Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Hans Speidel: Born in Metzingen, (28 October 1897 28 November 1984) was a German general during World War II and the first German NATO Commander during the Cold War. Speidel joined the German Army in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I and was quickly promoted to second lieutenant. During the war he was a company commander at the Battle of the Somme and an adjutant.He stayed in the German Army during the interwar period and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on the eve of World War II. Speidel served in the French campaign of 1940 and in August became Chief of Staff of the military commander in France.