Josef Diefenthal

Josef Diefenthal
Nickname(s)	Jupp
Born	5 October 1915
Died	13 April 2001 (aged 85)
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1939–45
Rank	Sturmbannfuhrer
Unit	1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
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 Eastern Front Medal

Josef Diefenthal (5 October 1915 — 13 April 2001) was a Sturmbannfuhrer (Major) in the Waffen-SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 February 1945 for his exploits during the Ardennes Offensive, while in command of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler.^[1]

SS Sturmbannfuhrer Josef Diefenthal, commanding the III Abteilung/2nd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, watches American soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, U.S. 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th ID, as they surrender in Stoumont, Belgium on 19 December 1944.

Diefenthal was found guilty of war crimes committed during the Battle of the Bulge, and sentenced to death, which was later changed to life imprisonment. He was released in 1956.^[2]

Till 1980 he was working as tax officer in the tax office in Euskirchen/North Rhine-Westphalia.

References

Citations

1. The 1st SS Panzer Division in the Battle of the Bulge By Steve Kane p.149
2. The 1st SS Panzer Division in the Battle of the Bulge By Steve Kane p.149

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.
• 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.