Spies was shotdown on 27 January 1942 near Suchinitschi, Russia. He was posthumously promoted to Major and awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight"s Cross on 5 April 1942. During his career he was credited with 20 aerial victories, 10 over the Western Front and 10 over the Eastern Front.
Bibliography.
Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (27 September 1939) 1st Class (24 June 1940) Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 14 June 1941 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän in the I./Zerstörergeschwader 26 85th Oak Leaves on 5 April 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Zerstörergeschwader 26.
