Max Sperling

Max Sperling
Born	4 September 1905 Kulm, German Empire (now Chełmno, Poland)
Died	6 June 1984 (aged 79) Heidelberg, West Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Heer Bundeswehr
Years of service	1924–45 1956–64
Rank	Oberst (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Commands held	Panzergrenadier-Regiment 11 9. Panzer-Division
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Greece Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Battle of Smolensk (1941) Battle of Kursk Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive Operation Overlord Falaise pocket
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Max Sperling (4 September 1905 – 6 June 1984) was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Oberst in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Max Sperling joined the Bundeswehr in 1956 and retired in 1964.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Panzer Badge
• German Cross in Gold (27 November 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944 as Major and commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 11^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 328.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• World War 2 Awards.com