Malmedy

USCapturephotos · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:59 pm **Posts:** 1166

Last weekend I had the honor of meeting and talking to two US survivors of the infamous Malmedy Massacre. Both were members of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion and had some incredible stories. The one was questioned as a witness in the famous Peiper war crimes trials after the war. I included a signed print given to me by Ted Paluch. Meeting these great veterans inspired me to include a few rare shots I have in my collection. Look closely at the shot of the GIs in the foxhole. You can see a 50 cal. machine gun in the fox hole behind them. That is the shot that says Malmady(sp) Christmas 1944. I assume this was taken right before the Battle of the Bulge began.

USCapturephotos · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:59 pm **Posts:** 1166

Here are the backs of the two snapshots I posted.

R Michael · **Posted:** Fri Jun 17, 2011 2:03 am

Great and rare images Paul! I really appreciate you posting these. The History behind them is simply humbling.

Mike

Ian · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2011 3:17 pm

probably one of the rarest topics you could ask for in military photography.
in the cold of winter, nothing to do but freeze, sleep and wait and then BANG, the germans explode out of the forests like a steel wave.
no time for the usual photographs.

incredible and sobering photos.
Ian

USCapturephotos · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:59 pm **Posts:** 1166

I'm in the midst of reading a great book on this topic that recently came out called Fatal Crossroads. It gives incredible detail to both the Leibstandarte that were there as well as the various US outfits at the Baugnez crossroads where the actual murders took place as well as those located in Malmedy proper. I now have a better idea as to which units my photos could have belonged to.
Paul
http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Crossroads- ... 0306811936
Ted Paluch who I met last summer and whose signature I posted earlier is mentioned a bunch in the book. Amazing stuff.

MrPeanut05 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:47 pm

Paul,

This past Thanksgiving I was able to talk with a member of the 291st Engineer Btn. that was one of the first units to come across the Massacre. He remembered hearing about it the day it happened, but wasn't able to see the site itself.

Ian · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:04 am

can i ask, why was the malmedy killings done.
was it just a fast decision from the local waffen ss to wipe the american guys out or did the order come from Berlin ?
Ian

R Michael · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:56 pm

The general Thought as far as I know is that Pieper orderd it, though there is a dissagreement on that.

Mike

Ian wrote:

can i ask, why was the malmedy killings done.
was it just a fast decision from the local waffen ss to wipe the american guys out or did the order come from Berlin ?
Ian

USCapturephotos · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:59 pm **Posts:** 1166

When the "Blow torch" Brigade in the 1st SS were told to push through to Antwerp at all costs, they were also told to not mess around with prisoners and to have their fearful reputation proceed them hoping to weaken resistance from the Allies. It's still argued today as to what was meant with "Not messing with prisoners" and if Peiper gave the direct order for the execution of not. The book does make the case that he had moved up the road when the massacre actually happened. I forget the name of the SS officers and men present off the top of my head.
Paul

Malmedy

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