2011-5 Remembrances Special EditionCity of Schertz — Remembrances Special Edition Article 2011-5
Provided by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee
(Article based upon biographical data supplied by Michael P. Kihntopf)
There is a writer of some importance living among us here in Schertz, Texas and his
works are of the sort that remind the reader of what struggles and crisis the world
experienced during the period from 1914 — 1918 (The "Great War" — World War 1).
His name is Michael P. Kihntopf and his background and family ancestry are, in part,
what inspires his writings.
If you ask him when he began to write, Kihntopf will tell you about producing short
stories in junior high school for his friends. He will also tell you of writing staff
summaries for general courts-martial in Washington, DC. It seemed that any assignment
he found himself in, there was writing to be done. However, the real genesis for works
he could claim as his own came one summer afternoon in 1994. His mother,, still living
in Wisconsin, called to tell him that she had just found photos that his grandfather had
taken during his service with the German army in World War 1. Then she asked if he
wanted them or should she throw them out. Kihntopf responded by asking that she
should send the images to him. When he received the photos, Kihntopf spread them out
Another fact about Kihntopf is that he is the chairperson for the Southwest Branch of the
Western Front Association or WFA. The WFA is a worldwide organization that strives
to remember and educate people about World War I. The Southwest Branch has
members in Oklahoma, Texas,, New Mexico, and Arizona. Kihntopf has already led one
seminar which discussed San Antonio's role in preparing US and Canadian fliers for the
Great War. The seminar was held at the Air Museum at Stinson Field. Coming up is a
commemoration of the Somme Battle of 1916 on 30 June at the Schertz Library and,
tentatively scheduled is an Armistice Day seminar in November at the USS Texas, the
last World War I dreadnaught in existence.
Kihntopf, retired from teaching two years ago, is now working on a new novel which has
a tentative title of the Old Folks. The plot for that book is a look at one day in the life of
four German soldiers fighting at Verdun in spring 1916. He has not set a date for its
completion or publication.
Michael P. Kihntopf writes about World War I but also collects World War I memorabilia
as well as has a library of over 750 books about the war. It's an honor to have Mr.
Kihntopf living and writing here in Schertz, Texas.
Kihntopf s first two books are no longer in print but available through used book stores.
The novel is available through Authorhouse and Amazon.com in either hard or
paperbacks and in ebook format.
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