Tapping Hitler's Generals

Born Mergentheim, 22.1.1886. RC. Entered Army 21.8.1905. WWI and Reichswehr: Staff and field, artillery units, finally CO, Artillery-Reg.19; 1.4.1939, Commandant, Westwall Aachen. WWII: 24.9.1939 Commandant, Westwall Lower Rhine and CO, Div. Spang; 31.5.1940–15.9.1940 Führer-Reserve; 16.9.1940–15.11.1940 Stab AOK Staff, Army High Command 1; 16.11.1940–13.5.1941 CO, 337.Inf.Div. In April 1941 Spang was criticised by his 1a, Major Graf Pückler-Burghaus, as ‘suffering acutely from the fact that he had got only a rearward division to command and as he did not even have the clasp to his Iron Cross First Class he felt passed over.’ Also predisposed to nervousness, which led to Spang being relieved of command on 13.5.1941. 14.5.1941–7.12.1941 Führer-Reserve; 8.12.1941–30.12.1941 Commandant, Poltava; 31.12.1941–24.5.1942 Commandant, Crimean Isthmus; 25.5.1942–5.10.1942 Commandant, Rearward Army region 585; 6.10.1942–20.11.1942 Commandant, Rearward Army region, 593; 21.11.1942–30.12.1942 CO, Battle-Group Spang; 21.12.1942–14.1.1943 acting CO, Army Gr. Don and Commdg Gen. Security Forces; 15.1.1943–1.6.1943 Führer-Reserve; from 1.6.1943 CO, 266.Inf.Div.; 8.8.1944, PoW Brest (US); 12.8.1944–23.9.1944 Trent Park. Died Ellwangen, 29.8.1979.

Spang was considered ‘a difficult man’, assessed in April 1941 as being ‘very nervous, almost morbidly ambitious’.

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘Mentally deranged and showed signs of suicidal tendencies. Very anti-Nazi.’

GENERALLEUTNANT THEODOR GRAF VON SPONECK

Born Offenburg, 24.1.1896. RC. WWI: 12.8.1914 entered Army, Leutnant, Garde-Grenadier-Reg.1, Western and Eastern Fronts; 5.7.1916 awarded Bavarian Military Max Josef Order. Reichswehr: Field and Staff; 1.1.1938 Oberstleutnant. WWII: 1.10.1938–14.12.1940, No. 1 Staff Officer, XV.Armeekorps; then until 26.1.1942 CO, Schützen-Reg.11; 12.9.1941 awarded Knight’s Cross; 22.9.1942 CO, 90.Light-Div.; 12.5.1943 PoW Tunisia; 1.6.1944–23.9.1944 Trent Park. Died Heidesheim an der Brenz, 13.7.1982.

Asessed by Feldmarschall Erwin Rommel on 11.2.1943: ‘Leader-type personality with strong character, firm in his resolve and actions. Embodies as a soldier the ideology of National Socialism. Led his Division in difficult defensive actions and retreats in North Africa with prudence, skill and determination and proved himself again in the front line. Energetic mentally and physically and has élan.’

CSDIC (UK) opinion: ‘This PoW is somewhat neurotic and very moody. One day he will be exceedingly talkative and amusing and the next he snoops around the place like a dog with his tail between his legs. He is a very talented painter and spends most of his time alone with his work. The ADCs say that he was the most popular General in North Africa with junior officers and the troops. He is one of the best types we have had pass through our hands. PoW is defeatist, anti-Nazi and a monarchist.’

GENERAL DER PANZERTRUPPEN WILHELM RITTER VON THOMA

Born Dachau, 11.9.1891. RC. Entered Army 23.9.1912. WWI: 3.Königlich-Bayerisches Inf.Reg., Western and Eastern Fronts (Serbia, Rumania, Russia), finally Oberleutnant and Comp. Cdr. Reichswehr: Mostly with 7.Bavarian Inf.Div.; 1.8.1936 Oberstleutnant; 1.4.1938 Oberst; September 1936–May 1939, CO Ground Forces, Legion Condor, awarded by Franco Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. WWII: 1939 CO, Pz.Reg.3, 2.Pz.Div., Poland; 1.8.1940 Generalmajor; from March 1940–July 1941 General der Schnellentruppen at OKH; 17.7.1941–30.9.1941 CO, 17.Pz.Div.; 14.10.1941–21.7.1942 CO, 20.Pz.Div.; 31.12.1941 awarded Knight’s Cross; 1.8.1942 Generalleutnant; 1.11.1942 General der Panzertruppen; 1.9.1942–4.11.1942 Cmmdg Gen. Deutsches Afrika Korps; 4.11.1942 PoW Tel-el-Mapsra west of El Alamein (British); 19.11.1942 Trent Park; 17.6.1944 German Senior Officer, Trent Park. 1946 at Wilton Park, leg amputated, repatriated. Died Starnberg, 30.4.1948.

Assessed by Chief of Staff Generaloberst Franz Halder on 6.5.1941 as: ‘Warhorse. Front-line soldier through and through with inclination to be adventurous. Outstandingly practical with comprehensive technical knowledge and rich experience of battle. A man who knows how to help out in every situation and never loses his sense of humour. Outstandingly well proven at the front.’ On 22.3.1942 General Materna added: ‘A great character, energetic, independent leader-type personality, his personal commitment is an example to all and the best possible influence on officers and men. Very caring superior. A Divisional Commander upon whom one can always rely.’