Joachim Peiper's Command Car (1 Viewer)

[GJB22]

I'm currently reading Kampfgruppe Peiper at the Battle of the Bulge by Evans and Cooke, and was wondering if anyone knew what Peiper used as a command vehicle during the Ardennes offensive? Would it be a version of the Sdkfz 251 or some sort of car like CS's Horch?

 

[Mitch]

GJB22....

I have seen much written especially, fanciful stuff on internet papers that states they used this or that often, vehicles that were not even there at the time. I have read in books he used Hanomags kubels schwims and konigstigers

I did meet and speak with some veterans of this unit and they told me they he and other officers used a variety of vehicles I suppose, to meet the situation at the time so, maybe all the reports were kind of true. I do know as the battle progressed he was supposed to be everywhere checking the situation and how his troops were doing issuing orders etc.

When I return home I have a few new releases on Pieper which I can give you details of that are really very good accounts of how he acted in battle situations etc.

I would venture that he did not have a specific command car similar to panzer meyer and Gudarian who liked their hanomags
Hope it helps a little?
Mitch

 

[GJB22]

Thanks Mitch, I appreciate the info.

 

[fmethorst]

I suppose his dedicated vehicle would have been Panzerbefehlswagen Panther "R01" (regimental command tank) for SS-Panzer-Regiment 1. As noted he probably bounced around between vehicles based on requirements.

His HQ unit had Kubelwagens, a Schwimmwagen, various trucks, cars, motorcycles and the two command Panthers.

 

[GJB22]

So far in my book, he's been in a 251 halftrack and a captured American Jeep.