The ''Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler'' on parade. Hitler's initials (early sign of the unit) can be seen on the shoulder patches.

The ''Leibstandarte''

SS-Oberstgruppenführer Josef ''Sepp'' Dietrich (*May 28th 1892 in Hawangen/Allgaeu, +April 24th 1966 in Ludwigsburg/Baden-Württemberg). Dietrich was a Waffen-SS member of the first hour, he joined in 1928 and made a steep career in short time. He's one of the typical SS-leaders and military warhorses on which the officers' corps of the Heer always looked down: uneducated (he never completed any military education), without familial tradition, dense. Dietrich, the commander of the 'Leibstandarte'', was adored by his subordinates though.

Josef ''Sepp'' Dietrich

A soldier of the Waffen-SS in his foxhole, Russia autumn of 1943.