Erich Diestel

Erich Diestel
Born	8 November 1892 Deutsch Eylau
Died	3 August 1973 (aged 80) Bad Wiessee
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1916–45
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands held	101. Jäger-Division 75. Infanterie-Division 346. Infanterie-Division 331. Infanterie-Division Korps Diestel
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of the Caucasus Operation Market Garden Fortress Netherlands
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erich Diestel (8 November 1892 – 3 August 1973) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Erich Diestel was captured by Allied troops in May 1945 and was held until 1947.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914)
  • 2nd Class (7 October 1914)
  • 1st Class (19 February 1917)
• War Merit Cross of Lippe (2 May 1915)
• Wound Badge
  • in Black (12 September 1918)
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 1st Class
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (October 1939)
  • 1st Class (31 May 1940)
• Eastern Front Medal (11 July 1941)
• German Cross in Gold (2 January 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 October 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 346. Infanterie-Division^[1]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (10 September 1944)

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
10 September 1944	Bei dem Kämpfen in Flandern hat sich die 346. Infanteriedivision unter Führung des Generalleutnants Diestel hervorragend geschlagen.[2]	The 346th Infantry Division under the command of Generalleutnant Diestel has fought outstandingly in the battles in Flanders.

Notes

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 136.
2. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 238

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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Erich Diestel @ Axis Biographical Research at the Wayback Machine (archived November 16, 2010)