment and preparation|Recruitment and preparation]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-reorganization">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Reorganization in Tanoa|Reorganization in Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="eef-succession">"[[Eef Paap#Succession|Succession]]". ''Eef Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="georgetown-history">"[[Georgetown#History|History]]". ''Georgetown''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="globbery-members">"[[Glöbbery#Members|Members]]". ''Glöbbery''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="government-leadership">"[[Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Leadership principle|Leadership principle]]". ''Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="great-paap-rejection">"[[Great Paap#Jan Paap's rejection|Jan Paap's rejection]]". ''Great Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-great-paap">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Great Paap|Great Paap]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-personal">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Personal life|Personal life]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1940s|The 1940s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1950s|The 1950s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1960s|The 1960s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1970s|The 1970s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1980s|The 1980s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="weltraum-origins">"[[Weltraumgruppen#Origins and formation|Origins and formation]]". ''Weltraumgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Vaders]]
[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:Paap family members]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Glöbberists]]
[[Category:Military personnel]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Jan Paap

2026-08-21T17:57:05Z

Walter61:

{{Infobox person
| name = Jan Paap
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|1|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Warendorf]], [[Germany]]
| death_date = 1999–2005
| death_place = [[Tanoa]]
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = Founder of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| height = 1.90 m
| political_party = [[NSTAP]]
| children = {{hlist|[[Eef Paap]]|[[Daniel Paap]]|[[Richard Nicolaas Paap]]}}
| father = [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
| mother = [[Elsbeth Kranz]]
| relatives = {{plainlist|
* [[Martin Paap I]] (brother)
* [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] (cousin)
}}
| family = [[Paap family]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = [[Führer of Tanoa]]
| term_start = 13 May 1944
| term_end = January 1980
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = [[Eef Paap]]
| office1 = Leader of the [[Argentine Einsatz]]
| term_start1 = 13 May 1944
| term_end1 = 9 August 1944
| predecessor1 = Organization established
| successor1 = Organization reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| branch = [[Heer]]
| serviceyears = 1936–1944
| rank = [[Gefreiter]]
| unit = {{plainlist|
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] (March–October 1936)
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] (1936–1942)
* 2./[[Grenadier-Regiment 78]] (1942–January 1943, March–July 1943)
* [[Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 26]] (January–March 1943)
* 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] (August 1943–January 1944)
}}
| battles =
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Battle of France]]
** [[Eastern Front (Second World War)|Eastern Front]]
*** [[Operation Barbarossa]]
*** [[Battle of Rzhev]]
*** [[Battle of Kursk]]
*** [[Battle of the Caucasus]]
*** [[Melitopol offensive]]
}}
}}

'''Jan Paap''' (21 January 1919 – between 1999 and 2005) was a German-born dictator and former [[Heer]] soldier who founded the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]. He served as the first [[Führer of Tanoa]] from 1944 until his retirement in January 1980. Paap deserted from the [[Eastern Front]] in 1944, reached [[Argentina]] and formed the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in [[Rada Tilly]] on 13 May. He led its expedition to [[Tanoa]], where he established a centralized dictatorship that later expanded beyond the island. His son [[Eef Paap]] succeeded him as Führer.<ref name="argentine-history"/><ref name="government-leadership"/>

== Early life ==

Jan Paap was born in [[Warendorf]], Germany, on 21 January 1919. He was the younger son of [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]] and [[Elsbeth Kranz]], and his older brother was [[Martin Paap I]]. Martinus intended Jan to succeed him as [[Great Paap]] and inherit responsibility for the [[Book of Paap]].<ref name="martinus-personal"/><ref name="great-paap-rejection"/> Jan grew up in Warendorf and began attending the ''Volksschule der Alten Pfarre'' in 1925. He completed the normal eight-year course in 1933.

In 1934, Paap began breaking into bakeries in Warendorf at night. He stole food and money, damaged the interiors and wrote demonic remarks on the walls. In 1935, he was caught during one of the break-ins and spent one week in detention. Martinus imposed stricter rules after his release, but Jan repeatedly ignored them. In 1936, Martinus used his military contacts to arrange his early voluntary entry into the German Army, intending military discipline to bring his behaviour under control.

== Military service ==

Paap entered 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] at [[Münster]] in March 1936, aged 17. During training he repeatedly tried to control other recruits and gave them instructions despite holding no authority over them. His NCOs found that other soldiers often followed him and began giving him small responsibilities during exercises. He remained a ''Schütze''. When the regiment was reorganized on 6 October 1936, Paap continued with his battalion as a member of 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] at [[Aachen]]. He was promoted to ''Oberschütze'' on 1 March 1937.

On 19 June 1937, Paap was arrested in Aachen after being caught having sexual intercourse in public while off duty. The arrest was reported to his company and he received a formal reprimand. Other soldiers began calling him "the Street Pervert". Paap resented the nickname and reacted aggressively when it was used. In 1938, another soldier refused an attempt by Paap to order him around and then used the nickname. Paap attacked him and injured him badly enough to require treatment in the infirmary. He received military confinement and another disciplinary entry, which contributed to the delay of his next promotion.

During 1938, Paap also became more committed to [[Glöbbery]]. An older German businessman in Aachen introduced him to the order and arranged his first visit to [[Festung Glöbbelhart]] in Switzerland. Paap became a Glöbberist that year.<ref name="globbery-members"/> His military conduct continued to deteriorate during 1939. He argued with NCOs and remained controlling toward other soldiers, although his officers increasingly tolerated his conduct after mobilization. Paap was promoted to [[Gefreiter]] on 3 April 1940.

Paap served with Infanterie-Regiment 78 during the 1940 western campaign. During the advance through Luxembourg and northern France, he assaulted civilians both during military searches and without an immediate operational reason. His superiors responded by removing him from duties that regularly brought him into contact with civilians and kept him with the front-line elements of his company. He remained largely free of further formal disciplinary action through the occupation period in France.

