Title: Joachim Peiper: SS Commander, War Criminal — Part One

Episode Summary:

In this first of a two-part series, Militia Historia takes you into the early life and rise of Joachim Peiper, one of the most infamous figures of the Waffen-SS. We explore his upbringing, rapid ascent under Heinrich Himmler, and his brutal command during Nazi Germany’s war of annihilation in the East.

From his presence at mass executions and euthanasia programs to the scorched-earth tactics that earned his unit the name “The Blowtorch Battalion,” this episode lays the groundwork for understanding how a seemingly competent officer became one of World War II’s most controversial war criminals.

In this episode, we cover:

• Peiper’s background and ideological formation in Nazi Germany
• His role as adjutant to SS leader Heinrich Himmler
• Firsthand exposure to Holocaust planning and Aktion T4
• His front-line command on the Eastern Front and the massacres in Ukraine
• The roots of a pattern of atrocity that would follow him to the West

⏱️ Runtime: Approx. 15 minutes

📌 Content Warning: This episode includes references to war crimes, civilian massacres, and genocide.

👀 Coming Up in Part Two:

In our next episode, we follow Peiper to the Western Front—Italy, Normandy, and ultimately the Battle of the Bulge, where his name would become forever linked to the Malmedy Massacre. We’ll examine the killings, the postwar trials, and Peiper’s disturbing postwar legacy.

Don’t miss it.

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