^. /
'( A'\ t^
■»rM
TRANSLAtM) />■/
'Hiaw^.vt*..^--.-..
THE GERMAN ARMY
IN BELGIUM
THE GERMAN ARMY
IN BELGIUM
THE WHITE BOOK OF MAY 19 15
TRANSLATED BY
E. N. BENNETT
Lot; Capt, \th Batt, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry^
formerly Ftllozu of Her ford College^ Oxford
WITH A
FOREWORD ON MILITARY REPRISALS
IN BELGIUM AND IRELAND
THE SWARTHMORE PRESS LTD.
40, MUSEUM STREET, LONDON, W.C.i
First Published in Great Britain April 1921
FOREWORD
The Allied case against Germany with respect to the conduct
of the Kaiser's troops in Belgium rests mainly on four publi-
cations, (i) " The Report of the Belgian Commission of Inquiry."
(2) The Belgian " Rapports sur la Violation du Droit des Gens
en Belgique." (3) The Belgian " Reply to the German White
Book." (4) The " Bryce Report." It was the last of these
which mainly influenced British and American opinion. This
famous compilation owed much to the reputation of the eminent
scholar who presided over the Enquiry, and to the names of
Messrs. Fisher, Harold Cox and others who were [members of
the Commission. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that our
experience during the storm and stress of the war does not indi-
cate that our literary and intellectual leaders have as a class
shown either greater fidelity to principle or less susceptibility
to the evil influences of war-fever, than the ordinary man in the
street ; and now that the more salient symptoms of this fever
are abating and prejudice is slowly being replaced by reasoned
judgment, the Bryce report can no longer retain unchallenged
its claim to present a critical and convincing record of un-
questioned facts. The numerous statements which it embodies
were mainly derived from Belgian refugees who had reached
our shores. Very many of these men and women were naturally
in a state of nervous excitement and full of bitter indignation
against the invaders of their soil. Such mental conditions are
never conducive to the presentation of accurate and veridical
evidence. Further it is obvious that some of these refugees
were not eye-witnesses of the outrages they describe, for they
had fled from their homes and merely record their own
inferences as to events which had occurred during their absence.
Another serious weakness in the Report arises from the fact that
the various barristers and others who were sent round to inter-
view these refugees were with very few exceptions quite unable
to converse fluently in French and wholly ignorant of Flemish.
Finally, none of the evidence was taken on oath. Here then we
have an ill-digested mass of unsworn statements — some merely
at second-hand — made by excited and angry Belgians, and
transmitted by interpreters, themselves unsworn, which is
471)495
vi FOREWORD
presented to the world as final and conclusive proof of Germany's
guilt, while at the same time the publication in this country of
a plain translation of Germany's official defence against these
charges was forbidden by the Censor. The testimony of the
Bryce Report served its purpose and aroused a volume of indig-
nant and scandalised opinion which provided one of the sharpest
weapons employed against our chief enemy ; but it must be
admitted that the methods by which it was compiled were so
lax and uncritical that the results sink far below the level
ordinarily demanded by the serious historian.
The definite and fundamental contention of both the Bryce
and the Belgian Reports is that, with the possible exception of
a very few and very doubtful cases, no civilian attacks were
made on the German troops. This point is strongly and
repeatedly emphasised.
" The German Government " says the Bryce Report, page 31,
"have sought to justify their severities on the ground of military
necessity and have excused them as retaliation for cases in
which civilians fired on German troops. There may have been
such cases in which such firing occurred, but no proof has ever
been given, or to our knowledge attempted to be given of such
cases, nor of the stories of shocking outrages perpetrated by
Belgian men and women on German soldiers."
The Belgian Reply to the White Book (p. 7) is still more
emphatic. " As a matter of fact the so-called Belgian francs-
tireurs were non-existent . . . The theory of an armed
resistance on the part of the Belgian civil population to the
German troops is utterly opposed to the facts." The following
statement of Monseigneur Haylen is quoted : " We declare
in concert with the whole Belgian people that the story of Belgian
francs-tireurs is a myth, an invention and a calumny. We do
not hesitate most solemnly to defy the German Government
to prove the existence of a single group oi francs-tireurs. . . .
We have no knowledge even of an isolated case of civilians having
fired on the troops .... In no single case was the
supposed culprit named."
Such is the position definitely taken up by the official Reports
and adopted by an overwhelming majority of people in Great
Britain and America, to go no further. Nevertheless I have
always found it difficult to accord unquestioning acceptance
■ to the popular belief. From an a priori point of view it is
difficult to believe that German troops, probably the most
sternly disciplined and best educated soldiers in the world, should
have deliberately gone out of their way to shoot innocent civil-
ians in Belgium and destroy their property for no apparent
reason at all. To embroil themselves wilfully with the civilian
inhabitants at a time when every minute was precious in their
FOREWORD vii
scheme of a rapid advance against the Anglo-French forces \
was obviously the last thing the invaders would desire. The \
supposition that the Germans indulged in appalling and
indiscriminate acts of terrorism against quite innocent people
in order to secure the safety of their lines of communication is
ridiculous on the face of it. In short, the current view of
" Belgian atrocities," admirably as it served its purpose as
valuable propaganda, contains within itself so many difficulties
that no fair-minded historian of the future could accept it as it
stands.
We have seen the evidence adduced to prove Germany's
misdeeds in Belgium. Why have we been prevented from seeing
Germany's defence against these charges ? In any civilised
society, even the vilest criminal is allowed to defend himself.
What is the use of " defying Germany " to prove a single case
of franc-tireur action and at the same time depriving the public
of all access to the German White Book with its long list of v.
specific outrages supported by sworn evidence ?
Here then is presented for the first time in Great Britain
Germany's official reply to the charges formulated against her
troops during their passage through Belgium. The reader can
judge of the evidence for himself. To refuse it a hearing on the
a priori assumption that, as Mr. Bonar Law declared in the
House of Commons, it was " full of lies," or that nothing that a
German states could be true, is scarcely worthy of a sane and
judicial mind. Nor do I hesitate to say in this respect that
any Englishman who knew his Europe in pre-war days would
have regarded the sworn testimony of a German as at least quite
as trustworthy as the unsworn evidence of a Belgian.
But apart from the Bryce and Belgian Reports on the one
hand and the German White Book on the other there exists a
mass of evidence hitherto almost unknown in Great Britain or
America — I refer to the evidence of the Belgian Press in the
early days of the invasion. Here are some extracts from well-
known newspapers : —
The Het Handelshlad of Antwerp, August 6th, 1914:--" A furious
struggle without mercy, which roused in a portion of the civilian popu-
lation of the Low Countries, disturbed in its peaceful work of the fields,
a veritable and violent desire to defend the natal soil against the Prussian
traitors. . . It is incontestable that from the air-holes of the cellars,
loop-holes in the roofs made by removing tiles, from houses, farms and
cabins a terrible fire was directed on the Uhlan and Silesian assailants."
Nieuwe Gazet, August 8th : — De Burgerij Schiet Mee Op Den Indringer.
(" The citizens also fire on the invaders.") " At Bemot the outposts had
to fight against the civilians who fired like madmen at the invaders from
houses, roofs and windows. Some women even took part in the struggle.
A young girl, eighteen years of age, armed with a revolver, fired at an
officer. . . The peasants and inhabitants kept up a regular fusillade
against the Germans."
viii FOREWORD
Het Handelblad, No. 190 : — "The peasants seized their sporting guns
and killed the ofl&cer who was commanding the detachment and several
men.*'
Nouveau Pricurseuty Antwerp, says h propos of the massacre of
Bemeau : — " The priest of the village gives the signal to fire with a sporting
gun from the belfry of the village. He was surrounded, forced to descend
and shot." This is given as the account of an eye-witness.
Afatin, Antwerp, No. 225 : — " At Dormael the three brothers Sevenans
who had fired on the Germans were shot ; their bodies were pierced by
lance-wounds and their house was burnt down."
Nouveau Prdcur&eur, No. 223 : — " It is no laughing matter. All the
people, soldiers, Gardes Civiques or armed villagers take their task seriously.
. . . It is no longer a question of soldiers or of the regular Gardes
Civiques. These are villagers and retired members of the Garde. The
majority are armed with sporting guns, several have revolvers and a few
have sabres in addition." This is followed by the following advice from
an ofi&cer of the Belgian Staff to a civilian correspondent : — " Take care
not to fall into the hands of the Uhlans. . . Never abandon your
revolver ; if you see them, fire at them but do not stop for a moment, it
would mean death."
Burgerwehijn, Bruges, No. 95, gives the following account of the
fighting at Herstael : — " Some 2,000 Germans had penetrated as far as the
National Arms Factory and were received by a hail of bullets. All the
houses, even the smallest, had been transformed into veritable fortresses.
In addition to this, barricades had been erected in the streets, behind
which soldiers and civilians were posted ready to fire. Women and children
brought up the supplies of ammunition. The resistance lasted until all
the men and women were hors de combat. The Germans then penetrated
into the village, no longer fighting under command, but firing independently.
They sheltered themselves behind a few remaining bushes, for the inhabi-
tants had burned and destroyed everything which could serve as cover.
Their trumpets rallied them, at least those who survived, and they retired
on Vivegnies. It was with real joy that the inhabitants had seen the
enemy disappear, when the sound of a trumpet was suddenly heard.
The Uhlans had remounted and were advancing on the village at a trot
while the infantry at the same time wheeling to the right attacked the
village from the flank. The population allowed the assailants to approach.
The attack of the Uhlans was terrible, no less terrible the resistance of the
villagers. Men, women and children opened such a frightful fire on the
enemy that the first ranks tumbled one on the other. The Germans
nevertheless entered the village streets, cavalry in front, infantry behind,
while the exasperated populace did not cease to overwhelm the enemy with
its fire. The women poured boiling oil and water on the German soldiers
who rolled on the ground howling with the pain. It will be some time
before the people in Germany learn what the assailants of the village of
Herstael went through ; one can, in fact, count on five fingers those who
escaped alive from the carnage."
La Presse, Antwerp, No. 213 : — " Fighting in the streets of Lioge " :
" Liege is resisting marvellously. The inhabitants uniting with the Garde
Civique are fighting in the streets."
La Mitropole, Antwerp, August 8th : — " Some of the inhabitants of
Liege broke open the window of a gunsmith's shop, seized guns, revolvers
cind cartridges and pursued the Uhlans to the outskirts of the town."
Nouveau Prdcurseur^ No. 225, apropos of the battle of Haelen : —
*' Lieutenant Van Doren, 4th Chasseurs-i-cheval, charged with the defence
of the town of Diest, had not a single soldier at his disposal. He appealed to
FOREWORD ix
the volunteer firemen of Diest. These as one man demanded to march to
the firing line. . . Three of the firemen were slightly wounded ; their
names are Emil Kneuts, Louis Van Attenhoven and Leandre Segars.**
With regard to the incidents at Vis6 : —
De Stem van Haspengouw, August 6th : — " The Germans entered Vis6
where they met with a vigorous resistance not only on the part of a small
detachment of soldiers who were there but also on the part of the civilians.
The Germans completely destroyed the town."
The Nieuwe Gazet^ August 7th : — " Some women and civilians have
fired on the Germans who have shown themselves pitiless in sparing
nothing. "
Another correspondent of the same paper describes what he saw al Vis4:
" Young and old ran to take up arms, and if they were unable to stop the
murderous advance of the German cavalry, the inhabitants at least resisted
till the last moment. People fired from the houses upon the Germans, who,
in conformity with the laws of war, in these cases, accorded no mercy.
They penetrated into the houses from which the shots had been fired and
shot a certain number of inhabitants found with arms in their hands."
Nieuwe Gazet, August 8th : — " After the German artillery had set
some houses on fire, the infantry marched to the attack. This was not only
directed against the soldiers, but also against the civilian population who
jtook part in the combat. People shoot from the houses, small boys and
/women bombard the assailants with stones, and even some old men from
( behind the doors fire on the advancing soldiers."
The paper goes on to tell us that a German Officer assembled the
inhabitants round him and was urging them to remain calm. " Scarcely
had the officer closed his mouth, when a shot suddenly fired at him caused
him to fall dead to the ground."
Gazette de Liigey August 5th : — " The inhabitants of the country side
display a fine enthusiasm ; all the peasants are in ambush, armed with their
sporting guns ready to fire on the invader."
In the face of such evidence, much of it furnished by corres-
pondents who were eye-witnesses of what occurred, the main
contention of the Belgian and Bryce Reports falls to the ground.
The Belgian criticism of these statements as " taken from second-
rate papers,'* " p«=oving nothing," *' unimportant," is obviously
futile. That the German troops were confronted with a wide-
spread and determined opposition on the part of armed civilians
in flagrant violation of the Laws of War must be accepted as a
fact established by evidence varied, cumulative and irresistible.
On the other hand it is clear that no final verdict can be passed
on the vexed question of the Belgian atrocities in general, until
the unsworn evidence accumulated against the Kaiser's troops
has been met to a much fuller extent. The White Book does
not cover more than the incidents which occurred at Dinant,
Aerschot, Andenne, Louvain, and the neighbourhood of Vise.
While therefore it disproves, in conjunction with the Belgian
evidence cited above, the propaganda plea that the story of
civilian attacks was a myth, it does not of course deal with more
than a portion of the ground covered by the British and Belgian
Reports. Before any complete decision can be reached we
X FOREWORD
should require official replies from the German Government
to a variety of alleged outrages in dozens of villages like G ornery,
Latour, Ethe, the horrible charge of the shooting of the Valcken-
aers family at Thildonck, and so on. There were certain cases,
one of them known to the writer, in which mistakes and mis-
understandings led to the execution of innocent civilians. Full
allowance, too, must be made for the existence in all conscript
armies of brutal and criminal types — ^not confined to the rank
and file — and for the demoralising effects to which all the armies
of the war were exposed whenever an abundant supply of wines
and spirits was easily accessible by purchase or looting.
Nevertheless the fact that the main position taken up by the
Allied Reports is obviously untenable, coupled with the significant
refusal to allow the official German defence access to our shores,
and the deliberate and disgraceful circulation of pseudo-atrocity
stories during the war, would seem to suggest that as regards
some at least of the alleged incidents lying outside the White
Book suspense of judgment, pending further researches, may
be the wisest attitude. Some day a usefid and interesting
monograph may be written on the whole question of atrocities in
war. Careful investigation would, I am convinced, yield
psychological results of permanent value, and establish the fact
that the mental attitude which originates or accepts atrocity
stories is frequently based on an amazing inter-mixture
of credulity, mal-observation, megalomaniac impulses and
deception, conscious or unconscious.
Meanwhile it is evident that the immense outlay of money
and energy expended on the propaganda publications of the
Entente fully accomplished their object and contributed most
effectively towards winning what President Wilson has described
as "a commercial and industrial war." Nevertheless the
impartial historian of the future will, I think, present the story
of the German invasion of Belgium in a somewhat different
light from that in which this chapter of history has been por-
trayed in the official propaganda of the Allied Powers.
The final conclusions arrived at will perhaps be shaped on
these lines : —
(i) That the Allied propagandists adopted methods of investi-
gaticHi which were often superficial and inadequate and accepted,
together with certain evidence which was valid, much that
was unsound and worthless.
(2) That the official defence put forward by the enemy was to
a very large extent ignored or suppressed.
(3) That according to the recognised usages of war the German
troops were fully justified in taking reprisals on the persons or
property of those Belgian civilians who actually attacked them.
FOREWORD «
(4) That in some cases this right was exercised with un-
reasonable severity, and without adequate discrimination.
