Best Joachim Peiper biography?

[Sauerkraut]

Hello!

What is the best Joachim Peiper biography book?

"Joachim Peiper: A Biography of Himmler's SS Commander" by Jens Westemeier
"Jochen Peiper: Commander, Panzerregiment Leibstandarte" by Patrick Agte
"Hitler's Warrior: The Life and Wars of SS Colonel Jochen Peiper" by Danny S. Parker
Or another??

I would like something that would be nor an hagiography nor an "he-was-an-horrible-evil-bad-nazi" book - something objective, detailed, historically accurate and fair. What would be the best choice?

[krichter33]

Parker's book is the only one that is fair. It is not a hagiography like Agte or a demonizing biased book like Westemeier's. Parker is completely fair and objective...Furthermore Parker plans on publishing at least one possibly two more books dealing with Peiper's war years in greater detail.

[j keenan]

Parker's book is full of gossip,did he sleep with Himmler's mistress first, did he this did he that,the time line jumps backwards and forwards, it's one of the worst books I've read.Agte's book is good for info and photos and Westemeier's is a good read and you understand where he's coming from.So personally I'd by them two and make your own mind up.There on offer at http://www.naval-military-press.com 20% discount

[phillip burke]

Hello all, i would buy all three and make up your own mind, if you cant afford go to your local library and they will order in if not availiable at that library,usually costs about 4 quid and you have three weeks, i ve borrowed loads hard to find books like this.

[Sauerkraut]

Hello again! How about Michael Reynolds' "Devil's Adjutant"?

[Cult Icon]

Hello again! How about Michael Reynolds' "Devil's Adjutant"?

The book is worth getting (very cheap, used copies on amazon) but it's mainly about KG Peiper in the BoB. There is little about Peiper's life.

[Dieter Zinke]

Without any doubt - this is the best Peiper-biographie:
Dr. phil. Jens Westemeier "Himmlers Krieger. Joachim Peiper und die Waffen-SS in Krieg und Nachkriegszeit". Herausgegeben mit Unterstützung des Zentrums für Militärgeschichte und Sozialwissenschaften der Bundeswehr.
Ferdinand Schöningh-Verlag. Paderborn 2014
882 pages

Btw:
The promotion to SS-Standartenführer can not be proven in the Bundesarchiv, nor in the documents of the Deutsche Dienststelle(WASt)! According to the existing traditions, this promotion, which was promulgated by Sepp Dietrich, must also be regarded as inadmissible and not legally effective!
Peiper's last rank is thus SS-Obersturmbannführer!


Dieter Z.

[krichter33]

Dieter is "Himmlers Krieger" a different book than his other Peiper book, and how much more detailed is it???

[Dieter Zinke]

The book is a shortened version of the dissertation by Jens Westemeier. It examines on a large scale and best documented the military career and the private life of Peiper before and after the war. His environment (family, work, job, HIAG) is thoroughly questioned. Military legends are ruthlessly exposed, his early involvement in war crimes is set forth. His time in Landsberg is comprehensively documented and shows how the authentic language of the survivors of the Waffen-SS for the statements against posterity has already been arranged and standardized there. The sources are of very good authority.
At the same time, the roles of - for example - Sepp Dietrich, Panzermeyer, Otto Kumm etc. are investigated, and here, too, interesting statements and new insights are found.
The book is an absolute must - no comparison to the earlier works by Westemeier [Peiper, Biblio-Verlag].

Dieter Z.

[krichter33]

Thanks for the reply!!! I'll have to buy it.