Sepp Dietrich's WW1 records

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Volkssturmman
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Sepp Dietrich's WW1 records

#1

Post by Volkssturmman » 04 Apr 2006, 01:49

Does anyone have any information regarding what stormtrooper company and A7V unit Sepp Dietrich served in during the first world war?

Mad Zeppelin
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#2

Post by Mad Zeppelin » 04 Apr 2006, 07:28

He was gunnery NCO ("Unteroffizier") with Bavarian Tank Detachment 13, equipped with captured British MK.IV tanks, from April to November 1918.


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Volkssturmman
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#3

Post by Volkssturmman » 04 Apr 2006, 12:04

Thanks for the information!

bob lembke
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Dietrich Book

#4

Post by bob lembke » 15 Apr 2006, 15:23

There is a commonly available biography of Dietrich in English, Hitler's Gladiator. I do not have it, but have read it for WW I info, and I have seen it in a store for $8. It of course is mostly on his later career. The book stated that his WW I career is a bit murky and possibly a bit fudged. (Doubt is a good sign in the study of history.) But there is no doubt that he was a brave man; I am not saying that he fabricated an honorable service in WW I.

Bob Lembke

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Peter H
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#5

Post by Peter H » 15 Apr 2006, 17:27

Messenger's book details his WW1 career as follows:

1911 October-November:called up in the Bavarian 4th Field Artillery Regiment,saw only one month's service.Invalided out"after a fall from a horse".

At no stage was he a member of the Bavarian 1st Uhlan Regiment as he later claimed.

1911-14: bakers errand boy

1914:enlisted in Bavarian 7th Field Artillery Regiment.Transfered to 6th Bavarian Reserve Artillery Regiment,Bavarian 6th Reserve Division(Hitler's same Division) in October.Fought at 1st Ypres.Wounded in right leg by sharpnel.A "lance thrust above his left eye" caused a lifelong scar there.Messenger hints this wound could have been really caused by sharpnel as well.

1915:attends Bavarian artillery School at Sonthofen,NCO training.Returns to Bavarian 7th Artillery Regiment,Bavarian 1st Division.In 1915 or 1916 wounded again near Somme:shell splinter to right side of head..."Dietrich also claimed to have fought on the Italian front and to have been awarded the Austrian Medal of Bravery..no record exists of when and where he won it."

November 1916:transferred to Infantrie-Geschütz-Batterie 10 ,2.Sturmbataillion.Part of 3rd Army.Served in Champagne 1917.Awarded EKII November 1917,no record of his claim to the EKI as well.

February 1918: joined 13.Bayerische Sturmpanzerkampfwagen Abteilung.Training near Berlin Feb-May 1918.

May 1918:his tank detachment deploys to 7th Army,Chemin des Dames sector.

June 1918:saw action in tank attack near Rheims.July 1918:offensive near Soissons:Oct 1918:in tank battle near Cambrai.

Mad Zeppelin
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#6

Post by Mad Zeppelin » 19 Apr 2006, 11:46

Abt.13's formation was decreed 05th February, 1918, and the first personnel arrived at Berlin-Schöneberg on 19th February, - but the gunners (1 officer and 30 NCOs and men) arrived there only on 8th April. Thus, Dietrich's dates would be April to November. By the way, on 09th November, 1918, Dietrich was elected chairman of Abt.13's soldiers' council. The detachment (personnel only) arrived in Munich on November 16th and was completely dissolved until November 30th.

Jan-Hendrik
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Re: Sepp Dietrich's WW1 records

#7

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 30 Apr 2016, 11:56

Aufstellungsdatum for Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen-Abteilung 13 was 18.Februar 1918 with 6 officers and 75 NCO and men. Dietrich must have joinded this Abt. in March 1918.

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