THE MALMEDY MASSACRE SURVIVORS HAVE PASSED, BUT THEIR LEGACY REMAINS
CONTENT WARNING: This article mentions intense violence and death. Reader discretion is advised. In war, violence unfortunately must often take place to reach a resolution. Of course, then, there are actions so vile that, even in a place of warfare and destruction, they remain exceptionally appalling. The Malmedy Massacre falls into this category. The sad truth is that World War II and the events surrounding it, a.k.a. the Holocaust, were filled with unspeakable, deplorable actions. Many of these came from the hands of Nazis. 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. Read next:Ramree Island Massacre Broke the World Record for Battles With Crocs
What Was the Malmedy Massacre?
On December 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, 113 Americans were captured as prisoners by the 1st SS Panzer Regiment. These POWs were brought to a field around Malmedy, Belgium, and executed by machine gun. In total, the Malmedy Massacre would find 84 American POWs killed at the hands of Nazis. While there were some survivors, many of those who lived through the initial carnage were still executed that day. Those who were shot and lived the first barrage were then shot in the head to ensure a fatal blow. The 29 Malmedy Massacre survivors did so by either playing dead or running into the woods. 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. While survivors were reliving the events to publications, war crime investigators would find remains in mid-January by visiting the location. Despite facing such brutal conditions, many of those who survived these events were sent back to the battlefield. 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.
Trials After the War
The Malmedy Massacre Trial was a part of the Dachau Trials, which took place in the former concentration camp of the same name. It was held from May through July 1946. Through the investigations and trial process, more trials would become necessary because of other atrocities. This specific trial, however, focused on the hundreds left dead by the SS troops at the time. In question were the executions and actions taken against hundreds of American troops and Belgian citizens. Forty-six Waffen SS members, including SS officer Joachim Peiper, were sentenced to death by hanging at Dachau by the American military court. Another 23 received life sentences, while the rest would have prison sentences between 10 to 20 years for their roles. 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. Peiper would eventually escape his death sentence only to receive a new one when a mob of anti-Nazis burned his house down in France in what many believe to be mysterious circumstances.
Who Survived the Malmedy Massacre?
It’s hard to say for certain, but as many as 50 Americans were able to escape, including Charles Durning, Malmedy-Massacre-survivor-turned-character-actor after World War II. You can hear a story from one of the survivors, Ted Paluch, below. Unfortunately, Harold Billow, the last known survivor of the WWII POW massacre, died at 99 on May 17, 2022. This is yet another sign that time marches on, and with it, the important figures that participated in terrible, yet critical, points of human history. The Malmedy Massacre survivors have passed on, but their legacy remains. Their stories are those of resilience, bravery, and sheer determination in the face of impossible odds under some of the worst conditions known to humankind. Suggested read:What Really Happened During the Horrific Battle of Hamburger Hill?
Image: National Archives and Records Administration, College Park
TAGS: