Sepp Dietrich

Josef "Sepp" Dietrich also known as Ujac (May 28,

1930s and World War II

In 1930, Dietrich was elected to the Reichstag as a delegate for Lower Bavaria. By 1931, he had become SS-Gruppenführer. When the NSDAP took over in 1933, Dietrich rose swiftly through the Nazi hierarchy. He rose to the rank of SS-Obergruppenführer, commander of Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, General of the Waffen-SS and member of the Prussian state council.

Related Topics:
Reichstag - Leibstandarte SS ''Adolf Hitler'' - Waffen-SS

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In 1934, Dietrich played an active role in the Night of the Long Knives. Hitler told him to take six men and go to the Ministry of Justice to execute a number of SA leaders. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to SS Obergruppenführer.

Related Topics:
Night of the Long Knives - SA - Obergruppenführer

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When World War II began, Dietrich led the Leibstandarte in attacks on Paris and Dunkirk. Dietrich remained in command of the Leibstandarte throughout the campaigns in Greece and Yugoslavia before being promoted to command of the 1.SS-Panzerkorps, attached to Army Group Center, on the Eastern Front. In 1943, he was sent to Italy to recover Mussolini's mistress Clara Petacci. He received numerous German military medals but also became notorious for his mistreatment of prisoners of war.

Related Topics:
World War II - Paris - Dunkirk - Greece - Yugoslavia - 1.SS-Panzerkorps - Army Group Center - Eastern Front - Italy - Mussolini - Clara Petacci

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Dietrich commanded the I.SS-Panzerkorps in the battle of Normandy. Because of his success, Hitler promoted him to command of the 6.SS-Panzer-Armee as well. Dietrich commanded the 6.SS-Panzer-Armee in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. He had been assigned to that task because, due to the July Plot, Hitler distrusted Wehrmacht officers. On December 17, SS units under his command executed 82 US prisoners of war near Malmedy, Belgium, in what is known as the Malmédy Massacre.

Related Topics:
Normandy - 6.SS-Panzer-Armee - Battle of the Bulge - July Plot - Wehrmacht - December 17 - SS - Malmedy - Belgium - Malmédy Massacre

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At this point, Dietrich began to protest Hitler's unwillingness to let officers act upon their own initiative. In April 1945, after the failure of Hitler's planned Spring Awakening offensive at Lake Balaton, spearheaded by Dietrich's troops, a frustrated Hitler ordered Dietrich and his men to give up their unit cuff titles, but Dietrich refused to pass on the order.

Related Topics:
Spring Awakening - Lake Balaton

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Dietrich commanded tank troops in Vienna but failed to prevent Soviet troops from taking the city. He surrendered to US troops led by George Patton on May 8, 1945.

Related Topics:
Vienna - George Patton

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