Malmedy again.

Prompted by our discussion, I have just finished reading James J. Weingartner's 'Crossroads of Death' published by University of California Press, 1979. This is essential reading for anyone who wishes to study this incident in detail. ( A problem for researchers is that many German names have been 'changed to protect the innocent' as Peiper's murder had occurred whilst it was being written ).

The original point raised by PzJgr is comprehensively demolished : -

'The most telling circumstance militating against the escape hypothesis is that none of the defendants or the defence witnesses attempted to argue that the prisoners had been shot while trying to escape. That it occurred to no-one indicates its remoteness from the actual events'.

Weingartner concludes that Malmedy was definitely a massacre, vicious and brutal but : -

'The crossroads killings were the product of a set of military circumstances which would have created strong pressures for the shooting of prisoners in any army'.

The Waffen-SS were more prone than perhaps any other to this kind of 'excess' and the book contains interesting discussion of the unique ideology,training and doctrine of the Waffen-SS.
Interesting to note that even the scholarly and objective Weingartner seems to fall under the 'spell' of Peiper, expressing grudging admiration for Peiper's skill as a soldier and unrepentant honesty.

Why did Malmedy emerge as such a cause celebre ? At the time, the US 'needed' the story to stiffen the resolve of their frontline troops. And immediately post-war, in an emotional climate of vengeance and retribution against Nazi Germany 'personified' by the SS, Malmedy 'fitted the bill' perfectly.

And now it's being 'used' by others for a stick to beat the US - obviously, see David Irving and the History Channel.

If you're going to read one book about Malmedy - make it this one.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson