Hans Diergarten

Hans Diergarten was an Obersturmbannführer (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.

Hans Diegarten was born on the 5 April 1913 in Schalksmühle. He volunteered to join the SS-VT (SS number 421.976v). He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in June 1940 during the Battle of France and the Iron Cross 2nd class in September 1942, during Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Knight's Cross when serving as the IA (operations officer) in the 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer in January 1944. Hans Diegarten was killed in action when the reconnaissance plane he was flying in was shot down on the 21 August 1944 near Petrikau in Poland.