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
Hardly had the green rocket and the small balls become extinguished
when, on the opposite side of the town, and also in the direction
towards the station, a red rocket became visible. After a few minutes
the red rocket also became extinguished, and immediately afterwards a
number of luminous little balls, blue, red, and green, from the rocket
fell down and were extinguished before touching the ground. Only a few
seconds later a murderous fire was opened upon the German soldiers
from the windows and attics of nearly all the houses in the station
square. I am certain that the two rockets were a sign to the Belgians
for commencing the fire upon the German soldiers. At 9 o'clock I was
relieved. I immediately reported to Non-commissioned Officer Grünewald,
on duty in the guardroom, that at about 8 o'clock I had seen two
rockets go up, one from the left of the town and the other from the
right--the first, a green one, followed immediately by a red one, from
both of which fell a quantity of luminous, many-coloured, small balls.
After the witness had been earnestly exhorted to speak the truth, he
made the following statement:
I am ready to swear conscientiously to the incident of the two rockets
just as I have described it.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: HUBERT KÜPPERS.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU.
D. App. 14.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present:
Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, RAMBEAU.
LOUVAIN, _September 18th, 1914_.
Non-commissioned Officer Engemann, Landsturm Battalion Neuss, made the
following statement:
As to Person: My name is Hugo Engemann, born at Barmen on June 13th,
1876; Catholic.
As to Case: I am a non-commissioned officer of the 1st Company,
Landsturm Battalion Neuss, and on August 25th I was on duty at
signal-box 2. The guard is posted at some 800 metres' distance from
the station at Louvain. I sat in front of the guard-house and noticed
in the twilight, immediately after 8 o'clock, a red rocket in the
sky. In my opinion it rose above the main railway station at Louvain.
Immediately afterwards I heard loud firing from the town.
I can swear to my statement with a clear conscience.
Signed: HUGO ENGEMANN.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU.
D. App. 15.
MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_.
Court of the General-Government of Belgium.
Present:
President, STEMPEL.
Secretary, STEMPER.
On citation there appears the witness mentioned below, who, after the
object of the examination has been made known, was examined as follows:
As to Person: My name is Frederic Messelke, aged 42; corporal, 2nd
Landsturm Battalion Neuss, 1st Company, at present in Malines.
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