The German Army in Belgium, the White Book of May 1915Germany. Auswärtiges Amt
History
The German Army in Belgium, the White Book of May 1915
Germany. Auswärtiges Amt
World War, 1914-1918 -- Atrocities; World War, 1914-1918 -- Belgium
As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I was with the 3rd Company of the
Pioneer Battalion No. 12, and present when the pontoons of the Corps
Bridging Train, at first brought down to Dinant, were obliged to turn
back. We then made a detour into the valley road which leads to Les
Rivages; from there I was sent out to reconnoitre the place for the
bridge. In Les Rivages all was peaceful. Neither French nor German
soldiers were to be seen. When I had been there about one hour, my
company arrived with the bridging waggons and other German soldiers.
These rounded up the civilian population standing near as hostages.
In the meantime, I commenced with the construction of the bridge.
Somewhere about 4 or 5 o'clock we suddenly received a tolerably heavy
fire, which was directed straight towards us at the bridge-head. We
were forced to conceal ourselves under the cover of the bridge. I
noticed plainly that the firing came from the slopes to the right and
left of the flanking valley, and particularly from a red house not far
from the Bayard Rock, which stands near the north of Les Rivages. In
consequence, the hostages were shot by direction of a senior Grenadier
officer.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: ERMISCH.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS.
C. App. 47.
Present:
President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ.
Secretary, LIPS.
NEUFCHÂTEL, _March 2nd, 1915_.
In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as
witness, 1st Lieutenant of Reserve Freiherr von Rochow, who stated:
As to Person: My name is Heinrich Bernhard Wichart Freiherr von Rochow.
I am 30 years old; Protestant; 1st Lieutenant of Reserve Uhlan Regiment
No. 17, now Commander of the Cavalry Staff Escort of the General
Command, XII. Army Corps.
As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I reached Les Rivages at nightfall,
and saw at the crossing-place a great heap of corpses. In the course of
the evening, when the crossing was in progress and things had become
quieter, we saw that some wounded were among them. These were brought
away. I myself saw a girl of about eight years with an injured face,
and an older woman with a shot in the upper part of the thigh taken to
the women prisoners and handed over to the doctor. I remained until
the bridge was finished the next day. Up till then shots were being
fired again and again, obviously by the inhabitants. The houses were
searched by field-police. The people who were in them were examined,
and in the course of this I also acted as interpreter. Two men, from
whose house there had been firing, and in whose pockets ammunition was
found, were shot. A woman was not shot, although a loaded revolver was
found on her, because her guilt was not fully established.
The guilt of every single person was dispassionately considered by the
officers present.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Freiherr VON ROCHOW.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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