WIDE SMILE
Hauptmann Bodo Spranz (1920-2007) was born on 1 January 1920 in Nordhausen and died on 1 September 2007 in Bremen after a distinguished military career in the Wehrmacht followed by postwar scholarly work as an ethnologist specializing in preclassic Mesoamerican history. Entering service in 1938, he advanced through artillery ranks to become an officer, receiving promotion to Leutnant around 1940, to Oberleutnant on 1 April 1942, and to Hauptmann on 1 August 1943. Early decorations included the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on 23 June 1940, the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse on 2 July 1941, the Verwundetenabzeichen in successive grades culminating in Gold on 8 December 1942 after multiple wounds, the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 6 May 1942 while serving as Batteriechef in the 2. Batterie of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 185, the Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, four Panzervernichtungsabzeichen, and the Sturmabzeichen. On 2 June 1943 he took command as Batteriechef of the 1. Batterie of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 237, leading it with exceptional skill in the Smolensk sector under Heeresgruppe Mitte. The Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes was awarded on 3 October 1943 for having personally destroyed 50 enemy tanks by 3 September 1943 and for his Batterie’s outstanding performance supporting the 330. Infanterie-Division, during which the unit knocked out 61 Soviet tanks in six days of intense fighting in late August and early September. The 308. Eichenlaub, granted the same day in a rare simultaneous presentation, recognized the continuation of these successes: in mid-September Spranz and his Batterie crushed a fierce Soviet armored assault, destroying 27 tanks in a single engagement, raising his personal tally to 76 tanks by 17 September 1943, of which four were eliminated in close combat, on which day he was wounded for the ninth time. These actions established him among the most successful Sturmgeschütz commanders of the war. At the end of hostilities he was with the 12. Armee in the Halbe pocket, entered American captivity in May 1945, and was released in October.
Source :
https://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/05/album-foto-tertawa-nazi-jerman.html
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