(1885-02-07)7 February 1885 Ludwigsburg, German Empire
Died
2 April 1953(1953-04-02) (aged 68) Munich, West Germany
Allegiance
German Empire (1903–18)Weimar Republic (1918–33)Nazi Germany (1933–44)
Service/branch
Imperial German Army (1903–14)Luftstreitkräfte(1914–18)Reichsheer(1918–35)Luftwaffe(1935–44)
Years of service
1903–1944
Rank
Generalfeldmarschall
Unit
Condor Legion
Commands held
1 Fliegerdivision Luftflotte 3
Battles/wars
World War I
Spanish Civil War
World War II
Battle of France
Battle of Britain
The Blitz
Operation Donnerkeil
Baedeker Blitz
Operation Steinbock
Operation Overlord
Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Spanish Cross
Wilhelm Hugo Sperrle (7 February 1885 – 2 April 1953), also known as Hugo Sperrle, was a German military aviator in World War I and a Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) in the Luftwaffe during World War II.
Sperrle joined the Imperial German Army in 1903. He served in the artillery upon the outbreak of World War I. In 1914 he joined the Luftstreitkräfte as an observer then trained as a pilot. Sperrle ended the war at the rank of Hauptmann (Captain) in command of an aerial reconnaissance attachment of a field army.
In the inter-war period Sperrle was appointed to the General Staff in the Reichswehr, serving the Weimar Republic in the aerial warfare branch. In 1934 after the Nazi Party seized power, Sperrle was promoted to Generalmajor (Brigadier
General) and transferred from the army to the Luftwaffe. Sperrle was given command of the Condor Legion in November 1936 and fought with the expeditionary force in the Spanish Civil War until October 1937.
Sperrle was appointed as commanding officer of Luftwaffengruppenkommando 3 (Air Force Group Command 3) the forerunner of Luftflotte 3 (Air Fleet 3) in February 1938. Sperrle was used during the Anschluss and Czech crisis by the Nazi leadership to threaten other governments with bombardment. Sperrle attended several important meetings with Austrian and Czech leaders for this purpose upon the invitation of Adolf Hitler.
In September 1939 World War II began with the invasion of Poland. Sperrle and his air fleet served exclusively on the Western Front. He played a crucial role in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain in 1940. In 1941 Sperrle directed operations during The Blitz over Britain. From mid-1941 his air fleet became the sole command in the west. Through 1941 and 1942 he defended German-occupied Europe against the Royal Air Force, as well as the United States Army Air Forces from 1943. Sperrle's command was depleted in the battles of attrition forced on him by the Combined Bomber Offensive.
By mid-1944, Sperrle's air fleet had been reduced to impotence and it could not repel the Allied landings in Western Europe. As a consequence, Sperrle was dismissed to the Führerreserve and never held a senior command again. On 1 May 1945 he was captured by the British. After the war, he was charged with war crimes at the High Command Trial but was acquitted. Sperrle was involved in the bribery of senior Wehrmacht officers.
Wilhelm HugoSperrle (7 February 1885 – 2 April 1953), also known as HugoSperrle, was a German military aviator in World War I and a Generalfeldmarschall...
Sperrle is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Daniel Sperrle (born 1982), Swedish professional ice hockey player HugoSperrle (1885–1953)...
bombing of Guernica was the most infamous operation by the Condor Legion. HugoSperrle commanded the unit's aircraft formations and Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma...
Saucken, Wilhelm Keitel, Dietrich von Choltiz, Hans von Seeckt, and HugoSperrle. Monocles were most prevalent in the late 19th century, but are rarely...
enthusiasts for ground-support operations (direct or indirect) were HugoSperrle the commander of Luftflotte 3 (1 February 1939 – 23 August 1944) and...
cancellation order had not reached Luftflotte 3 HQ at all. Its commander, HugoSperrle ordered attacks to commence. At 05:00, 20 Junkers Ju 88s of I./KG 54...
Gerd von Rundstedt, Commander of Army Group A General of the Aviators HugoSperrle, Commander of Air Fleet 3 Colonel General Erwin von Witzleben, Commander...
Walter von Reichenau (Heer); and Albert Kesselring, Erhard Milch and HugoSperrle (Luftwaffe). The holders of this rank had the right to a “direct presentation...
law of the time. Of the 14 defendants indicted, Otto Schniewind and HugoSperrle were acquitted on all counts. Johannes Blaskowitz committed suicide during...
His role expanded in January 1937, and he became Chief of Staff to HugoSperrle, who was to command the Legion. Richthofen's experiences were to serve...
south-east England and the London area. Luftflotte 3 (Generalfeldmarschall HugoSperrle) concentrated on the West Country, Wales, the Midlands and north-west...
to advance well beyond the Channel to win an aerial campaign and that HugoSperrle, the commander of Luftflotte 3, was already alarmed at German losses...
visits to the French capital. His subordinate, Luftwaffe Field Marshal HugoSperrle, was also given an apartment in the Luxembourg Palace. He spent most...
Schob Georg-Wilhelm Schulz Hans Seidemann Reinhard Seiler* Karl Smidt HugoSperrle* Albert Stecken Alois Stoeckl Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma* Horst Tietzen...
Luftflotte 2 (Air Fleet 2) Erhard Milch, Inspector General of the Luftwaffe HugoSperrle, Commander of the Luftflotte 3 (Air Fleet 3) This number of promotions...
(1739–1791), poet. Tony Schumacher (1848–1931), author of children's books HugoSperrle (1885–1953), field marshal of the Luftwaffe during World War II David...
Leigh-Mallory Bertram Ramsay Omar Bradley Gerd von Rundstedt Erwin Rommel HugoSperrle Theodor Krancke Leo von Schweppenburg Friedrich Dollmann Hans von Salmuth...
Germany United Kingdom Commanders and leaders Adolf Hitler Hermann Göring HugoSperrle Albert Kesselring Hans Jeschonnek Winston Churchill Hugh Dowding Frederick...
ground-support operations (either close air support or air interdiction) were HugoSperrle and Hans Jeschonnek. These men were long-time professional airmen involved...
February 7 Sinclair Lewis, American writer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1951) HugoSperrle, German field marshal (d. 1953) February 9 – Alban Berg, Austrian composer...
A. Cabanillas Rolando de Tella Antonio Castejón Francisco A. Delgado HugoSperrle Strength 42,000 50 tanks 70 guns 20,000 30 tanks 120 aircraft Casualties...
officers and field commanders in the mold of Felmy, Albert Kesselring, HugoSperrle or Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen. The air ministry was reorganised...
Commanders and leaders Sholto Douglas Frederick Alfred Pile Hermann Göring HugoSperrle Strength RAF Fighter Command No. 11 Group RAF No. 9 Group RAF No. 10...
Sabahattin Ali, Turkish journalist, author, and poet (b. 1907) 1953 – HugoSperrle, German field marshal (b. 1885) 1954 – Hoyt Vandenberg, US Air Force...
Global Information
German Empire (1903–18)
Weimar Republic (1918–33)
Nazi Germany (1933–44)
Imperial German Army (1903–14)
Reichsheer (1918–35)
Luftwaffe (1935–44)