In June 1941, Paap moved east with the [[26. Infanterie-Division]] for [[Operation Barbarossa]]. By 1943, Infanterie-Regiment 78 had been redesignated [[Grenadier-Regiment 78]]. On 6 January 1943, Paap encountered his cousin [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] at the recently recaptured Rzhev airfield. Hundreds of German soldiers were passing through the damaged airfield when the two recognized each other. Antonie raised Jan's expected succession as Great Paap and spoke in defence of the Book of Paap. Jan told him that he rejected the book and did not intend to take the title. Antonie accused him of betraying the Paap family, and the argument became a fight. Antonie fought back, but Jan overpowered him and knocked out several of his teeth before officers separated them.<ref name="antonie-military"/>

The confrontation marked Jan's formal rejection of the Great Paap succession. He severed ties with Martinus and rejected the religious responsibilities associated with the title.<ref name="great-paap-rejection"/> Martinus remained Great Paap until his conviction for war crimes on 28 October 1948, when Martin Paap I succeeded him. Martinus later tried repeatedly to restore contact through letters and relatives, but Jan refused.<ref name="martinus-great-paap"/>

Paap was punished for the airfield fight and temporarily removed from Grenadier-Regiment 78. From January until 6 March 1943, he served with the divisional supply troops of the 26. Infanterie-Division. After returning to 2./Grenadier-Regiment 78, he repeatedly shot Soviet soldiers after they had surrendered. Some officers were aware of the killings and did not punish him. Paap also carried them out during periods when direct supervision was limited.

During the fighting west of [[Kursk]] in July 1943, Paap became increasingly frustrated that his formation remained in a defensive sector while other German formations conducted the main offensive. He led a small group out of its position in an unauthorized attack. Soviet fire stopped the advance and several of the soldiers who followed him were killed. Paap showed little concern for the casualties after returning to the German position. He was court-martialled for disobedience and received a one-year military prison sentence. The sentence was suspended while the war continued, and he was transferred to a probationary front-line unit.

In August 1943, Paap joined 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] in the Kuban. He reacted to the transfer by becoming increasingly reckless in combat and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire. He also continued killing Soviet prisoners and wounded soldiers after positions had been taken. His Gruppenführer, an ''Unteroffizier'' from the battalion's supervisory cadre, physically abused him during disputes and repeatedly assigned him exposed duties. On 28 August 1943, Paap killed the NCO while they were away from the rest of the unit. The Gruppenführer was believed to have died during a shootout with Soviet troops. Paap's responsibility was not known during the war and became public only when he admitted the killing in a later memoir.

Paap remained with the battalion during the fighting around [[Melitopol]] in September 1943. In late October, while the battalion was operating near [[Kryvyi Rih]], he met [[Georg Schäfer]], an SS-Untersturmführer commanding a motor-transport platoon in the divisional supply troops of the [[3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf]]. The two became friends.

On 17 January 1944, Paap decided to desert. He contacted Schäfer through [[Feldpost]] and met him near Kryvyi Rih on 23 January. Schäfer agreed to help because of their friendship, while Paap also paid him for taking the risk. Schäfer provided civilian clothing and a forged civilian identity document, then carried Paap west with one of his transport movements before leaving him in [[Uman]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap continued alone. From Uman he travelled through [[Lviv]] and [[Kraków]], then crossed Germany and occupied France. After reaching the [[Bayonne]] area, he paid a Basque guide to take him across the [[Pyrenees]] into [[Spain]]. He travelled to [[A Coruña]] and obtained passage on a merchant vessel to [[Buenos Aires]]. From there he travelled south by coastal shipping to [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] and reached nearby [[Rada Tilly]] overland on 13 May 1944.

== Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen ==

Paap founded the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in Rada Tilly on the day of his arrival, 13 May 1944.<ref name="argentine-formation"/> He began recruitment through small cells in Patagonia and learned Spanish while preparing the expedition. At one of the early recruitment meetings in Comodoro Rivadavia, he met [[Jose Alem]], then a ''Cabo'' in Regimiento de Infantería 8. Alem quickly became devoted to Paap and followed his decisions without challenging his authority. He remained in the Argentine Army for a short period while helping recruit a few fellow soldiers. Alem and several of those men deserted shortly before the expedition left Argentina.

Paap retained direct control over the Argentine Einsatz. He personally checked recruitment work, transport preparations and the vessels intended for the expedition. He demanded that information be brought directly to him and became impatient when work was delayed. By August, the organization had approximately 3,400 members.<ref name="argentine-recruitment"/> The expedition departed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia on 28 July 1944 using both chartered merchant vessels and ships seized for the voyage. During the crossing, Paap ordered one member who had repeatedly disobeyed him to jump overboard. Paap refused to stop the expedition to recover him, and the man drowned.

The expedition reached Tanoa on 9 August 1944 and landed first on [[Ravi-Ta]].<ref name="argentine-expedition"/> Paap personally directed the landing and ordered native inhabitants to begin forced construction of the first barracks and command facilities. He remained on Ravi-Ta during the first days and closely supervised the establishment of the base. The Argentine Einsatz was reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]], with Paap as Führer. Jose Alem entered the senior leadership after the landing and became the first [[Reichsführer-SS]] when the [[Allgemeine SS]] was formed.<ref name="argentine-reorganization"/>

On 15 August, Paap crossed to the main Tanoan landmass and ordered the occupation of [[Nasua]]. Its inhabitants resisted, the resistance was suppressed and the surviving population was enslaved. Paap remained there for several days before continuing the advance. On 18 August, he ordered the occupation of [[Momea]] and then moved rapidly toward [[La Rochelle]]. At La Rochelle, Paap issued a written order imposing reproductive coercion on adult native captives throughout territory under his control. The policy was intended to increase the future enslaved population.

