Nickname: No information
Date of Birth: 29 May 1912 - Cadenberge, Lower Saxony (German Empire)
Date of Death: 10 October 1943 - Kreschtschatik (Fuchsschwanzinsel) on the Dnieper River (Soviet Union)
Battles and Operations:
Polish Campaign 1939, Western Campaign 1940, Operation Barbarossa 1941, Battle of Rostov 1941, Defensive battles north of Samara and Otscheretino 1942, Attack on Rostov 1942, Caucasus offensive including Kuban bridgehead, Laba river, and Maikop area 1942, Battles around Malgobek and oilfields 1942, Seizure of Grischino and Alexandrowka 1943, Defensive battles west of Kharkov 1943, Heavy fighting along the Dnieper 1943
NSDAP-Number: 4.455.713 (1 May 1937)
SS-Number: 183.917 (4 November 1933)
Religion: not known
Parents: not known
Siblings: not known
Spouse: not known
Children: not known
Promotions:
1 July 1935 SS-Standartenjunker
25 February 1936 SS-Standartenoberjunker
20 April 1936 SS-Sturmführer
2 September 1937 SS-Obersturmführer
1 September 1939 SS-Hauptsturmführer
26 December 1941 SS-Sturmbannführer
21 June 1943 SS-Obersturmbannführer
15 May 1944 SS-Standartenführer (posthumous, rank date of rank 1 October 1943)
Career:
4 November 1933 entered the SS with 1. Sturm, SS-Standarte 88
1934-1935 training at SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig
1936 service with SS-Standarte 1 Deutschland in various battalions and Zugführer roles
1937 platoon leader and tactics instructor
1939 company and battalion leader with SS-Regiment Deutschland during Polish Campaign
1940 battalion leader during Western Campaign
1941 transferred to SS-Division Wiking as leader of I. Bataillon, SS-Regiment Germania
From late 1941 commander of I. Bataillon SS-Regiment Germania and later regimental duties in the East
1943 commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment Westland, 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Wiking
Awards and Decorations:
Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer (1934)
Julleuchter der SS (1935)
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS (12 December 1936)
SS-Ehrenring
SS-Dienstauszeichnung 4. Stufe (1937)
Iron Cross 2nd Class (28 September 1939)
Iron Cross 1st Class (3 June 1940)
Wound Badge 1939 in Black
Infantry Assault Badge in Silver
German Cross in Gold (28 February 1942)
Eastern Medal (1942)
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (23 April 1942) as SS-Sturmbannführer and commander of I./SS-Regiment Germania for the defense of Otscheretino. The village of Otscheretino, captured on 16 February 1942 during the advance north of the Samara, held decisive terrain dominance and formed the vital cornerstone of the right wing of Gruppe Sanne. On the afternoon of 19 February 1942 the Russians launched a major attack after intense artillery and mortar preparation, supported by eight heavy tanks. The enemy penetrated the eastern and central parts of the burning village. With the last operational anti-tank gun knocked out and other weapons inoperable, SS-Sturmbannführer Dieckmann personally rushed to a nearby battery gun, took command, and directed close-range fire that destroyed four enemy tanks. He then immediately led a counterthrust with a loud Hurra, personally throwing the superior enemy force out of the village. On 20 February and during the night of 22-23 February his battalion, in coordination with other units, repelled further tank-supported assaults. The enemy suffered over 300 dead, 29 prisoners, and the loss of numerous heavy and light machine guns, anti-tank rifles, and rifles. Dieckmanns personal bravery, initiative, and leadership in the critical moment ensured the village remained in German hands and inflicted heavy losses on the attacker.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #233 (16 April 1943) as SS-Sturmbannführer and commander of I./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment Germania. After receiving the Ritterkreuz for Otscheretino, SS-Sturmbannführer Dieckmann repeatedly proved himself as an armoured combat group leader. During the attack on Rostov from 21-23 July 1942 he broke through deeply echeloned Soviet defences north and northwest of the city, always at the very spearhead. On 23 July he personally conducted terrain reconnaissance under heavy artillery, mortar, and rifle fire, escorted only by one officer and two messengers; this reconnaissance proved decisive for the assault on the third anti-tank ditch and the village of Leninawan northwest of Rostov. In the subsequent street fighting for the suburbs his personal example kept the attack moving and enabled capture of the southwestern part of the city. On 3 August 1942 during the thrust across the Kuban at Grigoripoliskaja he created and held the bridgehead despite heavy urban combat still raging in the village; he drove through the fighting in his car to the crossing site, oversaw the rubber-boat crossing under fire, and personally reconnoitred bridge-building possibilities, then intervened repeatedly in the defensive fighting. His calm ruthlessness under fire became legendary and inspired his men. In the advance toward the Laba river at Teginskaja and the Chadyshenskaja