Peiper 's unit became infamous for the murder of U.S. prisoners of war at the crossroads in what became known as the Malmedy massacre . Moving ahead , he crossed Ligneuville and reached the heights of Stavelot on the left bank of the Amblève River at nightfall of the second day of operation Wacht am Rhein . While the little city was defended only by a few U.S. troops and could have been easily taken the same day , for reasons unknown he held back and assaulted at dawn of the next day . Valuable time was lost , allowing the Americans to reorganise . After heavy fighting , his Kampfgruppe eventually managed to cross the bridge on the River Amblève , and from there he found the going increasingly difficult
Malmedy massacre
Malmedy massacre
Joachim Peiper