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: I was attached to the 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No.
73, which had pushed forward from Spa towards Liège. We, _i.e._ a
corporal of Regiment No. 74, several musketeers of Regiments Nos. 82
and 83, and I myself, forthwith got the order to act as a reconnoitring
patrol on the right. This was on the night of August 5th-6th. As the
darkness had set in, and we had to proceed very quietly, I suddenly
found myself separated from all the rest of the patrol. Towards midday
on August 6th I reached a dressing-station which had been arranged in
some farm buildings near the village of Chênée. I found in the house
some fifteen severely wounded German soldiers, four or five of whom
had been shockingly mutilated. Both eyes had been put out, and some of
the victims had several finger joints cut off. Their wounds were still
comparatively fresh, though the blood was already somewhat coagulated.
These soldiers were still alive and groaning. It was impossible for
me to give them any help. There was no doctor in the place, as I had
already ascertained by questioning other wounded men lying in the
house. At the same time I came across in the house six or seven
Belgian civilians; four of these were women, who gave the wounded
water. The men remained quite inactive. I saw no weapons in their
possession; further, whether their hands were bloodstained I cannot
say, because they kept them concealed in their pockets. As regards the
point whether it was these persons who had perpetrated these cruelties
on the wounded soldiers, I can make no definite pronouncement. I could
take no action against these persons, because I was absolutely alone.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Musketeer LAGERSHAUSEN.
The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations.
Signed: LINDENBERG. Signed: KOEPF.
App. 60.
MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of the soldier Koch, Infantry Regiment No.
25.
STADEN, _November 27th, 1914_.
Divisional Headquarters.
Present:
President of the Court, JÄGER.
Secretary, BREHMER.
There appeared as witness the soldier Koch, 4th Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 25. After he had been made aware of the object of the
inquiry, and the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he
was examined as follows:
As to Person: My Christian name is Mathias. I am 32 years of age;
Catholic; smelter by trade; living in Eschweiter-Röhe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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