PEIPER’S RESCUE MISSION

On the 9th January 1943 the LAH returned to Russia to a rather desperate situation. Stalingrad was surrounded and through the gap in the German lines the Russians were aiming at the important Junction City of Kharkov. The 1st Panzer corps (LAH & Reich) held the 8th Guards army who were probing for a weak spot. They found it to the north east of the LAH’s position where the 320th “Green Heart” Infantry Division were holding out in the small town of Stary Oskol which is North of Kharkov. General Postel ordered his division to retreat to the Donetz. They had 1500 wounded and were moving so slowly that they risked being destroyed.

Dietrich ordered Peiper to proceed with his troops and a column of ambulances to save what was left of them, in a fighting retreat. Peiper commanded the IIIrd battalion of Panzer Grenadiers. He met Postel’s men and told them to proceed to a wooden bridge over the Udy River at Krasnya Polyana (which he had just cleared of Russians) while he spread out to provide cover. He waited all the afternoon but no enemy appeared. On returning to the bridge he discovered that the bodies of the wounded had been mutilated and that the survivors were involved in a fierce fight with a Russian snowshoe battalion. Peiper & his men attacked at once firing from the hip as they ran through the snow. The battle raged for several hours until the snowshoe battalion was wiped out. As the bridge was too flimsy for Peiper’s half-tracks he had to turn back into the Russian lines and fight his way though to another bridge. General Postel was not impressed and did not mention Peiper in his report but Dietrich awarded Peiper the Knight’s Cross for his exploit.

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That´s all I found in the net. I hope somebody could help me with this, which book covers this possibly in more detail, or if it has been discussed before, which section should I go to? Of course I don´t mind if someone would send more details here in this section!

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Peiper was originally recommended for a German Cross in Gold on 26th February 1943.

This cited more than one action. III(gep)/PzGr Regt 2 LSSAH in fact did not leave Argentan in France until 27/1/43, the first elements of Peiper's SPW battalion arriving at the Ostfront on 2nd February.

The official recommendation read : -

'' The III Battalion of SS=Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 2 of the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler, under the command of SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Peiper, was immediately thrown into combat as it was detrained at the Kharkov railroad station. Initially it was ordered to establish a strongpoint in Andrejewka in front of the division's right wing and a fall-back position for the 320-Infanterie-Division. Peiper carried out this mission and on 7 February 1943 was surrounded by strong Russian forces ( two rifle regiments and a tank brigade ).After holding on to the strongpoint for two days, Peiper broke his battalion out of the ring and pulled back to the main battle line. While carrying out this mission, he inflicted heavy, bloody casulaties on the enemy and destroyed two T-34 tanks. Peiper distinguished himself during this action by his skillful leadership and great personal bravery....
... After pulling back the defence sector along the general lines of Rogan-Lisogubowka-Mirgorod, Peiper was ordered to take Smijew with his battalion and make contact with the 320.Infanterie-Division. Peiper carried out this mission and brought back 750 wounded from the 320.Infanterie-Division. While doing so he completely destroyed an enemy snowshoe battalion which blocked his way back''

On 9th March 1943 Peiper was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to the great delight of his entire battalion. ( The Panzergrenadiere of 11.Kompanie decorated their SPW with flowers in celebration ).

Peiper received the following message by radio : -

'My sincere good wishes on the award of the Knight's Cross, my dear Jochen ! I'm proud of you ! May the fortunes of war continue to shine on you. Sigurd is well. Best wishes from everyone.
Heil Hitler !
Yours truly,
H. Himmler '

My source for this is Patrick Agte's enormous book, 'Jochen Peiper : Commander Panzerregiment Leibstandarte' which contains many more details of these and all Peiper's other actions.

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

Well, something I didn't know... Thanks!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Thanx Martin for the information!

Jochen Peiper is a man I admire. He was a natural born leader and soldier. This mission was huge, as he went for the wounded into hostile territory, succeeded, and didn´t lose a single vehicle to my knowledge. The first bridge was damaged enough meanwhile he couldn´t cross it, but he didn´t leave the vehicles, instead he drove some 30-40 miles northwards and brought the cars and (tanks?) safe back without losing a single one! What a man!
Of course after battle of Bulge this kind of thing doesn´t seem like anything, must be admitted.

The Himmler´s congratulations part confused me for a sec, but as he was Himmler´s adjutant in the 1930´s and shorter periods in the war time it is not at all surprising he was so heartful towards Jochen.

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War sein Vorname Jochen oder Joachim?

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Joachim is the actual first name, Jochen is short for that. They both are used quite freely in the books and net.

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