The Malmedy massacre trial was held in May–July 1946 in the former Dachau concentration camp to try the German Waffen-SS soldiers accused of the Malmedy massacre of 17 December 1944. The highest-ranking defendant was the former Waffen-SS general Sepp Dietrich.
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00:30Joseph Diefenthal. State your full name.
00:39Joseph Diefenthal. How old are you? 30. What is your residence? Auskirchen bei Köln.
00:59Nationality? German. Were you ever a member of the armed forces of the German Reich?
01:17A member of the Waffen SS from the 15th of October 1935 up to the 8th of May 1945.
01:33I sign the accusant number 10. Sit down. Joseph Sepp Dietrich. State your full name.
01:51How old are you? What is your residence? Nationality? Were you ever a member of the armed forces of the German Reich?
02:20Of what component were you a member and during what period of time?
02:40I sign the accusant number 11. Phleps. State your full name. How old are you? What is your residence?
03:05Phleps. State your full name. How old are you? 31. What component were you a member of and during what period of time?
03:25In the Waffen SS from the 2nd of August 1934 until the end of the war.
03:40Fritz Kramer. State your full name. How old are you? 45 years.
04:02From the 1st of May 1933 until the 1st of May 1944, a member of the Wehrmacht. Paul Hermann Ochmann. State your full name.
04:20How old are you? 32 years old. What is your residence?
04:45State your full name. What is your nationality? German.
04:54I sign the accusant number 41. Joachim Peiper. State your full name.
05:08Joachim Peiper. How old are you? 31 years old. What is your residence?
05:25Rotach. State your full name. What is your nationality? German.
05:39Were you a member of the armed forces of the German Reich? Yes. What component were you a member of and during what period of time?
05:58I was a member of the Waffen SS from October 1934 until the end of the war. I sign the accusant number 42.
06:08Hermann Pries. State your full name. Hermann August Friedrich Pries. How old are you? 44 years.
06:31What is your residence? Wehrmacht. Were you ever a member of the armed forces of the German Reich? Yes. What component were you a member of and during what period of time?
06:55I was a member of the Waffen SS from October 1934 until the end of the war.
07:07Rolf Roland Reiser. State your full name. Rolf Roland Reiser. How old are you? 25 years old.
07:33What is your residence? Hermannstadt, R-E-H-E-R-M-A-N-N-S-T-A-D-T in Romania.
07:50Nationality? Romanian. Were you ever a member of the armed forces of the German Reich? Waffen SS from the 15th of July 1942 until the end of the war.
08:04I sign the accusant number 49. Wolfgang Richter. State your full name. J-E-N-A in Thuringia.
08:18Nationality? German. Were you ever a member of the armed forces of the German Reich? Yes. German.
08:48For more information visit www.fema.gov
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32:18I'll read the last paragraph of this statement, the 25th of April.
32:27Hardy Keith fell on the first day of the offensive.
32:31His combat group was not under me, but directly under the Ponder Brigade 13,
32:40which to my knowledge, again, was placed directly under the 1st SS Ponder Corps.
32:49The commander of the mission drive was Sherman Scorzeny.
32:54Is that paragraph true?
33:03I have.
33:06This paragraph is true.
33:09However, I must say that I cannot make a precise statement
33:15as to whom Scorzeny was placed directly under,
33:18either the Corps, the army, or the Führer.
33:21This paragraph is true.
33:23However, I must say that I cannot make a certain statement
33:30as to under whose command Scorzeny actually was,
33:36if under the command of the Corps, of the army, or of the Führer directly.
34:00We concede that such feelings are natural and admirable traits,
34:05but we most vigorously contend that there are principles which transcend them
34:10and to which all peoples of all civilized nations owe an even higher allegiance.
34:15Among them is the sanctity of agreement between nations
34:18in the moral and the spiritual sense of the word.
34:22All civilized nations owe an even higher allegiance.
34:25Among them is the sanctity of agreement between nations
34:28in the moral validity of such plain and long-accepted covenants
34:33as those that were smeared with the blood of our countrymen
34:36and of allied nationals by these accused.
34:39These victims, too, had a love of country
34:42and a devotion to the cause for which they fought.
34:45It was certainly not easy for them to lay down their arms in surrender.
34:49If they did so, they expected and had a right to expect
34:52that they would be treated humanely and protected
34:55against acts of violence in accordance with the rules of warfare.
