Generalleutnant Hans Graf von Sponeck (1888-1944)

[Jeremy Dixon]

and again thank you so much for your help

[Dieter Zinke]

I want to recommend:
http://www.historic.de/Militar/Personen ... poneck.htm

Dieter Z.

[histan]

Unfortunately this bio contains a significant error. He did not command XLII. AK from 10.10.1941 as is clear from both the KTB of XLII. AK and the KRL of 22. Infanterie-Division.

Regards

John

[Rossano]

Hello John
According to different sources (his Karteikarte, Keilig, Bradley, v.Siegler, etc.) Kuntze commanded the 12. Armee from 10.41 indeed but from which day exactly, 24, 25, 26, or 29 ?
Depending on the correct date v.Sponeck too must have taken over command of the XXXXII. AK.
Rgds., Rossano

[histan]

Sorry for the teasing post. It takes some time to get all the information together.

On 10.10.1941 HQ XXXXII. AK was deployed at Riga, on 11.10.1941 it entrained, and between 12. and 19.10.1941 it was being transported from Heeresgruppe Nord to Heersgruppe Süd. By 21.10.1941 the Führungsabteilung was establishing itself at Nikolajew. On the same day it was informed that Kuntze was being tasked with standing-in for List at AOK 12, who was ill. No stand-in for Kuntze was named.

From the KTB of XXXXII. AK dated 21.10.1941
"Laut eingelaufenem Fernschreiben ist der Kdr. General für andere Verwendung vorgesehen. Sofortige Verbindungsaufnahme mit OKH, Personalabteilung, Meldung bei HQu OKH ,anschließend zum Führerhauptquartier Gen. d. Pio Kuntze mit Führung der 12. Armee für die Dauer der [Erkrankung von] Generalfeldmarschall List beauftragt. Vertretung für General Kuntze noch nicht bestimmt. Kdr. General fliegt um 15.15 Uhr zur Heeressgruppe Süd"

Kuntze took over at AOK 12 on 26.10.1941. From the KTB of AOK 12 dated 26.10.1941:
"Am 26. Nachmittag traf auf dem Flugplatz Tatoi der mit der Vertretung des erkrankten Generalfeldmarschalls List als W.Bfh. Südost und mit der stellvertretenden Führung der 12. Armee betraute Kom. Gen. des XXXXII. AK, General der Pioniere Kuntze, ein."

Kuntze's appointment as stand-in for List was announced in an appointments list dated 07.11.1941.
"Mit Wirkung vom 24. Oktober der General der Pioniere Kuntze, Kom. Gen. XXXXII. AK f. d. Dauer d. Erkrank. d. ObBfh. m. d. Führ. d. 12. Armee b. Er übernimmt zugleich die Vertretung d. Wehrm. Bfh. Südost"

XXXXII. AK was left without a stand-in for Kuntze until it entered the line on 30.10.1941. In fact, it also lost its Chef who was taken away to lead Brigade Ziegler.

OKH and AOK 11 recognized that the Korps needed a stand-in for Kuntze, if it was to control troops and the HPA sent the following Fernschreiben on 29.10.1941:
"Mit sofortiger Wirkung wird der Gen.Ltn. Bieler, Kdr. der 73. Inf.Div., vertretungsweise mit der Führung des XXXXII. AK beauftragt.
FS to XXXXII. AK and 73. Inf.Div. from OKH HPA Ag P 1/1.Abt.(aII) dated 29.10.1941

Bieler took over on 30.10.1941. From the KTB of XXXXII. AK 30.10.1941.
"Laut Befehl der Armee übernimmt Generalleutnant Bieler, Kommandeur 73. Inf.Div., die Führung des Korps bis zur Rückkehr des Kdr. Gen. Kuntze.

He commanded through November, when AOK 11 requested that he had some leave.
"Für Generalleutnant Bieler XXXXII. AK kurzer Erholungsurlaub erwünscht. Vertretung Generalleutnant Graf Sponeck.
Fernschreiben to HPA from AOK 11 dated 01.12.1941
HPA sent back a message agreeing to this on 06.12.1941

Unfortunately I can't find any mention of this handover in the KTB for XXXXII. AK

While this was happening according to its KRL Graf von Sponeck was on leave from 22. Infanterie Division from 14.10.1941 until 03.12.1941. According to the KRL he was attached to XXXXII. AK from 04.12.1941 until 01.01.1942 while remaining as the official Kommandeur of 22. Infanterie Division.

