Speidel, Hans (born 1897)

German soldier. In World War II he rose to be chief of staff to an army group under Field Marshal Rommel and held this appointment when the Allies invaded Normandy, France. Speidel was charged with participation in the German generals' plot against Hitler. He was tried but was subsequently acquitted. He was military adviser to the German Federal government 1951–55. In 1955 he became chief of staff. He was commander of the NATO land forces 1957–63. He was made special adviser to the Federal government on military affairs in 1963.

Speidel was educated at the universities of Tubingen and Berlin, the Technische Hochschule, Stuttgart, and the Kriegsakademie. He became a regular army officer in 1914. Between the wars he held a number of regimental and staff appointments. He is the author of We Defended Normandy.