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
exploding munition was distinctly heard. It was noticeable from the
separate detonations.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: BEYERSDORFF.
The witness thereupon took the oath.
Signed: KLAUSS, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.
Signed: ROSS, Acting-Sergeant-Major, as Clerk to the Military Court.
A. App. 2.
Present:
Lieutenant of Reserve KLAUSS, as Officer to the Military Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major ROSS, as Secretary to the Court.
OSTEL, _November 3rd, 1914_.
At the inquiry concerning the events of the night of August 19 and 20,
1914, in Aerschot, there appeared as witness the officer commanding the
140th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Jenrich. After he had been acquainted
with the subject of the inquiry, and his attention had been drawn to
the importance of the oath, he was examined as follows:
My name is Andreas Jenrich. I am 56 years of age; Protestant. On
August 19th I came personally with the staff of my regiment to
Aerschot, after the 3rd Division had had a fight with Belgian troops
in that neighbourhood. I was commander of the place, and had to make
preparations for internal administration, as well as for safety. The
Staff of the 8th Infantry Brigade were already in Aerschot, and were
billeted in the Mayor's house. I at once sent for this gentleman and
asked him whether there were any disbanded Belgian soldiers hidden
away, or if there were otherwise any Belgian soldiers in civilian
clothing in the houses. He denied this. I pointed out the consequence
to him, for which he and the town would be held responsible, if
anything was undertaken by the populace against the German troops; and
especially I left him in no doubt as to the death penalty awaiting
him should an attack by the civilians against the German soldiers
take place. I felt justified in this threat, as on the day before, in
Schaaffen, near Siest, civilians fired at our soldiers, killing several
of them. As far as I know, at midday on August 19, 1914, the General
commanding the II. Army Corps, Von Linsingen, had likewise warned the
Mayor and the population.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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