(5) That in certain instances, e.g., the shooting of the hostages
at Les Rivages, the invaders acted in a manner condemned
by the general consensus of civilised opinion.
The civilised world was invited to condemn the German
reprisals of 1914 in Belgium. What verdict will it record with
reference to British reprisals in Ireland six years later ?
The analogies inevitably suggested between the two cases
are not as clear as they might at first sight appear to be.
(i) The civilians who fired on the invaders in Belgium were
irregular combatants wholly distinct from the recognised Belgian
Army, They were in fact /r awes -^iV««rs and nothing else. The
men ^ho are fighting against the troops of the Crown in Ireland
constitute the only hostile force we have to meet. They are
certainly not francs-tireurs : the question is, are they rebels
or, as they have consistently claimed to be, combatants in civil
war ? If the former, they are technically outlaws and cannot
claim belligerent rights. But the Prime Minister has himself
definitely stated that '* civil war " is being waged in Ireland
and this statement appears to be in strict accord with inter-
national law, which makes a clear distinction between ' ' rebellion
and " civil war."* Rebellion is action undertaken by sporadic
groups of individuals with little organisation and hopelessly
inferior in numbers to the forces of the existing Government.
The Irish Republican troops on the other hand are organised
in Divisions, Brigades and Battalions, are controlled by respon-
sible lead^s, and greatly outnumber the military and armed
police forces opposed to them. Their claim therefore to be
combatants engaged in civil war and, as such, to be treated in
accordance with the rights and usages of war, seems well grounded.
Had this claim been admitted from the commencement, the
hideous death-reprisals indulged in on both sides would
probably never have occurred. Such acts as the ambushing of
troops in lorries or on foot are of course perfectly legitimate
methods of offence in ordinary warfare.
* Vide Sir T. Barclay, " Laws of War " {Encyc. Brit.).
Even rebels, when fighting for a political object, are, according to high
authorities Mke Bluntschh and Fiore, entitled to belligerent rights, and must
not be treated as a " crowd of criminals " (eine Masse von Verbrechem).
Cf. BittHtsehli (Das modeme Volkerrecht VIII. 512). — Wird sie
dagegen nur strafrechtlich verfolgt, so wird dadurch der tatsachliche Kampf
verwildert und es ist Gefahr dass die beiden streitenden Parteien in die
Barbarei versinken und einander mit grausamen Represalien zu iiber-
bieten suchen. What a prophetic picture of Ireland in 192 1 !
xii FOREWORD
(2) As far as can be gathered from the White Book, the francs-
tireurs who fired on Belgian troops were, even when caught
flagrante delicto, usually accorded a drum-head court-martial
or summary trial. But many instances have occurred in Ireland
when unarmed men have been shot dead in or near their homes
and sometimes in their beds, without even the semblance of a
trial.
(3) Military reprisals in Belgium were, at any rate, regular
in one respect : they were carried out under orders. According
to the " Manual of Military Law," compiled for the use of our
own Army, no reprisals are legitimate unless ordered by an
officer. It is obvious that in very many cases Irish reprisals
have been executed by the rank and file on their own responsi-
bility, in total disregard of military discipline, but with complete
immunity from punishment. Certain of these reprisals, e.g.,
the shooting down of men, women and children at Croke Park,
far exceed in atrocity anything proved against the Germans in
Belgium.
(4) Although houses were frequently destroyed by the Germans
the pretext in every case was that from these houses civilians
had fired upon the troops. No parallel, as far as I can see,
exists for the amazing Order issued in Cork to the effect that houses
with their furniture are to be burnt because the occupants
" must have known of ambushes " in the neighbourhood and
" ought to have informed the authorities." Nor again is any
parallel found in the White Book to the reckless destruction in
Cork of public and private buildings, including the Free Library,
as a reprisal for an ambush outside the city, or for the burning
of creameries, factories, farms and haystacks in a general
campaign of vengeance. It seems clear that fresh precedents
are here established which are certainly not covered by the rules
of civilised warfare, and run counter to the ordinary laws of
reason and humanity.
(5) The use of hostages has been adopted in Ireland, as in
Belgium, for there is little discrimination in principle between
shooting hostages and exposing them to death on military lorries
from the fire of their compatriots.
Although the question of hostages is not covered by the
Regulations of either Geneva or the Hague, the claim to inflict
injury or death on innocent persons in order to bring pressure
to bear on an enemy force is now generally condemned as a
barbarous and obsolete usage of war, and as such is expressly
discountenanced by our " Manual of Military Law " (page 306).
PREFACE
Immediately after the outbreak of the present war, the
Belgian civil population began a wild contest against the
German troops, which constitutes a flagrant violation of
international law, and resulted in the most serious conse-
quences for Belgium and its people.
This struggle of a populace governed by the rudest
passions raged during the entire forward march of the
German Army through Belgium. When the Belgian Army
had retired before the German troops, after obstinate com-
bats, the Belgian civil population in the unoccupied parts
of the country endeavoured to hinder the German advance
by every possible means ; moreover, even in the places
which had been in possession of German troops for a long
time, the inhabitants had no hesitation in trying to damage
and weaken the German forces by cowardly and treacherous
attacks. The full extent of this armed popular resistance
can be gauged from the accompanying sketch-map (App. i),
wherein the German lines of advance and the Belgian places
in which the civilian fighting took place are marked. That
along these routes and at these places the Belgian civil
population of every grade, age, and sex took part with the
greatest bitterness and fury in the fights against the German
troops can be proved from existing and weighty material,
supported by official documents containing the results
secured by examinations on oath and official reports. A
selection from this material is given in the various Appen-
dices, which, however, only deal with the most important
events, and can be supplemented at any time by further
extracts. According to the accompanying material the
Belgian civil population fought against the German troops
in many places in the provinces of Li^ge (Apps. 2-10),
Luxembourg (Apps. 11-30), Namur (Apps. 12, 17, 31-42),
Hainault (Apps. 3, 7, 10, 40, 43-46, 49), Brabant (Apps.
47-49), East and West Flanders (Apps. 49, 50). The fights
were of a particularly dreadful character in Aerschot,
Andenne, Dinant, and Louvain, and about these places
xiii
xiv PREFACE
special reports were delivered by the Military Court of
Examinations, instituted by the Ministry of War for the
purpose of inquiring into the violations of the laws of war
(Apps. A, B, C, D). According to these reports, men in all
stations of life — workmen, factory owners, doctors, teachers,
even priests, not to speak of women and children — were
arrested with weapons in their hands (Apps. i8, 20, 25, 27,
43, 47 ; A5 ; C18, 26, 29, 31, 41, 45, 48) ; in districts from
which the Belgian regular troops had long since retired the
Germans were fired on from houses and gardens, roofs and
cellars, fields and woods. In the fighting, methods were
employed to which regular troops would certainly not
have resorted, and large quantities of sporting-guns and
ammunition, out-of-date revolvers and pistols were also
found (Apps. 6, 11, 13, 26, 36, 37, 44, 48, 49 ; A2 ; C52, 81 ;
Di, 2, 6, 20, 37) ; in consequence, there were numerous
cases of wounds caused by small-shot, and also by scalding
with hot tar and boiling water (Apps. 3, 10 ; B2 ; C5, 11,
28, 57 ; D25, 29). In view of all these facts, there can be
no doubt that the uprising in Belgium was not undertaken
by isolated civilians, but by large masses of the population.
The methods of fighting employed by the civilian popu-
lation were absolutely incompatible with the universally
recognised rules of international law, as laid down in
Articles i and 2 of the Hague Convention (Laws and
Customs of War on Land), which had also been accepted
by Belgium. These rules differentiate between organised
and unorganised civilian warfare. In an organised People's
War (Article i) the militia and volunteer corps, in order to
be recognised as belligerents, must observe the four follow-
ing regulations : They must have responsible leaders at
their head ; they must wear a distinctive badge, also visible
at a distance ; they must carry their weapons openly : and
must conform with the laws and usages of war. The un-
organised People's War (Article 2) need not fulfil the first
two of the above conditions, but must strictly adhere to
the two latter ones : it may only be carried on in territory
not yet occupied by the enemy, and only then if no time
has been left to arrange for an organised People's War.
The two special conditions laid down for organised
civilian warfare were certainly not carried out by the
Belgian francs-tireurs, because all the German military
reports are unanimous in stating that the civilians found
fighting had no responsible leaders, and wore no military
badges (Apps. 6, 49 ; C4-7, 12, 15, 22, 24, 25, 31 ; D). The
PREFACE XV
Belgian francs-tireurs can therefore not be looked upon
as organised militia or volunteer corps according to the
meaning of the laws of war. The fact that apparently
Belgian soldiers and members of the Garde Civique also took
part in their enterprises does not alter the case, because, as
these persons too did not wear military badges, but mingled
with the population in civilian dress (Apps. 6 ; A3 ; C25 ;
Di, 30, 45, 46), they forfeited the rights of belligerents.
The whole of the Belgian People's War can therefore
only be regarded as an unorganised armed opposition of
the civilian population. Being as such only permissible
in unoccupied territory, it was without doubt absolutely
against international law, when carried out in places already
in the possession of German troops, as, for instance, in
Aerschot, Andenne, and Louvain. But also in those places
not yet occupied by German troops unorganised civilian
war was not permissible, as the Belgian Government had
had ample time to organise civilian war in accordance with
international law. The Belgian Government had reckoned
with the fact for many years, that in the event of an out-
break of war between Germany and France they would be
drawn into the conflict ; the preparations for their mobilisa-
tion were, as can be proved, commenced at least a week
before the entry of the German troops. The Government
were therefore in the position to provide those members of
the civilian population they proposed to make use of for
fighting purposes with military badges, and give them
responsible leaders. If the Belgian Government made
known to the German Government through the mediation
of a neutral Power that they had taken the necessary
measures, this only proves that they were in a position to
comply with the conditions as laid down ; in any case,
however, such steps were not taken in those parts of the
country traversed by the German troops.
The requirements of international law for an unorganised
People's War were, according to this, quite disregarded in
Belgium, and, moreover, it was carried on in a manner
which alone would have sufficed to have put those who
participated in it outside the laws of war. For the Belgian
francs-tireurs regularly carried their weapons in a con-
cealed fashion, and failed to observe the laws and usages
of war throughout.
On unimpeachable evidence it has been proved that,
in a large number of cases, the German troops were received
by the inhabitants on their arrival in an apparently friendly
XVI PREFACE
manner, and then, when darkness set in, or some other
opportunity presented itself, were surprised by an armed
attack ; such cases occurred especially in Blegny, Esneux,
Grand Rosi^re, Bi^vre, Gouvy, Villers devant Orval, Sainte-
Marie, Les Bulles, Yschippe, Acoz, Aerschot, Andenne, and
Louvain (Apps. 3, 8, 11-13, 18, 22, 28, 31, 43 ; A, B, D). All
these surprise attacks obviously offend against the precept
of international law that weapons are to be carried openly.
The chief burden of blame which rests on the Belgian
people is, however, their unheard-of violation of the usages
of war. In several places, for instance Li^ge, Herve,
Brussels, Aerschot, Dinant, and Louvain, German soldiers
were treacherously murdered (Apps. 18, 55, 61, 65, 66 ; Ai ;
C56, 59, 61, 67, 73-78), which is absolutely against the pro-
hibition which forbids the " treacherous killing or wounding
of individuals belonging to the enemy people or army "
(Article 23, Section i (b) of the Hague Convention : The
Laws and Customs of War on Land). Further, the Belgian
population did not respect the sign of the Red Cross, and
thereby offended against Article 9 of the Geneva Conven-
tion of July 6th, 1906 ; in particular, they did not hesitate
to fire upon the German troops under the protection of this
sign, and also to attack hospitals in which there were
wounded, as well as members of the Ambulance Corps,
while they were carrying out their duties (Apps. 3, 4, 12, 19,
23, 28, 29, 32, 41, 49 ; C9, 16-18, 32, 56, 66-70 ; D9, 21,
25-29, 38, 47). Finally, it is absolutely certain that German
wounded were plundered and killed by the Belgian popu-
lation, and indeed in many cases horribly mutilated ;
and that even women and young girls took part in these
shameful actions. In this way the eyes of German wounded
were torn out, ears, noses, fingers, and sexual organs cut off,
or their bodies slit open (Apps. 54-66 ; C73, 78 ; D35, 37) ;
in other cases, German soldiers were poisoned, hung on
trees, deluged with burning fluid or otherwise burnt, so that
they died a particularly agonising death (Apps. 50, 55, 63 ;
C56, 59, 61, 67, 74-78). This bestial behaviour on the part
of the population is not only absolutely contrary to the
express obligation laid down in Article i. Section i of the
Geneva Convention regarding the " respect and care of "
the wounded and sick of the enemy army, but also to the
first principles of the laws of war and humanity.
Under these circumstances, the Belgian civil population
who took part in the fights could of course make no claim
to the treatment due to belligerents. On the contrary, it
PREFACE xvii
was absolutely necessary for the preservation of the German
Army to have recourse to the sharpest measures against
these francs-tireurs. Individuals who fought against the
German troops had therefore to be cut down ; prisoners
could not be treated as prisoners of war, according to the
laws of war, but as murderers. All the same, the forms
of judicial procedure were compHed with, in so far as they
were compatible with the necessities of war ; the prisoners
were, when the circumstances permitted, only shot after
a hearing in accordance with the regulations, or after sen-
tence by a military court (Apps. 19, 20, 37, 40, 41, 43, 44,
48). Old men, women, and children were spared to the
widest extent, even when gravely suspected (Apps. 49 ; C5,
6, 25, 26, 28, 31, 35, 41, 47, 79) ; and indeed the German
soldiers, although their patience was put to an extremely
hard test, looked after such people, whenever possible,
sometimes in the most self-sacrificing manner, taking the
helpless under their protection when in danger, sharing
their bread with them, bringing the sick and weak to places
where they could be cared for (Apps. C45, 47, 51-53, 55, 58,
80-86).
That the Belgian Government are largely to blame for
the illegal attitude of their population towards the German
Army is indisputable. For apart from the fact that a
Government has, under all circumstances, to bear the
responsibility for actions of this kind, which are the ex-
pression of the popular will, the serious accusation must be
made against them that they did not put an end to this guerilla
war, although they could have done so (Apps. 33, 51-53 ;
D42, 43, 48). It would certainly have been easy for them
to give the necessary instructions to their officials, such as
the Burgomasters, members of the Garde Civique, and the
soldiers, in order to check the passionate excitement of
the people, which had been artificially aroused. Therefore
the full responsibility for the terrible blood-guiltiness
which rests upon Belgium must be attached to the Belgian
Government.
The Belgian Government have made the attempt to free
themselves from this responsibility by attributing blame
for the occurrences to the destructive rage of the German
troops, who are said to have committed deeds of violence
without any reason. They have appointed a Commission
for the investigation of the alleged German outrages, and
have made the findings of this Commission the subject of
diplomatic complaint. This attempt to pervert the facts
xviii PREFACE
has failed utterly. The German Army is accustomed to
make war only against hostile armies, and not against
peaceful inhabitants. The incontestable fact that from
the commencement a defensive struggle was forced on the
German troops in the interests of self-protection by the
population of the country cannot be argued away by the
investigations of any Commission.
The narratives of fugitives gathered together by the
Belgian Commission, which are characterised as being the
result of scrupulously impartial investigations, bear the
stamp of un trust worthiness, if not of malicious misrepre-
sentation. In view of the existing conditions the Com-
mission was not in a position to test the correctness of the
reports brought before it, or to grasp the connection of
events. Their accusations against the German Army are
therefore nothing but low calumnies, which cannot stand
before the documentary evidence possessed by us.
