Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-20
The MoImedy Murders

The MoImedy Murders
In December OF 1914, during the Battle
OF the Bulge. contingent of American
troops was surrounded by Naz task force
| commanded by Colonel Joachim PEPPER.
| The Americans surrendered and turned
| over their arms. Then the Nazis lined up
the 100 prisoners in the snow near
Malmedy and moved them down with
machine-gun fire. little later the
Germans walked among the victims and
individually shot those who showed any
signs of life.
These Americans were not killed In the
heat of battle. They were murdered.
wantonly and deliberately.
When the war In Europe ended Ameri-
can Investigators went to work Thousands
of German soldiers were interviewed.
Finally, los of the men who belonged to
Colonel PEPPERS task force were located.
These members of the German massacre
unit did not get the consideration that is
accorded suspects in the United States In
peacetime. Some were threatened by the
investigators. A few were put through
mock trials in an effort TO break them
down. The evidence indicates that some
were physically beaten, subjected to the
third degree"
Eventually, seventy-three OF the Nazis
were brought to trial and convicted, the
evidence against them consisting in part,
but not entirely, of confessions. Forty
three death sentences were imposed. When
the case was reviewed by higher authori-
ties, thirteen of the convictions were set
aside, thirty-four defendants were given
limited jail sentences, fourteen were
sentenced to life Imprisonment, and the
death penalty was affirmed with respect
to the remaining twelve. But they have
not been executed. In six of these cases
the death penalty has been committed to
life imprisonment. In one case, that of
SIS Master Sergeant Paul Ochmann, Gen
eral Lucius D. Clay, who ordered the COM
mutation, said: II am convinced of the
guilt Of Ochmann Of the cold-blooded
murder of unarmed American prisoners of
war without cause"
What will happen to the six Nazis still
under sentence of death is anybody's guess.
Secretary of the Army Royal has held up
their execution while Senate committee
looks into the case. Some of the Senators
are disturbed because some of the methods
used by the American Investigators did not
conform to American concepts of justice.
They do not like the fact that the Nazis
were tricked or coerced into confessing,
and Secretary Royal says he will await
the senatorial findings before deciding
what to do.
All Of this is consistent enough with this
country's traditions, or at least its peacetime
traditions But the fact remains that 100
unarmed American soldiers were murdered
at Malmedy in December, 1914. If the
accused Germans did not commit the
murders they ought to be freed. If they
did commit them the sentences imposed
ought to be carried out.
This Is question to be resolved by
weighing all of the evidence. Proper con-
sideration should be given to the fact that
at least some of the confessions were OBJ
tanned with third degree methods But
II the final judgment Is that these Nazis
committed the murders, they ought not
to escape appropriate punishment merely
because the prosecution used methods that
would not be condoned in peacetime here
at home. We ought to bear In mind that
the prosecution was hampered by the
thoroughness Of Colonel PEPPERS men at
Malmedy Dead men tell no tales. As the
Nazis walked through the stricken ranks
on that December day, killing any one
who showed signs of life, they were making
very certain that not one of those 100
American boys would live to testify against
them