GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

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Aisingioro
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GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#1

Post by Aisingioro » 17 Jun 2015, 12:53

Hi,
General der Artillerie Hermann Ritter von Speck (1888-1940) Does anyone have anything on his career from 1907-1940 ?
---------------------------------
@Dieter

Tks,
Aisin
Speck.png
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Aisingioro
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#2

Post by Aisingioro » 23 Jun 2015, 11:14

Pls,

Aisin


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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#3

Post by joerg » 23 Jun 2015, 22:09


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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#4

Post by Rudolf44 » 24 Jun 2015, 20:05

Hello,

Does anyone have more precise dates about his assignments between 1920 and 1934 please ?

Rudolf

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AlifRafikKhan
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#5

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 06 Jan 2018, 17:06

At lunch one day, I’m seated next to a strikingly beautiful woman, a senior citizen. She is German, but has lived for many years in Salzburg (as I understand it). Her father was a German general — a Nazi general, if you will: Hermann Ritter von Speck. He was the first German general to die in the war. The year was 1940, the month was June; the place was France. According to his daughter, he wanted to die, and arranged to die. He felt he could not break his oath to the army — he could not desert. And his Catholic faith prevented him from committing suicide — suicide straight out, you might say. So, he put himself in the line of fire. In his dying words, he did not say, “Give my love to my family,” or anything like that. He said, “It had to be this way.” His daughter went to 13 different schools in 12 years. You can imagine the tumult of her life. (Less tumultuous than many, to be sure.) In the last five years of the war, she did not participate in any Nazi groups. Her mother forbade it. When officials questioned the mother about this, she said, “This is General von Speck’s daughter — I think we have paid enough.” Or words to that effect.
Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/2 ... nordlinger

Is there any reason why the general wants to be killed in the battle?

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askropp
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#6

Post by askropp » 06 Jan 2018, 17:40

I would rather ask whether there was any reason why his descendants later CLAIMED that he wanted to die.
There are times in history when staying neutral means taking sides.

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tigre
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#7

Post by tigre » 03 Feb 2018, 21:11

Hello to all :D; brief story about the only German general fallen in France 1940
June 14-15, 1940. Violent fight around Sens.

The French units withdraw and regroup. They must fight here and there in different strategic points. After the Seine, the Yonne is a new obstacle to crossing and will be the scene of an unexpected competition between two German generals, von Speck, in the north, at the head of the XVIII. AK (Army Corps) with its infantry divisions and von Kleist, to the south, with its XVI. AK and its Panzers divisions. The fight takes place in several points of the department. In Avallonnais and Tonnerrois, are violent and the German army engages in war crimes by executing prisoners of Senegalese and North African riflemen.

On June 14, the Germans entered Paris without a fight, as it was declared an open city. In the region, the German vanguard faces the French defenses that covers the Courgenay-Lailly sector. Two bodies of French soldiers will be recovered in the garden of the Billet family farm in Lailly, on the return of the exodus. In Theil, an Indo-Chinese rifleman is killed. The road to Sens is busy at night. A hundred French soldiers of the 71e RI were deployed blocking the roads of Thorigny in St-Clément and Pont-sur-Yonne in St Denis-lès-Sens. On June 15, the offensive is now pressing from the north. The Germans crossed the Seine and move from Fontainebleau, Bray-sur-Seine and Nogent-sur-Seine. Now many soldiers are isolated from their command, sometimes without weapons, without enough ammunition, poorly equipped as that regiment of march of foreign volunteers (unit of the foreign legion) called "Regiment of Ficelles (replacement)" rope (ficelles) that is used for Replace firearm straps or laces. On the Popelins' farm, an anti-tank gun destroyed several German tanks. The crew of this gun are killed!

