Editing Nikolaas Paap

{{Infobox military person
| name = Nikolaas Paap
| image = Nikolaas Paap.png
| birth_date = 17 November 1787
| birth_place = [[Dutch Republic]]
| death_date = 17 November 1879
| death_place = [[Schiedam]], [[Netherlands]]
| allegiance = {{plainlist|
* [[Kingdom of Holland]]
* [[First French Empire]]
* [[Netherlands]]
}}
| branch = Horse artillery
| serviceyears = 1807–1843
| rank = Major
| battles = {{plainlist|
* [[Battle of Friedland]]
* [[Battle of Stralsund]]
* [[French invasion of Russia]]
** [[Battle of Borodino]]
** [[Battle of Berezina]]
* [[German campaign of 1813]]
** [[Battle of Dresden]]
** [[Battle of Leipzig]]
* [[Ten Days' Campaign]]
}}
| awards = [[Metalen Kruis 1830–1831]]
| relations = {{plainlist|
* [[Martinos Nikolopoulos]] (father)
* [[Eleni Anagnostopoulou]] (mother)
}}
| laterwork = Chairman of the Delft, Schiedam en omstreken branch of the [[Vereniging Het Metalen Kruis]]
}}

'''Nikolaas Paap''' (17 November 1787 – 17 November 1879) was a Dutch artillery officer from the [[Paap family]]. He served in the horse artillery from 1807 until 1843 and rose from an enlisted gunner to the rank of major. His frontline career ended after a cannonball shattered his left arm at the [[Battle of Leipzig]] in 1813. He remained in military service afterward and held artillery depot appointments until his retirement.

== Military career ==

Paap entered the horse artillery of the [[Kingdom of Holland]] in 1807 at the age of 19. He enlisted as a gunner and fought at the [[Battle of Friedland]] during his first year of service. He was promoted to corporal in 1809 and took part in the fighting at [[Battle of Stralsund|Stralsund]] that year.

Following the French annexation of the Kingdom of Holland, Paap remained in military service. He was promoted to sergeant in 1811 and served during the [[French invasion of Russia]] in 1812. At the [[Battle of Borodino]], most of the crew serving his gun were killed or wounded. Paap kept the gun in action with the remaining crew until reinforcements reached the position. He received a commission as second lieutenant later that year and subsequently fought at the [[Battle of Berezina]].

Paap served in Germany during the 1813 campaign. After fighting at the [[Battle of Dresden]], he took part in the [[Battle of Leipzig]] in October. During the battle, a cannonball struck his left arm and shattered it. Other soldiers removed him from the battlefield, and the arm was amputated after his evacuation.

The injury ended his frontline horse-artillery service. After recovering, Paap continued his career in artillery depot duties. He later returned to Dutch service and continued to rise through the officer ranks, eventually reaching major.

During the [[Belgian Revolution]], Paap served at an artillery depot supporting the Dutch field army during the military operations of 1830–1831. His service continued through the [[Ten Days' Campaign]], for which he received the [[Metalen Kruis 1830–1831]]. He remained in the army until retiring as a major in 1843 after 36 years of service.

== Later life ==

After retiring, Paap settled in [[Schiedam]]. Following the establishment of the [[Vereniging Het Metalen Kruis]] in 1853, he joined its Delft, Schiedam en omstreken branch. He later became chairman of the branch.

Paap never married and had no children. He remained in Schiedam for the rest of his life and died there on 17 November 1879, his 92nd birthday.

== See also ==
* [[Paap family]]
* [[Paap family members]]
* [[Martinos Nikolopoulos]]
* [[Johannes Paap]]
* [[Early history of the Paap family]]

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Paap family]]
[[Category:1787 births]]
[[Category:1879 deaths]]
[[Category:Pre-Vader Era]]