Eastern Front, Italy, Normandy
Himmler dismisses him once more and for ever in August 1941. In the next eleven months Peiper fights at the Dnjeper and Don as well as Rostov. The "Leibstandarte" proves its strength and gains the reputation of "Hitler's fire brigade". In the summer/autumn 1942 the Leibstandarte is rebuilt in France into a fully-fledged Panzergrenadier Divsion and sees action in the Ukraine in January 1943. In the coming battles as part of SS General Hausser`s SS Panzer Korps, Peiper is permanently in the centre of the most intense battles. Promoted to SS Sturmbannführer (major) on January 30 he is involved in the battles for the Donez Basin and Charkov as well as Byelgorod. His unusual courage and his leadership qualities gain him the Knight's Cross on March 9 as well as the German Cross in Gold on May 6. Himmler himself congratulates Peiper and begins his telegram with "my dear Jochen".
In July the LAH takes part in "Operation Zitadelle" (“Operation Citadel”) at Kursk. The division loses one third of its Panzers and more than 2,700 men, of which 474 killed. As a consequence the division is transferred to Italy for regrouping and also to act as a stiffener. In the small town of Boves, two sergeants of Peiper’s unit are kidnapped by members of the renegade Italian Army. As a deterrent, and to achieve the liberation of the men he orders the bombardment of the town. Thirty four civilians die in the fire. Twenty five years after the war, Peiper and two of his officers are accused of murder but acquitted because of doubtful evidence.
The LAH is transferred again to the Ukraine in November 1943. Peiper is promoted to Commander of the 1. Regiment and its 160 Panzers on 21 November. At 28 years of age this is a remarkable command. During the winter months 1943-1944 the most intense fights to date rage which cause enormous losses. It is hard to believe but at the end of February the LAH consists of just three Panzers and four self-propelled guns! Peiper is awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 27 January. He is also bearer of the “Nahkampf” medal in silver (close combat medal) at this time, an award for participation in at least 30 close combats.
Again, the LAH is transferred to recover, this time to Belgium, only to be used again in the Battle for Normandy toward the end of June, where the division causes havoc among the British. They suffer dreadful tank losses west of Caen in the course of the operation "Goodwood". Peiper is wounded and sent to a hospital at Lake Tegern in Bavaria. He therefore escapes the renewed smashing of the division and the retreat to the Reich
But the LAH will be rebuilt once more, now in the area of Osnabrück where they receive brand new Panzers directly off the manufacturers’ assembly line. They get their marching orders and transfer into the region of Düren on 9 November. Peiper himself and the majority of his Panzers roll to Weilerswist where they serve as a fire brigade against possible American attacks. This at least is what the Germans want the Allies to believe.
But the LAH will be rebuilt once more, now in the area of Osnabrück where they receive brand new Panzers directly off the manufacturers’ assembly line. They get their marching orders and transfer into the region of Düren on 9 November. Peiper himself and the majority of his Panzers roll to Weilerswist where they serve as a fire brigade against possible American attacks. This at least is what the Germans want the Allies to believe.
