Figure 1.--.

Dietrich was born in Bavaria (1892). Like other members of his generation, he fought in World War (1914-18). He was a crewman in one of the first German tanks, but the Germans generally failed at tank profuction in World War I. The British tanks, however, played a major role in the Anglo-American 100-Day Offensive that forced the Germans to ask for an Armistice (1918). Dietrich after the War, like many Germans, were disillusioned with the Versilles Peace Treaty and the Weimar Republic. He joined the Freikorps (Free Corps). This was radicaized right-wing youth and former soldiers who were hostile to the Socialists who formed the Weimar government, but even more hostile to Communists who attempted to seize power. The Freikorps gained a reputation for brutality in supressing the Communists and workers. The suppression of the Communisyts in Munich was a leading example. Dietrich naturally gravitated to nationalists and eventually the NAZI Party after hearing Hitler speak. Hitler confoirmed all his basic suspicions that the Marxists and Jews were responsible for Germany's misfortunes. Dietrich joined the NAZI Party (1928). He became Hitler's driver and bodyguard. Dietrich became a senior figure in the Waffen SS. He fought on the Eastern Front with considerable destinction. Hitler chose him to be a principal commannder in the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945).

Parents

Childhood

Dietrich was born in Bavaria (1892).

Education

World War I (1914-18)

Like other members of his generation, he fought in World War (1914-18). He was a crewman in one of the first German tanks, but the Germans generally failed at tank profuction in World War I. The British tanks, however, played a major role in the Anglo-American 100-Day Offensive that forced the Germans to ask for an Armistice (1918).

Freikorps

Dietrich after the War, like many Germans, were disillusioned with the Versilles Peace Treaty and the Weimar Republic. He joined the Freikorps (Free Corps). This was radicaized right-wing youth and former soldiers who were hostile to the Socialists who formed the Weimar government, but even more hostile to Communists who attempted to seize power. The Freikorps gained a reputation for brutality in supressing the Communists and workers. The suppression of the Communists in Munich was a leading example.

NAZI Party

Dietrich naturally gravitated to nationalists and eventually the NAZI Party after hearing Hitler speak. Hitler confoirmed all his basic suspicions that the Marxists were responsible for Germany's misfortunes. Dietrich joined the NAZI Party (1928). He became Hitler's driver and bodyguard.

NAZI Era (1933-45)

Hitler's seizure of power (January 1933) meant a change in fortunes for Deitrich. As he was close to Hitler personally, it was asured that he would receive an important position. His position was unique. His work as a driver and bodyguard mean that he was constantly close to Hitler. Unlike even major figures like Goebels, Göring, and Himmler, Dietrich was virtually always in Hitler's presence. The two conversed at length. Hitler because he so trusted Dietrich was assigned to create an elite force within Himmler's SS--the SS Watch Battalion-Berlin. This was essentially Hitler's elite body guard. It formed the base for what was to be in World War II the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler Division. It was one of only two units that were allowed to use the name Adolf Hitler. Dietrich as head of Hitler’s personal security played a key role in the Night of the Long Knives (June 1934). This was Hitler's and the SS's murderous attack on the SA’s leadership that challenged Hitler's sole authority. It was the action that the Wehrmacht required of Hitler to gain their support. When Hitler arrived at Wiesse to arrest SA Commander Ernest Roehm, a SS man raised a revolver. Dietrich quickly overpowered him. Hitler propmoted Dietrich to SS Obergruppenfuehrer as a reward for his loyalty (Juky 1934). This was the comparable rank to a full army general. The Wehrmacht high command despised the SA and was suspicious of the SS. Dietrich was a special case. Important Wehrmacht commanders seem to have respected Dietrich. General von Fritsch, commander if the Wehrmacht, took a special interest in Dietrich. He took time to personally instruct him on military tactics. It is during this time that Dietrich decided to make the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler into an elite combat unit. This in essence was the birth of the Waffen-SS. A major function of the SS was establishing and running the NAZI-police state and infamous concentration camps. Dietrich was more interested in military matters. And the Waffen-SS was the military arm of the SS.

