Hans Speidel
Encyclopedia
Hans Speidel: Born in Metzingen
, (28 October 1897 – 28 November 1984) was a German
general during World War II
and the first German
NATO Commander during the Cold War
.
in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I
and was quickly promoted to second lieutenant. During the war he was a company commander at the Battle of the Somme and an adjutant
. He stayed in the German Army during the interwar period
and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on the eve of World War II
. Speidel served in the French campaign
of 1940 and in August became Chief of Staff of the military commander in France. In 1942 Speidel was sent to the Eastern Front
where he served as Chief of Staff of the 5th Army Corps, and as Chief of Staff of Army Group South
in 1943, by which time he had been promoted to major-general. In April 1944, Speidel was appointed Chief of Staff to Field Marshal
Erwin Rommel
, the Commander-in-Chief of Army Group B
, responsible for the defense of the French Atlantic
coast. When Rommel was wounded in an air attack on his staff car, Speidel continued as Chief of Staff for the new commander of Army Group B, Field Marshal Günther von Kluge
.
Speidel was a German nationalist and was happy with some Nazi policies (e.g., fighting against France, reversing the Treaty of Versailles
, etc.), but was ashamed of Nazi Germany's racial policies. He was involved in the July 20 Plot
to kill Adolf Hitler
, but managed to evade Gestapo
attempts to find all involved. He was suspected however and was eventually arrested on 7 September 1944 by the Gestapo and accused of being involved in the July Plot. Under interrogation he admitted nothing and did not betray anyone. Speidel appeared before an Army Court of honour, but Gerd von Rundstedt
, Heinz Guderian
and Wilhelm Keitel
decided not to expel him from the German Army, thus meaning he would not appear before Roland Freisler
's People's Court. Rommel, in his final letter to Hitler of 1 October 1944, appealed for Speidel's release, but received no answer. He was jailed for seven months by the Gestapo, then tried to escape and went into hiding, waiting for the Allies. He was freed by French troops on 29 April 1945. Speidel was one of the inner circle of conspirators (the only one not to be executed or commit suicide), and had been delegated by anti-Hitler forces to recruit Rommel for the conspiracy - which he had cautiously begun to do prior to Rommel's injury in a Canadian strafing
attack on 17 July 1944.
and in 1950 published his book Invasion 1944: Rommel and the Normandy Campaign before being involved in both the development and creation of the new German Army (Bundeswehr
) which he joined, reaching the NATO rank of full general. He was subsequently appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Allied NATO ground forces in Central Europe in April 1957, a command that he held until retirement in September 1963.
In 1960, Speidel took legal action against a film studio which portrayed him as having been privy to the assassinations of King
Alexander I
of Yugoslavia
and French
Foreign Minister Louis Barthou
in 1934, as well as having betrayed Field Marshal
Erwin Rommel
to the Nazis after the 20 July Plot in 1944. He successfully claimed damages for libel; see Plato Films Ltd v Speidel [1961] AC 1090.
In addition to his native German
, Speidel spoke fluent English
and French
. Hans Speidel died at Bad Honnef
, North Rhine-Westphalia
, in 1984.
Metzingen
Metzingen is a Swabian city with about 22,000 inhabitants, in the state of Baden-Württemberg in the southwest of Germany, south of Stuttgart.-History:The city is mentioned for the first time in documents from 1075...
, (28 October 1897 – 28 November 1984) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
general during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the first German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
NATO Commander during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
1914–1945
Speidel joined the German ArmyGerman Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was quickly promoted to second lieutenant. During the war he was a company commander at the Battle of the Somme and an adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
. He stayed in the German Army during the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on the eve of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Speidel served in the French campaign
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
of 1940 and in August became Chief of Staff of the military commander in France. In 1942 Speidel was sent to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
where he served as Chief of Staff of the 5th Army Corps, and as Chief of Staff of Army Group South
Army Group South
Army Group South was the name of a number of German Army Groups during World War II.- Poland campaign :Germany used two army groups to invade Poland in 1939: Army Group North and Army Group South...
in 1943, by which time he had been promoted to major-general. In April 1944, Speidel was appointed Chief of Staff to Field Marshal
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
, the Commander-in-Chief of Army Group B
Army Group B
Army Group B was the name of three different German Army Groups that saw action during World War II.-Battle for France:The first was involved in the Western Campaign in 1940 in Belgium and the Netherlands which was to be aimed to conquer the Maas bridges after the German airborne actions in Rotterdam...
