August Dieckmann

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Rexus
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August Dieckmann

#1

Post by Rexus » 16 Jan 2009, 07:10

I'm surprised there's not much information on this man in the forum archives.

Dieckmann was killed in action leading the final, failed, assault on the Russian bridgehead on the Dnjepr, the so called "Fox Tail Island". I'm only familiar with these battles in a very superficial way, but it's clear that Dieckmann was opposed to this operation. Fritz Hahl states that the Regiment was severely worn down, approximately Kompanie strength, and Dieckmann was “deeply depressed”. Upon orders from the Divisionskommandeur to renew the attack to eliminate the bridgehead, Dieckmann determines that the Regiment will either carry out this impossible task, or he will fall with his men. Dieckmann was killed in action, and only two men in the entire Regiment made it threw these battles unscathed (Fritz Hahl pg. 122)

What in the world would possess Gille to order a renewed attack? These battles put the final nail into the coffin of the already worn down SS-Regiment Westland. Does anyone have any insight into the rational?

Image

The above picture shows Dieckmann awarding the EK II to soldiers under his command in I./Germania during the summer of 1942. I believe the soldiers in this picture served in Helmut Pförtner's 2.Kompanie.

Giorgio
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Re: August Dieckmann

#2

Post by Giorgio » 22 May 2011, 16:00

Hallo all,
I have compiled the following file of this very famous officer because of the info I found through Google and the information displayed in various posts on this forum and other web-sites. But I could not find the date on which he actually took command of the Regiment Westland. Is there anyone out there who can help me with this?
In addition, can anyone fill in any gaps here, or correct/amend my information?
Thanks in advance,
Giorgio

SS-Standartenführer August, Hinrich Dieckmann
Born: 29 May 1912 in Klotzen ? or Badenberge or Gadenberge/Stade?
Died: 10 October 1943 KIA on the river Dnieper, Russian Front and was buried at Korsum on 13 October 1943.

NSDAP-N°: 4.455.713. Joined on 01 May 1937.
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... st#p800596
SS-N°:183.917. Joined the Allgemeine-SS on 04 November 1933.

Promotions
SS-Anwärter: 04 November 1933.
SS-Mann: 01 October 1934. Joined the SS-VT (Waffen-SS) on that day.
SS-Junker: 24 April 1935.
SS-Rottenführer: 01 June 1935.
SS-Unterscharführer: 01 July 1935.
SS-Standartenjunker 09 November 1935.
SS-Standartenoberjunker: 25 February 1936.
SS-Untersturmführer: 20 April 1936.
SS-Obersturmführer: 12 September 1937.
SS-Hauptsturmführer: 01 September 1939.
SS-Sturmbannführer: 26 December 1941.
SS-Obersturmbannführer: 21 June 1943.
SS-Standartenführer: 01 October 1943
(posthumous promotion) with seniority from 01 October 1943.

