SPECHT, Franz. Rosslau/Anhalt 1.11.1888 — Mainz 13.11.1949. German IE Scholar. Professor in Halle, Breslau, Berlin and Mainz. 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, 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.