Hitler's Warrior

by Danny S. Parker

SS Colonel Jochen Peiper was one of the most controversial figures of World War II. Himmler's personal adjutant and Hitler's favorite tank commander, Peiper spearheaded the Ardennes Offensive and became the central subject in the famous Malmédy massacre trial. In Hitler's Warrior , Danny S. Parker crafts both a definitive biography of Hitler's most enigmatic warrior and a unique study of the morally inverted world of the Third Reich.

Genres: History, Biography, World War II, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Historical, War

481 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2014

About the author

Danny Parker is a life-long World War II historian with a strong focus on the Battle of the Bulge and it's major participants. He is a former research consultant the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff on the Battle of the Bulge. He has published numerous articles and books on the subject and has designed three simulation games on the Ardennes campaign. In addition to his study of World War II Mr. Parker is interested in Zen, low-energy housing and good coffee.

Reviews

[Cold War Conversations Podcast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jochen Peiper was a very lucky man to escape the hangman at the end of the war and Danny Parker’s latest work provides the reasons why with a host of detail of his post-war life.

The first 200 pages covers his SS recruitment, close work with Himmler, and wartime service, the second half covers his post-war trials, incarceration and eventual release.

In the second half I did find it a bit difficult to follow the trials dialogue, but there are some fascinating details.

Danny Parker is well known for his works on the Ardennes Offensive and looking on Goodreads I can see they get good ratings, but anyone who reads my reviews will know I’m a stickler for correct facts whether I’m reading a historical novel or a non-fiction book.

Although I can see the author has carried out extensive research and the end notes are well worth reading , there are however a couple of facts that are incorrect as such can undermine the credibility of the rest of the book for me.

For example while illustrating Peiper’s experiences in Poland the author repeats the myth of Polish cavalry charging tanks with lances a story fostered by Nazi propagandists.

The most likely origin of the legend is a skirmish at the Pomeranian village of Krojanty on the first day of the German invasion, 1 September 1939. Polish lancers, whose units had still not been motorised, did indeed charge a Wehrmacht infantry battalion but were forced to retreat under heavy machine gun fire. By the time German and Italian war correspondents got there, some tanks had arrived and they joined the dots themselves.

Later on there’s also mention of Stettin in 1941 as a Polish city, which it wasn’t until after the end of World War 2. Relatively minor details overall, but careless nonetheless.

That being said the book does give some fascinating details on the post war Nazi support organisations and a plot by Otto Skorzeny to break Peiper from prison. There’s also some interesting information on Himmler and his mistress Hedwig Potthast, Peiper’ close relationship with Potthast and the life of Potthast post war with Himmler’s young son and daughter.

Worth reading especially of you want to know more about how ex Nazis thrived in post-war West Germany despite the de-nazification process.

** Update 25th Nov 2014 - I have subsequently been assured by the author that these errors described above will be corrected in future versions.**

[Tom Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danny Parker’s latest book, “Hitler’s Warrior” is a superb biography of controversial SS commander Jochen Peiper; in fact it should be the last word on this complicated, enigmatic individual. Those looking for an analysis of his military exploits or details of the Malmedy Trial can refer to other works. Thisis a studiously footnoted yet wonderful read about Peiper the man and his times. Unlike many authors, Parker blends first rate research with a winning and witty writing style. Peiper’s career is of supreme interest because he bridged the gap between the homicidal racial policies of the SS state and the military role of the Waffen SS as part of that state. As Himmler’s adjutant, Peiper was an eyewitness and confidante to all of his bosses’ Nordic fantasies and implementation of the early stages of the Holocaust. As a Waffen SS military “hero”, Peiper became a Nazi poster boy, a dashing armored warfare Siegfried. In Der SS -Staat, neither was incompatible with the other.
Peiper the man is more difficult to assess, but Parker lays out all the facts for the reader to judge, including many very personal letters. Peiper comes across as a Janus faced man throughout his life. He seemed to toggle seamlessly between the thoughtful, literate, humanist whose conversation over wine would be quite welcome in any polite society, a lover of nature and man’s relationship to the natural world, and the bombastic, yet harshly cynical Nazi true believer devoted to the end. Very revealing and a pivot in the book was Peiper’s reaction to the SS leadership’s role in his brother Horst’s suicide (also an SS officer), over accusations of homosexuality. In requesting reassignment to his old combat unit, was this a reaction to both his growing witness to the SS depravity in the East and the disillusionment with his brother’s demise, a ritual “cleansing” of himself at the Front? A failed attempt to restore what idealism he had left? Typically, Peiper provided no explanation, but he was set on a complex path to personal doom which would end in a burnt out country house in eastern France in 1976.

