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Speidel, Dr.phil., Hans

Date of birth:
October 28th, 1897 (Metzingen, Germany)
Date of death:
November 28th, 1984 (Bad Honnef/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Hans Speidel reached the rank of Generalleutnant during the Second World War. After the war he was involved in the institution of the Bundeswehr and the entry of Western Germany in the NATO. On 22nd November 1955 he became the Chef der Abteilung Gesamtstreitkräfte im Bundesverteidigungsministerium and again received the rank of Generalleutnant. Between April 1957 and September 1963 he was as General der Bundeswehr the Oberbefehlshaber der alliierten Landstreitkräfte in Mitteleuropa (COMLANDCENT – Commander Allied Land Forces Central Europe). He retired at the age of 66 in March 1964.
Hans Speidel died on 28th November 1984.

Promotions:
00.08.1914: Fahnenjunker
00.09.1914: Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
00.04.1915: Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
00.11.1915: Leutnant
01.04.1925: Oberleutnant
01.02.1932: Hauptmann
00.00.1936: Major i.G.
01.01.1939: Oberstleutnant i.G.
01.02.1941: Oberst i.G.
01.01.1943: Generalmajor
01.01.1944: Generalleutnant
09.11.1955: Generalleutnant (Bundeswehr)
14.06.1957: General (Bundeswehr)

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst im Generalstab (Colonel to the General Staff)
Unit:
Generalstab, V. Armeekorps
Awarded on:
October 8th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Generalleutnant (Major-general)
Unit:
Chef, Generalstab, 8. Armee
Awarded on:
April 1st, 1944
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 12th, 1940
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 7th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1917
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1915
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 20th, 1917
Goldene Militär-Verdienstmedaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1915
Silberne Militär-Verdienstmedaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 10th, 1917
Ritter zum Militärverdienstorden
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1940
Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1957
Commandeur de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1963
Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband des Verdienstordens der BRD
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1974
Bayerischer Verdienstorden
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
with swords
Haborus Emlékérem kardokkal és sisakkal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
with swords
Ordinul Steaua Romaniei Commander
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
with swords
Ordinul Coroana Romaniei Comandor
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
with war ribbon
Ordinul Steaua Romaniei Commander
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 10th, 1961
Legion of Merit - Commander (LoM - C)

Sources

  • Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
  • Photo 2:
  • - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
    - 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
    - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X

Photos