Saturday, December 16, 1944
As the offensive commenced, Kampfgruppe Peiper moved out from Blankenheim, Germany, beginning its advance westward into Belgium.
Early Morning
Preparation and First Movements. Kampfgruppe Peiper assembles and prepares to advance.
Blankenheim, Germany
As the lead element of the German offensive in the Ardennes, Kampfgruppe Peiper’s aim was to push westward toward the Meuse River, exploiting gaps in American lines created by the infantry divisions ahead of them.
In the early hours of December 16, 1944, Kampfgruppe Peiper assembled east of Stadtkyll, Germany (in an area possibly near Dahlem?), preparing to spearhead the 6. Panzer-Armee’s offensive. The plan relied on the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division and the 12. Volksgrenadier-Division breaking through American defenses at Losheimergraben and Buchholz, clearing the way for Peiper’s mechanized forces. The group moved through Dahlem, Stadtkyll, Kronenburg, Hallschlag, Scheid, and Losheim.