Assignments
As an SS-Anwärter he served in the 1.Sturm/88.SS-Standarte in Bremen: 04 November 1933-01 October 1934.
Joined the SS-Standarte “Germania” as an SS-Mann: 01 October 1934.
Attended a Platoon Leader Training Course at SS-Verwaltung Schule Dachau: 10 February 1935.
Considered officer material he attended the SS-Fuhreschule in Brunswick from 24 April 1935. as an SS-Junker.
Attended the SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig: 24 April 1935-01 April 1936.
Transferred to the SS-Standarte “Deutschland”: 01 April 1936.
Versetzung nach Ellwangen
SS-Untersturmführer & Platoon Leader in 18.Kompanie Ellwangen: 20 April 1936
Unterfuhreschule bei Berchtesgaden als Lehrkraft: 01 December 1936
SS-Untersturmführer & Platoon Leader in 4.Sturm/SS-Standarte “Deutschland”: 01 October 1936-12 September 1937.
SS-Obersturmführer & Platoon Leader in 4.Sturm/SS-Standarte “Deutschland”: 12 September 1937-01 November 1937.
SS-Obersturmführer & Platoon Leader in 3.Sturm/SS-Standarte “Deutschland”: 01 November 1937-01 May 1935.
SS-Obersturmführer & Platoon Leader in 2.Sturm/SS-Standarte “Deutschland”: 01 May 1938-24 September 1938.
SS-Obersturmführer & m.d.F.b. Chef of 2.Kompanie/SS-Standarte “Deutschland”: 01 June 1939.
SS-Hauptsturmführer & m.d.F.b. Chef of 2.Kompanie/I.Bataillon/SS-Regiment “Deutschland”/SS-Verfügungstruppe: 01 or 11 September 1939-01 August 1940.
SS-Hauptsturmführer & Tactics Instructor at the SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig: 01 August 1940-12 February 1941.
SS-Hauptsturmführer & charged with command in lieu of the titular CO of I.Bataillon/SS-Infanterie-Regiment “Germania”/SS-Division “Wiking” (mot.): 10 December or February ? 1941
In August 1941, he was slightly wounded, but remained with his battalion.
SS-Sturmbannführer/SS-Obersturmbannführer & formal Commander of I.Bataillon/SS-Infanterie-Regiment “Germania”/SS-Division “Wiking” (mot.): 26 December 1941-21 June 1943 ?
SS-Obersturmbannführer & Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 “Westland”/SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Wiking”: 16 April 1943 (Wiking Ruf http://www.wiking-ruf.com/new_wiking.html) or 28 February or March 1943 or 31.07.43 (http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 13&p=22164) - KIA 10 October 1943.

On 2 September 1943 Dieckmann was wounded by a shell splinter on the back of the head, but still stayed three days with his unit, until the situation had been clarified.
Dieckmann succeeded Erwin Reichel (12 January 1943-KIA 28 February 1943) and was temporarily succeeded by Manfred Schönfelder (10-17 October 1943) and then by Paul Massell (17 October 1943-? March 1944).
Dieckmann was killed leading an almost hopeless attack. He knew the situation, and being a responsible commander, was determined to be at the head of his men, rather than sitting safely at the rear while they were sent on a suicide mission.

Decorations & Awards
SS Long Service (4.Stufe).
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rksc ... ckmann.pdf
1939 Iron Cross Second Class: 28 September 1939.
1939 Iron Cross First Class: 03 June 1940.
German Cross in Gold: *28 February 1942 as SS-Sturmbannführer & Commander of I.Bataillon/SS-Regiment "Germania"/SS-Division “Wiking” (mot.), Russian Front.
Infantry Assault Badge in Silver.
1939 Wound Badge in Black.
Close Combat Bar in Bronze (1943).
Knight’s Cross: 23 or 24 April 1942 as SS-Sturmbannführer & Commander of I.Bataillon/SS-Regiment "Germania"/SS-Division "Wiking" (mot.), subordinated to 100° Light Infanterie Division.
Eastern Front Medal or Ostmedaille-Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”
Oak Leaves (Nr. 233): 16 April 1943.
Swords (Nr. 39): KIA 10 October 1943, posthumously as SS-Obersturmbannführer & Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 “Westland”/SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Wiking”/Russian Front.
Ehrendegen des RFSS.
Julleuchter der SS.
SA Sportabzeichen in Bronze.
Reichssportabzeichen in Bronze.


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Graham Clayton
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Re: August Dieckmann

#3

Post by Graham Clayton » 23 May 2011, 04:31

Giorgio wrote:Hallo all,
I have compiled the following file of this very famous officer because of the info I found through Google and the information displayed in various posts on this forum and other web-sites. But I could not find the date on which he actually took command of the Regiment Westland. Is there anyone out there who can help me with this?
In addition, can anyone fill in any gaps here, or correct/amend my information?
Thanks in advance,
Giorgio

SS-Standartenführer August, Hinrich Dieckmann
Born: 29 May 1912 in Klotzen ? or Badenberge or Gadenberge/Stade?
Died: 10 October 1943 KIA on the river Dnieper, Russian Front and was buried at Korsum on 13 October 1943.