Paap continued west and personally ordered [[Savu]] burned during its occupation. The destruction and killings became known as the [[1944 Savu massacre]]. He then advanced toward [[Saint-Paul]], where local resistance was suppressed and the surviving inhabitants were enslaved. His forces initially passed [[Petit Nicolet]] without occupying it. They later returned to impose the new administration. Most inhabitants who resisted during the return were shot, while the survivors were enslaved. Forced labour remained central to construction and resource extraction as Paap's control expanded across Tanoa.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap founded the [[NSTAP]] in 1944 as the ruling political organization of the new state. On 8 May 1945, following the German surrender, he personally authorized [[Operation Sternzug]] to obtain German rocket personnel and technical records. The first copied V-2 archive reached Tanoan custody in June.<ref name="weltraum-origins"/> During 1945, he also established the [[Paapjugend]] and the [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

On 10 October 1945, Paap founded [[Georgetown]]. He personally selected the site because he preferred the location and named the city after Georg Schäfer.<ref name="georgetown-history"/> Georgetown became the main administrative centre of the regime. In 1949, Paap named the [[1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche"]] after the birth of [[Chiche Alem]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

== Rule as Führer ==

Paap held supreme authority over the state throughout his rule. Major political decisions remained subordinate to him, and no independent legislature or judiciary limited the office of Führer.<ref name="government-leadership"/> He routinely demanded direct reports from subordinate officials and intervened personally in matters that could otherwise have been delegated. Forced labour was expanded for construction and resource extraction. Security forces confiscated property, punished resistance and carried out killings without judicial proceedings.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

In 1950, Paap established the [[Oberkommando der Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] as the central command authority of the state. The same year, he proposed the [[Reichsvilla]] project. Construction planning began, but the project was later abandoned after resistance activity disrupted the work. Paap also continued expanding the administrative offices placed under his authority. The [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]] introduced the [[Tanoanische Reichsmark]], whose coins carried Paap's portrait.<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/>

In 1952, Paap authorized a biological reconstruction programme intended to revive extinct species for military use. The first successful prototype was produced in 1956 and the programme developed into the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/> In 1953, Patagonia came under de facto Tanoan control. Paap continued to intervene directly in government during the following decade, while additional administrative offices remained subordinate to the Führer. Argentina was formally annexed in 1965 and brought under the regime's financial and population-control systems.<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s"/>

During the 1970s, Paap oversaw the [[Tanoa Einsatz Expansionist Campaign]]. [[Liberia]] was placed under the puppet administration of [[Großliberia]] in 1974. [[Fiji]] was annexed in 1975 and placed under direct military rule. In 1976, Paap's government introduced the [[Neger Buch]] as a compulsory registration document for native inhabitants of Tanoa. [[Rwanda]] became a Tanoan puppet state in 1979.<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s"/>

== Retirement and death ==

During the late 1970s, Paap selected his son [[Eef Paap]] as his successor. He formally retired in January 1980 after thirty-six years as Führer. Eef was formally promoted during a state ceremony in Georgetown on 6 November 1980. Because Eef was still a child, Jan continued advising him until 1987.<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s"/><ref name="eef-succession"/>

Paap remained in Tanoa after withdrawing from government. The date of his death was not documented and has been estimated as occurring between 1999 and 2005. Old age was generally given as the cause. After the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen, members of the [[Fish Collective]] claimed that fragmented records recovered from the [[Führerhaus]] indicated that Eef may have killed Jan in 2005 to secure undisputed control of the regime. The surviving records did not establish the claim conclusively.

== See also ==
* [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Argentine Einsatz]]
* [[Führer of Tanoa]]
* [[Eef Paap]]
* [[Great Paap]]
* [[Book of Paap]]
* [[Glöbbery]]
* [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
* [[Martin Paap I]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="antonie-military">"[[Antonie Ronald Paap#Military service|Military service]]". ''Antonie Ronald Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-expedition">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Expedition to Tanoa|Expedition to Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-formation">"[[Argentine Einsatz#History|History]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-history">"[[Argentine Einsatz#History|History]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-recruitment">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Recruitment and preparation|Recruitment and preparation]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-reorganization">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Reorganization in Tanoa|Reorganization in Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="eef-succession">"[[Eef Paap#Succession|Succession]]". ''Eef Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="georgetown-history">"[[Georgetown#History|History]]". ''Georgetown''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="globbery-members">"[[Glöbbery#Members|Members]]". ''Glöbbery''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="government-leadership">"[[Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Leadership principle|Leadership principle]]". ''Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="great-paap-rejection">"[[Great Paap#Jan Paap's rejection|Jan Paap's rejection]]". ''Great Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-great-paap">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Great Paap|Great Paap]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-personal">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Personal life|Personal life]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1940s|The 1940s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1950s|The 1950s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1960s|The 1960s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1970s|The 1970s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1980s|The 1980s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="weltraum-origins">"[[Weltraumgruppen#Origins and formation|Origins and formation]]". ''Weltraumgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Vaders]]
[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:Paap family members]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Glöbberists]]
[[Category:Military personnel]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Jan Paap

2026-08-21T17:07:02Z

Walter61:

