A few survivors emerged from hiding shortly afterwards and returned through the lines to nearby Malmedy , where American troops still held the town . Eventually , 43 survivors emerged , some who had taken shelter with Belgian civilians . The first survivors of the massacre were found by a patrol from the 291st Combat Engineer Battalion at about 2:30 p.m. the same day . The survivors were interviewed soon after they returned to American lines . Their stories were consistent and corroborated each other , although they had not had a chance to discuss the events with each other . The inspector general of the First Army learned of the shootings about three or four hours later . By late evening of the 17th , rumours that the enemy was killing prisoners had reached the forward American divisions . One US unit issued orders that " No SS troops or paratroopers will be taken prisoner but will be shot on sight . " Some American forces may have killed German prisoners in retaliation , like the shooting of German prisoners that took place at Chenogne on January 1 , 1945
Chenogne
Chenogne massacre
Malmedy massacre