Date of birth:

May 7th, 1894 (Mainz/Hesse, Germany)

Date of death:

June 16th, 1966 (Hamburg/Lower Saxony, Germany)

Service number:

SS-Nr.: 273.799 // NSDAP-Nr.: 338.211

Nationality:

German

Promotions:
28.02.1913: Fahnenjunker
06.06.1914: Leutnant
16.10.1917: Oberleutnant
21.06.1920: Hauptmann der Schupo
01.07.1931: Major der Schupo
10.10.1935: SS-Sturmbannführer
20.04.1937: SS-Obersturmbannführer
20.04.1938: SS-Standartenführer
13.05.1940: SS-Oberführer
09.11.1940: SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS
30.01.1942: SS-Gruppenführer und Generaleutnant der Waffen-SS
20.04.1944: SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS

Career:
28.02.1913: 1. Hannoversches Füsilier-Regiment „General-Feldmarschall Prinz Albrecht von Preußen" Nr. 73
00.10.1913: Kriegsschule Glogau
00.05.1914: Fahnenjunker, Füsilier-Regiment General-Feldmarschall 'Prinz Albrecht von Preußen' (1. Hannoversches) Nr. 73
29.08.1914: Leutnant, WIA region Saint Quentin
00.00.1915: Ordonnanz-Offizier, 19. Reserve-Division
00.00.1915: Ordonnanz-Offiizier, 39. Infanterie-Brigade
00.10.1917: Olt, Regimentsadjutant, Füsilier-Regiment General-Feldmarschall 'Prinz Albrecht von Preußen' (1. Hannoversches) Nr. 73
00.00.1918: WIA for the 3rd time
11.11.1918: 2. Posensches Infanterie-Regiment „von Coubière" Nr 19
31.01.1920: entered the Hunderschaft, Schutzpolizei, Hannover
00.07.1926: Landespolizei Thüringen then Jena, Gotha and Munich
01.10.1930: entered the NSDAP
00.00.1934: Infanterie-Regiment 32
10.10.1935: joined the SS-Verfügungstruppe
00.10.1935: SS-Sturmbannführer, Führer, I. Bataillon, SS-Standarte 1, later renamed SS-Standarte "Deutschland", SS-VT
00.03.1938, SS-Ostubaf, Kdr, SS-Standarte 3, SS-VT, Vienna
00.09.1938: SS-Staf, Kdr, SS-Regiment 'Der Führer', SS-VT after renaming
00.10.1939: SS-Staf, Kdr, SS-Regiment 'Der Führer', SS-Division 'Reich' - campaign in the West
00.04.1941: campaign in the Balkans - Operation Marita
00.06.1941: campaign in Russia - operation Barbarossa
15.07.1941: SS-Brigadeführer, Kdr, SS-Division 'Totenkopf'
21.09.1941: SS-Brigadeführer, Kdr, SS-Division 'Nord'
00.11.1941: hsopitalized for a brain tumor
00.04.1942: SS-Gruppenführer, Kdr, 2. SS-Division 'Das Reich'
00.02.1943: Führer-Reserve
31.08.1943: Befehlshaber der Waffen-SS "Böhmen und Mähren"
06.04.1944: Befehlshaber der Waffen-SS Ungarn
16.08.1944: SS-Obergruppenführer, Kdr, I. SS-Panzerkorps - Normandy
30.10.1944: SS-Obergruppenführer, Kdr, III.(germanische) SS-Panzerkorps
01.11.1944: Waffen-SS, HSSPF Ungarn
02.04.1945: SS-Obergruppenführer, Kdr, XVIII. SS-Armeekorps
22.05.1945: surrendered to the US troops - US POW
26.04.1948: released

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded on:

1934

Awarded on:

December 16th, 1935

Rank:

SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant-colonel)

Awarded on:

1939

Rank:

SS-Standartenführer (Colonel)

Awarded on:

1939

Rank:

SS-Standartenführer (Colonel)

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberführer (Brigade General)

Unit:

Kommandeur, SS-Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) "Der Führer", SS-Verfügungs-Division

Awarded on:

May 13th, 1940

Awarded for:

Operation Fall Gelb

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberführer (Brigade General)

Unit:

Kommandeur, SS-Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) "Der Führer", SS-Verfügungs-Division

Awarded on:

May 13th, 1940

Awarded for:

Operation Fall Gelb

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

SS-Oberführer (Brigade General)

Unit:

Kommandeur, SS-Infanterie-Regiment (motorisiert) "Der Führer", SS-Verfügungs-Division

Awarded on:

August 15th, 1940

Awarded for:

Operation Fall Gelb

Keppler’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Justification: The Regiment ‘Der Führer’ was the only infantry regiment in the area of the X. Armee-Korps to force a penetration through the Grebbe line. The swiftness of this action brought with it far-reaching operational consequences. It induced the capitulation of Fortress Holland and the Dutch army. Oberführer Keppler distinguished himself through his extraordinary bravery during reconnaissance, combat and while leading his Regiment. He personally directed the III. Bataillon during its opposed crossing over the Issl and its storming of the Grebben Hill under strong enemy MG and artillery fire. With the conviction that a breakthrough of this key position would be of decisive significance for further advances, SS-Oberführer Keppler was of iron resolve along with his regiment during this hard fight, which naturally brought heavy losses with it. Only afterwards was it confirmed that the brave performance of the commander and his regiment had such far-reaching implications for the enemy defense of Fortress Holland.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1945

• Photo 1: Public Domain
• - MOONEY, PETER, Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles, Schiffer Pub Ltd, 2008.
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Yerger M.C., German Cross in Gold, Holders of the SS and Police, Volume 1, "Das Reich" Kurt Amlacher to Heinz Lorenz, R. James Bender Publishing, San Jose, USA, ISBN 0-912138-94-7
  - Das Reich