So Graf von Sponeck did not take charge of XXXXII. AK until early December 1941.

Regards

John

[Rossano]

Very interesting and exhaustive. Thanks John, Rgds., Rossano
P.S.: if Sponeck took charge from 04.12, Bieler until 03.12 or end nov. ?

[Stauffenberg II]

Thanks John for your thorough and interesting answer.

[Shakar]

Hi does anyone have supplements to this list?

Generalleutnant Hans Graf von SPONECK
- Ritterkreuz: am 14.05.1940 als Generalleutnant und Kommandeur 22. Infanterie-Division
- 1914 EK I
- 1914 EK II
- Kgl. Bayer. Militär-Verdienstorden IV. Klasse mit Schwertern
- Ritterkreuz I. Klasse des Kgl. Württembg. Friedrichs-Ordens mit Schwertern
- Ritterkreuz II. Klasse des Grossherzoglich-Badischen Ordens vom Zähringer Löwen mit Schwertern
- Fürstl. Lippisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz
- Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Silber
- Kgl. Preuss. Rettungsmedaille am Bande
- Ehrenritter des Johanniter-Ordens
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Rechtsritter des Johanniter-Ordens
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV. bis I. Klasse
- Spange zum EK I
- Spange zum EK II
- Kgl. Rumän. Ordens “Michael der Tapfere“ III. Klasse: 19.09.1941

I'm not sure whether it's just one ribbon behind WHDA (Sudeten M.) or if there are two (Anschluss + Sudeten/Michael der Tapfere maybe, dunno the date the photo was taken).
full res: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29879&p=2305633&hil ... f#p2305633

https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29879&p=2305633&hilit=von+Sponeck%2C+Hans+Graf#p2305633

..
2nd photo didn't help much, (Anschluss, Sudeten M. possible) although it probably rules out Michael the Brave (already as an unprobable option):
..

http://www.historic.de/Militar/Personen/Sponeck/Sponeck%20001a.jpg

Sponeck 001a.jpg (28.11 KiB) Viewed 441 times

[graveland]

[/quote]

I still doubt whether Sponeck ever was transferred to the Luftwaffe. The Stellenbesetzung and DAL from 12.10.1937 and the Personalveränderungen promoting him to GM from 10.02.1938 both list him as Heer officer "zur Verfügung des ObdH (sonstige Offiziere)". On 10.11.1938, he is also Heer. For me, this looks like a Kommandierung. If he left the Heer between February and November, the Personalveränderungen should tell. I will check this later.

P.S. I did not find Sponeck between his RDA assignment on 24.02.1938 and his appointment to Kdr 22. Div on 15.11.1938. In both cases, he is still "zur Verfügung des ObdH (sonstige Offiziere)". I can't explain the order quoted by Absolon and would love to see the original.

Okay, on a closer look I noticed that the 1937 Stellenbesetzung lists a whole bunch of Heer officers as z.V. der Luftwaffe. They are all listed under "Zur Verfügung des Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres - B: Sonstige Offiziere - Zur Verfügung des Reichsministers der Luftfahrt und Oberbefehlshabers der Luftwaffe". I believe that most if not all of them were "lend" to the Luftwaffe from 01.10.1937, and that the majority of them did not become Luftwaffe officers.

I just came across this in "Die Wehrmacht-Elite" by Reinhard Stumpf:

The General Staff Officer Graf Sponeck came to the Luftwaffe in 1937 and was employed there as Luftgaubefehlshaber (Air District Commander) in Berlin and München; promoted to Generalmajor 1. 3. 38. Returned to the Army again in July 1938 probably on account of disagreements with the chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff, General Stumpff

Hi boys!

Source: akgimages. Text: "Grundsteinlegung zur ersten Reichsluftschutzschule in Berlin-Wannsee durch General der Flieger Erhard Milch (Berlin, 1. März 1938).

The Luftwaffe's Generalmajor behind Becker and Christiansen is Hans Graf von Sponeck.