Walter Poppe (8 August 1892-1968), born in Kassel, served as a Generalleutnant during the Second World War leading the German 59th Infantry Division, subordinate to Hans Reinhard’s LXXXVIII.Armeekorps.
He had initially joined the army on January 20, 1914, and served as a Leutnant in World War I
On January 12, 1942, he succeeded Wilhelm Wetzel as command of the 255.Infanterie-Division between the Eastern Front and France until it was disbanded in October 1943, at which point he succeeded Otto Lasch as command of the 217.Infanterie-Division on the Eastern Front, until it was also disbanded a month later on November 15.
He participated in Operation Market Garden, leading the 59th Infantry Division where he led his troops across a river crossing between Breskens and Flushing. After the war he was credited as a ‘Military Advisor’ on the 1974 film A Bridge Too Far even though he had died in 1968.
By war’s end, he held command of the 467.Infanterie-Division.