{{Infobox person
| name = Jan Paap
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|1|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Warendorf]], [[Germany]]
| death_date = 1999–2005
| death_place = [[Tanoa]]
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = Founder of the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
| height = 1.90 m
| political_party = [[NSTAP]]
| children = {{hlist|[[Eef Paap]]|[[Daniel Paap]]|[[Richard Nicolaas Paap]]}}
| father = [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
| mother = [[Elsbeth Kranz]]
| relatives = {{plainlist|
* [[Martin Paap I]] (brother)
* [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] (cousin)
}}
| family = [[Paap family]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = [[Führer of Tanoa]]
| term_start = 13 May 1944
| term_end = January 1980
| predecessor = Office established
| successor = [[Eef Paap]]
| office1 = Leader of the [[Argentine Einsatz]]
| term_start1 = 13 May 1944
| term_end1 = 9 August 1944
| predecessor1 = Organization established
| successor1 = Organization reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| branch = [[Heer]]
| serviceyears = 1936–1944
| rank = [[Gefreiter]]
| unit = {{plainlist|
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] (March–October 1936)
* 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] (1936–1942)
* 2./[[Grenadier-Regiment 78]] (1942–January 1943, March–July 1943)
* [[Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 26]] (January–March 1943)
* 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] (August 1943–January 1944)
}}
| battles =
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Battle of France]]
** [[Eastern Front (Second World War)|Eastern Front]]
*** [[Operation Barbarossa]]
*** [[Battle of Rzhev]]
*** [[Battle of Kursk]]
*** [[Battle of the Caucasus]]
*** [[Melitopol offensive]]
}}
}}
}}

'''Jan Paap''' (21 January 1919 – between 1999 and 2005) was a German-born dictator and former [[Heer]] soldier who founded the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]. He served as the first [[Führer of Tanoa]] from 1944 until his retirement in January 1980. Paap deserted from the [[Eastern Front]] in 1944, reached [[Argentina]] and formed the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in [[Rada Tilly]] on 13 May. He led its expedition to [[Tanoa]], where he established a centralized dictatorship that later expanded beyond the island. His son [[Eef Paap]] succeeded him as Führer.<ref name="argentine-history"/><ref name="government-leadership"/>

== Early life ==

Jan Paap was born in [[Warendorf]], Germany, on 21 January 1919. He was the younger son of [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]] and [[Elsbeth Kranz]], and his older brother was [[Martin Paap I]]. Martinus intended Jan to succeed him as [[Great Paap]] and inherit responsibility for the [[Book of Paap]].<ref name="martinus-personal"/><ref name="great-paap-rejection"/> Jan grew up in Warendorf and began attending the ''Volksschule der Alten Pfarre'' in 1925. He completed the normal eight-year course in 1933.

In 1934, Paap began breaking into bakeries in Warendorf at night. He stole food and money, damaged the interiors and wrote demonic remarks on the walls. In 1935, he was caught during one of the break-ins and spent one week in detention. Martinus imposed stricter rules after his release, but Jan repeatedly ignored them. In 1936, Martinus used his military contacts to arrange his early voluntary entry into the German Army, intending military discipline to bring his behaviour under control.

== Military service ==

Paap entered 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 39]] at [[Münster]] in March 1936, aged 17. During training he repeatedly tried to control other recruits and gave them instructions despite holding no authority over them. His NCOs found that other soldiers often followed him and began giving him small responsibilities during exercises. He remained a ''Schütze''. When the regiment was reorganized on 6 October 1936, Paap continued with his battalion as a member of 2./[[Infanterie-Regiment 78]] at [[Aachen]]. He was promoted to ''Oberschütze'' on 1 March 1937.

On 19 June 1937, Paap was arrested in Aachen after being caught having sexual intercourse in public while off duty. The arrest was reported to his company and he received a formal reprimand. Other soldiers began calling him "the Street Pervert". Paap resented the nickname and reacted aggressively when it was used. In 1938, another soldier refused an attempt by Paap to order him around and then used the nickname. Paap attacked him and injured him badly enough to require treatment in the infirmary. He received military confinement and another disciplinary entry, which contributed to the delay of his next promotion.

During 1938, Paap also became more committed to [[Glöbbery]]. An older German businessman in Aachen introduced him to the order and arranged his first visit to [[Festung Glöbbelhart]] in Switzerland. Paap became a Glöbberist that year.<ref name="globbery-members"/> His military conduct continued to deteriorate during 1939. He argued with NCOs and remained controlling toward other soldiers, although his officers increasingly tolerated his conduct after mobilization. Paap was promoted to [[Gefreiter]] on 3 April 1940.

Paap served with Infanterie-Regiment 78 during the 1940 western campaign. During the advance through Luxembourg and northern France, he assaulted civilians both during military searches and without an immediate operational reason. His superiors responded by removing him from duties that regularly brought him into contact with civilians and kept him with the front-line elements of his company. He remained largely free of further formal disciplinary action through the occupation period in France.

In June 1941, Paap moved east with the [[26. Infanterie-Division]] for [[Operation Barbarossa]]. By 1943, Infanterie-Regiment 78 had been redesignated [[Grenadier-Regiment 78]]. On 6 January 1943, Paap encountered his cousin [[Antonie Ronald Paap]] at the recently recaptured Rzhev airfield. Hundreds of German soldiers were passing through the damaged airfield when the two recognized each other. Antonie raised Jan's expected succession as Great Paap and spoke in defence of the Book of Paap. Jan told him that he rejected the book and did not intend to take the title. Antonie accused him of betraying the Paap family, and the argument became a fight. Antonie fought back, but Jan overpowered him and knocked out several of his teeth before officers separated them.<ref name="antonie-military"/>

The confrontation marked Jan's formal rejection of the Great Paap succession. He severed ties with Martinus and rejected the religious responsibilities associated with the title.<ref name="great-paap-rejection"/> Martinus remained Great Paap until his conviction for war crimes on 28 October 1948, when Martin Paap I succeeded him. Martinus later tried repeatedly to restore contact through letters and relatives, but Jan refused.<ref name="martinus-great-paap"/>

Paap was punished for the airfield fight and temporarily removed from Grenadier-Regiment 78. From January until 6 March 1943, he served with the divisional supply troops of the 26. Infanterie-Division. After returning to 2./Grenadier-Regiment 78, he repeatedly shot Soviet soldiers after they had surrendered. Some officers were aware of the killings and did not punish him. Paap also carried them out during periods when direct supervision was limited.