World War II (1939-45)

Dietrich and the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler were involved in the German Western Offensive that defeated France (May-June 1949). Dietrich's most notable role was in pressing the attack on the British at Dunkirk. His effectiveness as a military commander only raised Hitler's esteem of him. Hitler personally awarded him the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. Dietrich and the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia and Grrece (April 1941). They also were involved wih Barbarossa, the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Unioin (June 1941). Dietrich as a seasoned combat commander became a senior figure in the Waffen SS which at the time of Barbarossa was still fairly limited. He fought on the Eastern Front with considerable destinction. The SS divisions especially in the early years of the War had men that were especially motivated and NAZI loyalists. They were given priority in equipment and supplies. One of Dietrich's admirers was NAZI Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels. Goebbels wrote in his diary, "I talked with Sepp Dietrich, who has just returned frim the southern front [the Uktaine], to get married in Berlin. He gave me a briefing on the situation along his sector of the front. He is very optimistic. In sharp contrast to the leading gentlemen of the Army, the leaders of the Waffen-SS have had National Socialist training. For them difficulties exist only to be overcome." [January 25, 1942--Goebbeks, p. 45.] It was in the Wehrmacht retreat following the disaster at Stalingrad (January 1943) in which Dietrich made a name for himself. One source reports that he sucessfully avoided Red Army encirclment seven times with skilful tactical withdrawals. While Dietrich was personally devoted to Hitler, he does not seem to have shared his genocidal hatred of Jews. This is curious for someone that for so many years was so close to Hitler. He is known to personally protested to Hitler on two occasions about the shooting of Jews in the Soviet Union. This is not something Hitler would have normally allowed. Dietruch was also personally contemptuous of SS Reich Führer Himmler, his nominal boss. Still Hitler awarded him the Swords to the Knight’s Cross--a rare decoration during the War. Hitler gave him command of the SS 1st Panzer Division which fought in Normandy (June 1944). During the Normandy campaign, he quarled with Hitler. He concluded that German forces should retreat to more defensibe positions. Hitler adamently rejected the idea. The greatest unknown about Dietrich is his involvement in the July 1944 Bomb Plot. There is contradictory information. Rommel, in a conversation with his adjutant Lang, claimed that Dietrich assured him that he would follow Rommel’s orders first, even if they varied grom those of the Führer. We know this because Lang managed to avoid the NAZI witch hunt that followed the failure of the plot. Dietrich after learning of the plot and perhaps more importantly its failure, epressed outrage. He claimed that it would throw the German military into chaos. Whether or no Dietrich was implicated is still unknoiwn. If so, he managed to get away with it. Rommel and Lang of course never talked. Hitler never doubted his old friend's loyalty. Hitler chose him to be a principal commannder in the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945). Dietrich was given command of the Sixth Panzer Army. It was his biggest and most important command of the War. The attack against the Americans in the Ardennes was at first enormously successful. The Germans, however, no longer had fuel reserves (in part because of the strategic bombing camopaign) to sustain a major offensive. And the Luftwaffe was a shell of its former self with out the capability to support or even cover the ground offensive. After the collapse of the Buldge, Hitler gave Dietruch his final commnd--the defense of Vienna. NAZI Gauleiter, Baldur von Schirach (the former Hitler Youth leader) Baldur von Schirach, When the Russians approached Vienna, simpply took off his uniform and quietly left. Here Dietrich fought his last battle. The Red Army forces overwealmed his small force. Dietrich retreated west with the survivors of his army and surrendered to the Americans the day after VE Day (May 8 1945).

Post-War Germany

The Americans put Dietrich on trial for involvement in the Malmédy Massacre during the Battle of the Bulge. The Americans were unable to establish any direct involvement. Dietrich was dound guilty of “offences against customs and ethics of war” ans sentenced to life in prison. Senior German army officers not involved with the SS defended him. His sentence was reduced to 25 years. In the changing Cold War environment, Dietrich was released (1955). He was, however, re-arrested by German authorities and charged with participation in the murders commited during the Night of the Long Knives. He was sentenced to an 18 month prison term. He was released (February 1958). He died of a heart attack (1966).

Sources

Goebbels, Joseph. ed, Louis B. Lochner, The Goebbels Diaries, 1942-1943 (Doubleday: New York, 1948), p. 566.

Created: 1:18 AM 4/19/2008
Last updated: 1:18 AM 4/19/2008