The struggle of the German troops with the civil popu-
lation of Aerschot did not arise because German officers
attacked the honour of the Burgomaster's family, as is
suggested on the Belgian side, but on account of~ a well-
thought-out attack on the Commanding Officer of the
place by the civil population, who treacherously murdered
him (App. A). At Dinant it was not innocent, peaceful
inhabitants who fell victims to the German arms, but
murderers, who treacherously attacked German soldiers,
and in this way involved the troops in a struggle which
destroyed the city (App. C). In Louvain the fight with
the civil population did not arise because fleeing German
troops were involved by mistake in hand-to-hand contests
with their comrades who were entering the town, but
because a deluded population, unable to grasp the course
of events, thought they could destroy the returning German
soldiers without danger (App. D). Moreover in Louvain,
as in other towns, the burning torch was only applied by
German troops when bitter necessity demanded it. The
plan of the destruction of Louvain (App. 50) shows clearly
how the troops confined themselves to destroying only
those parts of the city in which the inhabitants opposed
them in a treacherous and murderous manner. It was
indeed German troops who took care, whenever possible,
to save the artistic treasures, not only of Louvain, but of
other towns ; a special German Commission has shown
to what a large extent German troops protected the art
treasures of Belgium.
PREFACE xix
The Imperial German Government believe that by the
publication of the material contained in this work they
have proved in a convincing manner that the action of the
German troops against the Belgian civil population was
provoked by the illegal guerilla war, and was required by
the necessities of war. On the other hand, they level a
solemn and emphatic protest against a population which
has, by the most despicable means, waged a dishonourable
war against the German soldiers and still more against a
Government which, in complete perversion of its duties,
gave rein to the senseless passions of the population, and
now does not scruple to endeavour to free itself from its
own heavy guilt by mendacious libels upon the German
Army.
Berlin, May zoth, 1915.
THE GERMAN ARMY
IN BELGIUM
APPENDICES 2-66—
DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER
App. 2.
Statement of Lieutenant of Reserve Max von Amelunxen,
Jager Battalion No. 4 (at the time attached to the
Headquarters Staff, 2nd Army) .
I took part in the sudden outbreak of hostilities at
Li^ge as Reserve officer of my battalion. When during the
advance upon Li^ge a stoppage occurred on the line of
march, I rode out through the village of Battice to discover
the cause. At the ver}^ first houses, I was fired upon, and
saw clearly two civilians shooting from a window in the
roof, whose fire I returned. One of them I must have killed
with my Mauser carbine, for he fell to the ground at once.
I believe I hit the other also. At the same time from different
sides — in my estimate there were at least from 15 to 20
guns — fire was opened on myself and the cavalry men, who
had in the meantime arrived on the scene. I received a
light gunshot wound in the lower part of my body, while
many pellets passed through my valise. The persons who
fired were certainly civilians. The houses, from which they
had been fired at, were set alight by the troops who had
arrived. I myself had meanwhile ridden on farther. The
incident must have occurred on the 4th or 5th of August.
During later motor-car journeys on military duties I was
fired at by civilians on countless occasions. In France up
to the present nothing of the kind has ever happened to me.
Signed : v. Amelunxen.
V " 'THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
App. 3.
Statement of Colonel von Gottberg, Infantry Regiment
Freiherr von Span (3rd Westphalian), No. 16, 14th
Division.
GuiGNicouRT, September 2gth, 1914.
On the 5th August 191 4, just before dark, violent
gunfire was directed against our heavy baggage from many
windows by the inhabitants of the village of Blegny.
Lieutenant Hahn deposes that troops were fired upon at
night by the inhabitants from the very same houses in
Blegny in which they had been entertained during the
day. Musketeer Gocheln of the 6th Company was killed in
this way ; Musketeer Hochgrafe of the 7th Company was
wounded by a shot in his shoulder. Both companies were
witnesses to this. These incidents were repeated during the
night, and in this way Musketeers Maiworm and Epping of
the 5th Company were wounded.
Lieutenant Edler von Daniels testifies that in a Belgian
village near Blegny his patrol was fired upon from ambush.
This took place in a street where the 9th Company had
bivouacked for a day and a night.
At Troisfontaines the nth Company was fired upon from
the houses by civilians. Musketeers Meister and Schwaffertz
were wounded. In this same place men belonging to this
company were in the daytime entertained with cigars and
food, and particularly by an elderly man ; this same man
fired by night and wounded a man of the company.
Staff- Surgeon Dr. Falk, who, with the ambulance party
of the ist Battalion, wanted to push forward to the wounded
on August 5th, 1914, was fired upon by civilians, so that
he was forced to take shelter. Non-commissioned Officer
Voss of the 4th Company was killed by three shots from
civilians. He could not be fetched, as the street had been
brought under fire by the inhabitants. Lieutenant Hahn
was an eye-witness of what took place.
In Anderlues shots were fired from a house by a French
soldier and a civilian. An Acting-Sergeant-Major and non-
commissioned officer were seriously wounded, a musketeer
of the nth Company was killed. A witness of this
occurrence is Captain Eckhardt. The soldier and civilian
were shot.
Signed : von Gottberg.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 3
App. 4.
Military Court Examination of Staff-Surgeon of Reserve
Dr. Rehm, Infantry Regiment No. 165.
Cherisy, November 2yd, 1914.
Court of the 7th Infantry Division.
President of the Court, Dr. Welt.
Secretary, Lorenz.
There appeared as witness Staff- Surgeon of Reserve Dr.
Rehm, 3rd BattaHon, Infantry Regiment No. 165, who,
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to
him, made the following statement :
On the 6th of August 1914 I reached at Retinne a
military ambulance station, where the staff was very busily
occupied. The character of the station was clearly made
known by its Red Cross flags, and in view of the whole nature
of its activities no doubt could exist as to its real character-
In the immediate vicinity no fighting had taken place ;
on the contrary, our troops had already advanced to Bellaire.
Nevertheless our ambulance station was persistently fired
upon ; continually, for the whole day long, single shots fell
amongst us, coming from the houses close at hand, and
mostly, as a matter of fact, from the roofs. The shots which
fell upon the hospital could only have proceeded from
civihans, as there were no longer any enemy troops in the
place. As I could not for the time being secure any troops
for the protection of the ambulance station, I armed the
lightly wounded and allowed them to return the fire — for
the moment, however, with little success, as we could not
see our well-concealed adversaries. When in the evening
some detachments of troops arrived at Retinne and were
also fired at, the houses were systematically searched. From
some houses dozens of men were dragged out. It was
noticeable that in the houses were only one or two women
and no children at all, so that I formed the impression that
the firing had been arranged beforehand. The men fetched
out of the houses were without exception civilians of various
ages.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Staff- Surgeon Dr. Rehm.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Dr. Welt. Signed : Lorenz.
4 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
App. 5.
Statement of Lieutenant Zielsche, Machine-gun Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 42.
Waldrieder, August lyth, 1914.
1. At Vis6 the inhabitants carried out a surprise attack
upon the i8th Pioneers on the night of the I5th-i6th August.
2. Between Vise and Warsage my platoon was con-
tinuously fired at from the immediate surroundings from
about 10 o'clock in the evening till 3 in the morning. A
column of army bakers retired from Vise and was also fired
at. We could see nothing of the inhabitants. When in the
morning I passed through Warsage in order to secure
provisions, it was empty, with the exception of one or two
houses.
Signed : Zielsche, Lieutenant.
App. 6.
Military Court Examination of Non-commissioned Officer
of Reserve Rasch (Reserve Regiment No. 74).
Hanover, November 20th, 1914.
Present :
President of the Court, Lindenberg.
Secretary, Luhe.
There appeared as witness Dentist Rasch, Non-com-
missioned Officer of Reserve, now in Reserve battalion,
Infantry Regiment No. 74, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Gustav. I am 29 years old ;
Lutheran.
As to Case : When the mobile Infantry Regiment No. 74
was marching on Liege in August 191 4, I received the
order to remain behind with a detachment of the 9th
Company for the protection of the baggage collected in the
market-place at Poulseur. There were also available a few
infantry soldiers and hussars as escort. Amongst the
officers personally known to me was an Artillery Lieutenant
of Reserve, Hildebrandt, who came from Hanover When
the regiment itself had already advanced from Poulseur in
the direction of Li^ge, and night had fallen, the baggage
and the escort beside it in the market-place were suddenly
fired upon from all the surrounding houses. This hostile
firing had clearly been planned and concerted beforehand.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 5
for immediately before the fire began the Hghts in the
surrounding houses were simultaneously extinguished, and
at the same moment came firing from all sides. We did not
know what was happening to us. Moreover, we were not
only fired at from the houses, but assailed with cartridges
of dynamite or some similar explosive, which possibly were
derived from one of the mines in the neighbourhood of
Poulseur.
The firing continued, with certain intervals, the whole
night through. We on our side of course opened fire and
tried as far as possible to find shelter behind the baggage
waggons. Nevertheless we had dead and wounded ; among
these was a Lieutenant of Reserve of a hussar regiment,
whom we placed in an inn belonging to a German. I myself
took part with my men in storming a number of houses.
During this process persons who actually opposed us in the
houses with weapons in their hands were shot down. Where
we found arms and munitions in the houses, we brought the
occupants into the market-place. I can affirm with absolute
certainty that all those who resisted us or were brought
to the market-place wore no uniforms; on the contrary,
they were, without exception, civilians. Next morning
when we had proceeded with the baggage to the outskirts
of the town there arose from the town an extremely violent
series of crackling sounds which served to indicate the
existence of thousands of cartridges. Some of the men said
that the countless cartridges which had been found in
the Burgomaster's house were exploding.
Further, when the baggage of Regiment No. 74 withdrew
on the following day through Poulseur from the direction of
Li^ge, we were again fired upon.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Rasch.
The witness was sworn.
Verified.
Signed : Lindenberg. Signed : Luhe.
App. 7.
Statement of Captain Haupt, Commander of the Heavy
Commissariat Column No. 2, X. Army Corps.
At midday on August 14th, at Louveigne, an artillery
munitions column marching behind the commissariat
column was fired on by civilians. The number of the cohiirju
I cannot now remember
6 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
On August 28th, at Gerpinnes, Driver Pook, who was
looking for food in an abandoned house, was fired at from
a neighbouring house, and wounded sHghtly in the hand.
The search among the neighbouring houses for the assailant
was unsuccessful.
Signed : Haupt, Captain and GDlumn Com-
mander.
App. 8.
Military Court Examination of Sergeant-Major Mavers,
Non-commissioned Officer Kielholz, Corporal Fruth,
Lieutenant Schliep, Acting-Sergeant-Major Horn, and
Corporal Niebeln, all of Infantry Regiment No. 73.
PoNTGiVART, November 12th, 1914.
Present :
President of the Court, Fuhse.
Secretary, Hensen.
There appeared as witnesses the under-mentioned persons,
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to them, made the following statement :
I. Sergeant-Major Mavers, 4th Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 73.
As to Person : My name is Wilhelm Mavers. I am
27 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : On the afternoon of August 7th, 1914,
somewhere between 6 and 7 o'clock, our company had to
secure the eastern exits of Louveigne. We took up a position
before a farm at the exit of the village. Suddenly — it was
still quite light — a shot was fired near us ; the bullet
whistled close past my ear. The shot was evidently the
sign for a general firing upon the company and on the
baggage which remained behind us in the village, for there
now commenced a violent fire from the houses, especially
from the roofs and upper storeys. The company speedily
took up a position on the slope of a garden near the farm
where we were posted. While this was going on, I looked
round and noticed that several shots were fired from the
first storey of a corner house ; one saw the smoke rise up
after the shot was fired. I am quite certain that I saw that
those who fired wore civilian clothes. The company replied
to the firing for about | hour, and directed their fire against
a house near the above-mentioned farm. In our neigh-
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 7
bourhood the fire slackened, while in the village shooting
still continued.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Mavers.
The witness was sworn.
2. Non-commissioned Officer Kielholz, 2nd Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 73.
As to Person : My name is Paul. I am 23 years old ;
Protestant ; bank employe at Husum.
As to Case : On the 7th August 1914 I was one of a
field outpost, which was placed about 300 metres west of
Louveigne on the road. Suddenly as it began to grow dusk
we were fired on from the village, and shots were directed
against us from trees and from a rather high-lying cornfield.
We skirmished out and lay down in a field of roots, and some
of us replied to the fire. We then noticed that a number
of people in civilian clothing who had been lying in the
cornfield were running away. We were under fire for about
half an hour, and at least 100 shots were fired at us.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Kielholz.
The witness was sworn.
3. Corporal of Reserve Fruth, gth Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 73.
As to Person : My name is Friedrich. I am 26 years old ;
Protestant ; hairdresser.
As to Case : On August 5th, 1914, I found myself near
the campaign baggage of the company. In the afternoon
we reached Esneux, where we halted in the village street.
The inhabitants were very friendly to us, and the people
came out of the houses and gave us food and cigarettes
without taking payment.
Towards evening we left this place and marched in the
direction of Liege. We then noticed that the people looked
at us from the windows and laughed ironically. About a
kilometre in rear of Esneux we had to halt. Suddenly fire
was opened upon us from some ground near us on our left,
whereupon we received the order to turn back. Up to the
present only single shots had been fired at us, but as soon
as we regained the village a hot fire was opened from the
houses. Shots came from almost every house ; it was
impossible to select any in particular. From the sound of
the shots one could recognise that the guns were of different
patterns. Several of us were wounded, one horse was shot
8 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
dead, another was wounded. We searched the houses and
found guns of various kinds. I did not see any of mihtary
pattern.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Fruth.
The witness was sworn.
4. Acting-Sergeant-Major Horn, 7th Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 73.
As to Person : My name is Friedrich Horn. I am 28 years
old; Protestant.
As to Case : On the 6th August this year I was in charge
of the baggage of the 2nd Battahon of my regiment. When
I arrived in the neighbourhood of Poulseur I sent forward
three men of the cychst company of the loth Jager Battahon,
who had joined us as stragglers, as a cyclist patrol, towards
the village ahead, in order to see if the battalion was already
there. However, one man of the patrol soon returned with
the news that he had lost both the others ; they had appar-
ently fallen, as the patrol had been fired at from houses in
Poulseur. When I reached Poulseur with the baggage, I
and my men also came under fire. I placed the two fore-
most waggons across the road for defence, and led my men
forward. We also made preparations in a house for our own
defence. Then things became quiet. After a short interval
the firing broke out again, so that we were compelled also
on our side to fire into the houses. The sound of the
assailants' shots was altogether different from that from
our rifles. There were no enemy troops in the place ; it
could therefore be only civilians who had fired. Several
cavalry patrols also declared that they had been fired at
by civilians.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Horn.
The witness was sworn.
5. As witness, Corporal Niebeln, 7th Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 73.
As to Person : My name is Ernst. I am 25 years old ;
Lutheran ; by calling a merchant in Hanover.
As to Case : On the day of the fight near Li^ge our
regiment, as we were leaving Esneux, was under fire from
the houses. Further, when outside the town we were
fired upon from the hillsides on the right and left, and also
from trees.
Our troops at once forced a way into the houses from
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 9
which shots had come, and some civiHans were brought out.
A number of weapons were also discovered. I myself saw
the civilians. There were no Belgian troops in the houses.