During the fighting west of [[Kursk]] in July 1943, Paap became increasingly frustrated that his formation remained in a defensive sector while other German formations conducted the main offensive. He led a small group out of its position in an unauthorized attack. Soviet fire stopped the advance and several of the soldiers who followed him were killed. Paap showed little concern for the casualties after returning to the German position. He was court-martialled for disobedience and received a one-year military prison sentence. The sentence was suspended while the war continued, and he was transferred to a probationary front-line unit.

In August 1943, Paap joined 1./[[Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 500]] in the Kuban. He reacted to the transfer by becoming increasingly reckless in combat and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire. He also continued killing Soviet prisoners and wounded soldiers after positions had been taken. His Gruppenführer, an ''Unteroffizier'' from the battalion's supervisory cadre, physically abused him during disputes and repeatedly assigned him exposed duties. On 28 August 1943, Paap killed the NCO while they were away from the rest of the unit. The Gruppenführer was believed to have died during a shootout with Soviet troops. Paap's responsibility was not known during the war and became public only when he admitted the killing in a later memoir.

Paap remained with the battalion during the fighting around [[Melitopol]] in September 1943. In late October, while the battalion was operating near [[Kryvyi Rih]], he met [[Georg Schäfer]], an SS-Untersturmführer commanding a motor-transport platoon in the divisional supply troops of the [[3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf]]. The two became friends.

On 17 January 1944, Paap decided to desert. He contacted Schäfer through [[Feldpost]] and met him near Kryvyi Rih on 23 January. Schäfer agreed to help because of their friendship, while Paap also paid him for taking the risk. Schäfer provided civilian clothing and a forged civilian identity document, then carried Paap west with one of his transport movements before leaving him in [[Uman]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap continued alone. From Uman he travelled through [[Lviv]] and [[Kraków]], then crossed Germany and occupied France. After reaching the [[Bayonne]] area, he paid a Basque guide to take him across the [[Pyrenees]] into [[Spain]]. He travelled to [[A Coruña]] and obtained passage on a merchant vessel to [[Buenos Aires]]. From there he travelled south by coastal shipping to [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] and reached nearby [[Rada Tilly]] overland on 13 May 1944.

== Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen ==

Paap founded the [[Argentine Einsatz]] in Rada Tilly on the day of his arrival, 13 May 1944.<ref name="argentine-formation"/> He began recruitment through small cells in Patagonia and learned Spanish while preparing the expedition. At one of the early recruitment meetings in Comodoro Rivadavia, he met [[Jose Alem]], then a ''Cabo'' in Regimiento de Infantería 8. Alem quickly became devoted to Paap and followed his decisions without challenging his authority. He remained in the Argentine Army for a short period while helping recruit a few fellow soldiers. Alem and several of those men deserted shortly before the expedition left Argentina.

Paap retained direct control over the Argentine Einsatz. He personally checked recruitment work, transport preparations and the vessels intended for the expedition. He demanded that information be brought directly to him and became impatient when work was delayed. By August, the organization had approximately 3,400 members.<ref name="argentine-recruitment"/> The expedition departed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia on 28 July 1944 using both chartered merchant vessels and ships seized for the voyage. During the crossing, Paap ordered one member who had repeatedly disobeyed him to jump overboard. Paap refused to stop the expedition to recover him, and the man drowned.

The expedition reached Tanoa on 9 August 1944 and landed first on [[Ravi-Ta]].<ref name="argentine-expedition"/> Paap personally directed the landing and ordered native inhabitants to begin forced construction of the first barracks and command facilities. He remained on Ravi-Ta during the first days and closely supervised the establishment of the base. The Argentine Einsatz was reorganized as the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]], with Paap as Führer. Jose Alem entered the senior leadership after the landing and became the first [[Reichsführer-SS]] when the [[Allgemeine SS]] was formed.<ref name="argentine-reorganization"/>

On 15 August, Paap crossed to the main Tanoan landmass and ordered the occupation of [[Nasua]]. Its inhabitants resisted, the resistance was suppressed and the surviving population was enslaved. Paap remained there for several days before continuing the advance. On 18 August, he ordered the occupation of [[Momea]] and then moved rapidly toward [[La Rochelle]]. At La Rochelle, Paap issued a written order imposing reproductive coercion on adult native captives throughout territory under his control. The policy was intended to increase the future enslaved population.

Paap continued west and personally ordered [[Savu]] burned during its occupation. The destruction and killings became known as the [[1944 Savu massacre]]. He then advanced toward [[Saint-Paul]], where local resistance was suppressed and the surviving inhabitants were enslaved. His forces initially passed [[Petit Nicolet]] without occupying it. They later returned to impose the new administration. Most inhabitants who resisted during the return were shot, while the survivors were enslaved. Forced labour remained central to construction and resource extraction as Paap's control expanded across Tanoa.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

Paap founded the [[NSTAP]] in 1944 as the ruling political organization of the new state. On 8 May 1945, following the German surrender, he personally authorized [[Operation Sternzug]] to obtain German rocket personnel and technical records. The first copied V-2 archive reached Tanoan custody in June.<ref name="weltraum-origins"/> During 1945, he also established the [[Paapjugend]] and the [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

On 10 October 1945, Paap founded [[Georgetown]]. He personally selected the site because he preferred the location and named the city after Georg Schäfer.<ref name="georgetown-history"/> Georgetown became the main administrative centre of the regime. In 1949, Paap named the [[1st Allgemeine SS Division "Siege Chiche"]] after the birth of [[Chiche Alem]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

== Rule as Führer ==

Paap held supreme authority over the state throughout his rule. Major political decisions remained subordinate to him, and no independent legislature or judiciary limited the office of Führer.<ref name="government-leadership"/> He routinely demanded direct reports from subordinate officials and intervened personally in matters that could otherwise have been delegated. Forced labour was expanded for construction and resource extraction. Security forces confiscated property, punished resistance and carried out killings without judicial proceedings.<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s"/>

