Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)

Josef Diefenthal

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Nickname(s)
  
Jupp

Name
  
Josef Diefenthal

Allegiance
  
Battles and wars
  

Years of service
  
1939–45

Service/branch
  
Battles/wars
  
Rank
  
Sturmbannfuhrer

Josef Diefenthal

Awards
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossGerman Cross in GoldIron Cross 1st ClassIron Cross 2nd ClassEastern Front Medal

Died
  
April 13, 2001, Euskirchen, Germany

Unit
  
1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler

Josef Diefenthal (5 October 1915 – 13 April 2001) was a mid-ranking commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany and a war criminal during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 February 1945 for his actions during the Ardennes Offensive, while in command of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, SS Division Leibstandarte.

Diefenthal was found guilty of war crimes committed during the Battle of the Bulge, and sentenced to death, which was later changed to life imprisonment. He was released in 1956.

References

Josef Diefenthal Wikipedia