Sepp Dietrich
Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (28 May 1892 in Hawangen, Kingdom of Bavaria – 21 April 1966 in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg) was a German Waffen-SS general. He was a Senior SS-Officer, and one of the closest men to Hitler. For his wartime services, he was one of only 27 men to be awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.
He served in the Imperial German Army from 1911, and was an infantry soldier until 1919. He became a Junior SS-Officer in 1928, and rose to Senior SS-Officer in 1933, holding that rank throughout the Third Reich until 1945. During World War II, Dietrich commanded both Waffen-SS and regular German Army units from the Wehrmacht. He and his troops committed various horrific crimes.
Dietrich and other members of the Waffen-SS were tried for war crimes after the war. He served two terms of imprisonment, but was finally released in 1959 for health reasons. He died of a heart attack in 1966.
| SS Officer rank equivalent | German Army Officer rank Equivalent | Date and Years |
|---|---|---|
| SS-Sturmbannfuhrer | Major | 1928-1929 |
| SS-Standartenfuhrer | Colonel | 1929-1930 |
| SS-Obergruppenfuhrer und SS-Oberstgruppenfuhrer | General | 1931-1945 |
Sepp Dietrich Media
Hitler with Dietrich in Berlin during the 1936 Summer Olympics
Dietrich in Greece, April 1941
Dietrich during the Battle of the Bulge, January 1945
Mugshot of Dietrich in Landsberg Prison
Dietrich with his wife Ursula
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