The chapters on his postwar saga are very poignant as he attempts to square his own personal legacy but fails miserably; an old comrade relates how Peiper wanted to change but in the end, he could not….”the weight of the past was too much.” These chapters, plus the absolutely stunning, almost cinematic first two chapters (think the opening scenes of Lawrence of Arabia) book end a cautionary tale well told for all young men who who might follow false gods. Perhaps, the only positive legacy of Peiper’s “botched” life are the now tall trees he planted at his last home, silent serene guardians of the ghosts of the countless victims of World War II. This is probably how the old warrior would have wanted to be remembered, the wind rustling through the leaves as the birds sing upon their return in the Spring….

[Peter Van Antwerpen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the flashy cover art, this is not a glorification of Jochen Peiper or Nazi Germany. It is a thoughtful, extremely well researched look into the mind of an SS man and his deeds. It is unbiased and fair.

So what do I take away from the book?
Although the Malmedy atrocity is Peiper’s ultimate legacy, right or wrong, I am not really so disturbed by that aspect of his character, or even the incident itself, as horrific as it was. I have come to find, reading some excellent history on the fighting in Europe, that even the allies often shot prisoners, either attempting to surrender or immediately afterward, and of course on the Russian front and in the Pacific war against the Japanese, these practices were common on both sides. So does this make him uniquely evil? Not in my mind. He and his men were made scapegoats in this respect.

More disturbing is his attraction to National Socialism and the SS in particular. What drew him and so many others to that dark flame? As was pointed out in the book, the Waffen SS did not exist prior to 1940, so anyone that joined before then, joined the regular SS and because they wanted to, it was not easy to get in. As Himmler’s aide he would be well versed in what was going on in Germany and the conquered territories, particular Poland. His denials to the contrary notwithstanding. That he adhered to and seemed to sincerely believe in the culture of Nazi Germany and the SS is all the more shocking as both his brothers seemed to have suffered grievously unto death for that culture. The implication being that they were homosexual and/or mentally ill. What a trial it must have been for anyone in that era to live up to Nazi notions of “manhood”. Peiper did, and there is no indication in the book he ever spoke about his brothers later in life or expressed regret.

Heinrich Himmler, as he does in almost every Biography, comes off as a complete nut case, which indeed he must have been. It’s depressing reading. I have read so many books on Nazi Germany by now that I understand why Erik Larson author of “In the Garden of the Beasts” said in his afterword to that book that spending so much time researching Hitler’s rule, he did not realize “how much the darkness would infiltrate my own soul”

And finally, Peiper constantly laments later in life his countryman’s obsession with material things and the loss of idealism. That got me thinking too. It reminded me of Hitler’s aviatrix, Hanna Reitsch who famously said, “And what have we now in Germany? A land of bankers and car-makers. Even our great army has gone soft. I am not ashamed to say I believed in National Socialism. I still wear the Iron Cross with diamonds Hitler gave me. But today in all Germany you can't find a single person who voted Adolf Hitler into power... Many Germans feel guilty about the war. But they don't explain the real guilt we share – that we lost.”

I truly wonder what these people thought Germany would be had they won.

[Pam Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating book at the life of Jochen Peiper who now lives a life of near isolation, private and hidden from view the past being off limits. A now tranquil German and honest warrior who had been a persecuted member of the 3rd Reich. I love to read these memoirs because they show us each person is a human being but when you are a soldier in a war you are expected to take orders even if you know its wrong you are then persecuted for being a puppet in a very big theater.

[Carl Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joachim Peiper was a minor but important figure in Nazi Germany: member of the SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler (literally, Hitler's bodyguard), adjutant to SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler, and decorated panzer commander. After the collapse of Nazi Germany, he stood trial for the war crime of the murder of American POWs, was sentenced to be hanged, served a dozen years in prison, and was released as popular sentiment turned away from the punishment of war criminals. He moved to rural France, living an idyllic lifestyle. After his identity was publicized, an unknown group of raiders burned his house in 1976, and he was killed in the blaze.

