Bodo Spranz

Bodo Spranz
Born	(1920-01-01)1 January 1920 Nordhausen
Died	1 September 2007(2007-09-01) (aged 87) Bremen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1938–1945
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 237
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Smolensk Battle of Halbe
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Bodo Spranz (1 January 1920 – 1 September 2007) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. On 3 October 1943 Spranz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, Oak Leaves and was also promoted to Hauptmann. He surrendered at the end of the war and was held in British-American captivity until October 1945. From 1962 to 1984 he was director of the ethnological museum of Freiburg.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (23 June 1940)
  • 1st Class (2 July 1941)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (4 September 1941)
  • in Silver (2 September 1942)
  • in Gold (8 December 1942)
• Eastern Front Medal (27 July 1942)
• 4 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
• General Assault Badge
  • with 25 Numeral
• German Cross in Gold (5 May 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 3 October 1943 as Hauptmann and Chef I. / Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 237
  • 308th Oak Leaves on 3 October 1943 as Hauptmann and Chef I. / Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 237

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Schaulen, Fritjof (2005). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe III Radusch - Zwernemann (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-22-X.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945