oilfield his Kampfgruppe secured key points such as Woronzowo-Daschkoff, where he rapidly regrouped forces, personally led a counterthrust, and directed howitzer fire to within 100 metres to repel a regimental-sized Soviet attack and protect the division supply route. In the street fighting for Chadyshenskaja he fought in the foremost line with riflemen and tanks, blocked the Maikop-Tuapse road, and inflicted heavy losses. On 5 October 1942 at the assault on hills west of Malgobek he stormed forward as point man to rally his pinned-down battalion, captured the objective, and repelled the immediate counterattack. The next day at Hill White House, despite fog and heavy losses, he repeatedly charged ahead of 2. Kompanie, enabling the capture of the strongly fortified height and opening the way for neighbouring units. On 7 October he personally counterattacked with his battalion against a tank- and infantry-supported Soviet assault, holding the line through his presence in the foremost positions. On 17 October at Hill 701 he rallied an assault party, fought with machine pistol and hand grenades to eject a Soviet penetration, and held the hill all day, preventing flank attacks on the division. On 12 February 1943 he seized Grischino in a surprise attack, cutting supply lines to Soviet Mobile Group Popov, and then defended it successfully. During the attack on Alexandrowka on 24 February 1943 his battalion, as the lead unit in an enveloping move, faced thousands of defenders with over twenty tanks and strong artillery; when the assault stalled at the edge of the city under heavy fire he personally placed himself at the head of the threatened company, inspired the men forward, and broke into the city. After bitter house-to-house fighting Alexandrowka fell, with the enemy losing over 100 dead plus seven tanks, twelve anti-tank guns, four artillery pieces, and numerous other weapons. Through these repeated personal interventions, fearless leadership at the decisive points, and inspirational example SS-Sturmbannführer Dieckmann contributed decisively to the successes of his battalion and regiment.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #39 (10 October 1943) as SS-Obersturmbannführer and commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 Westland. After taking command of Regiment Westland in the 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Wiking, SS-Obersturmbannführer Dieckmann led his unit in continuous defensive battles on the southern sector of the Eastern Front from 5 July 1943 onward. From 11 August 1943 alone his regiment repelled more than 100 enemy attacks west of Kharkov, most of them launched by far superior Soviet forces. In all these actions Dieckmann was the soul of the defence; despite intense enemy fire he was constantly forward among his men, motivating them through his devotion to duty, fearlessness, and prudent leadership. The divisional commander repeatedly highlighted his deeds in daily reports. Even after being wounded several times by shell splinters he remained with his troops, personally reconnoitring penetrations in an armoured car and restoring the situation wherever neighbouring units or his own companies were threatened. On 10 October 1943, while fighting in the foremost line during the heavy defensive battles along the Dnieper at Kreschtschatik, SS-Obersturmbannführer Dieckmann was killed in action. He did not live to learn that the Führer had awarded him the Swords that same day as the 39th soldier of the Wehrmacht. Throughout countless battles in the East Dieckmann had become a legendary figure of heroic troop leadership far beyond the ranks of the Wiking Division and the Waffen-SS. His loss robbed the Waffen-SS of one of its finest regimental commanders and a constant model of soldierly virtues for the Germanic volunteers under his command.
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August Hinrich Dieckmann was born on 29 May 1912 in Cadenberge in Lower Saxony, Germany. He entered the SS on 4 November 1933 as a member of the 1st Sturm of SS-Standarte 88. Between 1 April 1934 and 25 April 1935 he attended the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig while serving with the 2nd Sturm of SS-Standarte 2 in Munich. On 1 July 1935 he was promoted to SS-Standartenjunker and on 25 February 1936 to SS-Standartenoberjunker. After completing a Zugführerlehrgang in Dachau he joined the III. Sturmbann of SS-Standarte 1 Deutschland in Ellwangen on 1 April 1936 and received his commission as SS-Sturmführer on 20 April 1936. He continued serving with various battalions of the Deutschland regiment, undertook a Truppen-Pionier-Lehrgang at the Pionier-Schule in Dessau-Roßlau, and was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer on 2 September 1937. He joined the NSDAP on 1 May 1937 and held platoon and company leadership roles within the Deutschland regiment before being attached to the XI. Armeekorps in Hannover in September 1938. By June 1939 he had risen to command the II. Sturmbann of SS-Standarte 1 Deutschland and on 1 September 1939 he was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer.