Two days after the battle of Li^ge, when we were leaving
the village of Louveign6 in the evening, a hot fire was
opened on us from the houses. One man was wounded,
and I saw the pellets in his back. We replied to the fire
and drove the people from the houses. Only civilians
emerged, and these were shot.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Niebeln.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Fuhse. Signed : Hensen.
App. 9.
Military Court Examination of Non-commissioned Officer
Gruber, Bombardier Schokel, and Captain Neumann, all
of the ist Infantry Munitions Column, X. Army Corps.
Alsfeld le Ville, November z^th, 1914.
Present :
Officer of the Court, Lieutenant Maack.
Secretary, Non-commissioned Officer Schutte.
With reference to what took place at the surprise attack
at Louveigne, the under-mentioned witnesses, after the
importance and sanctity of the oath had been pointed out
to them, made the following statements :
I. Non-commissioned Officer Gruber.
As to Person : My name is Fritz Gruber. I am 35 years
old; Protestant; non-commissioned officer, ist Infantry
Munitions Column, X. Army Corps ; implement-smith in a
machine factory in Hanover.
As to Case : On the second day of our march through
Belgium we passed through Louveigne. The place was
already burnt down. We halted here, and orders were
given to water the horses. As we were waiting for the
command to make ready, a shot was suddenly fired at us
from a house in the street on our right, and after this a
number of other shots followed from other points. I was
standing by the last waggon in front of the supplementary
convoy, so pretty nearly at the end of the column. We
forced our way in the direction of the shots into the garden
belonging to the house, and here caught two civilians, one
of whom had his hand in his pocket full of cartridges. He
lo THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
was hidden in some bushes, and tried to escape on our
approach ; the other was standing close beside him.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Fritz Gruber.
The witness was sworn.
2. Captain Neumann.
As to Person : My name is Wilhelm Neumann. I am
45 years of age ; Lutheran ; Captain and Leader of the ist
Infantry Munitions Column, X. Army Corps ; Police-Court
Councillor at Syke, near Bremen.
As to Case : On August 14th, 191 4, my column was
marching with others through Louveign6. 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: M a ack. Lieutenant.
Signed : Schutte, Non-commissioned Officer.
App. 10.
Statement of ist Lieutenant Helmke of the Telephone
Detachment, X. Army Corps.
On the night of the iith-i2th 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 in-
habitants 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
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 1 1
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, ist Lieutenant.
App. II.
Report of Colonel von Wentzky, commanding nth Cavalry
Brigade, 5th Cavalry Division.
On the loth August, Dragoon Regiment No. 8 arrived
at Grande Rossi^re (2^ kil. N.W. of Nives) and there
bivouacked for the first time on Belgian soil, i.e. four
squadrons of the regiment bivouacked in two detachments
quite close to the village. The staff of the nth Cavalry
Brigade took up its quarters in a house. Here we found
two elderly women and a young man who received us in
a markedly cordial manner and exerted themselves most
willingly in looking after us. We noticed that during the
course of the evening young men came into the house for a
short time and soon afterwards disappeared, and in the
same way the young man belonging to the house disappeared.
Towards 11 o'clock in the evening I betook myself,
accompanied by an orderly officer, to the bivouac of the 4th
and 5th squadrons of Dragoon Regiment No. 8, which lay
some 300 metres from my own quarters. When, after about
10 minutes, I wanted to return from this spot, I heard shots
in various places ; one could distinguish the reports of the
sentries' rifles from those of other weapons. At this moment
the Adjutant of Dragoon Regiment No. 8 came to me and
reported that he had just been fired upon at the door of
his house from a house lying opposite and ostensibly aban-
doned. I at once made the 4th squadron take up their
rifles, and ordered Lieutenant Baron von Richthofen to
surround the house from which the shots had come, and
make prisoners of the persons found inside. Some minutes
later the firing was renewed. Lieutenant Baron von
12 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Richthofen received a shot in the body, and died next day
from the wound. Two civiHans were fetched out of the
house with pistols in their hands which had just been dis-
charged ; we also found in their possession both discharged
and loaded cartridges. Later in the course of the night
the bivouacs of Dragoon Regiment No. 8 were repeatedly
fired at. According to the report of Lieutenant Nikisch
there were found in the houses a considerable number of
pistols, guns, and ammunition ; also loose powder and
quickfires, more especially in the house occupied by the
nth Cavalry Brigade.
Signed: von Wentzky, Colonel and Brigade
Commander.
App. 12.
Report of Lieutenant-Colonel and Regimental Commander
von Giese (Leib-Kiirassier Regiment No. i).
At Petite-Rosi^re, the first quarters occupied by the
regiment in Belgium, the inhabitants received the troops,
and especially the officers, with the utmost cordiality and
goodwill, so that not the slightest difficulty was experienced
in securing food and forage. At Grande-Rosiere, distant
about I J kil., lay Dragoon Regiment No. 8, and also the
staff of the nth Cavalry Brigade. At this place the in-
habitants waited until the officers assembled in the evening
for the issue of orders, and then opened fire upon them as
they left the house. Very soon after this shooting, shots
were fired by the inhabitants of Petite-Rosiere at the
bivouacs of the squadrons and at the pickets. This firing
only ceased completely when every inhabitant had been
brought out of the houses and had one and all been locked
up. The inhabitants of the village were not irritated in any
way whatever, but were treated throughout with kindness.
On August 23rd at Bi^vre the 3rd squadron acting as
reconnoitring squadron found facilities for watering the
horses placed at its disposal in a very obliging manner.
Then after a short time the inhabitants fired at the squadron
from the houses. In this place at the same time one of the
inhabitants shot a trooper of the 8th Kiirassiers dead, and
severely wounded an infantry soldier.
At the fight of Les Rivages the regiment had to leave
behind some of its wounded on a very thickly wooded hill-
side. When the surgeons and the ambulance men of the
regiment approached the wood over open ground, shots
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 13
were fired at them by the inhabitants in spite of the
waving of two large Red Cross flags. On the nearer approach
of our men the assailants withdrew ; nevertheless, the
ambulance men while still in the wood were again fired
at, even when engaged in succouring the wounded.
Signed : v. Giese, Lieutenant-Colonel and Regi-
mental Commander.
App. 13.
Report of the Brigade Staff, 64th Infantry Brigade (32nd
Division), in quarters at Conde.
October 8th, 1914.
On the 5th August of this year the 64th Infantry Brigade
entered Gouvy. The population at first gave us the appear-
ance of being well disposed to the Germans, and was ex-
tremely cordial. Pails of water, e.g., were provided for the
troops as they marched through, without any previous
request for this service. The stationmaster was especially
prominent in welcoming the troops ; the parish priest, in
apparently friendly fashion, took pains to make the officers
comfortable. Despite all this, the behaviour of the in-
habitants seemed to the brigade to be suspicious, and for
this reason the place was searched for weapons. The search
of the station buildings also took place in the presence of
the stationmaster. To the question whether goods of any
kind, weapons, explosives, etc., were to be found in the
place, the stationmaster returned a most decided negative.
His assertion, nevertheless, turned out to be false. For
in a small room, lying hidden away, which, according to
the stationmaster' s statement, served for the storing of his
furniture, we discovered, underneath a good deal of rubbish,
boxes which contained about 300 Browning pistols. In
addition to this there was concealed in the room a hundred-
weight of dynamite. As the stationmaster could give no
credible explanation as to the use which was to be made
of these weapons and explosives, he was arrested.
Further, on the night of Sth-gth August 1914, the
orderly officer of the 64th Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant
qf Reserve Schmidt, was ordered to ride to Vielsalm and
there give the alarm to the Guard-Jager Battalion and the
nth Jagers. On the way there he was fired at by civilians
in the neighbourhood of Bovigny. At this time no enemy
troops were to be found in that locality.
14 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
At Leffe it was established unquestionably by the
Brigade Staff that, after the capture of this place, the civil
population fired on the troops of the 64th Infantry Brigade
from cellar windows and barricaded houses, to some extent
even using small shot. In consequence, we lost a number of
men, including officers.
Signed : Morgenstern-Doring.
App. 14.
Statement of ist Lieutenant and Column Commander
Marggraf, Field-Bakery Column No. i, III. Army Corps.
MoNTAiGU, October 3rd, 1914.
On the morning of August 20th the Field-Bakery
Column No. i, III. Army Corps, had begun work near
Marche, almost as far up as the village of HoUogne-Aye.
The occupants of the houses in the vicinity displayed
throughout the day no hostile intentions. Nevertheless,
when towards evening a munitions column wished to drive
up into position, quite close to the bakery, shots were fired
at them from the neighbouring woods and gardens, which
contained some single houses. On searching these houses
no arms were found on the inhabitants, but some of them
were still in possession of cartridges loaded with large shot.
These persons were taken away.
Signed : Marggraf, ist Lieutenant and Column
Commander.
App. 15.
Statement and Military Court Examination of Captain
Burkhardt, Commanding Heavy Commissariat Column
No. 2.
Ferme Fleuricourt, October 3rd, 1914.
The Heavy Commissariat Column No. 2 reports that the
column on the 20th and 23rd x\ugust, before and after its
entrance into Marche, was fired at by the inhabitants.
Signed : Burkhardt, Captain and Column
Commander.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
Ferme Fleuricourt, October yth, 1914.
There appeared as witness Captain Burkhardt, who,
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 15
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to
him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Heinrich Burkhardt. I am 44
years old ; evangelical ; farmer ; now Captain of Landwehr ;
Commander of the Heavy Commissariat Column No. 2.
As to Case : On August 29th, 1914, outside Hollogne,
fire was opened upon us from the wood from all sides. It
was about 6 o'clock in the evening. We were on the march
to Marche. There were no enemy troops in the neighbour-
hood. Our assailants were therefore civilians. We also
took prisoner about twenty civilians who were caught red-
handed in the wood, and these were conveyed to Marche
by an artillery munitions column.
On August 23rd, 1914, we marched right through Marche.
Shots were fired at us and at the munitions column from
various houses. However, we made no halt here at all, as
we were bound for Laroche.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Burkhardt.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
App. 16.
Military Court Examination of Army Baker Borner,
2nd Field-Bakery Column, XH. Army Corps.
MoNTAiGU, October yth, 1914.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
There appeared as witness the baker Bomer, who made
the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Max Gotthard Borner. I am
30 years old; Protestant; by trade formerly baker; later,
assistant pointsman ; at present, baker in the Field-Bakery
No. 2, XIL Army Corps.
As to Case : While we were quartered in Marche, or close
to it, I went with field-baker Werner into the town, where,
as we felt thirsty, we asked a woman who stood at the gate
of a yard for I'eau. She gave us to understand that she
would like to give us some coffee, and led us into the house
by the back door. We both drank coffee, thanked the
woman, and went out again by the same way. As I closed
the back door one or more shots were fired from inside.
One of the fingers of my left hand was covered with blood.
i6 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
We tried to enter the house again, but the door had been
fastened on the inside. I fired a shot through the door,
but I do not know whether I hit anybody.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Borner.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
App. 17.
Report of Captain and Detachment Commander, 4th
Infantry Munitions Column, and Military Court
Examination of Acting-Sergeant-Major Kern, 3rd
Infantry Munitions Column.
SiFFONE, October 2nd, 1914.
Report.
On the 22nd of August 1914, at midday, I arrived at
the northern entrance of Marche with the 4th Infantry
Munitions Column, which I commanded, and received
orders to pass through the village to the southern exit. I
rode with some mounted men through the place, the prin-
cipal buildings of which had already been arranged and
taken over as hospitals. There was also here some of our
infantry. Several inhabitants, amongst them a priest,
were standing in the street, apparently inoffensive.
As I returned through the village, somebody levelled
a gun at me from the window on the first storey of a house
in the neighbouring street. My assailant was, however,
prevented from carrying out his purpose, thanks to the
watchfulness of an infantry sentry, who anticipated the
treacherous villager and frustrated his purpose by a shot
from his own rifle. Hereupon a lively fusillade developed
from all the houses, in which the village priest took part.
Signed : Michahelles, Captain and Detach-
ment Commander.
Siffone, October ^th, 1914.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Kem,
who made the following statement ;
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 17
As to Person : My name is Theodor Kern. I am 37 years
old ; Catholic ; formerly mason ; later frontier guard ; at
present Acting- Sergeant- Major of Landwehr in the 3rd
Infantry Munitions Column.
As to Case : On August 22nd, 1914, about 2.30 p.m., I
rode back through Marche, after I had previously ridden
into the place to arrange for quarters. In front of me rode
Captain Michahelles. As we passed a cross-road the Captain
began to trot. At the same moment I saw at a first-storey
window of a house in this cross-street a civilian, who was
aiming with a gun at the soldiers, and in my judgment
more especially at the Captain. Almost at the same instant
came the crack of an infantryman's rifle, who fired up at
the civilian.
On August 23rd, 1914, we were at Sorrinnes. During
the day one noticed no signs of hostility among the in-
habitants, but at 9 o'clock, when it had become dark, we
were fired at from various houses. From one house Lieu-
tenant Knauer received a shot in the abdomen, from which
after some days he died.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Theodor Kern.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
App. 18.
Report of the Infantry Regiment von Winterfeldt (2nd
Upper Silesian) No. 23 (24th Infantry Brigade).
October ^th, 1914.
Captain Wagner states : On 22nd August, at Leglise,
two civilians from Antier were handed over to the company,
which was acting as escort to the heavy baggage. These
had been caught with guns in their hands by two gendarmes.
At this period the company was fired at by civilians on
several occasions.
At Tintigny was discovered the body of a reservist of
Infantry Regiment No. 38, who had been slain by the
inhabitants with a mason's pickaxe. At Laheycourt a
man of the ist Battalion shot dead a civilian who had fired
at the soldiers from a garden.
Captain von Debschitz states : At Nothomb, our first
quarters in Belgium, after the General in command had
issued a proclamation, the inhabitants immediately handed
in a very large quantity of military rifles and ammunition,
1 8 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
which not long before had undoubtedly been distributed by
the authorities for the purpose of a " franc-tireur " cam-
paign. These were, as far as I knew, Menier rifles, recently
oiled, with cartridges in cotton packing, labelled exactly
as if they had just been received from a depot.
Lieutenant of Reserve Schmidt, Leader of the heavy
baggage of the regiment, states : On the night of August
23rd-24th, while we were on our way from Habay to
Neuve-Ansart, the heavy baggage was several times fired
upon at Houdemont and Rulles. At Houdemont, in-
habitants fired from windows and from behind walls ; upon
this, some houses were set on fire. In rear of Houdemont
the heavy baggage passed through a defile. Here we
noticed small lamp signals, and then suddenly a heavy fire
was opened on the baggage from front, rear, and both
flanks. Several bullets struck the woodwork of the waggons
and the oat-sacks, one of which is still in our possession.
One man was missing ; two horses were wounded and had
to be killed. In the same way at Rulles and in the rear of
this village, the baggage was fired at from the front and on
the right flank.
On August 24th the heavy baggage on the road from
Ansart-Tintigny was again fired at from houses by francs-
tireurs. In this way two convoy soldiers were shot dead.
On the evening of the 25th August the baggage passed
through the village of Villers devant Orval. Our men were
there received in friendly fashion by the inhabitants, who
distributed fruit and eatables among the soldiers. When
darkness fell, and the baggage came to a long halt outside
the village, shots were suddenly fired at them from the rear.
Signed : Count Keller.
App. 19.
Statement of Captain and Battery Commander Walter,
3rd Battalion of Foot Artillery Regiment von Dieskau
(Silesian) No. 6.