Peiper's childhood and rise within the SS is an interesting microcosm of the rise of the Nazi party. Flush with prosperity and success, Peiper dedicated his life and career to charismatic Adolf Hitler, while overlooking the evils done in the Führer's name. The SS was a political organ even moreso than a military unit, and Peiper was extremely adept at maneuvering within its ranks. He certainly enjoyed the perks and advantages of serving under Himmler, and clearly knew the evils of the Holocaust. Parker makes a very solid case that Peiper was completely cognizant of killing squads and the workings of the labor camps. The record is unclear as to why he asked Himmler to be given a combat assignment--patriotism? quest for glory? revulsion at what was being done to the undesirables of the Third Reich?

Descriptions of his family life add to the book, both to give Peiper more dimension and to show how the elite of Nazi Germany lived. Details of his and his wife's friendship with Himmler's mistress, Hedwig Potthast, are interesting without devolving to the titillating or gossipy.

The section of the book covering Peiper's combat career is lucidly written, as Parker describes maneuver and logistics with an eye for detail that provides richness yet never mistakes minutiae for the narrative. Peiper was a decent commander, if perhaps overenthusiastic in his tendency to push forward beyond support or supply line. He was undoubtedly brave and a very good soldier, respected by his men and even US POWs with whom he had contact. Peiper wound up mentally and physically exhausted from his service. Once the war ended and he was captured by the Americans, he was a model prisoner--even to the point that he led his fellow countrymen in the effort to build their own prison camp!

Peiper's trial is a difficult section to read, yet very thought-provoking. The testimony presented often hinges on very small details, and I found it hard to follow, requiring me to continually refer back to previous pages. That said, it was enlightening as a window into the relationship between victor and vanquished and highlighted that the line between honorable soldier and war criminal is extremely fine. Peiper accepted command responsibility for the murder of the POWs, while denying personal involvement. For me, the evidence was insufficient to confirm or contradict Peiper's testimony.

His life in prison and after his sentence was commuted first to life and then to time served illustrated the de-Nazification process, post-war Europe, and the Nazis who were re-assimilated into German culture. In 1972, Peiper and his wife moved to Traves, France, seeking a pastoral retirement. Two years later, his identity is publicized by the local Communist party, and he becomes subject to numerous personal attacks. These attacks culminate in a Bastille Day raid on his farm that left his house burned with his body inside.

I enjoyed Parker's style quite a bit, and respect that he never shies away from either the honorable or the repugnant qualities of Peiper. He neither damns nor celebrates his subject, concerning himself with fact and evidence above judgment. This is a thought-provoking volume that left me pondering the capability for both honor and horror within humans. "Hitler's Warrior" is a valuable addition to any World War II library.

Advanced review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.

[Seaburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the first biography of Jochen Peiper on the market and it probably won’t be the last. But I doubt there will ever be a more insightful biography in the future as the author, Danny Parker, has culled together over 20 years of in depth research while travelling to those places that have become synonymous with the Peiper story and in talking to those who knew him best. The result is a book crammed with first-hand accounts and forensically gathered research for us to enjoy into the enigma that was Jochen Peiper.

The notes section is breath-taking and for those of us who like to know if the information we are reading is correctly backed up, you will not be disappointed with the quality and depth you find here. The body of a work is rendered worthless IMO if the references and citations are remiss. The book is more about Peiper the ‘man’ and less about the military engagements – although obviously we are kept informed about what was happening on the field of battle. We also get to follow his years spent as Himmler’s adjutant, in these chapters you will find intriguing insights divulged through Peiper’s letters to Himmler’s mistress.

The feeling that the world was their oyster in those early years is palpable as we follow their shared journey during the fall of Poland followed by the Low Countries and then France. This part of the book contrasts sharply with the last meeting of Himmler and his young adjutant when all hope of the ‘Endsieg’ was gone. Peiper’s subsequent capture, trial and incarceration are covered as are the years that followed his release and his attempt to reinstate himself in a world that he struggled to understand. His near hermit like existence in the last few years portray a man who was weary with this world and the details of his death will leave some suspecting that the events of that night may not be as cut and dried as previously thought.

