Richard Spörle was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II. Richard Spörle was born on the 20 July 1915,in Ludwigsburg Germany. During World War II he volunteered to join the SS-VT (SS number 244 173) and by the summer of 1944 he was in command of the 9th Company, 23rd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment Norge 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland