Josef "Sepp" Dietrich was a German commander in the Waffen-SS, reaching the rank of SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer. Initially Adolf Hitler's driver and bodyguard, he became the first commander of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH), an elite unit that he led from the invasion of Poland through its transformation into an armored division. During World War II, Dietrich participated in crucial campaigns in France, the Balkans, and on the Eastern Front. He later took command of larger formations, such as the I SS Panzer Corps and the 6th Panzer Army, which was deployed in the Ardennes Offensive and in Hungary. His troops were responsible for numerous war crimes, including the Malmedy massacre. As one of Germany's most highly decorated soldiers, he was one of only 27 men to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. After the war, he was tried by an Allied military tribunal and convicted for his role in the crimes committed.