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
I offered to make these measures at once known to the inhabitants by
going through the town with two hostages and a group of soldiers, and
the hostages repeated the words of General v. Boehn. On the following
morning the General had this procession with the hostages repeated.
Several houses from which firing had taken place were already burning.
No firing by the inhabitants was heard at the town hall, but on the
boulevards the firing is said to have been continued. I wish to add
that at the town hall a horse was killed by a shot in the head.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: V. MANTEUFFEL.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU.
LOUVAIN, _September 23rd, 1914_.
EXPERT OPINION of the Commandant, 15th Mobile Forage Commando, Major
v. Manteuffel.
In addition to my statement as a witness I would like to express expert
opinion as Commandant and soldier to the effect that the whole firing
was instigated by the inhabitants. At the same time, the approach of
two Belgian battalions from the direction of Bueken was reported.
The German detachments on duty were given the alarm to oppose this.
When these troops had nearly got away, the Belgian inhabitants opened
a lively fire upon them from windows and garret dormers. Our German
soldiers went through the streets quietly and unsuspectingly, when they
were suddenly fired on. The German soldiers in no way commenced or
provoked the firing.
Signed: V. MANTEUFFEL, Major and Commandant.
D. App. 4.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present:
Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, RAMBEAU.
LOUVAIN, _September 23rd, 1914_.
Lieutenant of the Landwehr Ibach, Adjutant, Mobile Foraging Commando
No. 15, declared as follows:
As to Person: My name is Ernst Ibach, born on May 16th, 1882, at
Braunschweig; Protestant; Municipal Councillor at Halberstadt.
The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal
General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for
the purpose of ascertaining whether German military persons, and, if
so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the
following statement:
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