In 1950, Paap established the [[Oberkommando der Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] as the central command authority of the state. The same year, he proposed the [[Reichsvilla]] project. Construction planning began, but the project was later abandoned after resistance activity disrupted the work. Paap also continued expanding the administrative offices placed under his authority. The [[Reichsschatzamt von Tanoa]] introduced the [[Tanoanische Reichsmark]], whose coins carried Paap's portrait.<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/>

In 1952, Paap authorized a biological reconstruction programme intended to revive extinct species for military use. The first successful prototype was produced in 1956 and the programme developed into the [[Dinosaurier-Truppen]].<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s"/> In 1953, Patagonia came under de facto Tanoan control. Paap continued to intervene directly in government during the following decade, while additional administrative offices remained subordinate to the Führer. Argentina was formally annexed in 1965 and brought under the regime's financial and population-control systems.<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s"/>

During the 1970s, Paap oversaw the [[Tanoa Einsatz Expansionist Campaign]]. [[Liberia]] was placed under the puppet administration of [[Großliberia]] in 1974. [[Fiji]] was annexed in 1975 and placed under direct military rule. In 1976, Paap's government introduced the [[Neger Buch]] as a compulsory registration document for native inhabitants of Tanoa. [[Rwanda]] became a Tanoan puppet state in 1979.<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s"/>

== Retirement and death ==

During the late 1970s, Paap selected his son [[Eef Paap]] as his successor. He formally retired in January 1980 after thirty-six years as Führer. Eef was formally promoted during a state ceremony in Georgetown on 6 November 1980. Because Eef was still a child, Jan continued advising him until 1987.<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s"/><ref name="eef-succession"/>

Paap remained in Tanoa after withdrawing from government. The date of his death was not documented and has been estimated as occurring between 1999 and 2005. Old age was generally given as the cause. After the collapse of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen, members of the [[Fish Collective]] claimed that fragmented records recovered from the [[Führerhaus]] indicated that Eef may have killed Jan in 2005 to secure undisputed control of the regime. The surviving records did not establish the claim conclusively.

== See also ==
* [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
* [[Argentine Einsatz]]
* [[Führer of Tanoa]]
* [[Eef Paap]]
* [[Great Paap]]
* [[Book of Paap]]
* [[Glöbbery]]
* [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]]
* [[Martin Paap I]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="antonie-military">"[[Antonie Ronald Paap#Military service|Military service]]". ''Antonie Ronald Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-expedition">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Expedition to Tanoa|Expedition to Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-formation">"[[Argentine Einsatz#History|History]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-history">"[[Argentine Einsatz#History|History]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-recruitment">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Recruitment and preparation|Recruitment and preparation]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="argentine-reorganization">"[[Argentine Einsatz#Reorganization in Tanoa|Reorganization in Tanoa]]". ''Argentine Einsatz''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="eef-succession">"[[Eef Paap#Succession|Succession]]". ''Eef Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="georgetown-history">"[[Georgetown#History|History]]". ''Georgetown''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="globbery-members">"[[Glöbbery#Members|Members]]". ''Glöbbery''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="government-leadership">"[[Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#Leadership principle|Leadership principle]]". ''Government of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="great-paap-rejection">"[[Great Paap#Jan Paap's rejection|Jan Paap's rejection]]". ''Great Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-great-paap">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Great Paap|Great Paap]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="martinus-personal">"[[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap#Personal life|Personal life]]". ''Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1940s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1940s|The 1940s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1950s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1950s|The 1950s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1960s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1960s|The 1960s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1970s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1970s|The 1970s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="tanoa-history-1980s">"[[History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen#The 1980s|The 1980s]]". ''History of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="weltraum-origins">"[[Weltraumgruppen#Origins and formation|Origins and formation]]". ''Weltraumgruppen''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Vaders]]
[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:Paap family members]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Glöbberists]]
[[Category:Military personnel]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Walter Paap

2026-08-21T16:53:20Z

Walter61:

{{Infobox person
| name = Walter Paap
| image = Walter Paap, c 1944.png
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|7|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bad Bentheim|Bentheim]], [[Germany]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|10|14|1920|7|23|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Vriendendam]], [[Netherlands]]
| occupation = Freight-yard owner
| years_active = 1938–1985
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| political_party = [[Nazi Party]] (1938–1945)
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Adriana van den Berg]]|1951|2007|end=died}}
| children = {{ubl|[[John Paap]]|[[Mart Paap]]|[[Koen Paap]]|[[Catharina Paap]]}}
| father = [[Theodorus Paap]]
| relatives = [[Jan Paap]] (second cousin)
| family = [[Paap family]]
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = [[Nazi Germany]]
| branch = [[Waffen-SS (Nazi Germany)|Waffen-SS]]
| serviceyears = 1938–1945
| rank = [[SS-Obersturmführer (Nazi Germany)|SS-Obersturmführer]]
| unit = {{ubl|[[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Nazi Germany)|Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]]|[[12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend (Nazi Germany)|12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend"]]|II./[[SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 (Nazi Germany)|SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26]]}}
| battles = {{ubl|[[Second World War]]|[[Invasion of Poland]]|[[Battle of France]]|[[Balkans campaign (World War II)|Balkans campaign]]|[[Operation Barbarossa]]|[[Battle of Rostov (1941)|Battle of Rostov]]|[[Battle of Normandy]]|[[Falaise Pocket]]|[[Battle of the Bulge]]}}
| awards = {{ubl|[[Iron Cross|Iron Cross 2nd Class]] (31 May 1940)|[[Infantry Assault Badge]]|[[Wound Badge]]|[[Sudetenland Medal]]|[[Iron Cross|Iron Cross 1st Class]] (31 August 1944)}}
}}
}}

'''Walter Paap''' (23 July 1920 – 14 October 2012) was a German former SS officer. He served with the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Nazi Germany)|Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]] and later the [[Waffen-SS (Nazi Germany)|Waffen-SS]] during the [[Second World War]], reaching the rank of [[SS-Obersturmführer (Nazi Germany)|SS-Obersturmführer]].

