This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/us/joachim-peiper-nazi-photo-apology.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
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
(about 1 hour 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.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 morning, the first post in what the corps said would be a weekslong series about the battle. It was accompanied by a short, dramatic narrative about how the German officer, Joachim Peiper, decided to “gamble everything” and attack 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 troops who 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, which was not included in the corps’ post.
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 Defense Department’s Facebook page before being deleted. The department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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, Lt. Col. Brian Fickel, said on Twitter. (Colonel 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.”)
One comment on the corps’ post called the photo a “nazi glam shot.” Some also criticized the write-up accompanying the photo, with one commenter saying it was a “‘fanboy’ flavored piece.”
The narrative begins with an anecdote about Peiper, who “hated to be alone with his thoughts,” according to the post.
“There was an atmosphere of heaviness,” the narrative reads. “This was the way he always thought the end of the world would feel.”
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. Col. Tage Rainsford, a spokesman for the Airborne Corps, said that the image had been bought from a community photo sharing website called ipernity, but that it was not immediately clear who sold the photo. He said a black-and-white version of the photo originally came from the National Archives.
It was not immediately clear what the source of the photo was. The bottom right corner of the photograph that was posted on Facebook indicates that it was “colored by Tobias Kurtz.”
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. Colonel Rainsford said the 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.
The military was already under scrutiny over episodes involving white supremacist symbols and reported connections between service members and extremist groups. United States military officials said this week they were investigating whether Army cadets and Navy midshipmen had flashed hand symbols associated with hate groups during a nationally televised pregame show before their football matchup on Saturday.
West Point recently announced that it had removed a racist slogan from its football team’s spirit flag.