The German Army in Belgium, the White Book of May 1915 — John Shaqi
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 Case: On August 14th, 1914, my column was marching with others
through Louveigné. A halt was made here for watering the horses. I was
near the head of the column when I heard shots behind me. Subsequently
I was informed that the rear of the column had been fired at from the
flanks. Soon after, before I could make any definite arrangements, two
civilian men were brought forward by soldiers belonging to my column,
with the information that these were caught in trying to escape after
they had fired on the column.
After a brief trial these persons were shot because they had been
caught in the act.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: NEUMANN.
The witness was sworn.
Signed: MAACK, Lieutenant.
Signed: SCHÜTTE, Non-commissioned Officer.
App. 10.
STATEMENT of 1st Lieutenant Helmke of the Telephone Detachment, X.
Army Corps.
On the night of the 11th-12th August at Hockai, in the quarter in which
I lay with my platoon together with a platoon of infantry, two infantry
soldiers were wounded in the head by small shot which had been fired
from outside through the open door down the passage. As I myself, too,
stepped out of the house a shot was fired at me in the dark, apparently
from a revolver. As there were no enemy troops in the vicinity, it is
only the action of civilian inhabitants which comes into question here.
When on the evening of the 22nd August, during an advance, I entered
with my detachment the apparently deserted village of Aiseau, near
Tamines, in the middle of the village, at a bend of the street,
a vigorous fire was opened on the detachment from the houses on
every side. This had the appearance of a surprise attack, thoroughly
prepared beforehand; and this was afterwards confirmed by the fact
that on searching the houses we discovered a considerable collection
of ammunition on the window-sills, amongst it a large number of French
cartridges.
As cartridges of military pattern were found in the houses of four of
the inhabitants, we may accept it as certain that the inhabitants had
taken part in the firing. The four inhabitants were arrested and led
away by a platoon of pioneers who had carried out the search of the
village.
Signed: HELMKE, 1st Lieutenant.
App. 11.
REPORT of Colonel von Wentzky, commanding 11th Cavalry Brigade, 5th
Cavalry Division.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account