Leonhard Kaupisch

Leonhard Kaupisch (1 September 1878 – 26 September 1945) was a German General der Flieger whose military service spanned almost five decades. Kaupisch is most well known for his actions during World War II, primarily as Military Commander of Denmark.

Early career
Kaupisch entered the army in 1898 and was promoted to Leutnant in 1899. From 1907 to 1909 he completed his training at the war academy in Lichterfelde and was then appointed to Oberleutnant. From 1911 he served with General Staff, in Berlin. In 1914 he was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann.

World War I
During World War I Kaupisch was used at different positions in the General Staff and rose gradually in the rates and in 1917 promoted to Major. He also received the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Knight's Cross of House Order of Hohenzollern in the same period.

Interbellum
After World War I, Kaupisch moved into the new Reichswehr and was assigned to the Gruppenkommando 2 at Kassel. In 1923 he took command of the ''7. (Bayer.) Artillerie-Regiment  and was promoted to Oberstleutnant''. From there he moved to artillery school in Jüterbog where in 1927 he was appointed Oberst. He continued his career in artillery until he departed in 1932 from his post with the level of Generalleutnant.

April 1, 1934 he joined the Luftwaffe where in December 1935 he was appointed General der Flieger. By the end of March 1938 he departed from the Luftwaffe, but in early 1939 he again joined the army.

World War II
In mid-September 1939, Kaupisch was military governor of Danzig-West Prussia. In late 1939, his staff was adopted to Höheres Kommando XXXI. It was as head of this command that he April 9, 1940 led Operation Weserübung Süd, forcing the occupation of Denmark. The OPROP! leaflets with a call to refrain from resistance which German planes dropped during the early morning were signed by Kaupisch.

Until June 1, 1940 he was Supreme Commander of the German troops in Denmark. He then continued in the army reserve as general of artillery.

On April 10, 1942, he finally retired and died of natural courses September 26, 1945 in Weimar.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross of 1914, 1st and 2nd class
 * Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
 * Order of the Red Eagle, 4th class (Prussia)
 * Order of the Crown, 4th class (Prussia)
 * Albert Order, 2nd class with Swords (Saxony)
 * Friedrich Order, 1st class with Swords (Württemberg)
 * Hanseatic Crosses of Hamburg and Bremen
 * Saxe-Ernestine House Order, 1st class with Swords
 * Cross of Honour, 3rd class with swords and crown (Reuss)
 * War Merit Cross (Lippe)
 * House Order of the White Falcon, 2nd class with Swords (Weimar)
 * Service Award (Prussia)
 * Air observer's badge
 * Military Merit Cross, 3rd class with War Decoration (Austria-Hungary)
 * Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award with Oak Leaf, 4th to 1st class
 * Clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class