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Massacre at Malmedy: The Story of Jochen Peiper's Battle Group Ardennes, December, 1944
In 1944, Colonel Peiper, commander of a crack regiment of Panzer tanks, allegedly gave orders that anything confro nting the Panzers should be mown down. As a result of the "Malmedy Massacre", Peiper was given the death sentence. This book tells the complete story. '
255 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1996
197 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Charles Whiting
259 books52 followersCharles Whiting was a British writer and military historian and with some 350 books of fiction and non-fiction to his credit, under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Ian Harding, Duncan Harding, K.N. Kostov, John Kerrigan, Klaus Konrad, and Leo Kessler.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 28, 2020
В оригіналі книга має назву "Massacre at Malmedy", але російські видавці змінили її на "Битва в Арденнах". Підозрюю, що через культурні відмінності. Якщо для британців чи американців "Бійня в Мальмеді" - це частина їхньої пам'яті про Другу світову війну, то для росіян ця назва нічого не говорить.
Втім, книжка не стільки про події біля Мальмеді, скільки про бойову групу Пайпера. Дві третини книги присвячені описові боїв цієї групи в грудні 1944 р. - під час Арденського контрнаступу чи Битви за виступ (Battle of the Bulge). Остання третина - це історія суду на Пайпером та його солдатами.
Частина про бої написана цілком в сучасному стилі, хоча Вайтінг видав цю книгу ще 1971 р. Я маю на увазі поєднання макро- та мікро-перспектив. Читачі і отримують інформацію про стратегічні рішення, ситуацію на фронті, і бачать бої на рівні солдата. Нам показують рядових, цивільних, а також генералів. І, наскільки я зрозумів, це було новаторство Вайтінга: він якраз писав не просто аналіз бойових операцій, а намагався поєднати таку макро-історію з мікро-. Зараз за це особливо хвалять Снайдера, зокрема його Криваві землі: Європа поміж Гітлером та Сталіним, але це тривала традиція для західної історіографії.
Остання третина книги дуже суперечлива, за що і знімаю 1 бал книжці. Вайтінг переконаний, що Пайпер був невинним в бійні в Мальмеді. Насправді, це не одна подія, а низка. Але всі вони - розстріли полонених американських солдатів та цивільних бельгійців есесівцями під час наступу в грудні 1944 р. Всі ці розстріли були здійснені солдатами бойової групи Пайпера. Але доказів, що Пайпер віддавав такий наказ, не збереглося. Як і не збереглося жодних документів, які б підтверджували, що це було централізоване рішення, а не ініціатива рядових солдатів. Цієї позиції і притримується Вайтінг. На жаль, з ним погодитися не можна. По-перше, тому що в наймасовішому розстрілі було знищено за 1 раз близько 100 американців: їх зігнали на поле, а далі розстріляли з кулеметів. Назвати цесамодіяльністю рядових... Це була організована акція. Так, були і дрібніші випадки, коли розстрілювали по дюжині полонених. Тут повірити в самодіяльність солдатів можна, але сотня людей... По-друге, Вайтінг повторює аргумент противників Голокості, а саме: немає документу від вищого керівництва Німеччини, що потрібно знищувати євреїв. Так, такого документа немає, але всі згодні з тим, що наказ такий був. З наступом 1944 р. ситуація складніша, бо в 1945 р. військові частини, особливо есесівці, спалили всі документи. Вочевидь, що такий наказ міг бути там. Або міг бути усним. Врешті-решт, Пайпер отримав наказ рухатися максимально швидко вперед. Полонені його затримували б, а також змушували б розсіювати сили, щоб пильнувати полонених.
Втім, Вайтінг показує інший аспект проблеми. Пайпер був виправданий, бо розслідування велося вкрай погано: проти підозрюваних використовували як тортури (побиття, фальшиві страти - повішення), так й інші нечесні прийоми (слідчі маскувалися під адвокатів). Крім того, апеляція почалася в 1948 р., коли почалася "Холодна війна", а тому есесівці отримали статус борців з комунізмом. До речі, "адвокатом" Пайпера час апеляції в 1949 р. був майбутній сенатор МакКарті. Саме на процесі Пайпера він зробив собі ім'я. Ось такі химерні повороти денацифікації Німеччини.
Тому книжка варта уваги, але аргументація Вайтінга щодо невинуватості Пайпера є дуже слабкими і упередженими.
Втім, книжка не стільки про події біля Мальмеді, скільки про бойову групу Пайпера. Дві третини книги присвячені описові боїв цієї групи в грудні 1944 р. - під час Арденського контрнаступу чи Битви за виступ (Battle of the Bulge). Остання третина - це історія суду на Пайпером та його солдатами.
Частина про бої написана цілком в сучасному стилі, хоча Вайтінг видав цю книгу ще 1971 р. Я маю на увазі поєднання макро- та мікро-перспектив. Читачі і отримують інформацію про стратегічні рішення, ситуацію на фронті, і бачать бої на рівні солдата. Нам показують рядових, цивільних, а також генералів. І, наскільки я зрозумів, це було новаторство Вайтінга: він якраз писав не просто аналіз бойових операцій, а намагався поєднати таку макро-історію з мікро-. Зараз за це особливо хвалять Снайдера, зокрема його Криваві землі: Європа поміж Гітлером та Сталіним, але це тривала традиція для західної історіографії.
