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
turned towards the window fell at once owing to, so I assume, a shot in
the head.
We now fired also into the ground-floor windows, removing in part the
shutters. I, with a few others who had burst open the door, entered
the house from which came the small shot. We could find no one in
the house, but in the room from which the small shot had come, an
overturned paraffin-lamp, still smouldering, was on the table.
When the firing ceased, the order to "rally" was sounded, and I only
heard the call of our company. We rallied outside a restaurant at the
corner of a street, and were suddenly fired at from a window near us,
with revolvers, as I could tell by the sound. After having rallied,
we wanted to return in close order, but were again fired at from the
houses. The greater part of us continued the retreat. I and four
others, however, turned about and marched on in the old direction. We
joined some few other soldiers going in the same direction. On our way
we saw more than half a dozen wounded soldiers lying in the street. Two
men lay beneath and beside a shot horse. One of them pulled himself
from beneath it. I pulled away the other from the horse, but left him
lying because he was dead. In doing this I was kicked on the knee by
the horse. Later on we joined the main body of our battalion near the
station bridge in that road which one reaches when entering Louvain
straight from the railway bridge. The troops were here drawn up and
ordered to search the houses. Shortly before, a woman, with a child
upon her arm and with two children beside her, passed right through
the troops. No harm befell her. She was allowed to pass into the town
unchecked.
Read over, approved, and signed.
Signed: MAX HOEHNE.
The witness was sworn.
Signed: DUBEL. Signed: GIESE.
D. App. 37.
BREMEN, _January 10th, 1915_.
Present:
Officer of the Court, AHRENS.
Secretary, HEINHORST.
At the investigation regarding the events at Louvain the following
witnesses appeared, and, after the importance of the oath had been
pointed out to them, made the following statement:
1. Officer's Deputy Walter Kruse, 3rd Company, Reserve Battalion,
Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75.
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