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 Person: My name is Georg Teubner. I am 26 years old; Catholic;
by trade a locksmith at Schirgiswalde, now non-commissioned officer of
Reserve, Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case: In the night, after we had crossed the Meuse, two platoons
of the Machine-Gun Company lay by the railway; an infantry guard
lay opposite. In the house where the guard lay were already some
civilians. In the early morning a Belgian woman came to us and gave
us to understand by motions of the hands--we could not understand
French--that somewhere a house was on fire, and that we were to help.
We saw that something must be particularly amiss there, and some of
the men followed the woman with tools (hatchets, etc.). I was not able
to go at once myself. When, later, I was on my way to the burning
house I met the men with the rescued civilians who had stayed in the
cellars and had been buried by the débris. They were men, women, and
children--among them a priest. The people were taken to the guard, and
there examined; later they were again released.
In the last house of a village behind Dinant we found a large quantity
of ammunition (shot and spear-like missiles), which were evidently
placed there for use. In the gable-roof were openings similar to
loopholes.
On the march farther I saw a civilian who had been shot lying by
the corner of a house; he had a gun still in his hand--it was a
double-barrelled sporting-gun.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.
Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 82.
Present:
Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court.
Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Court.
ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_.
Summoned as witness there appeared Corporal Richter, who, after the
importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following
statement:
As to Person: My name is Max Gustav Richter. I am 23 years old;
Protestant; by trade a chairmaker at Bärenstein, now corporal, 6th
Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case: The 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103, after the
fighting at Dinant; was detained to guard the bridge. Lieutenant Lemke
was Local Commandant of the district allotted to us. We lay there four
to five days. During these days Lieutenant Lemke had those civilians
who were innocent taken to a house and looked after. The people
received bread, meat, potatoes, and milk.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.
Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 83.
Present:
Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court.
Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court.
ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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