== Early life ==

Walter Paap was born in [[Bad Bentheim|Bentheim]], Germany, on 23 July 1920. His father, [[Theodorus Paap]], had been born in the Netherlands and moved to Bentheim before the [[First World War]]. Theodorus became a naturalized German citizen in 1913 and operated a private freight yard beside the railway. He was a first cousin of [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]], making Walter a second cousin of [[Jan Paap]]. Walter attended the Bentheim Mittelschule and completed the ''Mittlere Reife'' before entering SS service.

== Military service ==

Paap entered the German SS in November 1938 at the age of 18 and was assigned to the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Nazi Germany)|Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]]. He joined the [[Nazi Party]] later that year. Paap remained with the Leibstandarte after the formation of the [[Waffen-SS (Nazi Germany)|Waffen-SS]] and served during the [[Invasion of Poland]] in 1939. He took part in the western campaign the following year and received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 31 May 1940.

In 1941, Paap served in the [[Balkans campaign (World War II)|Balkans campaign]] before deploying to the Soviet Union during [[Operation Barbarossa]]. Shell fragments struck his upper left arm near Belgorodka on 22 July, temporarily removing him from front-line duty. He returned to the Leibstandarte later that year and received the [[Wound Badge]]. During the German withdrawal from [[Rostov-on-Don|Rostov]] in November, Paap encountered a Soviet [[T-34]] that had become separated from its supporting infantry. He reached the tank as its commander opened the turret hatch and threw a grenade inside. The commander escaped from the vehicle and fought Paap on the ground. Paap overpowered him and brought him back to his battalion as a prisoner.

Paap entered [[SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz (Nazi Germany)|SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz]] in December 1942 for officer training. He was promoted to [[SS-Untersturmführer (Nazi Germany)|SS-Untersturmführer]] on 10 March 1943 and later transferred to the [[12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend (Nazi Germany)|12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend"]]. He initially served on the divisional staff before joining [[SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 (Nazi Germany)|SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26]]. During the German withdrawal from the [[Falaise Pocket]] in August 1944, Allied artillery separated Paap from part of his battalion. He gathered the soldiers cut off with him and organized their withdrawal along another route. Several damaged vehicles were brought out with the group before it rejoined the regiment. Paap received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 31 August.

Paap was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer on 9 November 1944. During the [[Battle of the Bulge]], he fought around Domäne Bütgenbach. American artillery isolated Paap and approximately 20–30 men from their battalion on 21 December. While returning during the night, the group encountered an American patrol in the woods and became engaged in a short close-range firefight. Several members of the patrol were killed before Paap disengaged and continued toward the German lines. By spring 1945, he was serving as adjutant of II Battalion, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26. Paap surrendered to United States forces near [[Steyr]], Austria, on 8 May 1945 and entered American captivity.

== Postwar life ==

Paap was released on 18 September 1947 and returned to Bentheim, where he resumed work at his father's freight yard. In 1948, [[Jan Paap]] invited him to join the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]].<ref name="jan-tanoa"/> Walter refused because he intended to remain in Germany and eventually take over the family business. Jan regarded the refusal as disloyal, and the two largely ceased contact afterward. Walter never served in the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen or its [[Allgemeine SS]]. Theodorus retired in 1956 and transferred control of the freight yard to Walter, who operated it until 1985.

== Personal life ==

Paap married [[Adriana van den Berg]], a Dutch woman from [[Rotterdam]], in 1951. They maintained their family home in Rotterdam while Walter continued working in Bentheim. Their son [[John Paap]] was born on 14 August 1952.<ref name="john"/> Another son, [[Koen Paap]], was born on 14 August 1958 and later became a freight train operator.<ref name="koen"/> Walter and Adriana also had a son, [[Mart Paap]], and a daughter, [[Catharina Paap]].

== Retirement and death ==

Paap sold the Bentheim freight yard to a German company in 1985 and retired at the age of 65. He and Adriana moved to [[Vriendendam]] that year. Adriana died there on 3 May 2007. Walter remained in Vriendendam until his death on 14 October 2012, aged 92.

== See also ==
* [[Paap family]]
* [[Paap family members]]
* [[Theodorus Paap]]
* [[Jan Paap]]
* [[Koen Paap]]
* [[Waffen-SS (Nazi Germany)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="jan-tanoa">"[[Jan Paap#Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen|Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]". ''Jan Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="john">"[[John Paap#Career|Career]]". ''John Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="koen">"[[Koen Paap#Career|Career]]". ''Koen Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:German people]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]

Walter Paap

2026-08-21T16:53:15Z

Walter61:

