Hans Diergarten

Hans Diergarten
Born	5 April 1913 Schalksmühle, Germany
Died	2 August 1944 (aged 31) Petrikau, Poland
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen SS
Years of service	1940–44
Rank	Obersturmbannführer
Unit	SS Division Wiking 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class Infantry Assault Badge in Silver Close Combat Clasp in Bronze Wound Badge

Hans Diergarten (5 April 1913 – 2 August 1944) 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.

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 January 1944 as SS-Sturmbannführer and Ia (operartions officer) of the 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer"^[1][2]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 160.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 272.

Bibliography

• 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.
• Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.
• 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.