Knight of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Plancks “For Close Melee” in Silver the SS Sturmbannführer Joachim Peiper (1915 – 1976) during Second World War.
SS Sturmbannführer Joachim Peiper is commander of one of the units of the 1st SS Division “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler”. He took part in battles in France, the USSR, Romania, Poland. In May 1945, he surrendered to the Allies in Austria. After the war, 84 prisoners of American soldiers were accused of shooting December 17, 1944 during the offensive in the Ardennes, near the town of Malmedy. Although personally Joachim Peiper did not participate in the shooting, at the military court, he pleaded guilty for the actions of his subordinates. He was sentenced to death, but the sentence was replaced by life imprisonment. In 1958 he was released.
By Heinrich Hoffmann