Let´s start on him with some pics: Dietl in the middle, naturally! Generaloberst Dietl, Eduard (1890-1944) - Dietl was the first recipient of the Oakleaves to the Knights Cross as a Generalleutnant in July 19, 1940. He received the award recognition of his successful victory at Narvik as commander of the élite mountaineer formation 3 Gebirgsjäger-Division. Dietl would later be the commander of the German forces in North Finland, and was promoted generaloberst in 1942 DIETL, Eduard (RK m. EL u. Schw.) (1890 - 1944) Generaloberst: Born: 21. Jul. 1890 in Bad Aibling/Oberbayern. Killed: 23. Jun. 1944 in air crash near Harberg/Steiermark (while enroute from Graz to Aspern, near Wien; killed with him were Generals von Wickede and Eglsheer & Gen.Lt. Rossi) Promotions: Gen.Obst.: 1.06.1942; [Redesignated Gen.d.Geb.Tr.: ]; Gen.d.Inf.: 19.07.40; Gen.Lt.: 1.04.40; Gen.Maj.: 1.04.38; Oberst: 1.01.35; Obstlt.: 1.02.33; Major: ; Hptm.: ; Oblt.: ; Lt.: 26.10.11; Fahnenjunker: 1.10.09. Assignments: Oberbefehlshaber 20.Gebirgs-Armee (Lapplandarmee): 15.01.1942 - 23.06.1944. Kom.Gen. Gebirgs-Korps Norwegen: 14.06.1940 - 15.01.1942. Kdr. 3.Gebirgs-Division: 1.05.1938 - 14.06.1940. Kdr. Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 99: 15.10.1935 - [1.05.1938?] Kdr. Infanterie-Regiment Regensburg: 1.12.1934 - [14.10.1935?] Kdr. Infanterie-Regiment Amberg: 1.10.1934 - [30.11.1934?] Reichswehr Service: Commissioned Leutnant in bayerisch 5. Infanterie-Regiment: 26.10.1911. Entered service as Fahnenjuner: 1. Oct. 1909. Decorations & Awards: Ritterkreuz des E.K.: 9. 05. 1940 ; - Eichenlaub (Nr. 1): 19. 07. 1940; -- Schwertern (Nr. 72): 1. 07. 1944 (posthumous award); 1939 Spange zum 1914 EK I; 1939 Spange zum 1914 EK II; 1914 EK I; 1914 EK II; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Gold; Narvikschild; Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer; Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnungen Deutsche-Olympiaehrenzeichen 1. Klasse http://members.tripod.com/~hasselmann/finland_fortsettelseskrigen.htm [ 13. February 2003, 06:39 AM: Message edited by: Kai-Petri ]
Did they give any details on the aircrash, like the type of plane and cause of the crash ? The reason I asked is I like aircraft but also when I read the date of the crash I was thinking perhaps these Generals were not in favor with Hitler anymore and the crash was staged to take them out due to some discression made toward Hitler or the Gestapo. Of course it could be an "innocent crash"
Thanx Carl! Unfortunately no, Ta 152. I´ll see what my books say but unlike with Mr Fritz Todt ( 1942 ) no mention of possible "murder". Well, who knows, but Dietl certainly was well liked by everyone! ( as was Rommel?!...) If anyone has more info on this you´re welcome to send it here. And other info on Dietl as well!
Quite welcome my friend--and it looks like it will be sometime in march before I can send you anything. I may be moving rather quickly--depends on the apt complex having one available--will be checking this afternoon.
Great job, Kai! You know that I love general's biographies and now you got an 'A'! No, general Dietl was not murdered. I have the pilot's testimony. He was the only man who survived the crash. I will post it later. Dietl was for sure one of the best field commanders in WWII.
Eduard Dietl, Generaloberst, the first holder of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak leaves was in many ways, one of the most colourful German generals of the war. Maybe he is not as famous as Rommel, but in no way, the latter was better. Dietl performed and conducted many of the greatest and most difficult German battles during the war, specially the fighting in Narvik and Crete. His own quote tells us everything about him: "I have only one wish, only one will; the be worth of my soldiers". In June 1944, when the Soviet Army started its offensive in Finland at the Carelian Isthmus, Dietl, comprehending quite well the extreme gravity of the situation, travelled to the Führer’s headquarters to ask him permission to withdraw all his forces from northern Finland and avoid having them surrounded and annihilated. The Führer, despite Dietl’s request, ordered that the German troops in Finland had to stand and fight at all costs to prevent the fall of Finland to the Russians. Because of Hitler’s negative, Dietl took a flight back to meet his troops the next morning, June 23rd. This would be the last flight of ‘Narvik’s Hero’. The Junkers Ju-52 fell on the ground after crashing against a mountain. There is the testimony of the mechanic on-board the plane, the only survivor: “At 7.30 AM, a high mountain appeared. The pilot, first lieutenant Kowollik used the height-rudder. I went then to the locker to get an overcoat out from there, because it was getting very cold. The generals (Generaloberst Dietl, General Von Wickede, General Eglsheer and Generalleutnant Rossi) were chatting on their seats. When I was heading forth, the whole plane shook and descended 150 metres; we have got close to Hochwechsel and were in the middle of strong descendent wind- The pilot should have realised about the danger because he applied full-power to all the three engines… Because of the precarious ascending capability of our old Junkers we went up very slowly, because that day, it was fully-loaded. The pilot and co-pilot were looking at both sides and they had found out that the mountains in front of them were not just much higher than the plane was, but that they had also got too close. We were, literally, in a mouse-trap… The pilot could achieve to get the plane up as we were approaching the Hochwechsel Mountains… In the edge of a high-flat mountain, another quick and strong frontal wind caught us. Then, first lieutenant Kowollik made a last try, turning around and returning to the valley. However, the speed of the plane, after the big effort, had diminished… The turn made the plane’s wing to crash against the high-flat mountain. The two lateral engines were taken away, the front engine crushed into the cockpit and the fuel deposits in the wings broke, spilling 2.000 litres of Nafta all over the place. After a few seconds, a huge flame appeared and everything became black-thick smoke… After the first-brief shock, I ran to the door, but it was jammed with a tree and I could not open it. I quickly broke all the windows and shouted: “Everybody, get out through the windows!” Then I jumped over general Dietl, trying to save him, but he his security belt was jammed and very tight; the general laid unconscious and bent, the other generals were not moving either. A few seconds later, all the inside of the plane filled with flames and smoke, making impossible to rescue each one of the corpses through the little windows. I still do not remember how I managed to get out…” Generaloberst Dietl was posthumously awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak leaves and Swords and was cried all over Germany. Excerpted from: Varios Autores, “Enciclopedia de la II Guerra Mundial” , Buenos Aires, 1965.
Thank you for the additional information General. It sounds like they got caught in a wind shear. General Dietl looks and sounds like he was a decent man. I am glad you are back on the forum and I hope you are doing well.
Mmmrrr... What a torture! Dietl, Rommel, Dönitz, the Führer and many interesting people as avatars... Why can't you have more than one avatar?
In the memory of General Dietl: Soldatensender Lappland July 4th 1944 This broadcast was found in 2008. In German language of course. Kenraali Dietlin muistosanat sotilasradiossa 1944 | Elv arkisto | yle.fi
Thanks Kai-Petri, great find! He was a great General and with more of him and Rommel.... who knows? He was a good one no matter what others say or think of him.