CoNDE LES AuTRY, September 2^th, 1914.
August 22nd, 1 91 4. — During the advance through
Ansart the troops, among them the 3rd Battalion of Foot
Artillery Regiment No. 6, were fired at by the inhabitants
from the houses. The village was by order set on fire.
The same thing occurred at Tintigny; the village was
already in flames, but in spite of this the population
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 19
fired from the burning houses upon the troops passing
through.
August 2^rd, 1 914. — Near St. Vincent the observation
post of the 8th Battery was fired upon by the inhabitants
from the woods at the back. These persons had with-
drawn to the woods, because their village was burnt down.
August 2/\th, 1 914. — During our march through Jamoigne
the battalion and the Light Munitions Column too were fired
upon from the houses. Fire was also opened from the
schoolhouse, which flew the Red Cross flag. The village
was partially set on fire.
On August 25th, 1 914, the 6th Battery, which was
following the battalion in the evening alone, was fired on
from the rear at Villers devant Orval, close to the French
frontier, although the population had in the daytime
behaved themselves in quite a friendly manner. The
houses from which the shots had come were, by our
leader's orders, set on fire.
Signed : Walter.
App. 20.
Military Court Examination of Acting-Sergeant-Major
of Reserve Ernst Wolff, Infantry Regiment No. 51.
La Marc-aux-Boerst, September 23rd, 1914.
There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major of
Reserve Ernst Wolff, who made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Ernst. I am 28 years old, of
the Jewish faith.
As to Case : I am leader of the campaign baggage of the
2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 51. At noon on
August 22nd, 1 91 4, the campaign baggage under my com-
mand advanced through the Belgian village of Tintigny,
through which our regiment had already ridden. From the
market-place as far as the western exit we were assailed
with a hot fire from the windows of a large number of houses.
As we could hear from the whistling, our assailants were
firing bullets. I noticed people at various windows with the
usual Belgian caps on their heads, standing behind smoking
rifle-barrels. As I had no effective troops at my disposal
I endeavoured to pass through the village rapidly, but I
allowed the drivers to dismount quickly for greater pro-
tection. From the western exit I brought the cartridge
waggons forward to the firing line, while the field-kitchens,
in order to keep them under shelter, were compelled once
20 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
more to pass through the village. In this way they were
again exposed to the fire of civilians, and here too a field-
kitchen was rendered useless by a bullet through the boiler.
At midday on August 23rd I rode through the village
of St. Vincent as dispatch-rider. As I rode past a house
which flew a Red Cross flag, I came under a vigorous fire
from this house and others lying near it, and here again
I was quite convinced the assailants were civilians. My
horse received a bullet through its ear as well as a glancing
shot. I myself was uninjured.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Ernst Wolff.
Signed : Lassmann, ist Lieutenant and Court
Officer.
App. 21.
Military Court Examination of Captain of Reserve
Adolf Pachur, Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.
Binarville, September 2^th, 1914.
Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.
Before the under-mentioned Court officer appeared as
witness Captain of Reserve Adolf Pachur, Catholic, 40 years
of age, unmarried. After being informed of the object of
his examination and warned to speak the truth in his de-
position, he made the following statement :
On August 22nd the Light Munitions Column, ist detach-
ment, Field Artillery Regiment No. 6, was fired upon by
Francs-tireurs on its march through Tintigny. As the village
had a long time since been cleared of the enemy by our
infantry, and our firing line already lay some 2 to 3 kilometres
beyond the village, the firing in question could have come
only from francs-tireurs.
The same position occurred on the 23rd of August at St.
Vincent. When the Light Munitions Column were ordered
to halt in the village they were several times, with brief
intervals, under hot fire from houses, gardens, bushes, and
trees. It was noticed that the first shots were principally
on every occasion from one and the same house, and were
followed by a general fusillade. One civilian escaping from
a house was shot dead by the officers and men of the column.
A sergeant-major of infantry who, with a detachment, had
been given the duty of clearing the village of francs-tireurs
subsequently established the fact that this man was armed
with a revolver.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 21
According to the reports I received, the men of the
column were questioned about their leader, i.e. myself, by
the proprietor of a cafe. This person treated our soldiers
with extreme friendliness, but secured no information.
Shortly afterwards I saw how we were being fired at from
this very house which was pointed out to me.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Pachur.
The proceedings were as above stated.
Signed : Baron von Steinaeker, Lieutenant
and Court Officer.
App. 22.
Statement and Military Court Examination of Lieu-
tenant of Reserve Felsmann of the Light Munitions
Column, ist detachment. Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.
Lan^on, September 2yd, 191 4.
At Tintigny, on the evening of August 22nd, I received
the order to proceed to the Artillery Munitions Column to
replenish ammunition. On the way at Sainte Marie I had
the horses of the ammunition waggon watered. In doing
this I received help apparently of the most willing character
from the occupants of the house from which the water was
drawn. When the harness had been put on the horses again,
the occupants of this very same house fired at the ammuni-
tion waggon and wounded one or more of the horses.
The Light Munitions Column of the ist detachment.
Field Artillery Regiment No. 6, on their advance through
Tintigny on August 22nd and through St. Vincent on
August 23rd, were heavily fired upon by the inhabitants
of this place from the houses, and partly also from bushes
and trees. At St. Vincent we shot dead a civilian who had
fired at us with a revolver.
Signed : Felsmann, Lieutenant of Reserve.
BiNARViLLE, September 2^th, 1914.
Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.
Proceedings.
Before the under-mentioned officer of the Court appeared
Lieutenant of Reserve Johannes Felsmann, Protestant,
31 years of age, married. After being informed of the
object of his examination and warned to speak the truth
in his deposition, he made the following statement :
22 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
I repeat the contents of the preceding statement of
September 23rd, 1914, and regard it as correct in all its
details.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Felsmann.
The proceedings were as above stated.
Signed : Count von Steinaeker, Lieutenant
and Court Officer.
App. 23.
Report of the 2nd BattaUon, Infantry Regiment No. 157
(78th Infantry Brigade).
1. On August 22nd, at Tintigny, the heavy baggage was
fired upon by civilians from a house on which the Red Cross
flag was flying. The house was surrounded, and a civilian
who was jumping from one of the windows was shot dead.
Witnesses of this incident are Lieutenant Groeger and Non-
commissioned Officer Wollny of the 7th Company of the
regiment.
2. On the evening of August 22nd, in the village of
Rossignol, a corporal of the 5th Company was fired at from
behind by a civilian with a shot-gun, and wounded.
3. At nightfall on August 23rd, Non-commissioned Officer
Wilde of the 7th Company was dispatched with a detach-
ment to Les BuUes to fetch straw for the bivouacs. On
entering the village these men were fired at by the in-
habitants. Orders were thereupon given to set fire to the
place, and these were partially carried out.
4. Musketeer Adolf of the 7th Company discovered at
Tintigny a musketeer of Regiment No. 38 tied to a fence
with his skull split open. After considerable search our
men discovered in the vicinity a bloodstained axe.
Signed : Guhr, Major and Battalion Com-
mander.
App. 24.
Report of 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 157.
Captain Rumland, Leader of the nth Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 157, declares :
When on August 22nd, 191 4, I was attached to the
heavy baggage, and this was compelled to halt a little way
from Tintigny, I noticed a cart on which lay the body of the
reservist Franke, 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 38.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 23
The helmet was driven in, and in Franke's skull was a S(^uare
hole, caused by the pickaxe which was lying near him.
This axe was smeared with blood, and the point fitted
exactly into the hole in the skull. Franke had been slain
m this way. Some soldiers present in Tintigny had found
Franke's dead body tied to a fence, and made a report of
this.
We officers held a court-martial for the examination of
some twenty persons who had buried the executed Belgian
civilians by the roadside, in order to investigate more
thoroughly the circumstances of Franke's death. The
court was presided over by the president of the Court-
Martial of the 12th Division. For this purpose we brought
these people with us into a field ; on the way one of the
prisoners sprang over a bridge into a stream with a stony
bed, and was killed instantly. Our investigation was
fruitless. We could not determine who was the guilty
man. In my belief Franke was slain by the man who leapt
over the bridge. The people who buried the executed
Belgians made use of a pickaxe which exactly resembled
the one which was lying near the slaughtered soldier, Franke.
Signed : Engelien, Captain and Battalion
Leader.
App. 25.
Military Court Examination of Lieutenant von Lindeiner
(otherwise von Wildau), Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.
Proceedings at Binarville, September 2^th, 1914.
Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.
There appeared as witness Lieutenant von Lindeiner
(otherwise von Wildau), Field Artillery Regiment No. 6,
who, after he had been informed of the object of the
examination, made the following statement :
As to Person : My Christian names are Hans Erdmann.
I am 31 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : About August 20th of this year I was
quartered with the Staff of my regiment at Thibesart, and
was summoned to act as interpreter in the examination of
a woodman called Bienveler, on whom concealed cartridges
were discovered, although he had denied his possession of
any. The soldiers who had fetched him brought some of the
cartridges with them, and I ascertained that a portion of
them had been opened and then again closed, a common
24 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
practice amongst foresters. From one of the cartridges
which I opened the small shot had been drawn and pieces
of lead, cut up small, loaded in their place. This loading
had evidently taken place quite recently, because the rough
edges of the bits of lead still looked bright and silvery. As
I was informed, several of our patrols were on this and the
preceding day fired at from the wood at Thibesart, amongst
them that of Captain von Richthosen, Mounted Jager
Regiment No. ii, despite the fact that no enemy soldiers
were in the neighbourhood.
In the fight at Rossignole Tintigny on the 22nd August
I rode with Colonel von Zglinicki into the village of Tintigny.
Near us marched a portion of Grenadier Regiment No. 11,
and field-kitchens were standing on the road. From one
of the first houses on the left of our line of march a woman,
standing in the doorway, called out to me some words like
these, ' ' Est-ce que nous sommes surs, ici. Monsieur ? " As
I was just going to answer her, from this very same direction
two shots passed just in front of and behind my body. At
the same instant I saw on the first storey of this same house
two men in civilian clothes who opened on the German
troops a vigorous fire and had apparently fired the shots at
me. My horse made a spring forward where, on the right,
a side street joined the main one. From all the windows
of this street I myself, like all the rest of our German soldiers
who were blocked at this spot, came under a vigorous fire.
None of the enemy troops were to be seen, but, on the other
hand, civilians, firing from a number of windows. I am
also convinced that I noticed a machine-gun served by
civilians at the first-floor window of a house some twenty
paces from myself. I observed with my own eyes that a
considerable number of our soldiers were wounded by this
fire. We were obviously dealing here with a concerted co-
operation of the inhabitants, for it was after the two first
shots that a simultaneous fusillade broke out throughout
the village.
I was then sent back, and on the way came again under
fire from the houses of the next village which lay beside the
road, running from north to south. This village, Ansart
or Marinsart, lay to the north. I got some men of the Light
Munitions Column (Field Artillery Regiment No. 42) to
break down the fastened doors, and discovered in the
house from which the shots had come six or eight civilians,
none of whom were soldiers or women.
About an hour afterwards I received orders to lead the
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 25
2nd detachment, Field Artillery Regiment No. 6, on the
north side of the road leading to east and west, past the
same village to a position to the west of the village. I
asked for and received an infantry escort of the Rode
Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 10. In carrying out
our orders we were here exposed to a continuous fire, despite
the fact that no French or Belgian soldiers were to be found
in the village. In detail I made the following accurate
observations :
In several places beds were lying in the gardens, and
from behind these beds, which were evidently placed there
as a protection, fire was opened upon us.
At another place three persons in women's clothes
advanced towards us and then disappeared behind a
bush. I had time to call out, "Don't shoot; they are
women." At the same instant we were fired at from this
bush also.
At the end of the village two or three cows came into a
garden towards us, and at once two shots were fired at us
from the direction of the cows. We then saw that, shelter-
ing behind a cow, a man had also approached and fired at
us. This man was shot dead by one of our infantrymen.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Lindeiner (otherwise von Wildau) .
Signed : von Buttlar, ist Lieutenant and
Regimental Adjutant.
Signed : von Zglinicki, President of the Court.
App. 26.
Report of loth Company, Infantry Regiment No. 10.
BiNARViLLE, September 2^th, 1914.
There appeared as witness Fusilier Helmyss, and made
the following statement :
After the fight of August 22nd, 191 4, I passed with some
comrades through St. Vincent. We were fired upon by
civilians, and thereupon forced our way into a house. We
here found on tables and window-sills a great deal of
sporting ammunition, consisting of discharged cartridge
cases and loaded cartridges.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed ; Gottfried Helmyss.
Signed : Traue, Lieutenant and Company
Leader.
26 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
There appeared as witness the reservist Stellmacher,
who made the following statement :
At Thibesart I was sent into the village to fetch a pail of
water. I there entered a house and found several large
pails full of leaden bullets. I thereupon made a closer
search with some of my comrades. We found in this
spot a large quantity of sporting ammunition, and behind
a wardrobe several sporting-guns hidden away. On the floor
lay strewn about discharged cartridge cases.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : August Stellmacher.
Signed : Traue, Lieutenant and Company
Leader.
App. 27.
Statement of Captain von Rode, Grenadier Regiment
No. 10.
Binarville, September 2^th, 1914.
There appeared as witness Captain von Rode, ist
Battalion, Grenadier Regiment No. 10, who made the
following statement :
On August 22nd, in the fight at Tintigny, the ist Com-
pany of Grenadier Regiment No. 10 was acting as escort
for artillery near Ansart. When the artillery was pushed
forward a hot fire was opened on the infantry men by the
civiUans of the place.
Lieutenant von Lindeiner, Foot Artillery Regiment
No. 6, requested the company to proceed with the battery
through the village as they could not pass through it with-
out the protection of an infantry escort. The company
was likewise met by shots the moment it entered the place.
The firing was especially violent from the mill, which was
occupied by some thirty men, with women and children. A
number of persons, before the company arrived on the
scene, ran oft through the bushes, carrying guns with them.
Guns that were discovered were of quite recent manu-
facture from Liege. While the company was clearing the
mill it was suddenly fired at from the cellar windows and
roof windows of the big white house which lay obliquely
opposite. A portion of the shots struck the artillery
equipment. Two small detachments, which at once
stormed the house, shot down three civilians armed
with guns, who were trying to escape from the back
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 27
through the garden. Their guns were new, and came
from Li^ge.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : von Rode.
The proceedings were as above described.
Signed : Kruppe, Lieutenant and Adjutant, ist
BattaUon, Grenadier Regiment
No. 10.
App. 28.
Report of 3rd Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 62
(78th Infantry Brigade) .
1. Major Schwerb of the 3rd BattaUon, Infantry Regi-
ment No. 62, states :
On August 23rd, after I had placed the wounded Lieu-
tenant RochoU on a waggon in order to convey him to a
Medical Corps Company, at least twenty shots were fired at
him and myself. The house from which the shots issued was
thereupon to a large extent destroyed by the fire of a battery
which happened to be passing through the village. On the
same evening the battalion, which was marching through
Frenois in the dark, was fired upon, again obviously by
inhabitants, from roof windows and trees.
2. Captain Rothe of the 9th Company of the regiment
states :
On August 23rd civilians opened fire on the water-
carriers of the 9th Company from the village of Rossignol,
which was already occupied by German troops. The
leader of the water-carriers was Sergeant Flashar. In
consequence, the civilians were taken prisoners by the men
of Infantry Regiment No. 157. On August 23rd Cyclist
Heinrich was similarly fired at by civilians in the village of
Les Bulles, after a considerable force of German troops had
already marched through the place.