Остання третина книги дуже суперечлива, за що і знімаю 1 бал книжці. Вайтінг переконаний, що Пайпер був невинним в бійні в Мальмеді. Насправді, це не одна подія, а низка. Але всі вони - розстріли полонених американських солдатів та цивільних бельгійців есесівцями під час наступу в грудні 1944 р. Всі ці розстріли були здійснені солдатами бойової групи Пайпера. Але доказів, що Пайпер віддавав такий наказ, не збереглося. Як і не збереглося жодних документів, які б підтверджували, що це було централізоване рішення, а не ініціатива рядових солдатів. Цієї позиції і притримується Вайтінг. На жаль, з ним погодитися не можна. По-перше, тому що в наймасовішому розстрілі було знищено за 1 раз близько 100 американців: їх зігнали на поле, а далі розстріляли з кулеметів. Назвати цесамодіяльністю рядових... Це була організована акція. Так, були і дрібніші випадки, коли розстрілювали по дюжині полонених. Тут повірити в самодіяльність солдатів можна, але сотня людей... По-друге, Вайтінг повторює аргумент противників Голокості, а саме: немає документу від вищого керівництва Німеччини, що потрібно знищувати євреїв. Так, такого документа немає, але всі згодні з тим, що наказ такий був. З наступом 1944 р. ситуація складніша, бо в 1945 р. військові частини, особливо есесівці, спалили всі документи. Вочевидь, що такий наказ міг бути там. Або міг бути усним. Врешті-решт, Пайпер отримав наказ рухатися максимально швидко вперед. Полонені його затримували б, а також змушували б розсіювати сили, щоб пильнувати полонених.
Втім, Вайтінг показує інший аспект проблеми. Пайпер був виправданий, бо розслідування велося вкрай погано: проти підозрюваних використовували як тортури (побиття, фальшиві страти - повішення), так й інші нечесні прийоми (слідчі маскувалися під адвокатів). Крім того, апеляція почалася в 1948 р., коли почалася "Холодна війна", а тому есесівці отримали статус борців з комунізмом. До речі, "адвокатом" Пайпера час апеляції в 1949 р. був майбутній сенатор МакКарті. Саме на процесі Пайпера він зробив собі ім'я. Ось такі химерні повороти денацифікації Німеччини.
Тому книжка варта уваги, але аргументація Вайтінга щодо невинуватості Пайпера є дуже слабкими і упередженими.
February 14, 2026
“Jochen Pieper” by Charles Whiting explores the checkered military career of the SS Obersturmbahnfuhrer convicted for war crimes at Malmedy. Whiting places the actions of Pieper’s troops in the broader context of civilian, partisan and military interactions during the Battle of the Bulge.
Whiting’s account of the actions of Kampfgruppe Peiper is detailed without falling victim to a morass of tactical description. Whiting outlines the circumstances surrounding the Malmedy Massacre, as well as the deaths in Stavelot and several other suspicious POW deaths.
Whiting devotes ample space describing Pieper’s battle plan and the actual route taken by the Kampgruppe. From the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge until their final withdrawal, Pieper’s advance was hindered by bad terrain, bad weather, and bad logistical support. Multiple firsthand accounts of the events described herein openly conflict with one another. The author attributes this to several factors: differing observational points of view, varying motives, and faulty memories all are in play. Thus, Whiting quotes the Russian proverb:” He lies like an eyewitness.”
The latter part of the study examines the Dachau trial that took place following the war. Whiting gives a balanced perspective about the trial and its concomitant issues. Jailers used torture when conducting their interrogations; mock trials were held as well as mock executions. Many of the POWs of the 1st SS division were placed in solitary confinement in unheated cells. These tactics were largely designed by US Army Lt. William Perl and tend to call into question virtually every confession extracted by the prosecutorial team.
Pieper gave no “take no prisoners order,” nor was he present at Malmedy. Instead, Pieper took responsibility for the actions of his troops after he became privy to their confessions. Whiting estimates that less than 1% of the 1st SS was involved in the killings of the POWs and suggests many civilian deaths in Stavelot resulted from errant American air and artillery.
Pieper was incarcerated until the realities of the Cold War emerged. Germany became the key to containment. The Soviet's had battered their allies; Britain was nearing bankruptcy; Greece was in a civil war; France and Italy had significant communist factions, and much of northern Europe was pacifistic. In addition, Stalin was greatly supportive of the effort to burden the US with a war in Asia. Thus, geopolitically, the 20th century became the “German Century,” hence the rehabilitation and rearmament of West Germany was an imperative. Looking east from the Fulda Gap, Americans needed a reliable ally legal nuance aside.
Whiting describes Pieper’s tragic murder in some detail. A communist ironmonger, the DDR, and the French communist party worked in symphony to assassinate Pieper and his dogs in the quiet French town of Traves on Bastille Day, 1976. Few eulogized his death, and many claimed it represented some variant of cosmic justice.
