Dieter Kesten
| Dieter Kesten | |
|---|---|
| Born |
9 June 1914 Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
| Died |
3 April 1945 (aged 30) Killed in Action, Möllersdorf, Austria |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Waffen-SS |
| Years of service | 1933–45 |
| Rank | Sturmbannführer |
| Unit | 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Wound Badge in Silver Panzer Badge |
Dieter Kesten (9 June 1914 – 3 April 1945) was a Sturmbannführer (Major), in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Early life
Dieter Kesten was born on 9 June 1914 at Gelsenkirchen. He volunteered to join the SS in September 1933, and served with the 7th and 79th Standarte, before being selected to become an officer and was posted to the SS-Junkerschule at Braunschweig in April 1936. After graduation he was posted to II.Battalion, Germania Regiment, becoming the Ordonnanz offizier on the regimental staff.
World War II
In May 1940 Kesten left the regiment to become adjutant to SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Herrmann, the future commander of SS Division Nord, until December 1940. He also occupied the same position for the commander of the Waffen-SS Ost. In May 1941 he was posted to the newly formed Kampfgruppe Nord, again as the adjutant until May 1942, when he returned to the Das Reich Division.
Kesten was given command of 1st Company, SS Regiment Langemarck (27th SS Volunteer Division Langemarck) and later was made the divisional adjutant. He transferred to 2nd SS Panzer Regiment as the commander of 6th company until November 1943. It was while in command of 6th Company that he was awarded the Knight's Cross.
Kesten participated in the Battle of Kursk as part of the Das Reich and was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions. Kesten was later given command of the II. Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Regiment in November 1943. He was killed in action near Möllersdorf, south of Vienna, on 3 April 1945.
References
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
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