Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    General of Artillery Hans Ludwig Speth, German Army


    Recommended Posts

    Hello All,

    After a lucky find on ebay I was able to add another document to the family album that I have from General Speth. One would wonder how these documents ever get seperated from the others.

    Originally I picked up Gen Speths cap, tunic, trousers and photo album which came directly from the family. The album included original pictures of Speth from his WW1 service (including his ORIGINAL WW1 service record), wedding photos, pics form the 30's and wartime pictures. Also included was a newspaper clipping talking about his Knights Cross.

    The 'find' on ebay was his original recomendation for his Knights Cross from his commanding general. The holes inthe doc were an exact match for the album that I have so for some reason.. it was seperated at some time inthe past.

    The first pics will be the new document and then I'll post some of the other items from the album.

    Big thanks to my 'boy' Daniel K. for the translation

    [attachmentid=28038]

    Cheers

    Mark

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    translation :

    Telex

    to Army High Command 18

    Recommendation for the award of the Knights Cross

    of the Iron Cross to LtGen Speth, Cdr 28th Rifle Division

    a) LtGen Speth has turned a critic situation for the better in the hard fights west of Nowgorod. He built with fast collected forces a new front and used this weak forces offensive flanking against the progressing Soviet superiority, so that the decisive fight for winning time was successful and the try of both- side outflanking by the enemy was avoided.

    b) In a later big defection movement to the Luga- curvation LtGen Speth led his battle group, composed from small and smallest units, in a night through a narrowness, that the withdrawing of area was longer time hided to the enemy and no personnel and just a few material losses were caused. This operation, executed with strong overtired and weakened force can just be called a masterstroke.

    c) Currently, LtGen Speth holds a front of 45 kilometres with meagre, heavily weakened forces without any reserves and under irrespective weakening of lower threatened sectors against continuous infantry- and tank- attacks. Defiant of very complicated command conditions he is absolute sure in his way of giving orders, always clear and accurate in the estimation of the own and enemies situation, able in his leadership abilities, full of care for his troops, personally dauntless and brave. He is a Divisional Commander of high grades, who has an important part, that Luga is still in German hands.

    Personal data:

    Name: Speth first Name: Hans

    born: 07.10.1897 place of birth: Rockenberg County Friedberg

    Rank: LtGen Position: Cdr 28th Rifle Div since 15.01.1944

    corrected into 01.12.1943

    Service status: active

    Peacetime unit: War Academy

    Entered service: 01.07.1915

    Seniority: 01.01.44 (11)

    Awards: 14.03.40 bar to Iron Cross 2nd class

    20.05.40 bar to Iron Cross 1st class

    14.04.42 German Cross in Gold

    05.08.42 East Medal

    23.08.42 Krim shield

    Private Adress: Berlin Charlottenburg, Sachsenplatz 8

    Profession of the Father: Owner of a pharmacy

    signed HERZOG

    General of Artillery

    and Commanding General of the 38th Army Corps

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Supreme Commander Army Head Quarter, 09.02.1944

    18th Army

    LtGen Speth, whose high merits as Army Commander in the 2nd and 3rd Ladoga battle are undoubted, distinguished himself by a energetic, clear and ?.. (Mark, entschu?freudig means something like; he is easy in finding decisions) leadership, personal bravery and total devotedness. The stopping of the Russian attack west of Nowgorod is to owe to his energetic Personality.

    I recommend the award of the Knight Cross to this meritorious Army ? and Divisional Commander.

    signed LINDEMANN

    Colonel General

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    another.. interesting note about this pic... look close athte tunic.. it's an enlisted tunic that has had general's insignia added... if it was for sale somewhere most folks would say it's no good......here is the living proof that they did do this :P

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • 3 years later...

    Hello Guys,

    Talking about the condecorations of Speth, someone can help me in recognize some ribbons in you ribbons bars ?

    in second ribbon bar what decorations is for 2sd, 3rd and last ribbon ?

    Thx in advance

    Cheers

    Edited by Alexandre
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • 2 months later...

    Hi!

    The last ribbon looks like the Albanian Order of Skanderberg (under Italian occupation 1939-1943), it could be officer or commander grade...

    The other two orders with rosette are very likely Rumanian or Bulgarian orders. Practically the second row are represented all foreign orders which were awarded Gen.d.Art. Speth.

    Ciao,

    Claudio

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now
    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.