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
There appears on citation merchant Richard Gruner of
Hamburg-Grossborstel, Holunderweg 12.
The importance of the oath was pointed out to the witness, and he
declared:
As to Person: My name is Richard Gruner, aged 23; Protestant.
As to Case: I repeat, first of all, all the statements made during my
judicial examination at Altona on March 1st, 1915. This statement,
which has just been read to me, is perfectly true in all respects. I
add further what follows:
The examination of the volunteers brought forward by the German troops
on the station square at Louvain on the night of August 25th to 26th,
1914, was conducted by Captain Albrecht, who was then reporting officer
on the staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps, and who fell later, at the
end of October 1914, at Noyon. Captain Albrecht was attached to the
Grand General Staff in peace time. I was requested by him to act as
interpreter during part of the examinations. The examination proceeded
in such a way that the soldiers brought forward the civilians taken by
them, whilst the firing in the town continued. I was given about 100
to 200 persons to search and to examine. Captain Albrecht passed from
one group of persons assembled in the station square for examination to
another group, and inquired the result in order to give instructions
for the further treatment of the accused. Altogether about 600 persons
may have been brought forward, at least 500 of whom were spared death
by shooting because no sure proof of their guilt was brought forward
during the examination. These persons were led aside; the men amongst
them were later on sent to Germany, whilst it was left to the women and
children to go to Anvers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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