In summary, Whiting has written an important and readable book. He does not attempt to diminish the atrocities committed by Pieper’s Kampfgruppe, but he exposes some of the subsequent hypocrisies that descended on the West.
Whiting’s account of the actions of Kampfgruppe Peiper is detailed without falling victim to a morass of tactical description. Whiting outlines the circumstances surrounding the Malmedy Massacre, as well as the deaths in Stavelot and several other suspicious POW deaths.
Whiting devotes ample space describing Pieper’s battle plan and the actual route taken by the Kampgruppe. From the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge until their final withdrawal, Pieper’s advance was hindered by bad terrain, bad weather, and bad logistical support. Multiple firsthand accounts of the events described herein openly conflict with one another. The author attributes this to several factors: differing observational points of view, varying motives, and faulty memories all are in play. Thus, Whiting quotes the Russian proverb:” He lies like an eyewitness.”
The latter part of the study examines the Dachau trial that took place following the war. Whiting gives a balanced perspective about the trial and its concomitant issues. Jailers used torture when conducting their interrogations; mock trials were held as well as mock executions. Many of the POWs of the 1st SS division were placed in solitary confinement in unheated cells. These tactics were largely designed by US Army Lt. William Perl and tend to call into question virtually every confession extracted by the prosecutorial team.
Pieper gave no “take no prisoners order,” nor was he present at Malmedy. Instead, Pieper took responsibility for the actions of his troops after he became privy to their confessions. Whiting estimates that less than 1% of the 1st SS was involved in the killings of the POWs and suggests many civilian deaths in Stavelot resulted from errant American air and artillery.
Pieper was incarcerated until the realities of the Cold War emerged. Germany became the key to containment. The Soviet's had battered their allies; Britain was nearing bankruptcy; Greece was in a civil war; France and Italy had significant communist factions, and much of northern Europe was pacifistic. In addition, Stalin was greatly supportive of the effort to burden the US with a war in Asia. Thus, geopolitically, the 20th century became the “German Century,” hence the rehabilitation and rearmament of West Germany was an imperative. Looking east from the Fulda Gap, Americans needed a reliable ally legal nuance aside.
Whiting describes Pieper’s tragic murder in some detail. A communist ironmonger, the DDR, and the French communist party worked in symphony to assassinate Pieper and his dogs in the quiet French town of Traves on Bastille Day, 1976. Few eulogized his death, and many claimed it represented some variant of cosmic justice.
In summary, Whiting has written an important and readable book. He does not attempt to diminish the atrocities committed by Pieper’s Kampfgruppe, but he exposes some of the subsequent hypocrisies that descended on the West.
September 29, 2023
Wartime massacre
This book examines the role of Joachim Peiper and his SS men during the Battle of the Bulge.
Some of them committed war crimes and shot unarmed prisoners.
They were brainwashed fanatics and an example of blind obedience to Hitler.
Their prosecution was mismanaged.
What’s new?
This book examines the role of Joachim Peiper and his SS men during the Battle of the Bulge.
Some of them committed war crimes and shot unarmed prisoners.
They were brainwashed fanatics and an example of blind obedience to Hitler.
Their prosecution was mismanaged.
What’s new?
June 19, 2025
Whom are we to conclude from your book was guilty of massacre at Malmedy?
We know who killed 6 million Jews and millions of Poles and other undesirables in Concertration ?Camps under beliefs giving by Leaders and Hitler, so why not believe the massacres ? Lawyer Edward no hero as he seems to chose to believe in freedom for even actual killers.
We know who killed 6 million Jews and millions of Poles and other undesirables in Concertration ?Camps under beliefs giving by Leaders and Hitler, so why not believe the massacres ? Lawyer Edward no hero as he seems to chose to believe in freedom for even actual killers.
November 30, 2023
An excellent storyline of WW Two
I enjoyed reading this account of the end of WW Two, I was to young to serve until Korea, However had friends that did, as well as in a small-town, we all knew everybody else
I enjoyed reading this account of the end of WW Two, I was to young to serve until Korea, However had friends that did, as well as in a small-town, we all knew everybody else
June 17, 2023
Poorly written. Very disappointing.
June 21, 2023
interesting well researched history
I’ve read several books about the Battle of The Bulge and found this one written from a different angle including more perspective of the German position.
I’ve read several books about the Battle of The Bulge and found this one written from a different angle including more perspective of the German position.
December 23, 2023
A sad story of war
This is a sad tale of man who couldn’t control his destiny and believed in a ugly ideal and those who followed him
This is a sad tale of man who couldn’t control his destiny and believed in a ugly ideal and those who followed him
December 9, 2025
An ambiguous overview of the events surrounding the killing of a large number of killings of U.S. military personnel and local civilians at and around Malmedy Belgium.
October 12, 2023
It was all good in until the trial started. Lost interest.
September 13, 2024
Death knows no side
War is hell, and the fog of war demonstrated in this book reveals ugly truths that resist being uncovered. I once knew a man who participated in the burial detail of one of the massacre site.
War is hell, and the fog of war demonstrated in this book reveals ugly truths that resist being uncovered. I once knew a man who participated in the burial detail of one of the massacre site.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews