WWI Austrian Field Pilot Badge

Josef "Sepp" Dietrich

Genuine German Luger - Largest Variety of Lugers Offered

Josef Sepp Dietrich, Oberstgeneral

Josef Dietrich (by-name); Sepp, born May 28, 1892, Hawangen, Germany—died April 21, 1966, Ludwigsburg, West Germany), German SS officer who commanded Adolf Hitler’s bodyguard and later led an SS panzer (armoured) army in World War II. One of the most highly decorated German offices of WWII

This is a 17 x 24 painting that was done by a German soldier who was interned in a prisoner of war (POW) camp at Camp Sutton near Monroe, North Carolina. It was confiscated by a prison guard after being discovered. It happens that Oberst Dietrich was beloved by his soldiers and there was many stories told about him. He was one of the highest decorated soldiers in the German Wehrmach.This historical painting is offered for $2500 over the counter (no bid or buyers premium due). Perfect picture for the man den to enhance any military collection.

Dietrich joined the German army in 1911 and rose to the rank of sergeant during World War I. An early acquaintance of Hitler, he joined the Nazi Party’s paramilitary organization, the SA (Storm Troopers), in 1923, he worked at various jobs after the failure of Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch that year, and rejoined the Nazi Party in 1928, becom-ing a member of the SA (the elite corps of the party). He soon became the commander of Hitler’s bodyguard and acted as Hitler’s chauffeur during automobile tours through-out Germany. Dietrich was elected a Nazi member of the Reichstag (German parliament) in 1930, and by 1931 he had achieved the rank of Gruppenführer (lieutenant general) in the SS.

The special SS unit that Dietrich founded in 1932 evolved into the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler (LAH), which served as Hitler’s personal army and later became a division in the Waffen-SS. As a reward for the role played by the LAH in the violent purge of Ernst Röhm and other high-ranking SA officers in June 1934, Dietrich was promoted to SS-Obergruppenführer (general). An able field commander with good battle intuition, Dietrich continued to head the LAH, leading it into battle at Kharkov and Kursk on the Eastern Front.



In 1943 the LAH was expanded into the I SS Panzer Corps. In June 1944 this unit was called to the Western Front, where Dietrich joined the desperate resistance to the Allied invasion of Normandy. Promoted to SS-Oberstgruppenführer (colonel general), he was given command of the regrouped, though much depleted, Fifth Panzer Army, which served as the rear guard of the German retreat across northern France. In October 1944 he was placed in command of the Sixth Panzer Army, which spearheaded the German offensive through the Ardennes in the Battle of the Bulge. He led this unit in Hungary and Austria during the closing phase of the war.


SS Oberstgruppenführer Kommandeur der SS-Div "LSSAH”. Dietrich joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1928, NSDAP Nr. 89015 and SS Nr. 1.117 and became commander of Hitler’s Schutzstaffel (SS) bodyguard. In summer 1934, Dietrich played an active role in the Night of the Long Knives. Hitler along with Dietrich and a unit from the Leibstandarte travelled to Bad Wiessee to personally oversee Ernst Julius Röhm‘s arrest on 30 June. This eliminated the private army within the German Heer (Army).
Oberst Sepp Dietrich was one of the most decorated German generals of World War II. Coming from humble beginnings with no background in the military is chauffeuring for Adolf Hitler put him in positions of trust and responsibility. His awards included: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, Iron Cross 1st Class, Iron Cross 2nd Class (WW1), Blood Order, General Assault Badge, Wound Badge (Silver), Cross of Honour, Crimea Shield, SS Long Service Award, and Golden Party Badge.

10 Augut 1944 Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze, Rastenburg, Ostpreußen/East Prussia (Germany)

This picture was taken at Hitler's Bunker in Prussia for the award of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds, (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten) for Sepp Dietrich by Adolf Hitler. The same day he was promoted to SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Panzer-Generaloberst der Waffen-SS, in which one additional pips is pinned to his schulterklappen (shoulder boards) and kragenspiegel (collar tabs). Dietrich already received the telegram confirmation for his promotion from 1 August 1944.

From left to right: SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Panzer-Generaloberst der Waffen-SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (Oberbefehlshaber 5. Panzerarmee), SS-Hauptsturmführer Otto Günsche (Persönlicher Adjutant Adolf Hitler), SS-Sturmbannführer Erich Kempka (Hitlers Fahrer), SS-Hauptsturmführer Hermann "Bibl" Weiser (Adjutant I. SS-Panzerkorps),.

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