3. Lieutenant Stuth of the nth Company states :
On August 23rd, when the 3rd Battalion had withdrawn
from Les Bulles, I led the 12th Company to Frenois. We
halted in the village street to wait for the other companies,
which I fetched up by orders of Major Schwerk, as Adjutant-
Lieutenant Rocholl had been severely wounded. In the
meantime, the company was suddenly and unexpectedly
assailed by shots fired from the wmdows by inhabitants.
Further, as I was riding along through the village, one
28 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
of the inhabitants called me to him, but I rode on at a gallop,
and was fired at from behind.
Signed : v. Poser.
App. 29.
Report ot Field Artillery Regiment No. 21 (12th Field
Artillery Brigade).
Nauroy, October i^th, 1914.
Captain Blumenthal, Commander of the Light Munitions
Column (2nd Division), reports :
On August 24th, during the advance, the column halted
at Jamoigne for a considerable time, to water the horses^
A number of the inhabitants who still remained in the
village were standing in front of the doors and behaved in a
friendly manner. Water, coffee, and tobacco were offered
to some of the officers and men. While the watering of the
horses was going on, two shots came from a house in front
of which a short time previously an elderly man and a
woman had been sitting. The shots were apparently fired
at the two officers who were standing close to the house.
Lieutenants Kloass and Luozny. These two shots gave
the signal for a general fusillade from the skylights and
windows of the houses. W^ile the pioneers, who had
been attached on the march for escort, forced their way
into the houses, the column was pushed forward in order
to make room in the village, which had been at once set
on fire, for the other column marching behind it. One man
of the column and two horses were wounded.
Signed : Warneke.
App. 30.
Report of Medical Corps Company No. i, VI. Army Corps
(nth Infantry Division).
Bivouac at Lan^on, September 24th, 1914.
On August 24th, during the advance of the Army Corps
through Jamoigne, the Medical Corps Company received
the order to take charge of the German and French wounded,
who had been conveyed into a hospital and a convent. On
entering the hospital the senior Surgeon and Commander
were received by a Belgian civilian doctor. He declared
that he had only been able to afford the wounded poor
attention, because he lacked medical personnel, bandages.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 29
and provisions. Questions addressed to the Germans in
hospital revealed the fact that the wounded had not been
attended to by the local doctor for three days. When our
senior Surgeon remarked that in practice splints ought to
have been used for the wound of one of the patients, the
doctor replied that he possessed no material of this kind.
The non-commissioned officer accompanying the senior
Surgeon opened a wardrobe and found splints inside.
The German wounded, among them the adjutant of
the ist mounted detachment Field Artillery Regiment
No. II, declared they had had little to eat. The Sisters in
the convent alleged that they possessed only a meagre
quantity of provisions ; at the same time they informed
us that women and children had been collected into the
cellar after their flight from the village. These statements
of theirs did not arouse any feelings whatever of distrust.
After the whole of the wounded, and, at the request of the
Sisters, also a few poor old folk in the village had been fed
from our field-kitchen, and medical treatment of the wounded
was still taking place, shots were fired at the stretcher-
bearers halted in the convent garden from the tower of the
convent, a thicket in the convent garden, and the roof
windows of the hospital some 500 metres away.
Meanwhile a detachment of stretcher-bearers pro-
ceeded to the convent with the special order to search it
thoroughly from the cellar to the attics and tower. The
firing here at once ceased. In the search of the convent
there were found in the cellar not only children and women,
but also men, and, beside these, a particularly large quantity
of eggs — three kegs holding 750 each.
Another detachment advanced towards the thicket in
the convent gardens lying close by the convent. Here two
elderly men were discovered standing up to their waists in
a stream which flowed through the thicket. Both these
men had guns which they threw into the water the instant
they were caught by the detachment ; the pair of them
were shot outside the convent precincts.
For protection against the firing from the hospital on
the other side of the principal street of the village, the
Medical Corps Company went into a narrow court belonging
to the convent. While this was in progress, shots were fired
also from the roof windows of the houses lying opposite
the convent garden and near the hospital. This fire was
diverted from the Medical Corps Company by the passage
through the village of a munitions column.
30 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
The Medical Corps Company quitted Jamoigne and
bivouacked outside the village, taking with it the German
wounded and the lightly wounded French who might still
be able to bear arms. The two priests and the doctor of
the village, as well as all the male inhabitants found in the
cellar of the convent, were carried off to the bivouac for
greater security.
With the exception of the convent and the hospital, the
houses from which shots had been fired were burned to the
ground. During the conflagration a great many explosions
occurred. It may be assumed that in the course of the fire
quantities of ammunition exploded, which had been stored
in the houses.
Signed : Brettner, Captain and Column Com-
mander.
App. 31.
Report of Captain Larrass, commanding 9th Foot Artillery
Munitions Column, and of ist Lieutenant Reichel,
commanding 5th Artillery Munitions Column ; also
the Military Court Examination of Lieutenant-
Colonel Hiibner and Sergeant-Major Peschke.
Eastern Camp, Siffone, October 2nd, 1914.
9th Foot Artillery Munitions Column.
Report.
On August 23rd, 1 91 4, the 9th Foot Artillery Munitions
Column was bivouacked at Sorrinnes in Belgium at 7.30 p.m.
As it was becoming dark the inhabitants of the village,
whose behaviour had been extremely quiet the whole
afternoon, treacherously and maliciously opened fire on the
bivouac. In accordance with my orders, during the after-
noon a young man was seized in a house in which an old
man of seventy, alleged to be at the point of death, was lying
on a bed. This was done because suspicious noises were
audible in the house. In the evening the column was
fired at, and more particularly from this house. In the
course of this attack of the inhabitants upon the column,
not only small shot was fired, but also bullets, which exploded
on impact.
Signed : Larrass, Captain and Commander of
the 9th Foot Artillery Munitions
Column.
APFS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 31
SiFFONE, November 1st, 1914.
5th Artillery Munitions Column, XII. Army Corps.
On the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, the 5th Artillery
Munitions Column occupied a bivouac at the western exit
from Sorrinnes. Throughout the day no villagers showed
themselves ; on the contrary, the village appeared to be
completely abandoned. At nightfall, about 9 p.m., the
entire column, bivouacked near Sorrinnes, was from all
sides suddenly fired upon by the inhabitants from the
houses or from the roof windows and from hedges.
Signed : Reichel, ist Lieutenant and Column
Commander.
Berrieux, October ^th, 1914.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary of the Court, Lips.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hiibner as witness made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Max Friedrich Hiibner. I am
60 years of age ; Protestant ; Lieutenant-Colonel (Active
List) and Commander of the ist Munitions Column Division,
XII. Army Corps.
As to Case : On August 22nd, 1914, in command of the
munitions column detachment of the ist Foot Artillery
Regiment No. 9, I arrived with my staff at our quarters at
Yschippe in Belgium. We numbered about 18 men and
14 horses. Beside ourselves. Munitions Column No. 5 was
bivouacked to the south of the village, while Column No. 6
at the other end had been actually brought inside the
village. The staff was quartered apart from the other
troops in the neighbourhood of the church in two adjacent
buildings. The occupants of these houses, both men and
women, met me in a very friendly spirit.
At nine o'clock I lay down to sleep in my room on the
first floor. At 1 1 .30 I was awakened by a noise in the house,
and my non-commissioned officer informed me that shots had
been fired. As I myself had heard nothing, I did not believe
the story, and returned to bed. Scarcely had I extinguished
the light when a gun was fired, and the shot struck against
the window-panes. I then alarmed all the men, and ordered
the unharnessed waggon to be pushed crossways over the
street, and the Mayor and six inhabitants to be brought
32 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
to me as hostages, and tied together one pace apart from
each other. I informed these persons that they would be
placed in a line across the street if a single other shot was
fired. The wives of the hostages took care that this state-
ment of mine was made known throughout the place.
After this, no more shooting occurred, and next day I left
the village without further molestation.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hubner.
The witness was then sworn.
SiFFONE, October sth, 1914.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary of the Court, Lips.
There appeared as witness Sergeant-Major Peschke,
who made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Karl Friedrich August
Peschke. I am 33 years old ; Protestant ; a merchant of
table-glass ; at present Sergeant-Major of the 6th (Foot)
Artillery Munitions Column.
As to Case : From the 22nd-23rd August 1914 we lay at
Yschippe ; our waggons had been driven to the western
exit of the place. I had myself at first found quarters in
the village, and found my hosts there apparently friendly.
But after I had learnt that already on the preceding day
shooting had taken place, I determined to pass the night
in bivouac. There we came under fire about 11.45 p.m.
from the direction of Corbion, at a distance of some 500-600
metres to the west of us. I at once ordered the watch to
seek shelter and reply vigorously to the fire, which then in a
short time ceased. After about a quarter of an hour the
firing recommenced, and, indeed, more actively than before.
When I myself with four men advanced towards our
assailants they fled in the direction of Corbion. When we
reached the hedge from behind which firing had taken place
our assailants were already from 100-200 metres away. I
recognised unmistakably that these persons were civilians,
and not soldiers.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Peschke.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 33
App. 32.
Report of Senior Staff-Surgeon Kaiser, Surgeon-in-Chief,
Field Hospital No. 2, XH. Army Corps.
Amifontaine, October ^rd, 1914.
Field Hospital No. 2 of the XII. Army Corps, posted at
Sorinnes was, on the evening of the following day, between
7 and 8 o'clock, fired upon by armed inhabitants from the
park of the castle. The shots came from the thicket im-
mediately behind the castle courtyard. The fire was aimed
at the personnel of the hospital, who were engaged in cook-
ing in a large house next to the park. As I myself, with
hospital inspector Voigt, entered the park in order to see
after the cooking, we were fired at.
Signed : Dr. Kaiser, Senior Staff-Surgeon and
Surgeon-in-Chief.
App. 33.
Report of Senior Staff-Surgeon Esche, Field Hospital 7,
No. 73, X. Army Corps.
On August 24th, towards 6 p.m., a column on the march
was at Biesme fired upon by inhabitants from the houses
of the village. A detachment of some 50 men of Infantry
Regiment No. 164, which was guarding 216 prisoners in the
castle garden in which the Field Hospital No. 7 was posted,
moved out in order to restore quiet, while for the time being
lightly wounded men undertook the guarding of the prisoners.
Sergeant Kortebein and two drivers of Field Hospital No. 7,
Schmidt and Dietrich, saw shots fired from two of the
houses.
According to the statement of the lady occupying the
castle of Gougnies, in which the medical officers and officials
of the field hospital were quartered, the Conseiller provinciel
at Gougnies, Adelin Piret, had distributed to the inhabitants
the weapons stored up at the Mairie. Shots were fired from
the village at a column marching through it.
Signed : Esche, Senior Staff - Surgeon and
Surgeon-in-Chief.
34 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
App. 34.
Report of ist Lieutenant Balterman, commanding
Military Pack Cohimn No. 6, X. Army Corps, ist
Train Division of the X. Army Corps.
On August 23rd, 1 91 4, at Le Roux, Military Park
Column No. 6 of the X. Army Corps was fired at several
times from a house. The assailants escaped. On August
24th the column was iired upon at Biesme from the flanks
and the rear. Moreover, a side street was closed against us
by some twelve armed civilians. These armed civilians were
shot and several houses burnt down.
On August 24th the column was exposed to a very hot
fire at Lanesse and Somzee. A number of civilians were
shot and several houses burnt down.
Signed : Battermann, ist Lieutenant and
Column Commander.
App. 35-
Military Court Examination of Lieutenant Henry Miiller
attached to the Telephone Section of the XII. Army
Corps.
Guignicourt, October gth, 1914.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
There appeared as witness Lieutenant of Reserve Miiller,
and was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Johannes Henry Miiller.
I am a student of physics ; 28 years of age ; Protestant ;
Lieutenant of Reserve attached to the Telephone Section
of the XII. Army Corps.
As to Case : The following statement, dated October
7th, was read over to the witness :
On August 22nd there was an interruption in the
telephone connection to Conneaux. Corporal Lorenze
and another cyclist were dispatched on bicycles to remove
the cause of this interruption. The two cyclists were fired
upon at close quarters in front of a wood. The search of
the farm, carried out by Lieutenant Miiller (Telephone
Section XIL)> with a platoon of infantry, proved to be
without result. According to the unanimous reports of
soldiers, who were met on the way, a number of civiHans
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 35
came out of the wood immediately after the shots had been
fired. A further search was set on foot, and the telephone
cable was found to be cut right through at the place where
the shots had been fired.
The witness thereupon made the following statement :
I am the Lieutenant Miiller mentioned above. I was
quartered in the castle of Conneaux ; the little wood lay
about 400 metres away from the castle. After the shots
had been fired, the cyclists at once returned to me. Within
a few minutes of their arrival the pursuit could already be
set on foot, because the platoon of infantry mentioned in
my report was ready at hand for employment as an escort.
Only for this reason is it possible to furnish a definite state-
ment as to the time and place when the civilians were met
in the road lying behind.
The men who fired had only one covered line of retreat,
i.e. a road not under our observation, which I afterwards
used in my pursuit. All the soldiers whom I met on this
road gave a nearly unanimous description of some eight or
ten civilians whom they had seen quickly running away.
The approach of nightfall prevented their capture.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Johannes Henry MOller, Lieutenant
of Reserve.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
App. 36.
Military Court Examination of Sergeant Ebers, 3rd
Guard Field Artillery Regiment.
Berlin, November 12th, 1914.
Proceedings held at the barracks of the 3rd Guard Field
Artillery Regiment.
There appeared after citation Sergeant of Landwehr IL
Georg Ebers, office assistant in the chief office of the Great
Berlin Tramways, at this time attached to the 4th Reserve
Battery, 3rd Guard Field Artillery Regiment. The witness,
being duly sworn on oath, made the following statement :
On August 23rd, 1 914, when non-commissioned officer
attached to the 5th Battery, ist Guard Reserve Field
Artillery Regiment, I was wounded in the neighbourhood
of Namur. On the next day, August 24th, I was brought
36 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
to the 2nd Field Hospital, XL Army Corps, which occupied
the convent at Champion, near Namur. On the evening of
this day, when everything was already quiet, there com-
menced at 10 o'clock a general fusillade. The window-
panes were shot through, and we noticed the flash of the
guns from the houses lying opposite. I myself in some
ten cases saw civilians firing upon us from windows and
skylights in three houses lying opposite to the wings of the
convent. When the firing began, the soldiers of the medical
corps and the lightly wounded, of whom I was one, assembled
round the doctor in the corridor. We next looked for the
convent Sisters, who had disappeared, and found them
hidden in the cellar. We brought them into our midst and
betook ourselves to the main entrance with the intention
of making a sally. Meanwhile a Belgian and a French
doctor, both of whom were prisoner-inmates of the hospital,
advanced to the door and there addressed the population
in the hope of quieting them. The firing thereupon
diminished ; but as we entered the street in order to search
the village with the aid of men belonging to the munitions
column encamped in the vicinity, the firing began afresh
and continued till about ii o'clock in the evening. At
night, about lo, houses from which shots had come were set
on fire. At daybreak we ascertained that the outside walls
of the convent showed numerous marks of shot. Further,
we found in a house occupied by a priest, lying opposite
the chief entrance of the convent, about 40 cases of dynamite
and some 30 cases of cartridges. I was present, and saw
with my own eyes how our artillerymen ascertained the
number and contents of the cases.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Georg Ebers.
Proceedings took place as above.