On 2 September 1943 Dieckmann was wounded by a shell splinter on the back of the head, but still stayed three days with his unit, until the situation had been clarified.

Giorgio,

According to "Die Schwertertraeger Der Wehrmacht: Recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords" by David A Miller, Merriam Press, 1997, Dieckmann was killed by a grenade fragment during the fourth day of heavy fighting near the Dnieper River.
"Air superiority is a condition for all operations, at sea, in land, and in the air." - Air Marshal Arthur Tedder.

Giorgio
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Location: Pisa

Re: August Dieckmann

#4

Post by Giorgio » 23 May 2011, 14:41

Hallo Graham,
thanks to your post, just this morning I found the same information in the book "Europen Volunteers - The 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" by Peter Straßer <SS Obersturmbannfüher Dieckmann fell in the fourth and last day of the fighting, which saw the enemy thrown back to the eastern bank (of the Dnjepr)>.
Unfortunately, no date about Dieckmann's taking command of "Westland".
Giorgio

Pena V
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Re: August Dieckmann

#5

Post by Pena V » 23 May 2011, 21:00

Hello Giorgio,

Thanks for exellent information once again. I have two remarks:
1. Promotion dates
Obersturmführer........ 12 Sep 1937 vs. in my files 01 May 1938
Hauptsturmführer....... 01 Sep 1939 vs. in my files 11 Sep 1939
Obersturmbannführer... 21 Jun 1943 vs. in my files 21 Sep 1943
Are your dates RDA's because they all seem to be earlier than my dates or are my dates simply wrong?
Concerning Standartenführer promotion my files say 15 May 1944 (!) and RDA 01 Oct 1943 as in your mail.
2. Assingments
Between commanding I/"Germania" and "Westland" Dieckmann was the CO of a Sturmbataillon in "Wiking" (1942 - early 1943?). During this time the CO of I/"Germania" was Leopold Krocza (18 Feb 1942 - 22 Jan 1943 KIA) succeeded by Hans Dorr.

More "headache" & regards,

Pena

John P. Moore
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Re: August Dieckmann

#6

Post by John P. Moore » 24 May 2011, 02:05

The information by Giorgio concerning the death of Adolf Dieckmann is not correct. Please see the statement below from a eye-witness, the highly reliable and former Ostuf. Fritz Hahl in a letter to me in November 2008. Fritz Hahl expresses the belief that he and Dieckmann were both hit by bullets from the same Soviet sharpshooter.

John
Attachments
Hahl-ltr---4-11-08.jpg
Hahl-ltr---4-11-08.jpg (82.07 KiB) Viewed 3757 times

Giorgio
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Re: August Dieckmann

#7

Post by Giorgio » 24 May 2011, 19:24

Dear Pena, nice to read you again!
A) I got my data from the following documents: 1) Dienstlaufbahn des August Dieckmann and 2) Dienstzeitbescheinigung für den Gefallen SS-Obersturmbannführer August Dieckmann, dated November 13, 1943. At that time Dieckmann had not yet been posthumously promoted to SS-Staf.
It is not an easy task for me to understand in which month of 1943 Dieckmann received the retroactive promotion, because the month’s name is written in the handwriting Sütterlin: I assume October.

B) A new "headache"?
2. Assingments
Between commanding I/"Germania" and "Westland" Dieckmann was the CO of a Sturmbataillon in "Wiking" (1942 - early 1943?). During this time the CO of I/"Germania" was Leopold Krocza (18 Feb 1942 - 22 Jan 1943 KIA) succeeded by Hans Dorr.
Unfortunately I do not have accurate records on Krocza. My sources are generic and therefore it would take more reliable data. But according to my data on Dorr, I'd like to know when he was actually the successor to Krocza, because the periods do not coincide.