{{Infobox person
| name = Walter Paap
| image = Walter Paap, c 1944.pn
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|7|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bad Bentheim|Bentheim]], [[Germany]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|10|14|1920|7|23|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Vriendendam]], [[Netherlands]]
| occupation = Freight-yard owner
| years_active = 1938–1985
| era = {{hlist|[[Vader Era]]|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| political_party = [[Nazi Party]] (1938–1945)
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Adriana van den Berg]]|1951|2007|end=died}}
| children = {{ubl|[[John Paap]]|[[Mart Paap]]|[[Koen Paap]]|[[Catharina Paap]]}}
| father = [[Theodorus Paap]]
| relatives = [[Jan Paap]] (second cousin)
| family = [[Paap family]]
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = [[Nazi Germany]]
| branch = [[Waffen-SS (Nazi Germany)|Waffen-SS]]
| serviceyears = 1938–1945
| rank = [[SS-Obersturmführer (Nazi Germany)|SS-Obersturmführer]]
| unit = {{ubl|[[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Nazi Germany)|Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]]|[[12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend (Nazi Germany)|12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend"]]|II./[[SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 (Nazi Germany)|SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26]]}}
| battles = {{ubl|[[Second World War]]|[[Invasion of Poland]]|[[Battle of France]]|[[Balkans campaign (World War II)|Balkans campaign]]|[[Operation Barbarossa]]|[[Battle of Rostov (1941)|Battle of Rostov]]|[[Battle of Normandy]]|[[Falaise Pocket]]|[[Battle of the Bulge]]}}
| awards = {{ubl|[[Iron Cross|Iron Cross 2nd Class]] (31 May 1940)|[[Infantry Assault Badge]]|[[Wound Badge]]|[[Sudetenland Medal]]|[[Iron Cross|Iron Cross 1st Class]] (31 August 1944)}}
}}
}}

'''Walter Paap''' (23 July 1920 – 14 October 2012) was a German former SS officer. He served with the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Nazi Germany)|Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]] and later the [[Waffen-SS (Nazi Germany)|Waffen-SS]] during the [[Second World War]], reaching the rank of [[SS-Obersturmführer (Nazi Germany)|SS-Obersturmführer]].

== Early life ==

Walter Paap was born in [[Bad Bentheim|Bentheim]], Germany, on 23 July 1920. His father, [[Theodorus Paap]], had been born in the Netherlands and moved to Bentheim before the [[First World War]]. Theodorus became a naturalized German citizen in 1913 and operated a private freight yard beside the railway. He was a first cousin of [[Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap]], making Walter a second cousin of [[Jan Paap]]. Walter attended the Bentheim Mittelschule and completed the ''Mittlere Reife'' before entering SS service.

== Military service ==

Paap entered the German SS in November 1938 at the age of 18 and was assigned to the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Nazi Germany)|Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]]. He joined the [[Nazi Party]] later that year. Paap remained with the Leibstandarte after the formation of the [[Waffen-SS (Nazi Germany)|Waffen-SS]] and served during the [[Invasion of Poland]] in 1939. He took part in the western campaign the following year and received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 31 May 1940.

In 1941, Paap served in the [[Balkans campaign (World War II)|Balkans campaign]] before deploying to the Soviet Union during [[Operation Barbarossa]]. Shell fragments struck his upper left arm near Belgorodka on 22 July, temporarily removing him from front-line duty. He returned to the Leibstandarte later that year and received the [[Wound Badge]]. During the German withdrawal from [[Rostov-on-Don|Rostov]] in November, Paap encountered a Soviet [[T-34]] that had become separated from its supporting infantry. He reached the tank as its commander opened the turret hatch and threw a grenade inside. The commander escaped from the vehicle and fought Paap on the ground. Paap overpowered him and brought him back to his battalion as a prisoner.

Paap entered [[SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz (Nazi Germany)|SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz]] in December 1942 for officer training. He was promoted to [[SS-Untersturmführer (Nazi Germany)|SS-Untersturmführer]] on 10 March 1943 and later transferred to the [[12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend (Nazi Germany)|12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend"]]. He initially served on the divisional staff before joining [[SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 (Nazi Germany)|SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26]]. During the German withdrawal from the [[Falaise Pocket]] in August 1944, Allied artillery separated Paap from part of his battalion. He gathered the soldiers cut off with him and organized their withdrawal along another route. Several damaged vehicles were brought out with the group before it rejoined the regiment. Paap received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 31 August.

Paap was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer on 9 November 1944. During the [[Battle of the Bulge]], he fought around Domäne Bütgenbach. American artillery isolated Paap and approximately 20–30 men from their battalion on 21 December. While returning during the night, the group encountered an American patrol in the woods and became engaged in a short close-range firefight. Several members of the patrol were killed before Paap disengaged and continued toward the German lines. By spring 1945, he was serving as adjutant of II Battalion, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26. Paap surrendered to United States forces near [[Steyr]], Austria, on 8 May 1945 and entered American captivity.

== Postwar life ==

Paap was released on 18 September 1947 and returned to Bentheim, where he resumed work at his father's freight yard. In 1948, [[Jan Paap]] invited him to join the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]].<ref name="jan-tanoa"/> Walter refused because he intended to remain in Germany and eventually take over the family business. Jan regarded the refusal as disloyal, and the two largely ceased contact afterward. Walter never served in the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen or its [[Allgemeine SS]]. Theodorus retired in 1956 and transferred control of the freight yard to Walter, who operated it until 1985.

== Personal life ==

Paap married [[Adriana van den Berg]], a Dutch woman from [[Rotterdam]], in 1951. They maintained their family home in Rotterdam while Walter continued working in Bentheim. Their son [[John Paap]] was born on 14 August 1952.<ref name="john"/> Another son, [[Koen Paap]], was born on 14 August 1958 and later became a freight train operator.<ref name="koen"/> Walter and Adriana also had a son, [[Mart Paap]], and a daughter, [[Catharina Paap]].

== Retirement and death ==

Paap sold the Bentheim freight yard to a German company in 1985 and retired at the age of 65. He and Adriana moved to [[Vriendendam]] that year. Adriana died there on 3 May 2007. Walter remained in Vriendendam until his death on 14 October 2012, aged 92.

== See also ==
* [[Paap family]]
* [[Paap family members]]
* [[Theodorus Paap]]
* [[Jan Paap]]
* [[Koen Paap]]
* [[Waffen-SS (Nazi Germany)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="jan-tanoa">"[[Jan Paap#Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen|Founding of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]". ''Jan Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="john">"[[John Paap#Career|Career]]". ''John Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="koen">"[[Koen Paap#Career|Career]]". ''Koen Paap''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:German people]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]