Bernhard Dietsche

Bernhard Dietsche 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.

Early life
Bernhard Dietsche was born on the 3 March 1912 in Singen in the south of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. He volunteered to join the SS-VT (SS number 13.578) in 1934 and was then posted to the SS-Junkerschule in Bad Tölz as a lecturer in tactics, with the rank of Unterscharführer (Corporal). By 1936, he had been selected to become an officer and promoted to Standartenjunker (Officer Candidate). After graduation he was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) in 1937. He participated in the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938 and the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia on the 15 March 1939.

World War II
During World War II he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class during the Polish Campaign in October 1939 and the Iron Cross 1st class in June 1941, during Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union.

He was awarded the Knight's Cross while in command of the II.Battalion, 2nd SS Gebirgsjäger Regiment, 7th SS Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen, which was fighting against the partisans in Croatia and Serbia. It was awarded for his personal bravery and leadership of the Battalion.

Post war
Bernhard Dietsche survived the war and died in Kaiserslautern on the 28 January 1975.