The book flowed well for me and I believe it will appeal to readers who have a general interest in the rise and fall of the Third Reich as much as those who want to analyse Peiper himself. What I valued most from ‘Hitler’s Warrior’ was the author’s writing style which gives his reader the compliment of making up their own mind on the facts presented. This should be a refreshing first for those who have read previous Peiper tomes. In short, I would recommend ‘Hitler’s Warrior’ as a must have addition to any serious historians library.

[P.A. Spayd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This comprehensive bio of Jochen Peiper is exceptionally researched and sources are meticulously detailed - my kind of book right off the presses. Danny spent 20 years, traveling, researching, interviewing, all to answer the mystery of this SS Colonel who served in modern European history's horribly barbaric time. Then to carry on thru the Dachau war crimes trial, the prison sentenece, appeals, release, the family life, finding a job, then in his old age, seeking peace away from those who still recognized or sought him. Peiper is not what most of us would identify as a white hat traditional hero material - being an avid Third Reich SS officer and convicted of the massacre of POWs by his troops. Oh yes, the SS uniforms are fancy, the battle victories impressive - in the East - but banners of victory and awards on one's collar versus the responsibility of humane treatment of prisoners standing with their hands in the air? We can see that Peiper took his fighting in the East and thought no different in fighting the Americans and British in the West. I found this facet of Peiper fascinating, the bio is a great and informative read. Danny has a rare talent to lead us into the very soul of his subject, his research, no-hold barred interviews, and sparing no question left unaswered are skills that I see in his bringing us to better understand this person and the times in which he lived. To see how a man developes from a young officer that sold heart and soul to the SS & Nazi ideals in the span of the book's covers for us and - decades flash by, a lifetime for Peiper - this read makes me pause then sit back and go back to the book time after time. Great work. I teasure it as a permanent addition in my military library.

[Philippe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Er ging 20 jaar opzoekingswerk vooraf aan dit werk.
En dat is er ook wat aan te merken. Het boek bevat téveel details, waardoor de verhaallijn niet altijd even boeiend blijft.
Wel interessant om ook inzicht te krijgen in de Inner Circle rond Himmler & Co...

[M. I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hitler’s Warrior is a feat of research and writing but the reader will gain the most from the book by reading the endnotes as they read through the text, for in the endnotes there is as much interesting and new information as in text itself. I gave the book a fairly careful read and it took roughly six weeks. Having said that, one is likely to come away feeling that they learned more about Heinrich Himmler and his inner circle than they’ve learned about the enigmatic Jochen Peiper but that did not diminish my enjoyment of the book; I think that I simply arrived at a different place as a result.

In a quick effort to recognize and hopefully understand what I gained from reading Hitler’s Warrior, I realize that I’d had no idea how wedded Peiper was to the Nazi inner circle and that it seems he broke away from Himmler’s staff not simply because he recognized that it was important to burnish his warrior credentials through combat experience but also because he was becoming overwhelmed, if not sickened by, the systematic killing of civilians as managed and pushed forward by Himmler, his followers and the entire Nazi regime. (While serving as Himmler’s adjutant, Peiper noted that, “A German soldier who doesn’t want to know about these things going on now, should go to the front.” Pg. 82) One might have sympathized a bit with Peiper if it weren’t for the fact that he stayed too long at Himmler’s party and the fact that he went on to be so closely associated with atrocities perpetrated against his enemies in combat. Parker makes it clear that, while assigned to Himmler’s staff, Peiper was privy to what was taking place in the concentration camps and, once assigned to a line unit in combat, Peiper’s work carried the taint associated with the unlawful killing of civilians and combatants alike. So, in his time, Peiper was both a mid-level functionary linked to the administration of war crimes and then an enabler of atrocities at the fighting front. Even if there was never blood on his hands, Peiper knew a thing or two of unlawful killing, both as paper pusher and a trigger puller.

If you’ve read Parker’s earlier work, Fatal Crossroads, then you definitely need to read Hitler’s Warrior. If you’ve not read either book then I’m in a quandary as to which one to suggest you read first. If you want a larger vision of Peiper’s background first, then you’d be better served reading Hitler’s Warrior first, followed by Fatal Crossroads. You will not get a detailed account of Peiper’s leadership style in combat or much of an idea of Peiper the tactician in Hitler’s Warrior – except perhaps in the very detailed account of his last stand at Traves, but you will come to understand the seemingly otherworldly circles in which he revolved which will help you grasp how he, like so many, was deluded into thinking the likes of Hitler and Himmler promised anything but ruin for Germany.

