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Spear, Hans N. (36681166): Difference between revisions
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|religion=Jewish | |religion=Jewish | ||
|certificate=5268 | |certificate=5268 | ||
|photo=Spear, Hans (36681166).jpg | |photo=Spear, Hans (36681166) press TANGRAM.jpg | ||
|confidence=high | |confidence=high | ||
|class_display=14 | |class_display=14 | ||
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|birth_place=Germany | |birth_place=Germany | ||
|rank_final=Pvt | |rank_final=Pvt | ||
|birth_date=2 December 1918 | |||
}} | }} | ||
<div class="soldier-lead"> | <div class="soldier-lead"> | ||
'''Hans N. Spear''' (1918–2009) was a | '''Hans N. Spear''' (2 December 1918–2009), born Spier, was a German-born Jewish refugee and Camp Ritchie graduate who served with the Counter Intelligence Corps in Europe. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Hans | Hans Spear (born Spier) left Germany for the United States at about age twenty and soon married his childhood sweetheart Bea, who had also fled Germany. As an “enemy alien,” the Army first sent him to Camp Grant, Illinois, for medical-corps basic training—without a weapon. Determined to fight rather than serve only as a medic, he was ordered out under confidential shipping instructions and the next day found himself at Camp Ritchie, the Military Intelligence Training Center. | ||
He entered the Army in summer 1943, trained in [[Class 14]], and returned to Europe in spring 1944. Spear served with the Counter Intelligence Corps from Normandy across Europe and for about six months with the army of occupation. After crossing into Germany he discovered one of the Nazis’ secret Lebensborn children’s homes. He returned to the United States in December 1945 and later founded a painting company in Chicago. He died in 2009. | |||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
| Line 37: | Line 38: | ||
* Painting company owner | * Painting company owner | ||
* Notable Ritchie Boys slide lists as Hans J. Spear | * Notable Ritchie Boys slide lists as Hans J. Spear | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
<div class="soldier-gallery"> | |||
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px"> | |||
Spear, Hans (36681166).jpg|Earlier profile photograph (retained after press-photo update) | |||
</gallery> | |||
</div> | |||
== Technical record == | == Technical record == | ||
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<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | <div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | ||
* Born 2 December 1918 in Germany. | * Born 2 December 1918 in Germany. | ||
* c. 1938–1939 — Escaped to the United States; married Bea. | |||
* 2 December 1943 — Entered Class 14 (IPW Ge). | * 2 December 1943 — Entered Class 14 (IPW Ge). | ||
* Summer 1943 — Entered the U.S. Army; transferred to Camp Ritchie. | |||
* 31 January 1944 — Graduated Class 14 (German Linguist). | * 31 January 1944 — Graduated Class 14 (German Linguist). | ||
* 6 January 1944 — Became naturalized citizen in Wash, DC. | * 6 January 1944 — Became naturalized citizen in Wash, DC. | ||
* Spring 1944 — Returned to Europe with the Counter Intelligence Corps. | |||
* December 1945 — Returned to the United States. | |||
* In 2008 — Spear finally received the Bronze medal he earned but was not given to him because of anti-Semitism. | * In 2008 — Spear finally received the Bronze medal he earned but was not given to him because of anti-Semitism. | ||
* Assigned to PI Team 16 attached to 30th Infantry Division. | * Assigned to PI Team 16 attached to 30th Infantry Division. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | </div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | ||
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* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Hans N. Spear for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed) | * Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Hans N. Spear for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed) | ||
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Spear, Hans N. for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: HANS N. SPEAR.doc) | * Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Spear, Hans N. for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: HANS N. SPEAR.doc) | ||
* [https://ritchieboys.com/EN/boys_spear.html The Ritchie Boys: Hans Spear] | |||
* [https://ritchieboys.com/EN/camp_life.html The Ritchie Boys film site — Life in Camp Ritchie (Hans Spear quotes)] | |||
* [[The Stories/Life in Camp Ritchie]] (Bauer film excerpts) | |||
* [https://ritchieboys.com/EN/press_photos.html The Ritchie Boys film site — press photos] (© TANGRAM (Harald Stuckmann); high-res https://ritchieboys.com/DL/photos-highq/boys/spear.jpg) | |||
Latest revision as of 15:01, 16 September 2026
| Hans N. Spear | |
|---|---|
_press_TANGRAM.jpg) | |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Spier |
| Born | 2 December 1918 Germany |
| Died | 2009 |
| Nativity | Germany |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 36681166 |
| Rank | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 14 (2 December 1943 – 31 January 1944) |
| Section | 5B |
On film Hans N. Spear appears in The Ritchie Boys (Christian Bauer, 2004).
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Hans N. Spear (2 December 1918–2009), born Spier, was a German-born Jewish refugee and Camp Ritchie graduate who served with the Counter Intelligence Corps in Europe.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Hans Spear (born Spier) left Germany for the United States at about age twenty and soon married his childhood sweetheart Bea, who had also fled Germany. As an “enemy alien,” the Army first sent him to Camp Grant, Illinois, for medical-corps basic training—without a weapon. Determined to fight rather than serve only as a medic, he was ordered out under confidential shipping instructions and the next day found himself at Camp Ritchie, the Military Intelligence Training Center.
He entered the Army in summer 1943, trained in Class 14, and returned to Europe in spring 1944. Spear served with the Counter Intelligence Corps from Normandy across Europe and for about six months with the army of occupation. After crossing into Germany he discovered one of the Nazis’ secret Lebensborn children’s homes. He returned to the United States in December 1945 and later founded a painting company in Chicago. He died in 2009.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
- CIC BS CIB
- Ritchie Boy
- PI 16
- Painting company owner
- Notable Ritchie Boys slide lists as Hans J. Spear
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Earlier profile photograph (retained after press-photo update)
.jpg)
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 91 |
| Class_ASN | 36681166 |
| Class_Name | SPEAR, Hans N. |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- Born 2 December 1918 in Germany.
- c. 1938–1939 — Escaped to the United States; married Bea.
- 2 December 1943 — Entered Class 14 (IPW Ge).
- Summer 1943 — Entered the U.S. Army; transferred to Camp Ritchie.
- 31 January 1944 — Graduated Class 14 (German Linguist).
- 6 January 1944 — Became naturalized citizen in Wash, DC.
- Spring 1944 — Returned to Europe with the Counter Intelligence Corps.
- December 1945 — Returned to the United States.
- In 2008 — Spear finally received the Bronze medal he earned but was not given to him because of anti-Semitism.
- Assigned to PI Team 16 attached to 30th Infantry Division.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
- Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
- NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Hans N. Spear for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Spear, Hans N. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: HANS N. SPEAR.doc)
- The Ritchie Boys: Hans Spear
- The Ritchie Boys film site — Life in Camp Ritchie (Hans Spear quotes)
- The Stories/Life in Camp Ritchie (Bauer film excerpts)
- The Ritchie Boys film site — press photos (© TANGRAM (Harald Stuckmann); high-res https://ritchieboys.com/DL/photos-highq/boys/spear.jpg)
