1. Joachim Peiper Family

Joachim 'Jochen' Peiper remains one of the most enigmatic figures of World War II. Rising through the ranks of the pre-war Waffen-SS, he fought on all fronts with the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler and spearheaded the German offensive during the Battle of the Bulge at age 28. The discovery of over a hundred dead American prisoners in the village of Malmedy along Peiper's li Joachim 'Jochen' Peiper remains one of the most enigmatic figures of World War II. Rising through the ranks of the pre-war Waffen-SS, he fought on all fronts with the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler and spearheaded the German offensive during the Battle of the Bulge at age 28. The discovery of over a hundred dead American prisoners in the village of Malmedy along Peiper's line of advance after the Bulge battle eclipsed all of his other battlefield deeds, and led to Peiper forever being associated with the largest atrocity on the Western Front.Sentenced to death after the war, an investigation by no less than Joseph McCarthy into prosecutorial misconduct at his trial led to commutation of Peiper's sentence. Finally released after 16 years' imprisonment, Peiper's reputation continued to dog him for the remaining 15 years of his life.

Drawing on European contacts and conversations with Peiper himself before his mysterious death in 1976, Charles Whiting reveals many details about Peiper's career and the Malmedy trial that are not widely known in the United States. I'm a historian buff (yeah, one of those). I've read numerous books by Charles Whiting and kept most of them.Joachim Peiper was a fascinating person so much I've read 3 books about him, and several others with his actions in the war mentioned. I learned about him at first in Time Life Books about WWII, a series I managed to collect and still have. Later, I learned he was portrayed by Robert Shaw in the movie classic 'Battle of the Bulge.' What I found most interesting about Peiper wa I'm a historian buff (yeah, one of those).

Joachim Peiper Family

I've read numerous books by Charles Whiting and kept most of them.Joachim Peiper was a fascinating person so much I've read 3 books about him, and several others with his actions in the war mentioned. I learned about him at first in Time Life Books about WWII, a series I managed to collect and still have.

Later, I learned he was portrayed by Robert Shaw in the movie classic 'Battle of the Bulge.' What I found most interesting about Peiper was how an intelligent, capable man who proved to be a highly-adept soldier could be so cruel and warped into believing the Nazi cause. Whiting's book brings to light how before he became a battle-hardened soldier, he was Himmler's personal adjutant, thus making him privy to what was going on in the Nazi death camps. An American soldier captured during the Battle of the Bulge recalled Peiper as being fluent in English (I believe he also spoke French and Russian), telling the American prisoner how he believed in the Nazi cause and was sure they would whip the Allies. This, after the defeat in Stalingrad, North Africa, and Normandy. I found that amazing how an educated man could lie to himself so.At one point in Russia his unit was referred to as the 'Blowtorch Battalion,' for having burned 2 Russian villages to the ground with its inhabitants inside.

Then he received the Knight's Cross, Germany's highest award for bravery, for having rescued 1,500 German soldiers encircled by Russian troops.The man was so dedicated a Nazi that Hitler appointed him the point-man for the attack during the Battle of the Bulge, known as the largest battle on the Western Front during the war, and the largest battle ever fought by the American Army. Peiper's advance was so swift and brutal that had they crossed the bridge at La Gleize it's possible the war could've been extended throughout 1945. I've been led to believe in recent history books that it's unlikely the Allies would've sued for peace, because their resources would've allowed them to counter-attack at one point and recapture the strategic port of Antwerp (had the Germans managed to actually capture it, which they didn't). Even German history books quote German generals skeptical about the attack and verifying how they would be unable to hold for long any captured territory.In Whiting's book you learn about Peiper's career from beginning, through peace, war, and the trail itself.

Members of the SS killed nearly 100 American prisoners at Malmedy, eventually known as the Malmedy Massacre. When it was learned what happened, ironically morale in the American offer stiffened. This was contrary to what Hitler thought would happen, for he believed a swift and brutal campaign would cause American soldiers to crumble. In the end, the Allies won the battle and the war.Peiper was arrested and put to trial for the actions of his men, despite he wasn't at the massacre at Malmedy, nor was there proof of any kind he issued the order to kill prisoners of war. As commander he was convicted and sentenced to death, but America needed support from Germany now that the Cold War was heating up. Best file conversion software free.

His sentence was commuted to life, he served around 20 years. Whiting follows Peiper's career after the war and there are pictures detailing his accounts.

I enjoyed this book so much I kept it in my personal collection and plan on reading it again. I highly recommend this book. You will enjoy it whether you like history or not.David Lucero, author. The British historian who wrote this book pointed out irregularities in the investigation and trial againt Peiper for war crimes after the war.

His stance is that Peiper was probably innocent of personally committing any wrongdoing or ordering others to murder surrendered troops or civilians. He spent a good amount of time telling the story of the trial and of those who stood trial with him.Clearly there was some wrongdoing during combat operations in Beligum that they accused Peiper of being r The British historian who wrote this book pointed out irregularities in the investigation and trial againt Peiper for war crimes after the war.

His stance is that Peiper was probably innocent of personally committing any wrongdoing or ordering others to murder surrendered troops or civilians. He spent a good amount of time telling the story of the trial and of those who stood trial with him.Clearly there was some wrongdoing during combat operations in Beligum that they accused Peiper of being responsible for.

However, there was also similar issues with US troops killing surrendered troops and their leadership were not held responsible.The book covers the career of Peiper. Noting that while a member of the SS armed forces (actual military battle troops not police or prison guards) Peiper never actually joined the Nazi party. Peiper was sentenced to death. Then as some of the details of the trial came out and because of how the trial was based on information gotten by torture and threats his sentence was commuted to life and then after 13 years in jail he was released.

His defense attorney never forgot how unfair the trial was and spent years in the US trying to overturn the verdict against him including spending a great deal of his own money on Peiper's behalf.The things written about him as a murderer however reamained firmly in the public. The other side of the story as this author points out was not published. Peiper got several jobs and was a good worker but several times ended up being hounded out of his job because people would figure out his background and the accusations against him and complain to the company he worked for. He finally retired to a small villiage in France working on translating English books into German when he was attacked one night, killed, and had his house burned down on top of him. Fortunately he had sent his wife away because of threats he had recieved prior to the incident. The author complained that his killers were never brought to justice and that the French authorities didn't try very hard to figure out who was responsible.

Joachim PeiperNicknameJochenBorn( 1915-01-30)30 January 1915Died14 July 1976 ( 1976-07-14) (aged 61)Place of birthBerlin, Prussia,Place of death, FranceBuried atSt Anna's Church, Bavaria, GermanyAllegianceNazi GermanyService/branchYears of service1933–1945RankSS-UnitBattles/warsAwardsOther workExecutive in and VolkswagenJoachim Peiper ( German pronunciation:; 30 January 1915 – 14 July 1976), also known as Jochen Peiper, was a in the during and personal to between November 1940 and August 1941. He saw combat on both the against the and the against the. By 1945, he was an - and the Waffen-SS's youngest. Peiper was convicted of committed in Belgium and accused of war crimes in Italy. However, in 1968, both Italian and German courts concluded that there was insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution.

Peiper was murdered in France in July 1976 when his house was attacked with.