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| Army Unit ‘Regrets’ Using Photo of Nazi War Criminal to Honor Battle of the Bulge | Army Unit ‘Regrets’ Using Photo of Nazi War Criminal to Honor Battle of the Bulge |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A unit of the United States Army said Tuesday that it “regrets” sharing a colorized photograph of a Nazi war criminal in a Facebook post commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge after the post drew a widespread backlash on social media. | |
| The colorized photo was posted on the Facebook page of the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps on Monday. It was accompanied by a short narrative about how the German officer, Joachim Peiper, planned to begin the attack on Allied forces in the Ardennes Forest on Dec. 16, 1944. | The colorized photo was posted on the Facebook page of the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps on Monday. It was accompanied by a short narrative about how the German officer, Joachim Peiper, planned to begin the attack on Allied forces in the Ardennes Forest on Dec. 16, 1944. |
| Peiper was also the commander of the troops that would, a day later, commit what is known as the Malmedy massacre, during which more than 80 unresisting American prisoners were gunned down by a German SS armored division. | Peiper was also the commander of the troops that would, a day later, commit what is known as the Malmedy massacre, during which more than 80 unresisting American prisoners were gunned down by a German SS armored division. |
| The portrait of Peiper was also shared on Monday on the Facebook page of the Department of Defense. | The portrait of Peiper was also shared on Monday on the Facebook page of the Department of Defense. |
| Many, including a public affairs officer with the Army, were quick to criticize the posts on social media. | Many, including a public affairs officer with the Army, were quick to criticize the posts on social media. |
| “I am dumbfounded by the decision to prominently display a Nazi on military social media on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge,” the public affairs officer, Brian Fickel, said on Twitter. (Mr. Fickel’s biography on the site stipulates that “tweets are my own opinion and do not represent the Department of Defense or the United States Army.”) | “I am dumbfounded by the decision to prominently display a Nazi on military social media on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge,” the public affairs officer, Brian Fickel, said on Twitter. (Mr. Fickel’s biography on the site stipulates that “tweets are my own opinion and do not represent the Department of Defense or the United States Army.”) |
| The Airborne Corps said in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning that the “intent was to tell the full story of the Battle of the Bulge, which will continue here, by explaining the incredible odds that were stacked up against the American Soldier by the time the reserve was called in on 18 Dec.” | The Airborne Corps said in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning that the “intent was to tell the full story of the Battle of the Bulge, which will continue here, by explaining the incredible odds that were stacked up against the American Soldier by the time the reserve was called in on 18 Dec.” |
| The Department of Defense could not immediately be reached for comment. | The Department of Defense could not immediately be reached for comment. |
| It was not immediately clear what the source of the photo was. | It was not immediately clear what the source of the photo was. |
| An Airborne Corps spokesman said the Facebook post was not intended to glorify German forces or Peiper. The unit said the post was part of a series that would last for six weeks, with each post highlighting what happened during the battle on that day 75 years ago. | An Airborne Corps spokesman said the Facebook post was not intended to glorify German forces or Peiper. The unit said the post was part of a series that would last for six weeks, with each post highlighting what happened during the battle on that day 75 years ago. |