Other observations: With respect to administrative mass murder, knowing that Peiper had intimate knowledge of the Nazi’s machinery of extermination, one is left feeling little sympathy for his complaints regarding the tenacity of Nazi hunters like Simon Wiesenthal. With respect to the horror of killing in combat, Peiper’s bitterness over the news of the Mai Lai massacre is telling. I haven’t read a book this good since I read Parker’s Fatal Crossroads. If you’re going to read this book, you need to read Fatal Crossroads as well.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book for the casual World War II reader. The body of the book is 300 pages with over 120 pages of notes and citations. Joachim Peiper is best known as the SS Panzer tank commander leading the Battle of the Bulge attack in Hitler's last effort to win the war by attaking through the Ardennes Forest. The Malmedy Massacre occurs under his command. This was the largest mass murder of American Soldiers in Europe during WWII. I had hoped that the book would clarify Peiper's role in the event, but the book does not really answer this question, though he was tried for this crime and condemned to death. This does not happen. The book is, however, a very interesting tale of an man who was adjutant to Himmler, the director of the "final solution," and the Aryanization of Europe. Peiper, like many SS members tries to deny knowledge of the concentration camps, mass killings in Poland, Russia, Italy and in other areas in which he served. His panzer group was known as the blowtorch division, so it is not difficult to imagine one of ways in which towns, homes and people were eliminated. Peiper was definitely a brave soldier, but if that were the entire story we would not want to know about him. He had his sentence of death commuted and after working with Porshe and Volkswagen, he built a home in an area of France that was occupied during the war. His demise is certainly one of the more bizarre aspects of his story. Well written "heavy duty" biography - lots of detail and research. Not the cup of tea for a casual reader of WWII history. As I reach 68 tomorrow, I like my history and biography to be a little more user friendly. In some cases I was flipping between the text and the notes sentence by sentence. If this idea does not put you off, I would recommend this book for the serious "student" of WWII history. I definitely learned a lot about Joachim Peiper. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

When we start with the subject of this biography as an old war veteran, and then turn to a major and dense look at the world of the SS he was once inaugurated into, it's clear we won't be allowed a strict and straight look at the man. And that's a problem, when the book is so concerned with one character – that we hardly get a clear look at him. That's not to say the details picking his life out aren't utterly impressive – even the hardiest reader of Nazi literature will learn something new about the SS, the people in the upper echelons of the Party and those working in the newly post-war Germany that still had links back to the Nazis. But it comes a time when the level of detail and exhaustively forensic discussion of the subject means we lose sight of the man, and to me this was too early on.

So yes, I learnt a lot – I'll never see a Porsche car in the same light again, I'll remember the Battle of the Bulge for incidents that the general histories will probably gloss over, and I'll remember the eerily impressive and intrinsically unknowable ending of Peiper's life, but I've suffered in the reading of all that. The story is great, the research (some of the relevant interviews for this book were held almost twenty full YEARS before it was published) definitive, and the events worth knowing about. But I would much have preferred a more handy, more concise and more reader friendly account than that we got from these pages.

[Babak Fakhamzadeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jochen Peiper was for several years Himmler's charge de affairs. As a prominent member of the SS, he also lead several battles on the Soviet front and was involved in what later came to be seen as war crimes in both Italy and Belgium.

The book is the product of some ten years of research, but would have benefited from some heavy editing. Particularly the first half, detailing Peiper's life up to the end of the Second World War, is just tedious. The post war narrative, if also way too long, is more interesting. Not so much for Peiper's life story, but for the descriptions of how postwar Germany dealt with its own history.
Germany did not have a truth and reconciliation commission, though plenty of politicians, both in and outside Germany, walked a fine line of appeasing all parties, exactly to be able to not obfuscate the truth while avoiding excessive prosecution of those having been seen to have committed war crimes.
Of course, the biggest driving force of the Nuremberg trials, and several like it, the USA, discovered themselves how fluid morality in war actually is from the fifties onwards. First in Korea, then in Vietnam.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkably interesting biography of a notorious convicted war criminal. Thankfully, the book doesn't spend a lot of time on the specifics of Peiper's combat experiences and actions. The most fascinating parts of the book are its description of Himmler and the philosophy of the pre-war SS, and on Peiper's war crimes trial, subsequent incarceration, and his post-war life after release from prison. I know it's a difficult topic, and I let this book sit in my to-read pile for years before I finally decided to give it a try. I'm glad that I did.

