Keitel and Jodl were nervous over the news that all 73 of the Waffen-SS murderers of American PW's at the Malmedy were found guilty, 43 sentenced to death, and 30 to various terms of imprisonment. Keitel said that Colonel Peiper, who was sentenced to death, was a good leader. I commented that he must have been a very loyal officer who also was good at carrying out orders with inspiring faithfulness. Keitel said that regardless of this murdering of prisoners, which of course he never condoned, Peiper was a good leader just the same. In the next lunchroom, Jodl took some comfort from the fact that General Sepp Dietrich, Peiper's Division Commander, was sentenced only to life imprisonment. ... He also interested in the fact that General Student was mildly sentenced and then pardoned in connection with another action, - "because some American officers testified to his character", he added suggestively.
Nurnberg Diary, G.M.Gilbert