34:59To forgive or even mitigate the punishment of those
35:02who then took their lives on the ground that they acted out of loyalty to country
35:06would be a breach of faith of those who fought fairly and honorably,
35:10a quasi-approval or endorsement of the principles that any means,
35:15no matter how low or barbaric, justifies the ends,
35:18and a shock to the conscience of the civilized peoples of the world.
35:25It should not be overlooked that with the exception of two of the victims,
35:29all were killed between the 17th and 23rd of December 1944.
35:34In this one short week, I am sure that the record
35:37of approximately 750 American prisoners of war
35:41and 150 Belgian civilians murdered in cold blood
35:45would even satisfy the demands of the accused Handel
35:48to exceed in the killing as well as in the fighting.
35:51It is a bloody record indeed that the 1st SS Panzer Regiment
35:55set for itself in this one short week.
35:57Let us hope that it has never been surpassed,
36:00nor that never again will such a record even be approached.
36:03Today in America, the survivors of these massacres,
36:07the mothers, fathers, sweethearts, wives, and children
36:12of those comrades of ours who so needlessly fell,
36:15not on the field of battle but from the tender mercies of the SS,
36:19are awaiting your findings.
36:21These comrades all would have been alive today
36:25if it had not been for the 1st SS Panzer Regiment,
36:28and they must not have died in vain.
36:31From their deaths let there come a clear understanding
36:34to our former enemies that they cannot wage war
36:37in a merciless and ruthless manner.
36:40They must learn that the end does not justify the means,
36:44that truth, honor, and mercy cannot be sacrificed for success,
36:49and that the honorable soldiers of the world
36:52still have mercy on the field of battle
36:54for their captured opponents.
36:56It must be brought home to the German people
36:59that the principle of extermination
37:01which guided them in their last battle
37:03will not create for them a new and better world,
37:06but will only bring disaster to their homeland and to themselves.
37:10Let their punishment be adequate for their crimes.
37:14There you got it, boys.
37:44I had a very hard time when I was young.
37:49In 1939 I married and had two children.
37:55I was expelled from the SS and the party
37:58and was not accepted until the end of the war.
38:03I was transferred to the penal company of the 3rd SS Division of the Pioneer Battalion.
38:08At this unit I fought in the East and was badly wounded at the end of October 1941.
38:13I took part in 71 clashes.
38:16After my time in prison and rehabilitation,
38:19I was replaced by the 1st SS Panzer Division.
38:23During my days in the Second World War,
38:26I was wounded seven times, four times on the head.
38:29During my two-year sentence,
38:35my family did not receive any financial support.
38:39During the occupation of Berlin,
38:41my family was expelled and had to leave Hausenheim within ten minutes.
38:46She is completely helpless.
38:48I appeal to this court for justice and mercy.
39:06I was born in Moraine, Saxony on the 22nd day of August 1915.
39:12My father died in 1915 in the First World War.
39:16I visited for eight years the elementary school
39:20and learned the trade of cloth designer.
39:22I had a very hard youth.
39:25I married in 1939 and have two children.
39:28I was thrown out of the SS and the party and not readmitted.
39:34In the beginning of the war.
39:36At the end of the war, I was readmitted.
39:39I was transferred to the punishment company of the Engineer Battalion
39:42of the 3rd SS Armored Division.
39:45For this unit, I fought in the East
39:47and at the end of October 1941, I was seriously wounded.
39:52I participated in 71 assaults.
39:55Upon the completion of my punishment time
39:58and after my rehabilitation,
40:00I was transferred to the 1st SS Armored Division.
40:04During my commitment in the Second World War,
40:07I was wounded seven times.
40:10Four times on the head.
40:12During the two years of my punishment,
40:14my family did not receive any financial support.
40:18During the occupation of Berlin,
40:20my family's property was confiscated
40:22and they were forced to leave their home
40:25within ten minutes after the occupation.
40:29They are now without means of support.
40:31I appeal to this court for justice and mercy.
40:42May I please the court.
40:44Various accused have presented to you
40:48their personal pleas in mitigation
40:51for your consideration while deliberating
40:55on the sentence in their individual cases.
41:00Some have made no plea due, in a few cases,
41:05to a complete reliance on the inadequate evidence
41:10as presented against them,
41:13while others have felt that you,
41:16as officers of the United States Army,
41:21will judge them fairly without any further plea.
