Did Speirs really shoot prisoners?

With no means of managing the prisoners and needing to reach their military objective, Speirs gave the order to shoot them. According to fellow Dog Company member, Art DiMarzio, each man shot a prisoner. A few hours later four more German soldiers were encountered and this time Speirs shot all of them himself.

Did Ronald Speirs really run through Foy?

Speirs’ sprint through Foy is lifted straight from Stephen A. Ambrose’s non-fiction book Band of Brothers, upon which the HBO miniseries was based. While some of the stories about Speirs might be exaggerated or glamorized, the depiction of his fearless run across Foy is true.

Why did Ronald Speirs run through Foy?

In January 1945, when Easy Company’s initial attack on the German-occupied town of Foy bogged down due to the commander 1st Lieutenant Norman Dike, being wounded, battalion executive officer Captain Richard Winters ordered Speirs to relieve Dike of command.

What happened to Lt Ronald Speirs?

He retired from the Army in 1964 as a Lieutenant Colonel and stayed with his family in California. Speirs died in Montana on 11 April 2007.

Was Sobel really that bad?

But even though he worked hard, Sobel was hated by almost every man in Easy. Steven Ambrose described Sobel as a “ petty tyrant”. His arrogance was also marked upon as he gained complete control over Easy. He was strict and harsh against any breach of command, even if it was imaginary.

Where is Ronald Speirs buried?

It was also noted in that same book, that Speirs saved the lives of several other men by shooting the sergeant….LTC Ronald Charles Speirs.

Was Lt Sobel real?

Herbert Maxwell Sobel Sr. (26 January 1912 – 30 September 1987) was an American commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Sobel was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by David Schwimmer.

Why is Sobel hated?

However, Sobel was despised by his soldiers for being petty and vindictive. After a period of training in the United Kingdom before the Normandy invasion, Captain Sobel was reassigned from command of Easy Company to command the jump school at Chilton Foliat.

Why did Sobel hate Easy Company?

The result of his unsatisfactory combat and tactical ability caused the NCO’s of Easy Company to lose confidence in Sobel’s combat leadership, leading to his eventual transfer.

Why did Sobel shoot himself?

Sobel had some mental problems from his war experience, and he was found to be bitter at life and at Easy Company. For an unknown reason, in the late 1960s, Sobel attempted suicide by shooting himself through his temple, but the shot only severed his optic nerves, blinding him for life.

Why was Captain Sobel hated?

Military career He trained his men intensely, and was eventually promoted to the rank of captain in recognition of his ability as a trainer. However, Sobel was despised by his soldiers for being petty and vindictive.

Why did Captain Sobel lose easy?

Where was Ronald C Speirs born and raised?

Robert Speirs, Ronald’s father, was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1882. 3 His engineering career began as a young man when he became an apprentice engineer fitter in the Glasgow area. 4 Around this time, Robert met Martha McNeil. They were married in 1908 5 and lived in Dalmuir, just outside Glasgow. By this time, Robert was a journeyman engineer.

When did Ronald Speirs retire from the Army?

He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1964. On 20 May 1944, Speirs married Margaret Griffiths, whom he had met while stationed in Wiltshire, England. Griffiths had been a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service. They had one son, Robert, who grew up to become a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Green Jackets .

Who was Ronald speirs’wife in band of brothers?

Griffiths had been a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service. They had one son, Robert, who grew up to become a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Green Jackets . The 1992 Stephen E. Ambrose book Band of Brothers claimed Speirs’ English wife had left him and returned to her first husband whom she thought had died during the war.

Why did Lieutenant Colonel Ronald C Speirs shoot himself?

With no means of managing the prisoners and needing to reach their military objective, Speirs gave the order to shoot them. According to fellow Dog Company member, Art DiMarzio, each man shot a prisoner. 5 A few hours later four more German soldiers were encountered and this time Speirs shot all of them himself.