Donets Campaign: ϟϟ-Sturmbannführer der Waffen-SS Peiper

Joachim Peiper during the Donets Campaign in 1943

Leibstandarte SS troops working their way back to Kharkov

Waffen-SS softening up Soviet positions in the Kharkov oblast

SS-Sturmbannführer Joachim Peiper was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold for his achievements in February 1943. The medal proposal showed well what the fighting was like in those days: In Stawerowka the battalion was ordered to take Zigderowka. The mission was executed by night against heavy resistance and an enemy battalion was routed, four 7,62 guns, an infantry gun, 10 mortars and many machine guns and hand guns being captured and destroyed. Peiper advanced immediately towards Kasatschij Maidan, encountered an enemy battalion on the march and executed a hasty attack. Here, he inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and took Kasatschij Maidan. From here Peiper prepared his battalion for the attack on Jeremejewka, attacked it at dawn against heavy resistance and took Jeremejewka. Exploiting the confusion among the enemy, the battalion advanced on Leninskij and broke the last resistance. By an immediate advance, he inflicted heavy losses on the enemy which was fleeing through open fields. The battalion destroyed one T-34, six guns 7,62 and captured 300 horses. Three sledge columns were routed. The enemy casualties amounted about to anywhere from 800 to 900. SS-Sturmbannführer Peiper has distinguished himself in all these fights by a sensible command of his battalion and personal bravery and has proven himself worthy of the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. On March 14 1943 the operation to seize Kharkov was complete. To complete the German victory, SS-Sturmbannführer Peiper and his battalion raced to the north, attacking Belgorod, the last major centre of Soviet resistance in the region, which fell to him on March 18 1943, and establishing contact with the Wehrmacht élite Großdeutschland Division. Top image: Joachim Peiper during the third battle for Kharkov. Credit: Julia Kotterias. Commons: Bundesarchiv. Bottom clips: Waffen-SS troops engaged in bitter fighting across the barren steppe in their thrust toward Kharkov. Footage from Die Deutsche Wochenschau. Fair use.