41:26At this time, however,
41:29the accused have requested that a common plea
41:34be entered on their behalf.
41:42At this time, however,
41:44the accused have requested that a common plea
41:48be entered on behalf of any
41:50whom you might draw the death penalty.
41:55Let it be remembered that these 73 accused are soldiers.
42:04It is respectively requested
42:08that those few who may be adjudged the death penalty
42:14that they be accorded a firing squad
42:18which we feel are the rights and privileges of a soldier.
42:25General Meyer, commanding general of the Division Hitler Youth,
42:36was sentenced to death by shooting in a similar case
42:42by a Canadian court.
42:46It is not believed that this simple soldier's request
42:53should be denied by you.
43:13The Court is adjourned.
43:15The Court is adjourned.
43:39The Court in closed session.
43:41At least two-thirds of the members present
43:43at the time the vote was taken concurring
43:45sentences you to death by hanging.
43:59The Court in closed session.
44:01At least two-thirds of the members present
44:03at the time the vote was taken concurring
44:05sentences you to death by hanging.
44:08At such time and place as higher authority may direct.
44:14...
44:27Joseph Dietrich.
44:33The Court in closed session.
44:34At least two-thirds of the members present
44:36at the time the vote was taken concurring
44:38sentences you to life imprisonment.
44:41Commencing forthwith at such places may be designated
44:43by competent military authority.
45:06Fritz Eichmann.
45:12The Court in closed session.
45:14At least two-thirds of the members present
45:16at the time the vote was taken concurring
45:18sentences you to death by hanging.
45:21At such time and place as higher authority may direct.
45:38The Court in closed session.
45:40The Court in closed session.
45:41At least two-thirds of the members present
45:43at the time the vote was taken concurring
45:45sentences you to death by hanging.
45:48At such time and place as higher authority may direct.
46:04The Court in closed session.
46:05At least two-thirds of the members present
46:07at the time the vote was taken concurring
46:09sentences you to death by hanging.
46:12At such time and place as higher authority may direct.
46:28Heraclius.
46:30The Court in closed session.
46:31At least two-thirds of the members present
46:33at the time the vote was taken concurring
46:35sentences you to death by hanging.
46:37At such time and place as higher authority may direct.
47:01Gustav Knittel.
47:13The Court in closed session.
47:14At least two-thirds of the members present
47:16at the time the vote was taken concurring
47:18sentences you to life in prison.
47:21Commencing forthwith at such places may be designated
47:23by competent military authority.
47:30by competent military authority may be designated
47:32by competent military authority.
47:39George Cressor.
47:51The Court in closed session.
47:52At least two-thirds of the members present
47:54at the time the vote was taken concurring
47:57The sentence is you to be in prison for a term of 10 years,
48:01commencing forthwith that such places may be designated
48:04by competent military authority.
48:06The sentence is you to be in prison for a term of 10 years,
48:11commencing forthwith that such places may be designated
48:14by competent military authority.
48:36The court in closed session, at least two-thirds of the members present
48:48at the time the vote was taken in declaring,
48:51sentences you to death by hanging at such time and places
48:54our authority may direct.
49:06...
49:24The court in closed session, at least two-thirds of the members present
49:27at the time the vote was taken in declaring,
49:30sentences you to be in prison for a term of 20 years,
49:34commencing forthwith that such places may be designated
49:37by competent military authority.
49:39...
50:03The court in closed session, at least two-thirds of the members present
50:06at the time the vote was taken in declaring,
50:08sentences you to death by hanging at such time and places
50:11our authority may direct.
50:13...
50:28...
50:45The court in closed session, at least two-thirds of the members present
50:48at the time the vote was taken in declaring,
50:51sentences you to life imprisonment,
50:53commencing forthwith that such places may be designated
50:56by competent military authority.
50:58...
51:13...
51:19The court in closed session, at least two-thirds of the members present
51:22at the time the vote was taken in declaring,
51:25sentences you to death by hanging at such time and places
51:28our authority may direct.
51:30...
51:43Eric Winner.
51:45...
51:53...
51:58...
52:10The court in closed session, at least two-thirds of the members present
52:13at the time the vote was taken in declaring,
52:16sentences you to death by hanging at such time and places
52:19our authority may direct.
52:22...
52:30...
52:43...
52:58...
53:11...