Here are the details of my schedule of Dorr:
SS-Hauptsturmführer & Chef of the 4.Kompanie/SS-Infanterie-Regiment “Germania”/SS-Division “Wiking” (mot.): 01 June 1942-WIA 20 February 1943.
Assigned (in reserve ?) to the Panzergrenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon “Germania”: 20 February-01 April 1943
Returned to his Unit (4.Kompanie/SS-Infanterie Regiment “Germania”): 01 April 1943.
SS-Hauptsturmführer / SS-Sturmbannführer & Commander of the I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 9 Germania"/5.SS-Panzer Division “Wiking”: April 1943- WIA on 31 August 1944.
Giorgio

Pena V
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Re: August Dieckmann

#8

Post by Pena V » 24 May 2011, 22:13

Giorgio,

Here is what I have on Leopold Krocza's assingments:
10 May 1940 - ?? ??? 1942....4./"LSSAH"
18 Feb 1942 - 22 Jan 1943...I/"Germania"
and Hans Dorr's assingments after 01 Jun 1942:
01 Jun 1942 - 22 Jan 1943...4./"Germania"
22 Jan 1943 - 20 Feb 1943...I/"Germania"
20 Feb 1943...................WIA
01 Apr 1943 - 26 Mar 1944...I/"Germania"
26 Mar 1944 - 21 Jan 1945..."Germania"
21 Jan 1945....................WIA

:roll:

One more thing. Do you know whom did August Dieckmann succeed when he took over 2./"Deutschland in 1939 (15 May 1939?)

Pena

Giorgio
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Re: August Dieckmann

#9

Post by Giorgio » 25 May 2011, 15:25

Dear John,
The information by Giorgio concerning the death of Adolf Dieckmann is not correct. Please see the statement below from a eye-witness, the highly reliable and former Ostuf. Fritz Hahl in a letter to me in November 2008. Fritz Hahl expresses the belief that he and Dieckmann were both hit by bullets from the same Soviet sharpshooter.
John
A while back, I read two of your posts on the feldgrau.net forum posted on July 4, 2008 and November 22, 2008. I want to thank you for attaching the document with Hahl’s testimony. I found this information very interesting and wanted to ask you if you know of any other documents and sources about Dieckmann. I am particularly curious as to whether Dieckmann was replaced by Leopold Krocza in command of the I./"Germania".
Lastly, thanks to your post about Wiking’s Personalverfügung, today I was able to verify that Dieckmann became the commander of the Westland Regiment on June 26, 1943.
Giorgio

Giorgio
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Re: August Dieckmann

#10

Post by Giorgio » 26 May 2011, 20:51

Hallo Pena,
SS-Hauptsturmführer / SS-Sturmbannführer & Commander of the I.Bataillon/SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 9 Germania"/5.SS-Panzer Division “Wiking”: April 1943- WIA on 31 August 1944
I made a simple typing error in transcription: Dorr was placed in charge of the I /"Germania" on May 1, 1943 (source: Beurteilung 1944) and from September 1942 until January 1943 he served as adjutant to his Regiment (source Beurteilung 1943).
Giorgio

Giorgio
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Re: August Dieckmann

#11

Post by Giorgio » 04 Jun 2011, 09:52

Ciao Pena V,
One more thing. Do you know whom did August Dieckmann succeed when he took over 2./"Deutschland in 1939 (15 May 1939?)