Signed : Guradze, Lieutenant of Landwehr
Artillery II. and Officer of the
Court.
App. 37.
Military Court Examination of Acting-Sergeant-Major
Schulze, Corporal Spans, and the Grenadiers Wenzel,
Kachel, Pfeiffer, Wittstadt, and Wilhelmy, all of
Infantry Regiment No. 93.
Proceedings in Berlin, September 18th, 1914.
There appeared as witnesses Acting-Sergeant-Major
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 37
Schulze, 9th Company, Corporal Spans, 12th Company, the
Grenadiers Wenzel, 5th, Kachel, 9th, Pfeiffer and Wittstadt,
1 2th, and Wilhelmy, 5th Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 93, and made the following statements in the official
deposition :
On August 24th, 1 91 4, we were wounded inmates,
together with Belgian and French wounded, of the Convent
of Champion, which was arranged as a hospital. After
the withdrawal of our troops, there remained on the evening
of August 24th only a Light Munitions Column in the direct
neighbourhood of the convent. No sentries were posted.
Towards 10 o'clock in the evening a hot fire was suddenly
opened on the main entrance and windows of the convent.
I, Acting-Sergeant- Major Schulze, was awaked by the shots,
and proceeded to the main door, and there heard the whistle
of bullets as they passed. I then returned to fetch my
weapons. When I again reached the exit, the Light Muni-
tions Column had already commenced operations. Previous
to this, as Grenadiers Wilhelmy and Wenzel had heard, the
Belgian doctor, who was also an inmate of the convent,
had gone into the courtyard and addressed to the shooters
concealed from view a demand that they should cease fire.
As the doctor, however, re-entered the convent, the firing
continued.
The Light Munitions Column now cleared the courtyard
and its surroundings, captured several francs-tireurs, who
were proved to have formed the firing-party, carried out
a search of the neighbouring houses, made absolutely
certain that the shots had come from these, and then, as
punishment, set the houses on fire.
We may also observe that on August 25th a search of
all the houses in the village was undertaken, in the course
of which several cases of dynamite and ammunition were dis-
covered in the house of the priest. The dynamite was rendered
harmless by the artillerymen of the Light Munitions Column.
The priest was left for two days under guard by the Light
Munitions Column, and then once more set at liberty.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Schulze, Spans, Wenzel, Kachel,
Pfeiffer, Wittstadt, Wil-
helmy.
The proceedings took place as above.
Signed : Hilsmann, Lieutenant and Adjutant,
Reserve Battalion, Reserve In-
fantry Regiment No. 93.
38 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Acting-Sergeant-Major Schulze, together with Corporal
Spans and the soldiers Kachel and Wittstadt, came before
the Court after citation, and were to-day sworn to the pre-
ceding declaration.
Berlin, November nth, 1914.
Officer of the Court :
Signed : Hilsmann, Lieutenant and Adjutant.
Secretary of the Court :
Signed : Jumperts, Non-commissioned Oihcer of
Landwehr.
App. 38.
Statement of Major Heltzer, i8th Reserve Hussar Regiment
and Leader of the Heavy Baggage, 32nd Infantry
Division.
On the early afternoon of August 25th, 1914, the Heavy
Baggage of the staff, 32nd Infantry Division, after a con-
siderable halt at the S.W. exit of the village of Anthee, was
in the act of getting ready to move off. Very suddenly
a vigorous fire was opened upon it on several sides from
houses and from a thicket in the vicinity.
All the men of the divisional baggage were equipped
with rifles and sent ahead through the houses, in order to
protect the waggons as they moved off. Later on, a detach-
ment of infantry arrived on the scene, which occupied the
village and relieved our men.
Of this infantry detachment half a platoon was assigned
to act as escort of the Heavy Baggage.
2. When shortly afterwards the head of the baggage
column reached the neighbouring village of Rosee, here, too,
it was assailed by a vigorous fire from houses and gardens
and from a neighbouring copse. I ordered a search to be
made of a farm standing on the road from which an ex-
tremely hot fire had previously come. Inside were found
a man, a woman, and two half-grown boys. The man and
the woman were shot while attempting to escape.
No Belgian or French troops of any kind were present
either in Anthee or Rosee.
The attacks on our troops were always made from
ambush, and gave one the appearance of a general and con-
certed co-operation ; they were usually preceded by a shot,
fired as a signal.
Signed: Heltzer.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 39
App. 39.
Statement of ist Lieutenant Stiemcke, commanding
Military Train Column 7, X. Army Corps, attached to
Train Section i, X. Army Corps.
On August 26th, 1 914, when the column, in conjunction
with the 2nd Echelon, approached the village of Silenrieux,
it was immediately fired upon by members of the civilian
population from the church tower. It was therefore neces-
sary for our riflemen to advance against the place. When
these accordingly replied to the fire, shooting took place
from a number of houses in the village.
Signed : Stiemcke, ist Lieutenant and Column
Commander.
App. 40.
Statement of ist Lieutenant Schumann, commanding
Military Train Column No. 4, X. Army Corps, attached
to Train Division No. i, X. Army Corps.
On the night of 2ist-22nd August, 1914, the Military
Train Columns Nos. i and 4 bivouacked in front of Fleurus.
A soldier standing at his post was dangerously wounded
in his ear by a shot fired by a civilian, who had crept up
under cover of a straw stack. The civilian escaped in the
darkness.
On August 26th, 1 914, the column proceeded on its
march to Verguies through the village of Silenrieux. The
inhabitants met our troops on the march in a kindly and
well-disposed manner. At the exit of the village towards
Verguies the column was forced to halt for some time. At
this point the ofiicers of the column, which was halting in
front of the church, noticed that the church roof was parti-
ally uncovered on the side next to the street. The village
itself did not show any signs of damage in the case of the
houses lying on the other main street. When the advance
of the column was resumed, the last section, as it passed
the church and the houses lying near it, was suddenly fired
upon. To meet this surprise attack the riflemen of the
column were deployed and opened fire upon the church and
the houses from which the shots had come.
As at least 30 to 40 shots were fired from the church
tower, it is impossible that this could have happened with-
40 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
out the knowledge of the priest. The surprise attack gave
one the impression of having been thoroughly prepared in
advance.
Signed : Schumann, ist Lieutenant and Com-
mander.
App.41.
Statement of Lieutenant Deule, Telephone Section,
X. Army Corps.
On August 22nd I, with my platoon of the Telephone
Section, X. Army Corps, was marching from Tongrinne to
the Chateau of Quiltremont via Tamines. Towards 5 p.m.
I found myself with my platoon on the street of Vignees
at Tamines at the spot where, on the right side of our line
of march, a long stretch of the street is skirted b^^ a manu-
factory. At this point my platoon, which was marching
alone, was suddenly assailed by a hot, but badly aimed,
fire from the church and from a large building lying off the
road to the left, and easily recognised by its Red Cross flags.
I at once ordered my platoon to take up a position under
cover, and then dispatched flanking patrols on the right and
left against the buildings indicated above. In the vicinity
of my men we ascertained for certain that a considerable
number of armed civilians had retired in hasty flight into
a wood behind the buildings, so that it was impossible for us
to open an effective fire on those persons. My official duties
prevented me from undertaking the pursuit ; neverthe-
less, I had a brief account of these incidents written with
chalk on the big gates of a factory in this place to serve as
a warning to any detachments of German troops who
might follow us.
Signed : Deule, Lieutenant.
App. 42.
Statement of Acting-Sergeant-Major and Officer-Substitute
Mackemehl, 4th Battery, Field Artillery Regiment
No. 4.
On the afternoon of August 26th we halted with the
" heavy baggage " (we had also with us the baggage of
Infantry Regiments Nos. 177 and 178 and of Field Artillery
Regiment No. 28) at Convin, north of Nocroi. The in-
fantry baggage behind us was fired upon from a house on
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 41
the right of our line of march. On searching the house, we
found that the only inmates were three civilians, who were
in possession of weapons and cartridges.
Signed : Mackemehl.
App. 43.
Statement of Lieutenant Huck, commanding Horse Depot
No. 2, X. Army Corps (2nd Train Detachment No. 10,
X. Army Corps).
On August 24th, 1914, at 8.30 p.m. I entered Acoz
with my Horse Depot No. 2. I then with the unmounted
men and non-commissioned officers endeavoured to secure
stabling for the horses. I came across only a very few people ;
these were extremely friendly, and offered me milk without
payment and water for washing. The only exception was
the village priest. The large size of his house and courtyard
rendered them in my opinion very suitable as quarters for
men and horses. He received me very curtly, showed me
the Red Cross brassard on his arm — this had no official
stamp — and declared that he had no room for me. His
behaviour and manner displeased me, and at once rendered
me suspicious. Most of the houses appeared to be aban-
doned, and were shut up : so I saw it was necessary to
break down the doors and find suitable accommodation.
When I had brought most of my horses under shelter, and
only a few were still standing in the street, a heavy fire was
suddenly opened upon us from the windows and houses.
I saw the flashes of the rifles coming from the upper windows
of almost every house in the street in which I myself was
standing. My sergeant-major and I heard quite clearly
the whistling of bullets round our heads. I ordered my
troops to reply to the fire, which on the side of the assailants
died out after about three-quarters of an hour. I directed
the especial attention of some of my men to the priest's
house. They accordingly forced their way in and found
the priest and, further, two other men hidden in the loft.
According to the soldiers' statements, these persons had
also weapons in their possession. They were handcuffed
and handed over to the munitions column, whose men had
joined in the fighting and advanced against the house. I
was told that the priest and the two other men were shot
42 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
next day. On more careful search cartridges, both dis-
charged and loaded, were found on their persons.
Signed : HucK, Lieutenant and Commander,
Horse Depot 2, X. Army Corps.
App. 44.
Statement of Captam Liidke, commanding 2nd Train
Detachment, X. Army Corps.
On August 24th, 1914, the 2nd Echelon of Trains had
assigned to it for quarters the villages of Acoz and Joncret.
The staff of the 2nd Train Section, X. Army Corps, and
Horse Depot No. 2, occupied quarters in Acoz. On our
arrival at Acoz at 8.30 p.m. there was scarcely a villager to
be seen in the street. The doors and windows of the houses
were shut. After the horses had been brought into a barn
opposite the church, the three staff officers took up their
quarters in the empty and open house of the doctor, which
was also opposite the church, but on the other side of the
square. The men of the Horse Depot were still engaged
in bringing their horses into the side street. When we
officers had been in the house about half an hour, a hot fire
was, as if by word of command, opened upon the doctor's
house in which we were quartered and on the Horse Depot.
The shots came from all the windows of the houses which lay
opposite, and from those of the side street, in which a part
of the Horse Depot had already taken up their quarters,
though some were yet in the street. At this moment an
artillery munitions cohimn marched through Acoz past the
square near the church. These troops were in the same
way assailed by the fire of the inhabitants. In conjunction
with the men of the Horse Depot and this munitions column
we advanced against the houses from which shots were still
being fired. At last the firing ceased. All the front doors
were shut, and had to be burst open ; all the back doors
which led into gardens or the open fields stood open. When
the houses were searched there were found in the priest's
house the priest himself and two men, whom he had hidden
in the loft, with cartridges in their possession. The priest
and these two men were taken off by the munitions column,
which continued its march. The houses from which shots
had come were set on fire. The staff of the 2nd Train Section
and Horse Depot No. 2 occupied quarters in Serpinnes. Next
day I dispatched Non-commissioned Officer Trapp and
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 43
Corporal Bolhof from the staff of the 2nd Train Section to
Joncret with orders. At Acoz, which they passed on the way,
they were informed by several non-commissioned officers and
men of the artillery munitions column and by an artillery
non-commissioned officer, that in the town hall, which lies
near the doctor's house, several cases of dynamite had
been discovered and some hundreds of guns and cart-
ridges in packets. Each packet bore a label with the name
of the townsman to whom they were assigned. The
artillery munitions column took possession of these objects.
Signed : Ludke, Major and Commander, 2nd
Train Section, X. Army Corps.
App. 45.
Military Court Examination of ist Lieutenant Miiller,
Lieutenant Schroder, and Gunner Huismann, all of
the 5th Artillery Munitions Column, X. Army Corps.
Present :
Lieutenant Maack, Officer of the Court.
Non-commissioned Officer, Schutte, Secretary.
AvAUX, November 20th, 1914.
With respect to the incidents which occurred during
the surprise attack at Acoz, the under-mentioned witnesses,
after the importance and sanctity of the oath had been
pointed out, were examined as follows :
I. I st Lieutenant Miiller.
As to Person : My name is Richard Miiller. I am 36
years of age ; Protestant ; brewery director in Hanover ;
ist Lieutenant and Leader of the 5th Artillery Munitions
Column, X. Army Corps.
x\s to Case : Towards 10 p.m. on August 24th, 1914, I
was marching with my column through the village of Acoz.
I allowed my men to dismount here, because in front of
me the 3rd Foot Artillery Munitions Column, X. Army
Corps, were watering their horses. At the moment when
I gave my men the order to mount again, the column was
assailed by a vigorous fire from the houses of the village. In
my opinion some 30 to 40 shots were fired at once. They
were firing from shot-guns, for I could hear from the sound
of these shots that they were using small shot. As a
number of horses fell headlong, and various men were also
wounded, I endeavoured for the moment to get the column
44 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
again on the march. Meanwhile, with a detachment of
about twenty men, who had come to help from the neigh-
bourhood of the wireless station, I had the village searched.
During the search of the village three persons were
seized who had been found in the priest's house, two of
them indeed hidden in the loft. In examining these persons
I found on one of them called Boucher, or some name like
this, four discharged cartridges. According to the reports
of the soldiers, the priest, who was found amongst the cap-
tured men, strenuously denied that any people were with
him in the house ; he had also by gestures offered the
search-party money and drink to keep them back from
searching his house. He had also for the moment refused
them entrance into his house by pointing to a red cross
which he carried on his arm. None of these three persons
denied their participation in the attack. Some hours latei
there was found on the priest an invoice for the receipt of
an English revolver. These men were subsequently shot.
It is altogether out of the question that the surprise
attack could have been brought about by uniformed troops.
The Belgian-French army had already retired a long way,
and the village of Acoz had already been for several days
in German occupation.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Muller.
The witness was sworn.
2. Lieutenant Schroder.
As to Person : My name is Georg Schroder. I am 34
years old ; Protestant ; Lieutenant of Reserve, 5th Artillery
Munitions Column, X. Army Corps ; farmer in Nordermon,
Administrative District of Elsfieth.
As to Case : On August 24th I followed with the supple-
mentary platoon of the 5th Artillery Munitions Column
about an hour's distance on the road to Serpinnes. The
moment I arrived before the village of Acoz my platoon
was fired upon from the houses and from the high ground.
At Acoz, which meanwhile had been set on fire, I got into
contact with the column. I learnt that they had been fired
at, and that the village had been set on fire after the per-
petrators of the attack were found to be civihans. Three
persons were arrested — the parish priest and two others
called Bastin and Boucher. Since the leader of the column,
ist Lieutenant Miiller, had been wounded through a fall,
I did not know whether he had examined these persons,
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 45
and so examined them myself for our better security. The
three prisoners gave only unintelligible replies to my ques-
tions. I accordingly examined the soldiers who had taken
part in the affair. I ascertained that Bastin and Boucher
had been found hidden in the loft, where weapons and dis-
charged cartridges had also been discovered. As regards
the priest, it was reported to me that he had offered wine
and money to the soldiers as they were forcing their way
in, to deter them from searching his house. On the follow-
ing morning there was found on the priest a receipt with
reference to a revolver and 50 cartridges which had been
assigned to a garde champetre, or, through his agency, to
someone else. I had ordered a soldier to search all three
men, and personally discovered the paper in question in the
purse which was taken from the priest.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Georg Schroder.
