PEIPER, Joachim
	PERSONALIA   Name:  Peiper, Joachim Date of birth:  January 30th, 1915 (Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Germany) Date of death:  July 14th, 1976 (Traves, France) Nationality:  German       EISERNES KREUZ 2. KLASSE Awarded on: May 31st, 1940 Action: Received for his excellent leadership during the battle for the Wattenberg hill, south of Valenciennes, France.         EISERNES KREUZ 1. KLASSE Awarded on: July 1st, 1940 Action: Received for his actions during the fightings near Torcy, France.         KRIEGSORDEN DES DEUTSCHEN KREUZES IN GOLD Rank: SS-Sturmbannführer Unit: III. / 2.Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment LSSAH Awarded on: February 26th, 1943 Action: Citation: "Peiper was ordered to take Zmiev and make contact with the 320. Infanterie (sic) Division. Peiper carried out this mission and brought back 750 wounded from the 320. Infanterie (sic) Division. While doing so he completely destroyed an enemy snowshoe battalion, which blocked his way back."         RITTERKREUZ DES EISERNEN KREUZES Rank: SS-Sturmbannführer Unit: Kommandeur III. / SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 2 “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler” / Heeresgruppe Süd Awarded on: March 9th, 1943 Action: Received for his acting in the bridgehead near Bridok-Frederowka.         PANZERVERNICHTUNGSABZEICHEN IN SILBER Awarded on: July 24th, 1943 Action: In preparation for the attack on Kharkov he took possession of two bridgeheads which were decisive for the movement of advancing German forces. On July 12 as massed Soviet armor penetrated his line, Peiper was faced by a T-34. Waiting for a favorable moment, he climbed onto the turret, opened the hatch, and threw in a bundle of hand grenades. For this action he received a Tank Destruction Badge in Silver.         RITTERKREUZ MIT EICHENLAUB Rank: SS-Obersturmbannführer Unit: Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division “Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler” Awarded on: January 27th, 1944 Action: Received for achieving a breakthrough in the enemy lines near Shitomir. Details: 377th Award         RITTERKREUZ MIT EICHENLAUB UND SCHWERTERN Rank: SS-Obersturmbahnführer Unit: SS-Panzer Regiment 1 LSSAH Awarded on: January 11th, 1945 Details: 119th award         NAHKAMPFSPANGE IN SILBER         Provide alterations or additional information Picture source:   - Willi Schumacher Collection Information source(s):   - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002 - Bouwmeester H., Beginning of the End: The Leadership of SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim Peiper, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 2004 - Schneider J.W., Their Honor was Loyalty!, R. James Bender Publishing, 1977 - Tank Killers, History of the Tank Destruction Badge by Thomas W. Breyette & Roger James Bender