Bidspirit auction | WWII Nazi German Knight's Cross

WWII Nazi German Knight's Cross Recipient Walter Harzer Signed Letters - Joachim Peiper Death - Two letters written by former Nazi German SS commander Walter Harzer. Both are written on HIAG stationary to noted American WWII historian Roger J. Bender. Both are in reference to SS Lieutenant Colonel Joachim Peiper who ordered the execution of U.S. prisoners in the infamous Malmedy Massacre that occurred on December 17, 1944 at Malmedy, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. A total of 84 U.S. prisoners were killed. The first letter, dated August 9, 1974 acknowledges Harzer's and Peiper's receipt of the Waffen SS reference books sent to them by Mr. Bender. Harzer explains that Peiper does not sign autographs and states that ”Because of your country's previous revenge justice against Peiper, I can tell you that Peiper does not hold a grudge, (Peiper) - ”You can't lose a war, the victors are allowed to commit all kinds of attacks, i.e. war crimes, because only the loser has to be prosecuted....” The second letter was written by Harzer on September 9, 1976, less that two months after Peiper's murder by arson at his house in Traves, Frances on July 14, 1976. A full transcript of that letter is as follows, ”Dear Mr. Bender, Your Mr. Schon was kind enough to send Jochen Peiper and me the number 1 copy of volume 4 of your Waffen SS book series, which made me happy and I would like to thank you very much. H. Schon further asked that we explain in detail what the background was that really led to the death of Jochen Peiper. I am sending you a draft of a lecture that I recently gave to the Knighthoods here in Stuttgart. The Frans (French) Communists had already known for a year that Peiper lived in Traves, and it was only after the E.C. in Brussels decided to hold European elections in 1978 that the relationship between Germany and France would be disrupted again and the action of the Frans. (French) Communists against Peiper. The Soviet Union over GDR is behind it! In your name, I would like to give the book sent to me for Jochen Peiper to his son Hinrich Peiper, who now lives as a lawyer in Frankfurt/Main. Unfortunately, Jochen didn't come to my house anymore, he only called me when he was at his employer, the Motorbuch-Verlag Stuttgart. His signature is probably with you, but certainly with me. Images can then also be signed in facsimile. I'm trying to find a publisher and an author who will write a biography about Jochen Peiper very soon. I hope I have met your wishes with the information about Jochen Peiper. Yours Sincerely, (signed) W. Harzer. During WW2, Peiper was a personal adjutant to Heinrich Himmler before becoming a Panzer tank commander, eventually rising to the rank of regimental commander in 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. During WWw, Walter Harzer commanded the 9th SS Panzer Division ”Hohenstaufen” and the 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division. After the war, Harzer became active in HIAG, a lobby group established by senior Waffen-SS men in West Germany in 1951. In-house shipping is available. Open pickup is Tuesday, Oct. 29 from Noon to 7 pm at our offices in Carroll, OH 43112 or we will provide in-house shipping for this item. We charge $5/lot if you want to pick up a different day. Once packed up we will send you an invoice for shipping & handling. Shipping questions: shipping@burnsbid.com. Sales tax will be collected on all bidders. If tax exempt, make sure your certification is submitted with the bid platform.