, responsible for the defense of the French Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast. When Rommel was wounded in an air attack on his staff car, Speidel continued as Chief of Staff for the new commander of Army Group B, Field Marshal Günther von Kluge
Günther von Kluge
Günther Adolf Ferdinand “Hans” von Kluge was a German military leader. He was born in Posen into a Prussian military family. Kluge rose to the rank of Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
.
Speidel was a German nationalist and was happy with some Nazi policies (e.g., fighting against France, reversing the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
, etc.), but was ashamed of Nazi Germany's racial policies. He was involved in the July 20 Plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
to kill Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, but managed to evade Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
attempts to find all involved. He was suspected however and was eventually arrested on 7 September 1944 by the Gestapo and accused of being involved in the July Plot. Under interrogation he admitted nothing and did not betray anyone. Speidel appeared before an Army Court of honour, but Gerd von Rundstedt
Gerd von Rundstedt
Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt was a Generalfeldmarschall of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war....
, Heinz Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
and Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Bodewin Gustav Keitel was a German field marshal . As head of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and de facto war minister, he was one of Germany's most senior military leaders during World War II...
decided not to expel him from the German Army, thus meaning he would not appear before Roland Freisler
Roland Freisler
Roland Freisler was a prominent and notorious Nazi lawyer and judge. He was State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice and President of the People's Court , which was set up outside constitutional authority...
's People's Court. Rommel, in his final letter to Hitler of 1 October 1944, appealed for Speidel's release, but received no answer. He was jailed for seven months by the Gestapo, then tried to escape and went into hiding, waiting for the Allies. He was freed by French troops on 29 April 1945. Speidel was one of the inner circle of conspirators (the only one not to be executed or commit suicide), and had been delegated by anti-Hitler forces to recruit Rommel for the conspiracy - which he had cautiously begun to do prior to Rommel's injury in a Canadian strafing
Strafing
Strafing is the practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons. This means, that although ground attack using automatic weapons fire is very often accompanied with bombing or rocket fire, the term "strafing" does not specifically include the...
attack on 17 July 1944.
Post-war career
After the war Speidel served for some time as professor of modern history at TübingenEberhard Karls University of Tübingen
Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen is a public university located in the city of Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of Germany's oldest universities, internationally noted in medicine, natural sciences and the humanities. In the area of German Studies it has been ranked first among...
and in 1950 published his book Invasion 1944: Rommel and the Normandy Campaign before being involved in both the development and creation of the new German Army (Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
) which he joined, reaching the NATO rank of full general. He was subsequently appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Allied NATO ground forces in Central Europe in April 1957, a command that he held until retirement in September 1963.
In 1960, Speidel took legal action against a film studio which portrayed him as having been privy to the assassinations of King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Alexander I
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Foreign Minister Louis Barthou
Louis Barthou
Jean Louis Barthou was a French politician of the Third Republic.-Early years:He was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and served as Deputy from that constituency. He was an authority on trade union history and law. Barthou was Prime Minister in 1913, and held ministerial office...
in 1934, as well as having betrayed Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
to the Nazis after the 20 July Plot in 1944. He successfully claimed damages for libel; see Plato Films Ltd v Speidel [1961] AC 1090.
In addition to his native German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Speidel spoke fluent English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Hans Speidel died at Bad Honnef
Bad Honnef
Bad Honnef is a spa town in Germany near Bonn in the Rhein-Sieg district, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the border of the neighbouring state Rhineland-Palatinate...
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, in 1984.
Books
- Searle, Alaric. Wehrmacht Generals, West German Society, and the Debate on Rearmament, 1949-1959, Praeger Pub., 2003.
