Spear, Hans N. (36681166): Difference between revisions

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'''Hans N. Spear''' (1918–2009) was a ~~United States Army Pvt who trained at [[~~Camp Ritchie~~]], Maryland,~~ in ~~[[Class 14]]~~.

'''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.

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== Biography ==

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. ~~He entered~~ the Army ~~in summer 1943~~, ~~trained~~ at Camp Ritchie, ~~and returned to Europe in spring 1944~~.

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.

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 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 ==

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* 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)

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 <div class="soldier-lead">
-'''Hans N. Spear''' (1918&ndash;2009) was a United States Army Pvt who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 14]].
+'''Hans N. Spear''' (2 December 1918&ndash;2009), born Spier, was a German-born Jewish refugee and Camp Ritchie graduate who served with the Counter Intelligence Corps in Europe.
 </div>
 == Biography ==
-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. He entered the Army in summer 1943, trained at Camp Ritchie, and returned to Europe in spring 1944.
+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.
-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 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 ==
@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 * 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)