Charles durning military history8/15/2023 ![]() However, though some justice was achieved after the 1944 Malmedy Massacre, as is the case with the Holocaust as a whole, full, true justice could never truly be gained. Another 23 received life sentences, while the rest would have prison sentences between 10 to 20 years for their roles. In question were the executions and actions taken against hundreds of American troops and Belgian citizens.įorty-six Waffen SS members, including SS officer Joachim Peiper, were sentenced to death by hanging at Dachau by the American military court. This specific trial, however, focused on the hundreds left dead by the SS troops at the time. ![]() Through the investigations and trial process, more trials would become necessary because of other atrocities. The Malmedy Massacre Trial was a part of the Dachau Trials, which took place in the former concentration camp of the same name. The combination of lacking resources and knowledge about mental health with the fact that WWII was the worst war humankind has ever known provided a sad reality that saw Americans thrust into violence yet again. While survivors were reliving the events to publications, war crime investigators would find remains in mid-January by visiting the location.ĭespite facing such brutal conditions, many of those who survived these events were sent back to the battlefield. Making matters even worse was the fact that the bodies were left following the massacre at Malmedy right out on the field in which these atrocities occurred. The 29 Malmedy Massacre survivors did so by either playing dead or running into the woods. Those who were shot and lived the first barrage were then shot in the head to ensure a fatal blow. While there were some survivors, many of those who lived through the initial carnage were still executed that day. In total, the Malmedy Massacre would find 84 American POWs killed at the hands of Nazis. These POWs were brought to a field around Malmedy, Belgium, and executed by machine gun. On December 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, 113 Americans were captured as prisoners by the 1st SS Panzer Regiment. Read next: Ramree Island Massacre Broke the World Record for Battles With Crocs What Was the Malmedy Massacre? Just as Nazi Germany was starting to lose its final offense during the Battle of the Bulge, the Waffen-SS executed several prisoners of war (POWs) in a field in Belgium. Many of these came from the hands of Nazis. the Holocaust, were filled with unspeakable, deplorable actions. The sad truth is that World War II and the events surrounding it, a.k.a. The Malmedy Massacre falls into this category. Of course, then, there are actions so vile that, even in a place of warfare and destruction, they remain exceptionally appalling. In war, violence unfortunately must often take place to reach a resolution. CONTENT WARNING: This article mentions intense violence and death.
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