At the outbreak of war Dieckmann led the II. Bataillon of the motorized SS-Regiment Deutschland, which was attached to Panzer-Division Kempf and the 3. Armee during the campaign in Poland in 1939. He earned the Iron Cross Second Class on 28 September 1939 for his actions there. In the spring of 1940 he continued to command the same battalion within the SS-Verfügungsdivision during the campaign in the West and was awarded the Iron Cross First Class on 3 June 1940. After the French campaign he served as a tactics instructor at the SS-Junkerschule in Braunschweig. In early 1941 he transferred to the newly forming SS-Division Wiking and on 10 February 1941 took command of the I. Bataillon of SS-Regiment Germania. He was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer on 26 December 1941.
With the launch of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 Dieckmann led his battalion in heavy fighting with Heeresgruppe Süd. His unit participated in the advance toward Rostov and endured the bitter defensive battles around that city in November 1941. On 28 February 1942 he received the German Cross in Gold for his leadership during these engagements. In February 1942 his battalion was committed to reinforce the village of Otscheretino, fifteen kilometers south of Barvenkovo, a key strongpoint on the right wing of Gruppe Sanne. When Soviet forces supported by eight heavy tanks attacked on 19 February after intense artillery preparation, they penetrated the eastern and central parts of the burning village and knocked out the last operational anti-tank gun. In this critical moment Dieckmann personally took charge of a nearby field gun, directed its crew under fire, and destroyed four enemy tanks at close range. He then organized an immediate counterattack, leading his men with a cheer and driving the superior Soviet force out of the village. Over the following days his battalion repelled further tank-supported assaults and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, including more than three hundred dead and numerous prisoners and weapons. For this decisive leadership and personal bravery he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 April 1942 as commander of the I. Battalion of SS-Regiment Germania.
In the summer of 1942 Dieckmann continued to distinguish himself during the German offensive toward the Caucasus. He led an armored battle group of SS-Regiment Germania in the assault on Rostov from 21 to 23 July. Over three days of intense combat his unit broke through multiple layers of Soviet defenses north and northwest of the city. On 23 July he personally conducted terrain reconnaissance under heavy artillery, mortar, and rifle fire, escorted only by one officer and two messengers, which proved vital for the success of the armored group's attack. During the subsequent street fighting in the suburbs of Rostov he remained at the forefront, inspiring his men by example and ensuring the southwestern part of the city was secured. On 3 August 1942 his Kampfgruppe spearheaded the crossing of the Kuban River near Grigoripoliskaja, again demonstrating outstanding initiative and courage that enabled the establishment and retention of a bridgehead. These actions, building on his earlier Knight's Cross, earned him the 233rd Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 16 April 1943 while still commanding the I. Battalion of the newly redesignated SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment Germania within the 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Wiking.
By the spring of 1943 Dieckmann had assumed command of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 Westland in the same division. He was promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer on 21 June 1943. On 10 October 1943, while leading his regiment in defensive fighting along the Dnieper River near Kreschtschatik, also known as Fuchsschwanzinsel, he was killed in action at the age of thirty-one. On the very day of his death he was posthumously awarded the 39th Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 Westland. The following year, on 15 May 1944, he received a posthumous promotion to SS-Standartenführer with a rank seniority date of 1 October 1943.
Throughout his career Dieckmann accumulated numerous additional decorations that reflected both his early service and frontline achievements. Among them were the SS-Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS, the SS-Ehrenring, the Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer, the Julleuchter der SS, the SA-Sports Badge in Bronze, the DRL Sports Badge in Bronze, the SS Long Service Award 4th Class, the Anschluss Medal, the Sudetenland Medal, the Wound Badge in Black, the Infantry Assault Badge in Silver, the Close Combat Clasp in Bronze, and the Eastern Front Medal. He was buried at the German War Cemetery in Kiev, though the exact grave location remains unknown. Dieckmann exemplified the aggressive leadership and personal courage that characterized many early Waffen-SS officers, rising rapidly through the ranks from junior platoon commander to regimental commander in some of the most demanding campaigns on the Eastern Front. His repeated selection for independent battle-group commands and the exceptional nature of the recommendations for his highest decorations underscored the impact he had on the battlefield until his final action on the Dnieper in October 1943.
Source:
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedberg 2000.
Scherzer, Veit. Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945. Jena 2007.
Waffen-SS Knights and their Battles (Volumes 2 and 3).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Dieckmann
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/29014/Dieckmann-August-Hinrich.htm
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/D/DieckmannA.htm
https://rk.balsi.de/index.php?action=list&cat=300
https://www.unithistories.com/units_index/index.php?file=/officers/personsx.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/en/
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-august-dieckmann-1942-48342984.html
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