Date of birth:

March 20th, 1917 (Graudenz/Westprussia, Germany)

Date of death:

January 16th, 1942 (Belnja, Schajkowka, Russia, Soviet Union)

Buried on:

German War Cemetery Dukhovshchina
Grave: UNK.

Nationality:

German

Promotions:
October 1st, 1936: Gefreiter;
October 1st, 1937: Unteroffizier;
May 1st, 1940: Feldwebel;
November 1st, 1940: Reserve Offiziersanwärter;
February 15th, 1941: Oberfeldwebel;
June 17th, 1941: Leutnant der Reserve;
April 1st, 1942: Oberleutnant der Reserve (posthumously).

Career:
01.10.1935: entered the Luftwaffe
01.10.1936-28.02.1937: Unterführer Lehrgang
00.03.1937: I. Bataillon, Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 1
28.02.1940: Sturmgruppe 'Stahl', Fallschirm-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch";
28.07.1940: 1. Kompanie, Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1
00.09.1940: Zugführer, II. Zug, 3. Kompanie, Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1
02.12.1940-22.02.1941: 6.Kriegsoffizier-Nachwuchs-Lehrgang, Luftkriegsschule I
00.03.1941: Führer, 3. Kompanie, Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 / Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 1

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 12th, 1940

Awarded in relation to the Knights Cross awarding.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 12th, 1940

Awarded in relation to the Knights Cross awarding.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel

Unit:

Sturm-Gruppe „Stahl“, Fallschirm-Jäger-Sturm-Abteilung „Koch“, 7. Flieger-Division, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

May 13th, 1940

Description:
"Awarded for distinguishing himself with his Pionier squad during the airborne assault against the bridge over the Albert Canal at Veldwezelt. In this time he and his men cut all the bridge’s demolition wires (including the reserve ones) while under heavy enemy fire. They then knocked out a bunker that had been built into the western bridge pier along with its garrison of 15 men before subsequently clearing all the obstacles atop of and in front of the bridge, again under heavy fire. These actions by Arpke and his squad significantly contributed to the ability of Sturmgruppe “Stahl” to capture the bridge in just 10 minutes."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

1942

• Photo 1: Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1980-108-36A (CC Attribution Share Alike 3.0)
• Photo 2:
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1986.
  - Fallschirmjägerkameradschaft Düsseldorf "Dr. Heinrich Neumann"
  - Volksbund
  

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