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 the afternoon of August 23rd, I found a completely
charred body quite close to an estate near Dinant, where we had set up
a dressing-station. On closer inspection it proved to be a Saxon Jäger
whose hands and feet had been tied up. He lay in the ditch close to the
road. We covered him with straw. That he was a Saxon Jäger I recognised
with certainty from his buttons and other articles of equipment.
On this day, before we marched through Dinant and crossed the Meuse,
my company made a halt at an estate near Dinant. The inhabitants of
the estate--several men, women, and children--fetched us water. I
and several of my comrades gave in return some cigars to the men and
sweetstuff to the children.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: PAUL ROBERT WILLKOMMEN.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER.
C. App. 77.
Present:
Lieutenant of Reserve DACHSEL, as Officer of the Court.
Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve STEIGER, as Clerk of the Court.
LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS, _March 7th, 1915_.
There appeared by order as witness Corporal Oehmigen, who, after the
importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, and he had been
warned to speak the truth, made the following statement:
As to Person: My name is Otto Albert Oehmigen; corporal, 6th Company,
Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 23 years old; Protestant.
As to Case: Before we marched through Dinant on August 23rd I saw in a
cabbage field near Dinant the body of a Saxon Jäger with a charred face
lying on his back. He lay in the middle of the field, not by the road.
I did not notice whether his feet and arms were tied.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: OTTO ALBERT OEHMIGEN.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER.
C. App. 78.
PROUVAIS, _February 24th, 1915_.
By order of Field Artillery Regiment No. 12 there appeared as witness
this day Captain von Lippe of the Light Munitions Columns, 2nd
Division, 1st Field Artillery Regiment No. 12, in order to be examined
on oath regarding the occurrences in Dinant. Captain von Lippe stated:
As to Person: My name is Fritz von Lippe. I am 40 years old;
Protestant; estate-tenant by calling, attached to the Light Munitions
Column of the 2nd Division, Field Artillery Regiment No. 12.
As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, behind the firing position of the 2nd
Division, 1st Field Artillery Regiment No. 12, I saw the bodies of a
rifleman and a Jäger. One had his eyes gouged out, and the other lay
half burnt under a heap of straw with hands and feet tied together.
Captain von Lippe testified his statements on oath, after the
importance of the oath had been pointed out to him.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: FRITZ VON LIPPE.
Signed: HAASE, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.
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