[Aubrey Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to be a while in processing this book. It was intense. Honestly, I didn’t like it at first, but as the author arrived at the war years, I was gripped from that moment on. Not that action is necessary for a biography, but for some reason, the book itself came alive. Yes, there are some vivid descriptions of the wartime exploirts of Peiper and his comrades on the Eastern Front, but that is only a small portion of the text. There is, of course, also a discussion of events later in the war, on the Western Front after Normandy, and the war crimes for which Peiper (or Peiper’s men) were accused.

Regarding those war crimes and the trials that followed, Parker gives a very good analysis of the Malmedy Trial, its strengths and weaknesses, and I found myself online searching for footage of the trial, keen to get visuals of all the personalities involved. It is not that the book didn’t give enough detail—it is that it sucked me in and made me want to know more.

Parker discusses Peiper’s 11-year incarceration, and his life after release, his work at Porsche and VW, and struggles as Peiper strove to live a normal life in the face of almost constant legal battles over accusations of war crimes. He also discusses the happy years Peiper had in France and their tragic end.

Finally, the reader comes to the vivid depiction of the mysterious events of July 13-14, 1976, the night of Peiper’s death… or at least, supposed death. The author gives a very complete picture of the controversy over who was involved in the attack on Peiper’s cottage, whether he was murdered, or whether, perhaps, he escaped. By the end of the book, even Parker admits: no one knows and the case remains unsolved.

Danny Parker’s research was in-depth and intense. He includes the movements of former SS men and postwar Nazi intrigue. More than a quarter of the book is devoted to footnotes, some of which have extremely good comments and are worth looking at. It also has some good photos and numerous excerpts from personal letters. A must-read for those interested in Peiper’s life, the history of the Third Reich, and how the Second World War still echoes in our world today (the book was completed in 2014).

[K. M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed it but it could have been better.
I love biographies because they let you see that people are paradoxes, that they can't be put into a neat little box. They are complex. They are humans. Even (supposed) Nazi's.
I think I enjoyed this biography, not so much for the writing style, which at times was a bit repetitious (how many times do you have to introduce the same person or situation? Have a little faith in your reader) and casual (so many exclamation points) but for the subject - Jochen Pieper, who to put it simply, was lucky...damn lucky.
The book gives a quick over view of Pieper's privileged life and fast-tracking career to the trials. For a biography, it is rather short (305 pages; not including notes/ index) but offers many new details I had not read before in similar biographies and text, so it's definitely worth the read.
My favorite parts where the little details of life in Germany and Russia at the time, which brought the words to life, "Now, a huge collection of imprisioned SS men were interned there in the shabby wooden barracks and mass tent compound, but there was no control at all of what went on...the most important thing was suppressing the Hitler salute."
There were some things that grated on me, thus the three stars instead of four: In almost every chapter, the author poses a question or statement and then bails out, such as "What exactly was that personal order? Allied investigators never found out." Then why mention it?! or "He would not see Jochen Peiper again for twenty-seven years"...and then never mention the person again. I would have liked to know more - Where and when did they see each other again? What was their reunion like? happy? awkward? It was this sort of thing that annoyed me, because well, now that you (the author) asked, I would've liked to know more.

