Allegiance Nazi Germany Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Rank Obersturmbannfuhrer | Years of service 1934–45 Name Bernhard Dietsche Service/branch Waffen-SS | |
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Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze
Wound Badge in Gold
Sudetenland Medal with Prague castle bar Died January 28, 1975, Kaiserslautern, Germany Unit SS-Verfugungstruppe, 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen | ||
Bernhard Dietsche (3 February 1912 – 28 January 1975) was an Obersturmbannfuhrer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded 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.
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Early life
Bernhard Dietsche was born on the 3 March 1912 in Singen in the south of Baden-Wurttemberg in southern Germany. He volunteered to join the SS-Verfugungstruppe (SS number 13.578) in 1934 and was then posted to the SS-Junkerschule in Bad Tolz as a lecturer in tactics, with the rank of Unterscharfuhrer (Corporal). By 1936, he had been selected to become an officer and promoted to Standartenjunker (Officer Candidate). After graduation he was promoted to Untersturmfuhrer (Second Lieutenant) in 1937 and was assigned to III./SS-VT-Standarte "Germania", Radolfzell, in 1938/39. He participated in the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938, the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia on the 15 March 1939.
World War II
During World War II he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class during the Polish Campaign in October 1939 and the Iron Cross 1st class in June 1941, during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross while in command of the II.Battalion, 2nd SS Gebirgsjager Regiment, 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen, which was fighting against the partisans in Croatia and Serbia. It was awarded for his personal bravery and leadership of the Battalion.
Post war
Bernhard Dietsche survived the war and died in Kaiserslautern on the 28 January 1975.