It’s well documented that Pieper didn’t -order- his troops to commit the murders at malemedy.
It is well known that he was responsible because the commander always takes the blame when his men do the wrong thing.
http://books.google.com/books?id=Oo5CK9rIx5QC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=jochem+pieper+a+fanatical+nazi&source=bl&ots=LTNZB6pCIT&sig=0mQbw3e6IKhP5rXaD_w_IVlfVYU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2ebrT76XIMTL2QWdudnTAQ&ved=0CEcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=jochem pieper a fanatical nazi&f=false
“Peiper clearly stated that no quarter should be given nor prisoners taken and that no pity should be shown towards the Belgian civilians”
“Other murders of POWs were reported in B�llingen, Ligneuville, Stavelot, Cheneux, La Gleize, Stoumont, and Wereth on 17, 18, 19 and 20 December[citation needed]. On 19 December 1944, in the area between Stavelot and Trois-Ponts, while the Germans were trying to regain control of the bridge over the Ambl�ve River (crucial for allowing reinforcements and supplies to reach the Kampfgruppe) men of Kampfgruppe Peiper killed a number of Belgian civilians. Kampfgruppe Peiper was eventually declared responsible for the deaths of 362 prisoners of war and 111 civilians.”
Instead, as a soldier, he accepted responsibility, because the actions were committed-by/attributed-to men under his command.
And because of it he was a fanatic because the best crack SS Panzer division would not be commanded by any other type. He was convicted and served 11 years and released. “plain” soldiers don’t get charged with massacres.
It’s also well documented that he was a soldier through and through, and when the time came to surrender. He did. Surrender usually doesn’t follow the term “Fanatic”.
Yea one who was declared responsible for war crimes and massacres, like most “plain soldiers”
Inner Circle, Upper elite, inside track, white glove society - sure, but a Fanatic, not so much. Just because someone was part of HQ, or High Command, for example Rommel, didn’t make them a fanatic. Fanaticism, is akin to holding onto a hopeless ideal, like the the “imperious” definition of “war-movie” presented in this thread.
Rommel was not part of the SS, Pieper was. Another poor example of comparison.
Thus either the definition of -war movie- changes, or Battle of the Bulge is recognized as -not a war movie-. Take your pick. It would be the position of a -Fanatic- to try and hold on to any other possibility.
I guess you didn’t get the part that the war events drive the plot in a more or less Historical setting, not the characters, love stories or Ben Afleck. So nope no changes needed.
Irrregardless, Peiper isn’t mentioned in the movie, and instead we get “fictional” characters, going through “fictional problems” with a historical context as a background, that’s “fictionally” altered on a massive scale. Again, not a war movie.
Some of them were fictional names BECAUSE Pieper was still alive as well as others who may not want their story and their name soiled in some movie. Hello? The characters do portray the actual leaders in the battle.
Just like how you say Saving Private Ryan isn’t a war movie. How do you reach that conclusion again?
Because it is not based on any actual time scale of events or specific people and battles. The characters are not representing real figures or real events. The Pacific does represent real people and real events.
Oh and one more thing…
“Jochen Peiper, was a field officer in the Waffen-SS during World War II and personal adjutant to Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler between November 1940 and August 1941”
No “Plain soldier” would EVER be in Himmlers company, certainly not an adjutant. Commanders of the highest political sympathy are selected to head the 1st Waffen SS Panzer Division.
Hope that clears you up.