[Serdar Erenler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitap; Himmler'in emir subaylığını yapan, Hitler'le de yakın ilişki içinde olan ve Ardenler Saldırısında da kilit rol oynayan J. Peiper'in hayatını anlatıyor.
Peiper'in Waffen SS'e katılması, Nazi liderleriyle ilişkileri ve katıldığı savaşlar kitabın başında işlenirken; savaş sonrasında yakalandığında, bazı esir ve sivillerin öldürülmesindeki rolü kitabın odak noktasını oluşturuyor. Kısmen aklandıktan sonra, savaş sonrası Almanya'sındaki yaşamı ve savaştan sonra emekliliğini geçirdiği Fransa kırsalında uğradığı saldırı sonucunda şaibeli ölümü de kitabın son kısmında işlenmiş.
Bir taraftan şövalye ruhu ve gururuyla hayatını ideallerine adamış bir asker profili çizerken diğer taraftan ötekileştirdiği insanların hayatlarını hiçe sayabilecek bir Nazi profili oluştu benim gözümün önünde.
Savaş sonrası Almanya'nın dönüşümü, Nazi elitlerinin ülkenin kritik noktalarındaki pozisyonlarını korumaları ve savaş gazilerinin yıllar geçse de birbirlerini desteklemelerini görmek kitabın ilgi çekici kısımlarıydı benim için.
Yazarın detaylı araştırması takdiri hak ediyor ama bu detaylı anlatım bazı okuyucuları sıkabilir. Tarih okumalarını sevenlere öneririm.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been interested in World War II and knew about key players in Hitlers inner circle, but never learned much about Joachim Peiper. This book was very informative and not biased unlike other books about his life. The author really did his research and it was very interesting learning about his rise through the ranks of the SS, the death of his brother, and his relationship with Himmler. One of the most interesting chapters was his letters during wartime, it was very intriguing seeing what went through his head during that time. One thing I wished was more information about his time imprisoned. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Peipers life.

[Jordi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has a clean perspective and do not forces upon it any political inclination. It has also done a decent job guiding the book according to Peiper's virtues and high standards. For those expecting it to be a very detailed life of Peiper as SS, may encounter not suficient depth or expanding details about it, since it is more focused on Malmedy's trial and his persecuted life after trials. Anyone really interested on Peiper as a whole will find valueable and subtle gems amid every chapter.

[Oguzhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peiper’ın hayatını birçok detay ile anlatan, bu açıdan oldukça faydalı olan kapsamı bir eser. Ancak özellikle 10 yıl hapis ve salınması sonrası döneme dair yazarın yaklaşımında sıkça hissedilen karşıt subjektif yorumlar kitabın güzelliğine bir nebze gölge düşürmüş.

[Sam Dube · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was pretty interesting with some boring parts scattered inbetween. I was stuck between a 3-4 star but settled with the 3 because it took me a bit to read because after awhile it got a bit dry but it did pick up at the end

[Sean Leas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, Parker appears to have spent a great deal of time in researching Peiper and is was obvious that this is a labour of love. I felt an odd connection with Peiper through this book, an coincidentally he left this world at the same time that I was entering it. He was a proud Prussian, I get that; but his recollections of Hitler I find fascinating. I find it so difficult to understand how one person could so magically entrance a civilisation. Back to the book at hand, the first half to three-quarters was executed brilliantly and was a highly informative and enjoyable read. It did start to fall to the way-side toward the end of Piepers' life and Parker's affliction to fuel conspiracy theories. It felt to me that he was romantically fantasizing that Peiper escaped to South America and lived out his retirement years.

One thing that absolutely bugged me to death with this book was Parker's use of exclamation marks. It was slowly driving me insane, I dislike the use of it in literature. Please, authors let the reader decide for themselves if a statement qualifies excitement. It's a pet peeve of mine and nearly caused me to close the book prematurely. The other thing that got to me was the format of this book, the font and the font size was atrocious. So much density that made this book very difficult to read. I was about to purchase the e-book until I found out that it was $18; that would have been the most expensive e-book that I ever purchased.

