Joachim Peiper (1915 - 1976);more often known as Jochen Peiper from the common German nickname for Joachim; born on January 30, 1915 was a senior Waffen-SS officer, and commander in the Panzer campaigns of 1939-1945.
Peiper was recruited into the SS-Verfügungstruppe in 1935 upon his graduation from college. Sepp Dietrich reviewed his application and admitted him into the "Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler" honor guard regiment, which was re-formed as a Waffen-SS military unit at the outbreak of war. At age 29 Peiper was a full colonel of the Waffen-SS and a holder of the Knight's Cross with Swords. He was a skilled leader, and took part in a number of major Panzer battles of the war.
After the end of World War II, Peiper and other members of the Waffen-SS were tried for war crimes in the Malmédy Massacre Trial, the Dachauer Prozess,found guily on very dubious evidence and sentenced to death by hanging.
Due to the obvious weakness in the case against them the sentences of many of the Malmedy defendants were later commuted to life, and then to time served, and Peiper was released on parole from prison at the end of December 1956, after serving 11 1/2 years, much in solitary confinement.
After release Peiper eventually went to live in Traves, Haute-Saône, France and supported himself as a translator. Peiper was killed in a fire bomb attack on his house on July 13-14 1976. The attackers were never prosecuted, but were suspected to be FrenchCommunists.
Quotations by Jochen Peiper
"Imagine yourself acclaimed, a decorated national hero, an idol to millions of desperate people, then within six months, condemned to death by hanging."
Reference
Agte, Patrick (2000). Jochen Peiper: Commander Panzerregiment Leibstandarte. J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0921991460
Reynolds, Michael (2004). The Devil’s Adjutant: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader, Casemate Publishers and Book Distributors; Pbk edition. ISBN 1862271569
JochenPeiper was a single-minded soldier, professional in the truest sense, the quintessence of the craftsman in the way he devoted to the progress of a technique and capable of understanding the passion of pure craftsmanship.
Peiper remained pre-eminent as a leader on the battlefield and testified to his resilience, resourcefulness, and mental agility to his accounts for his amazing---and it was amazing---success as a leader of men in battle.
JochenPeiper was always faced with a situation, and responded with an act of bravery, far beyond that normally expected of a soldier, and was a worthy winner of GermanyÂ’s highest gallantry awards.
Joachim Peiper (also known as JochenPeiper from the common nickname for Joachim), was a senior Waffen-SS officer, and commander in the Panzer campaigns of 1939-1945.
Peiper was recruited into the Waffen-SS in 1935 upon his graduation from college.
At age 29, Peiper was a full colonel of the Waffen/SS and a holder of the Knight's Cross with Swords.
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