1945 American war crime in Germany
The Lippach massacre was a war crime committed by the 12th Armored Division of the US Army on 22 April 1945 during the Western Allied invasion of Germany. Some 25 US soldiers from the 3rd Provisional Company killed 36 Waffen-SS prisoners of war and allegedly raped 20 women.
Battle.
At noon on 22 April, the 12th Armored Division's 23rd Tank Battalion attacked 300 Waffen-SS troops at the village of Lippach. German artillery, Nebelwerfer, Panzerfaust and small arms fire held the Americans back until 16:00. 36 SS soldiers in total were killed in the battle and following war crime.
Massacre and mass rape.
As the rest of the 23rd Tank Battalion advanced toward Lauchheim, the 3rd Provisional Company came across an alcohol warehouse. Some 25 drunken US soldiers then shot 10 German prisoners of war in the back of the head at a meadow, while six more had their skulls bashed in. Thirty-six Waffen-SS soldiers lost their lives near Lippach, two-thirds of them killed after the battle. The US soldiers proceeded to rape about 20 women in the village. The average age of those killed was 16, with the exception of one soldier who was born in 1909.
Citations.
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