Sorry no. It took me several days to rearrange my list of the 2nd Company’s “Deutschland” commanders and this is the result I got.
SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Bittrich: 01 April 1935-29 September 1936.
(..?..)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Otto Kumm: 01 February 1937-until May 1938.
(..?..)
SS-Obersturmführer SS-Hauptsturmführer August Dieckmann: 15 May 1939 or 01 June 1939-31 July 1940.
(..?..)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Erich Kostenbader: 01 December 1940 – WIA 22 November 1941
As you can see, there are at least three gaps that I’m not currently able to fill.
Greetings,
Giorgio

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Ignacio
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Re: August Dieckmann

#12

Post by Ignacio » 07 Jun 2011, 01:35

Hello Pena
Pena wrote:One more thing. Do you know whom did August Dieckmann succeed when he took over 2./"Deutschland in 1939 (15 May 1939?)
As Chief of the 2./Deutschland Dieckmann succeeded Hastuf. Wilhelm Schwarz, who died in an accident at Tr.Üb.Pl. Grafenwöhr on 8.05.1939.
Otto Weidinger, in the first volume of his multi-volume Das Reich divisional history, mentions Schwarz as Chief of the 10.Kompanie when suffering the accident, but this is a mistake as that Kompanie was led by Karl Gesele from May 1938 to August 1940.

Kostenbader was already leading the 2./Deutschland by early September 1940. After he was wounded, command of the 2./Deutschland was taken over by Ostuf. Kurt Hallwachs (Adjutant I./Deutschland) on 23.11.41.

Regards

Ignacio

Pena V
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Re: August Dieckmann

#13

Post by Pena V » 07 Jun 2011, 23:34

Thank you Giorgio and Ignacio!

Before your mails my list of 2./"Deutschland" commanders looked like this:
01 Apr 1935 - 29 Sep 1936...Hsf Bittrich Wilhelm
29 Sep 1936 - 01 Feb 1937...Sbf Neumann Walter (Sbf!?)
01 Feb 1937 - 01 May 1938...Hsf Kumm Otto
01 May 1938 - 15 May 1939...?
15 May 1939 - 01 Aug 1940...Osf Dieckmann August (Hsf 01 Sep 1939)
?? Sep 1940* - 22 Nov 1941...Osf Kostenbader Erich WIA (Hsf ?? ??? 1941) *Could be earlier
?? Nov 1941 - ?? Nov 1941....Balzer Johann WIA
25 Nov 1941 - 22 Jan 1942...Osf Hallwachs Kurt WIA

So Hsf Wilhelm Schwarz until 08 May 1939. Was Dieckmann a Zugführer in 2./"Deutschland" at that time? If so he could have succeeded Schwarz on the same day. As you can see I have Balzer between Kostenbader and Hallwachs but maybe his command was only from late 22nd to early 23rd?
I have Sturmbannführer (!) Walter Neumann between Bittrich and Kumm. Unfortunately I cannot remember where I got this info.

Regards,

Pena

Giorgio
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Re: August Dieckmann

#14

Post by Giorgio » 08 Jun 2011, 14:10

According to his Dienstlaufbahn, Dieckmann acted as Führer 5. SS D. 1.5.1938- 24.9. 1938.
Then he was V(ersetzt ?) 24.9.-6.12.1938 zum XI A.K. Hannover kdt (kommandiert?)
Kommandierung zum Heer (I.R. 33): 1.9.1938 – 5.3.1939.
Subsequently:
Führer Stab II.SS D. : 5.3.1939
Führer 2. Kp. SS D.: 15.5.1939
Chef 2. Kp. SS D.: 11.9.1939

Giorgio

AtomFantom
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Re: August Dieckmann

#15

Post by AtomFantom » 12 Jun 2020, 20:47

Hello everybody!
Recently, I was on "Fox Tail" Island. There, according to the recollections of the participants in the battles, August Dieckmann died. I give some photos. Can someone help me and give more information about those events? For example, the memory of veterans, maps, schemes?

On the photos: "Fox Tail" Island and trench of german soldiers.

Regards
Attachments
cameringo_2020-06-09 13.47.01.jpg
German dugout
cameringo_2020-06-09 13.29.36.jpg
German trench
cameringo_2020-06-09 14.07.36.jpg
"Fox Tail" Island
cameringo_2020-06-09 12.05.39.jpg
"Fox Tail" Island

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