Editing Martin Paap (father)

{{Infobox military person
| name = Martin Paap I
| birth_name = Martin Paap
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1905|9|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|11|17|1905|9|3|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]]
| allegiance = [[Nazi Germany]]
| branch = [[Wehrmacht]]
| service_years = 1934–1945
| rank = [[Unteroffizier]]
| unit = 4./[[Baulehr-Bataillon z.b.V. 800]]<br>I./[[Lehr-Regiment "Brandenburg" z.b.V. 800]]
| battles = [[Second World War]]<br>[[Western campaign]]<br>[[German invasion of the Netherlands]]<br>[[Maas-Waal Canal line]]
| children = [[Martin Paap]]<br>[[Marty Paap]]<br>[[Laurens Paap]]<br>[[Maltin Paap]]<br>[[Cees Paap]]<br>[[Johnnie Paap]]
| relations = [[Martha Paap]] (granddaughter)<br>[[Martin Paap III]] (grandson)<br>[[Paap family]]
| other_work = [[Great Paap]] (1944–2007)
}}

'''Martin Paap I''' (3 September 1905 – 17 November 2018), also known as '''Martin Paap (father)''', was a Dutch [[Unteroffizier]] in the [[Wehrmacht]] and a member of the [[Paap family]] from [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]]. During the [[Second World War]], he served in 4./[[Baulehr-Bataillon z.b.V. 800]], the 4th Company of Baulehr-Bataillon zur besonderen Verwendung 800. The company was part of the [[Abwehr]] special operations structure and was commanded by [[Angelo van Noord]] during the German invasion of the Netherlands on 10 May 1940.

Paap became [[Great Paap]] in 1944 after [[Jan Paap]] rejected the expected succession. He remained head of the Paap family until 2007, when he was succeeded by his son [[Martin Paap]].

== Early life ==
Martin Paap was born in Rotterdam on 3 September 1905. He entered German military service during the 1930s.

By 1940, Paap held the rank of Unteroffizier and had been assigned to 4./Baulehr-Btl.z.b.V.800 under the Abwehr special operations structure.

== Military career ==
Paap served in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. His main recorded wartime unit was 4./Baulehr-Btl.z.b.V.800, formally the 4. Kompanie of Baulehr-Bataillon zur besonderen Verwendung 800. The battalion was used for commando operations before and during regular German advances.

On 10 May 1940, 4./Baulehr-Btl.z.b.V.800 took part in the German invasion of the Netherlands. The company was assigned to seize bridges over the Maas and the Maas–Waal Canal before Dutch forces could demolish them. Paap served under Angelo van Noord in the company structure used for these bridge operations.

After the Western campaign, Baulehr-Bataillon z.b.V. 800 was expanded into Lehr-Regiment "Brandenburg" z.b.V. 800. The 1st to 4th companies formed part of I. Bau-Lehr-Bataillon within the regiment. Paap remained in the Brandenburg formation during the wider wartime period.

== Paap family leadership ==
In 1944, Jan Paap rejected the expected succession and left Europe. Martin Paap I then became [[Great Paap]].

Paap remained head of the Paap family through the [[Middenvader Era]] and into the [[Vriend Era]]. His leadership ended in 2007, when his son Martin Paap became the next Great Paap.

== Later life and death ==
After the family succession passed to Martin Paap in 2007, Martin Paap I remained in Rotterdam.

Paap died in Rotterdam on 17 November 2018, at the age of 113.

== Personal life ==
Martin Paap I was the father of [[Martin Paap]], [[Marty Paap]], [[Laurens Paap]], [[Maltin Paap]], [[Cees Paap]], and [[Johnnie Paap]]. Through Martin Paap, he was the grandfather of [[Martha Paap]] and [[Martin Paap III]].

== See also ==
* [[Angelo van Noord]]
* [[Baulehr-Bataillon z.b.V. 800]]
* [[Lehr-Regiment "Brandenburg" z.b.V. 800]]
* [[Brandenburgers]]
* [[German invasion of the Netherlands]]
* [[Maas-Waal Canal line]]
* [[Martin Paap]]
* [[Marty Paap]]
* [[Laurens Paap]]
* [[Maltin Paap]]
* [[Cees Paap]]
* [[Johnnie Paap]]
* [[Paap family]]
* [[Paap family members]]
* [[Great Paap]]
* [[Vader Era]]
* [[Middenvader Era]]
* [[Vriend Era]]


[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:Paap family members]]
[[Category:Vaders]]
[[Category:Vader Era]]
[[Category:Middenvader Era]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]
[[Category:Great Paaps]]
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Rotterdam]]