11 Facts About Eduard Dietl

Eduard Wohlrat Christian Dietl was a German general during World War II who commanded the 20th Mountain Army.

Eduard Dietl received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Eduard Dietl continued to serve in the German Army and, as a Generalmajor, he helped organise the 1936 Winter Olympics held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Eduard Dietl commanded the German 3rd Mountain Division that participated in the German invasion of Norway on 9 and 10 April 1940.

Eduard Dietl's mountaineers withdrew into the hills and later retook the town when Britain abandoned her efforts to evict the Germans from Norway due to German success on the Western Front.

Eduard Dietl subsequently commanded German forces in Norway and northern Finland and in Eastern Europe and rose to the rank of Generaloberst, commanding the 20th Mountain Army on the northern Eastern Front, where the results of the German Arctic campaign were disappointing.

Eduard Dietl initially turned down his promotion, but was convinced to accept the appointment by Generaloberst Alfred Jodl.

Eduard Dietl was sent to Finland designated to be the "hero in the snow".

Eduard Dietl was popular among his men and his Finnish allies.

Historian Klaus Schmider remarks that Eduard Dietl had too much political baggage to compensate for his admirable record as a mountain troops leader.

Eduard Dietl was responsible for troops who employed the use of slave laborers in Wehrmacht penal camps in Finland and Norway.