Bernhard Dieter

[Bernhard Dieter]

Username: BernhardDieter
Character Name: Bernhard Dieter
Rank: SS-Scharfuhrer (1st Lieutenant)
What Army Will You Serve Beneath? : Nazi/German Army
Nationality: Austrian
Character History:

Character History: Bernhard was born a year before his older brother Johan in Austria during the time of the Great War. His childhood was not a happy time as the Dieter family suffered during the war years and the economic problems of the following years.

Formal schooling did not begin until his teenage years. Before that he was home schooled by his parents who constantly talked of the better days, of the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He also grew fond of the tales of knights and the medieval period. These tales filled his young impressionable mind with longing for days he had never known and of glory, adventure, and belonging to something greater than one's self.

He and his brother were almost inseperable and if Johan was in a fight then so was Bernhard. When they began stealing to feed themselves, Bernhard was right there with his brother, participating in all levels of the action. He was no stranger to working in a group being the follower or the leader.

The Nazis Party and the Hitler Youth called to Bernhard. To him they were modern incarnations of the old days of the Empire and of medieval knights. He was proud the day he wore the brown of the Hitler Youth and was not put off by its harsh atmosphere. He was no stranger to the tough lifestyle and the attitude.

Unlike Johan, Bernhard signed up for the Panzer Korps. He knew upon hearing of them that's were he belonged. Even if his brother had not participated in the retaking of the Rhineland, Bernhard would have been there. To him it was a proud moment for the Fatherland and reclaiming their honor.

He volunteered for the Condor Legion and the promise of fighting the true enemy. He would see action in and out of the turret. At one point in a particularly hilly area Bernhard got a bad feeling and visibility was limited. He dismounted, taking his crew with him, volunteering to reconnoiter for the platoon. If it had not been for Bernhard's patience they would have ran into several squads of infantry, armed with bundles of grenades to take out their light tanks. Bernhard's platoon was able to find a better route around the infantry and take them out from a more advantageous position than their original route.

In the following years Bernhard rose through the ranks and attended Officer Candidate School. By August 1939 he graduated a Lieutenant and be given command of a platoon of the Panzer IIIs.

Writing Sample:

Bernhard had been seperated from his squad in the pitch black of the moonless night. He had been four meters from the Schutze to his left, crouching low his eyes levels with the foliage inching forward and then somehow he wasn't. It wasn't a feeling he could have explained. Bernhard just knew he was not with his squad. He was not sure which scared him more, being cut off from his squadmates or not knowing how he had been cut off. Were they all dead? Was he supposed to make a turn in the dark and didn't? Just how far away were they? He didn't want to call out for fear of being heard by the enemy. He was alone and he had no idea where he was.
His knuckles were beginning to turn white from his death grip on his rifle. He sat on his haunches scanning the terrain thick with undergrowth and flexed his fingers to ease the tension.
It was then that he felt it. A tingling sensation on the back of his neck. How long had he felt like this? Had this been going on long? He figured he had been so preoccupied with trying to find his squadmates he could have felt this for a long time. He closed his eyes for a moment and let out his breathing.
Without really thinking Bernhard dropped his rifle and pulled his knife from his belt. He whirled around to come face to face with a large pair of eyes. He didn't hesitate but in one swift motion thrust his knife forward. His attacker stumbled to the ground loosing his balance and Bernhard was on him, his knife plunging into the man's gut but not before the man's own knife cut a nasty scar across his cheek.
The blood flowed down his cheek and filled his hands. He pulled the knife out and he froze with panic. Did he kill one of his own squadmates? Did the man only react in self defense? The thought was banished even before it truly formed. He looked down seeing the uniform of the enemy and the man clutching at his stomach in obvious pain. Bernhard looked into the man's eyes and nodded slowly. He mimed sleeping and then drew the knife across his own throat. The soldier nodded and Bernhard quickly dispatched the man, not wanting him to suffer.
He riffled the dead soldier's pockets finding some personal effects. These were not what he wanted. He did not want to know more than he already knew. Best to let this dead man be a nameless corpse. Much to his good fortune there was compass. He had a general idea of the direction they had been going and were his own lines were. He decided to risk setting out on his own.

Approved/Denied?: Approved
Staff Notes:

Welcome to the board although I am going to give you the rank of second LT Because it was a little bit short.

Welcome,

~Austin!