In Pont-sur-Yonne, the old stone bridge remains intact. This is an important strategic goal for both sides. The Germans want it intact to cross as soon as possible and the French want to destroy it to stop them. The enemy aviation attacked the previous day at 17:00 hours, dropping bombs and strafing the edge of the bridge, the station, National Road 5 and St-Sérotin. At least fourteen civilians, locals and refugees are killed and dozens are injured. The command of the 72nd Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division in charge of defending the north of Yonne is annihilated during this incursion. Lieutenant Colonel Cros-Mayrevieille, three officers and a non-commissioned officer are killed. The assistants take care of and evacuate the wounded towards Sens. At nightfall, the German vanguards arrive by the highway of Bray-sur-Seine. The first shots are exchanged, but the bridge is firmly defended. As soon as the city recovers from the deadly air attack, another one happens on Saturday the 15th at 05:00 hours. Chaos again. The unfortunate refugees who sleep in the main square are awakened by terrible explosions: screams, dust, smoke ... More deaths and more injuries. It is ordered to blast the bridge and the aqueduct of the Vanne at the height of Villeperrot. This time the order is executed, unlike Sens and other communes where this directive was not followed.

The destruction of the bridge poses a serious problem for the German general staff: the planning of the offensive can be disorganized throughout the sector. General Ritter von Speck, arrives with his officers to appreciate the situation. The convoy arrives by the road of Bray-sur-Seine and the parks near the hotel of the Three Kings. In spite of the shots, the officers descend and approach the dock to observe the destroyed bridge. A French soldier ambushed in a building on the opposite bank sees this group and opens fire with his rifle. Ritter von Speck collapses. Another general is touched in the arm. Von Speck is transported to his car to take him to a dressing station, but succumbs a few minutes later. He is the only German general who will be killed during the 1940 campaign! Paradoxically, on the French side, no difference is noted, the situation does not alter the will of the Germans who built a pontoon bridge near Sixte. The attack intensifies in the north. The defenses are under siege, the brick building located on the left bank at the corner of Carnot and Gambetta streets is riddled with bullets. Taking advantage of the night, the order of withdrawal is given to Villeperrot, where the fights will continue. Given the large number of casualties, 26 civilians and 163 soldiers, during these two days, the new German commander of the sector will have a mass celebrated by Bishop Lamy. An honor guard frames the coffins in the cemetery
Source: http://www.histoire-sens-senonais-yonne ... onais.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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image034.jpg
General Ritter von Speck after his death
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AlifRafikKhan
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#8

Post by AlifRafikKhan » 14 Jan 2020, 15:56

Maybe his last picture, taken in the Marne. As a Kommandierender General of XVIII. gebirgskorps, He is wearing a bergmütze, so this pic at least was taken as early as 5 June 1940..

Source: https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Datei:Her ... ont_VI.jpg
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Hermann_Ritter_von_Speck,_gefallen_an_der_Westfront_VI.jpg

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Nicolas7507
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#9

Post by Nicolas7507 » 14 Jan 2020, 17:43

Here is a brilliant article about him with many photos:

https://www.omsa.org/lieutenant-general ... von-speck/

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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#10

Post by Shakar » 22 Oct 2021, 11:56

Can anyone identify the ribbon behind the WHDA? Thanks.

https://www.omsa.org/lieutenant-general ... von-speck/
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scan0151.jpg
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Nicolas7507
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#11

Post by Nicolas7507 » 22 Oct 2021, 13:19

Kronenorden 4.Klasse
Bayerische Jubiläums-Medaille

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Requin Marteau
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#12

Post by Requin Marteau » 22 Oct 2021, 13:43

Nicolas7507 wrote:
22 Oct 2021, 13:19
Kronenorden 4.Klasse
Bayerische Jubiläums-Medaille
Are you sure for Preuss. Kronenorden 4.Klasse ?
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Speck.jpg

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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#13

Post by graveland » 22 Oct 2021, 14:26

Requin Marteau wrote:
22 Oct 2021, 13:43
Nicolas7507 wrote:
22 Oct 2021, 13:19
Kronenorden 4.Klasse
Bayerische Jubiläums-Medaille
Are you sure for Preuss. Kronenorden 4.Klasse ?
It is the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer.

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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#14

Post by Shakar » 22 Oct 2021, 14:29

That is before the WHDA if I'm right... It doesn't look like Chile, Order of Merit either, does it?
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Nicolas7507
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Re: GdA Hermann Ritter von Speck

#15

Post by Nicolas7507 » 22 Oct 2021, 16:08

Here is his ribbon bar (not my collection). It looks like a KO4 to me. Regarding the Jubiläums-Medaille, I have to correct myself. It is the Prinz-Regent Luitpold-Medaille am Bande der Jubiläums-Medaille.
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064 General der Art. Hermann Ritter von Speck (RK).jpg

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