If you are looking for a good non-fictional book about one of Hitler's most dangerous soldiers then this is a book for you. But personally, I feel like I paid too much for this book and would urge you to wait for a bargain bin sale.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say this is a very well researched novel (over 100 pages on research notes alone) about Jochen Pieper a controversial German Nazi officer who defends Germany during World War II. Danny Parker has given the reader a great summary of Waffen SS Jochen Pieper's amazing life. Any biography of Pieper is going to attract controversy. He was a highly decorated soldier and a Colonel in the Waffen SS at 30. He served in Hitler's favorite unit and was, for a time, on the personal staff of Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS. The controversy relates to his involvement in wartime atrocities, in particular the infamous "Malmedy Massacre" for which he was sentenced to death by the Americans but later reprieved, only to be murdered at his home in France in 1976. I felt the author gave a very fair objective novel that shows no bias, accusations, or apology which is hard for many authors to do. Parker's unbiased style of writing and laying out the facts for you lets the reader decide how history should treat Jochen Pieper. Some parts of the novel are kind of dry especially the parts on the battles that he participated in but in all in all a very straight forward biography. The chapters on Pieper's death I found interesting and whether or not he actual staged it and still lives. An interesting thought provoking novel I would recommend reading on a lesser known German SS.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the life and career of SS Colonel Jochen Peiper. I have read about him in another book about the Malmedy Massacre, and I ran across this one for two dollars at the used book store. I had to get it, because I wanted to know more about this seemingly heartless figure. He was Adolf Hitler's favorite tank commander. He was a personal adjutant of Heinrich Himmler. He was in charge of the Ardennes Offensive. He was fully involved in his soldering career, and seemed to be great at that. He was certainly well known and respected in the Nazi world, and also a very controversial figure in history. This book was very informative, and I would recommend it for anyone interested in this person.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - doesn't matter if written at times awkwardly or in an unnecessarily verbose style, it's still an amazing epic I knew nothing about until reading. This guy's life is unbelievable - as is the lingering mystery about whether he staged his own death to go live in South America (not a spoiler). Extensively researched but at times redundant or repetitive (characters being introduced again and again across chapters) and think the trial sections could've been almost cut in half without losing much, but still a solid read.

[danielle ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

possibly the best jochen peiper biography out there. danny parker doesn’t absolve him about his national socialist identity and his continuous and fervent devotion to the reich even after the war, or does he gloss over the numerous and deliberate atrocities he committed in order to create a clean war hero myth. this is the real jochen peiper.
the only slight that i have is some of the parts are written like fanfiction.

[Dianne Landry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting subject, boring writing.

[Arve Pisani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and balanced story of the life in war and peace of the SS Colonel Jochen Peiper. More than well documented. This will be a classic.

[Randhir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jochen Peiper was one of the outstanding tank commanders of Germany during World War 2, earning a Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, an award rare even amongst the carnage of war. Though he took part in numerous operations all over Europe, he's best remembered for his advance towards the Meuse during the Battle of the Bulge (the lead character in the movie of that name was loosely based on him). Such was the momentum of advance that the Commander of US 1 Army, Lt Gen Courtney Hodges got a nervous breakdown and even Gen Bradley became ineffectual. The irony was that Peiper was an infantryman given command of panzers in SS Liebstandarte Division. Wherever he commanded troops he exhibited a recklessness and bravery which carried all before him. And that's where my main crib lies. the title of the Book suggested that we would be given the story of the battles of this warrior, but what we get in agonising details are Peiper's service as Adjutant to Himmler, his trials and post war life. The Battle of the Bulge is covered in a page. Even the Massacre of Malmedy of which Peiper is accused of, is cursorily covered. Thus what the purpose of the book is remains a mystery. In any case the title is deceptive. At the beginning we get details of Himmler, a morally inverted personality who presided over the decimation of Jews and other minorities in inhuman, mechanistic cold blood. Peiper was right there with him and fully aware, though he consistently denied this. It was claimed that the Waffen SS were the warriors and not involved in holocaust, but 40% of them were part of groups which actively killed with relish. There was no doubting the Leibstandarte's professionalism but its inhumanity was also legendary. Peiper was involved in other inhumanities of this Division, which are mentioned by the Author. He underwent a detailed trial and long incarceration but after 11 years in jail was paroled. He tried to build a life for himself, from prying eyes, especially in France but was traced out and on one horrific night was firebombed. His body was never identified and there are people still who claim he lived out his life in Spain/ South America. His wife, a former secretary to Himmler, suffered war, separation and calumny but retained her dignity. Peiper was a poster boy of Nazism, magnetic, intensely handsome but his deeds and past caught up with him. The Author deserves credit for treating him impartially, though his obsession of tracing out his guilt is noticeable. Peiper as a human being was flawed. As a warrior he was a nonpareil. But we will have to look for another Author to know about this.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a detailed (sometimes too much) account of Peiper and his Nazi interactions and post war life. It was fascinating to read some of this and then to read about what happened after the war with Peiper. For anyone who likes to read about the Nazi and/or WWII this is a very detailed read that should add to your knowledge.

**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**