SPECHT, Franz. Rosslau/Anhalt 1.11.1888 — Mainz 13.11.1949. German IE Scholar. Professor in Halle, Breslau, Berlin and Mainz. Son of an industrialist, the elder Franz Specht. Gymnasium in Dessau. Studies of Classics, Germanistics and IE in 1909-13 at Berlin and Leipzig (under Windisch, Leskien, Brugmann, Schulze). Participated in WW I in 1914-15, wounded, then Ph.D. 1917 Leipzig. In 1913-23 schoolteacher (from 1916 Oberlehrer in Cöthen). Without formal habilitation in 1923-37 ao. Professor at Halle. In 1937-43 ord. Professor at Breslau, 1943-45 at Berlin, and 1946-49 at Mainz. Member of NSDAP 1940. Editor of KZ in 1936-49.

Publications: Much on Lithuanian (including his diss.) and Baltic linguistics, also on IE.

– Die Sprache und ihr Ursprung. 124 p. B. 1921.

– “Ai. cániṣṭat”, KZ 62, 1935, 246-248; “Zur Bedeutung des Ariernamen”, KZ 68, 1944, 42-52; other articles on Sanskrit grammar and etymology in ZII 5, 1927, 247-250; KZ 57, 1930, 183; 62, 1935, 131; 63, 1936, 207-226; 65, 1938, 208-210; 68, 1944, 122-128, 217; 69, 1951, 126.

– Die Ausbreitung der Indogermanen. 36 p. B. 1944; Der Ursprung der indogermanischen Deklination. 7+432 p. Göttingen 1944.

Sources: D.G.K. 1925, 1935, 1950; *B. Schlerath, Kratylos 1, 1956, 184-185 & Lex. Gramm. 1996, 874f.; *[P. Thieme], KZ 69, 1951, 129-132; *K. Wagner, Jahrb. der A.W.L. Mainz 1950, 121-132 with bibliography and photo (also in TITUS Galeria); German Wikipedia briefly.