The witness was sworn.
Concluded.
Signed : Maack, Lieutenant.
Signed : Schutte, Non-commissioned Officer.
App. 46.
Military Court Examination of Captain von Guaita,
Uhlan Westphal, and Sergeant Hammermeister, all
of Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2.
Bazancourt, November 22nd, 1914.
Court of the 2nd Guard Reserve Division.
Present :
President of the Court, Dr. Bernhold.
Secretary, Guntowsky.
There appeared before the Court the under-mentioned
witnesses, who, after the importance and sanctity of the
oath had been pointed out to them, made the following
statement :
I. Captain von Guaita, Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2.
As to Person : My name is Leon. I am 36 years old ;
Protestant.
As to Case : On August 22nd, 1914, I rode in company
with Lieutenant Feierabend, Dragoon Regiment No. i, at
the head of a troop of cavalry consisting of some twenty-
five Uhlans. Our orders were to reconnoitre the bridge at
Monceau sur Sambre. In the middle of the town of Monceau
46 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
sur Sambre, while we were both halted in the Rue Neuve, we
were suddenly assailed by a hot fire. Shots were fired at us
from all the windows of the houses and from cellar gratings.
As our men were falling around me I rode forward and
reached a side street. One man had been killed, four
wounded, and six horses were dead ; Lieutenant Feierabend
received a shot through the leg. I was unwounded, but my
map, which I held in my left hand, was pierced by two pellets.
This is a convincing proof of the fact that a sporting-gun
was used to fire at me. I am convinced that fire was
opened upon us at a prearranged signal.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : von Guaita.
The witness was sworn.
2. Sergeant Hammermeister, Reserve Uhlan Regiment
No. 2.
As to Person : My name is Hermann. I am 23 years
old; Protestant.
As to Case : On August 22nd of this year I was one of
the patrol led by ist Lieutenant von Guaita. Our orders
were to reconnoitre the bridge over the Sambre. When
we were in the middle of a street in Monceau sur Sambre
we were fired at on our front. My impression was that two
volleys were fired from the quarter in front of us. This
was clearly the signal for the fire now directed upon us
from the houses. Shots came from doors, windows, and
cellar openings. I saw a civilian standing in a doorway
and firing at us with a revolver. I saw no soldiers.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hammermeister.
The witness was sworn.
3. LThlan Westphal, Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2.
As to Person : My name is Wilhelm Westphal. I am
26 years old; Protestant.
As to Case : When the Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2
passed through Monceau sur Sambre I was acting as cyclist
in front of it. In the main street I immediately came
under fire from a house at the moment when I wanted to
ride back in order to report to the regiment that the patrol
under ist Lieutenant von Guaita had been assailed by a
hot fire. With some men of the Reserve Infantry Regi-
ment No. 15 I forced a way into the house from which the
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 47
shots had come, and there saw on the stairs a civiUan with
a gun in his hand. We at once shot this man.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Wilh. Westphal.
The witness was sworn.
The above is a true account of the proceedings.
Signed : Dr. Bernhold.
Signed : Guntowsky.
App. 47.
Military Court Examination of Captain Caspari, In-
fantry Regiment No. 75.
Present :
President of the Court, Lieutenant Sturenberg-
JUNG.
Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major Bannehr.
There appeared as witness Captain Caspari, who was
examined as follows :
When the head of the 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 75, to which I belonged, approached Hougaerde, it was
met by a person from the small town in priest's clothing.
He greeted me and declared that there were no more Belgian
troops in the place, and that the feelings of the inhabitants
were quite friendly towards us ; further, that we had no
reason to fear any surprise attack from them. My request
that he should act as our guide through Hougaerde was
obviously distasteful to this person ; nevertheless, he
imdertook to lead us.
During our march into the village the street was quite
empty, the window-shutters and doors closed, and the
window-apertures of a new house on the right were covered
with sacking. Just before we reached a bend in the street,
some 100 to 200 metres behind the railway crossing, the
priest sprang into a doorway. A man at the head of the
company. Musketeer Ernst Block, just managed to seize
him by his coat-tails and dragged him back. At the bend
we saw ourselves confronted by a street barricade at a dis-
tance of some 30 to 40 metres, and were at once met by
simultaneous volleys of fire from the houses on all sides,
and even from the rear. The priest was one of the first
who was mortally wounded by shots from the houses.
As I subsequently ascertained, the village had been
systematically arranged for defence. Houses and walls
48 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
were furnished with concealed and barely visible loopholes,
prepared beforehand by the population for a surprise attack
by fire at a fixed spot. That civilians took part in this
fighting I can personally guarantee, for I saw such persons
escaping through the gardens with weapons in their hands.
Moreover, several men were wounded by small shot.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Caspari.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Sturenberg-Jung.
Signed : Bannehr, Lieutenant and President
of the Court, Secretary.
App. 48.
Report of Captain Strauss, Grenadier Regiment No. 12
(3rd Infantry Division) .
Cond6, September 2^th, 1914.
On August i8th, after the retirement of the enemy, I rode
through the village of Capellen with my company and
heard shots being fired at my riflemen from a house behind
me — from the house itself and from the garden. While the
garden was being searched, the firing was renewed, and was
replied to by my men. A woman, whose dead body was
subsequently found in the garden, was a victim of this firing.
The firing from the house continued, though from what part
I could not determine. We found two men and some nine
women and children, all unarmed. There were no soldiers
in the house. I had the house set on fire, and, during the
conflagration, cartridges exploded four or five times in the
burning house.
After the decision of the regiment had been secured
next morning the inhabitants in question were set at liberty,
because they had not been found with weapons in their
hands, nor had any such persons been discovered in search-
ing the house.
The firing from the house and garden undoubtedly
occurred.
Signed : Strauss, Captain and Company
Leader.
App. 49.
Military Court Examination of Musketeer Peter Behle,
Infantry Regiment No. 16, Non-commissioned Ofiicer
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 49
Otto Biernirth, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 213,
War Volunteer Willi Kandt, Reserve Infantry Regi-
ment No. 201, War Volunteer Fritz Blum, Reserve
Infantry Regiment No. 233, and War Volunteer Franz
Breidbach, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 235.
Lennep, November lyth, 1914.
Konigliches Amtsgericht.
Present :
Amtsgerichtsrat Landsberg, Judge.
Referendar Weltman, Secretary.
At the Red Cross hospital at Lennep the under-men-
tioned witnesses were met, who, after the importance of
the oath had been pointed out to them, were examined as
follows :
1. Peter Behle, 20 years of age, Catholic, foreman
builder from Lennep, musketeer of the 6th Company.
Infantry Regiment No. 16, after taking the oath, made
the following statement :
In the middle of August, in a Belgian village called, I
think, Tirlemont, a controlled fire was opened upon us in
the dark by the civil population. No Belgian troops had
been there for a long time. Shots were fired from, amongst
other places, a fruit garden. My comrade, Franz Gockel
from Wiesdorf, was fatally shot through the back of his
head. The order was then given to collect the weapons
in the houses, to secure the men, and bring the women and
children into the church. In doing this we discovered
unfinished revolvers, the wooden handles of which were
still lacking. The houses, from which shots had come,
were set on fire.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Peter Behle.
2. Otto Biernirth, 34 years of age, Protestant, certi-
ficated business instructor of Bremenhaven, non-com-
missioned officer. Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 213.
after taking the oath, made the following statement :
On October 20th we were in front of the village of
Staden (Flanders). The whole night through we were
fighting exclusively with francs-tireurs, who fired from
the houses. In the morning we had to capture the town.
However, some 400 to 500 metres from the town, a flanking
fire came from a single house on the left, wherebj^ our
4
50 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
comrade Frose was struck by a ricochet bullet. From this
house, which was seized, four francs-tireurs emerged.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Otto Biernirth.
3. Willi Kandt, 31 years of age, Evangelical, merchant
from Berlin, war volunteer, 2nd Company Reserve Infantry
Regiment No. 201, after taking the oath, made the follow-
ing statement :
On the march to Lessen we came under fire from two
farms h^ing opposite. A reconnoitring company ascer-
tained that the shots came from a barn. This was set on
fire, and one could hear the continuous explosion of the
cartridges stored up in the bam.
On Tuesday, October 20th, 1914, we caught a civilian,
who was shot because he had cartridges in his pocket.
Towards the evening of this day the first four com-
panies of Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 201 were to go
forward on outpost duty, followed by the remaining com-
panies. When the last companies had passed through the
town of Lessen and the baggage had already arrived on the
scene, it was fired upon on all sides from the houses and the
church tower. Four of our men were wounded. When
our artillery received the order to bombard the church
tower, the church was set on fire, and in this way, probably,
a non-commissioned officer and eight men who had been
sent to search the tower were burnt to death. The enemy
troops had already left the place ; the only persons still
there were civilians.
On the following day we were fired at from a farm, but
could find nobody in the house. After the house had been
burnt down, we found inside the body of a franc- tireur.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Willi Kandt.
Continued in the Konigliches Amtsgericht at Lennep on
November 20th, 1914.
4. Fritz Blum, 17 years of age, Evangelical, a com-
positor from Meiningen, war volunteer, 4th Company.
Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 233, after taking the oath,
made the following declaration :
On October i8th we occupied quarters at Westroose-
beek (between Thielt and Roulers). We there ascertained
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 51
that both the millers had set the wings of their wind-
mills in a particular direction, and so furnished a signal
which betrayed our entry. Both the millers were seized,
but in the course of a subsequent fight we lost sight of
them.
On October 19th we took Roulers by storm. When we
marched in we came under a hot fire from the houses. In
searching the houses I found on the roof of a house a civilian
who had fired with a shot-gun. He was just trying to
escape through the skylight. So, as he paid no attention
to my call, I shot him. He wore wooden shoes, and was
otherwise dressed altogether as a townsman, and differed
in no respects from a civilian. On the stairs we found
bullets; they were partly of French origin, partly "dum-
dum " leaden bullets, apparently made at home. The
gun that was found was an old sporting-gun.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Fritz Bluhm.
5. Franz Breidbach, 19 years of age. Catholic, Abitu-
rient from Luttinghausen, war volunteer, 6th Company,
Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 235, after taking the oath,
made the following statement :
On October 19th we marched through Roulers, which
had previously been captured by Infantry Regiment No.
233. Our company formed the head of the column ; the
entire town was badly injured by artillery fire, and there
was only one street which was fairly intact. From the
houses of this street shots were fired at us, coming more
especially from the cellar windows. My comrade, Kremst
of Coblenz, fell in front of me, and two other comrades were
slightly wounded. When we searched the houses we found
six to eight francs-tireurs and a number of revolvers. A
large quantity of ammunition was indubitably stored in the
houses, for when the houses were set on fire a continuous
series of explosions occurred.
On October 22nd I arrived at a field hospital in Roulers.
There I heard four or five shots strike the hospital ; a
wounded Jager, who was lying on a stretcher in front of
the hospital, was shot dead by francs-tireurs.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Franz Breidbach.
Signed : Landsberg. Signed : Veltman.
52 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
App. 50.
Military Court Examination of Ersatzreservist Gott-
fried Hilberath, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 236.
Proceedings at Werne in the hospital, October 31st, 1914.
Konighches Amtsgericht, Langendreer.
Present :
Magistrate Hidding, as Judge.
District Court Assistant, Harries, Secretary.
On the suggestion of the authorities of the hospital at
Werne, the above-mentioned Court Commission visited the
hospital in order to examine a sick soldier.
There was brought before them Gottfried Hilberath,
of 60 Moselstrasse, Cologne, who, after being warned against
the giving of a false oath, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Gottfried Hilberath ; hotel
waiter; born at Neuenahr, August 12th, 1893; Catholic;
Ersatzreservist, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 236, 3rd
BattaHon, 12th Company.
As to Case : Our regiment marched off on September
13th, 1914. We were conveyed by rail from our manoeuvre
ground. In the middle of October 1914 our detachment
lay in the neighbourhood of the Belgian village of Deynze,
near which we had to throw up trenches. During the
night we occupied quarters in the town. At dawn we
again entered the trenches. On the evening of October 25th
we brought the wounded into the field hospital established
in a village. At Deynze, with ten to fifteen comrades,
we entered a house which was lighted, and found a number
of our men already there, sitting in the room and drinking
coffee. The housewife made coffee for the party of soldiers,
as well as for ourselves, who came in afterwards. The
husband was busily occupied with his grocery shop. All
the soldiers spent the night in the house. That same
evening about eight of our men filled their field flasks with
coffee made by the woman. In the evening some bought
themselves sugar in the shop for 10 centimes. I did this
myself, and put it into my field flask, like the others. The
sugar was ready for use in little packets. It struck me
that a sticky mass adhered to the paper, which looked like
gum-arabic. The sugar was made up in twisted pieces of
paper, which were not stuck together and were apparently
filled by the shopkeeper.
On the following day, some ten minutes after partaking
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 53
of the coffee in the trenches, I became unconscious, and
must have remained in this condition about five hours. Two
cycHsts brought me through the village of Deynze to the
field hospital at West-Roosebeck. Here I heard that the
other comrades too had been poisoned, and also that some
of them were already dead. What happened to the grocer
and his wife in consequence of this, I do not know.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Gottfried Hilberath.
The examined witness, after once more being warned
against the giving of false evidence, thereupon took the
oath.
Proceedings concluded.
Signed : Kidding. Signed : Harries.
App. 51.
Court of the Belgian Government-General.
Brussels, December i^h, 1915.
Present :
President of the Court, Sager.
Military Court Assistant, Dunve, as Secretary.
Interpreter Fulles of the Military Court of the
Province of Brabant, once for all put on oath.
There appeared as witness the merchant, Heinrich
Bloch, of 35 Rue du Marche, Brussels, who made the follow-
ing statements :
As to Person : My name is as given above. I am 68
years old, of the Jewish faith ; a citizen of Baden.
As to Case : Up to 6 a.m. on August 20th, 1914, I was
in Brussels. In the Brussels newspaper there was pub-
lished a demand that weapons should be given up. On
August 19th, 1 91 4, I sent my man-servant to the Commis-
sariat, Rue Croisate, with a revolver which he was to hand
in. After a brief interval he returned and used these exact
words, " One must not believe everything one reads in
the newspapers " (" II ne faut pas croire tout qu'on lit dans
les journeaux ").
The proclamations were officially issued by the Burgo-
meister. That the Commissaire took us to be Belgians, I
have no reason to believe. The Commissaire who had
refrained from taking the revolver from my man-servant fell
in Belgium, when and where I cannot say.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : H. Bloch.
54 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
There appeared further as witness, the man-servant Jules
Brontine, 38 years of age, CathoHc, a Belgian citizen, who
made the following statement :
I can only state what Herr Bloch has already made
known. He sent me on August 19th to the police station,
in order to surrender his revolver. The Commissaire of
Police, to whom I handed the weapon, sent me off with the
words, " One must not believe everything one reads in the
newspapers." Thereupon, I returned home again with the
revolver. I said that the weapon belonged to Herr Bloch,
who, as a German, was personally known to the Com-
missaire of Police. I assumed that the demand in the
newspapers only referred to guns and swords.
Read over in French, approved, signed.
Signed : J. Brontine.
The witnesses Brontine and Bloch were sworn accord-
ing to regulations.
Proceedings concluded.
Signed : SAger. Signed : Dunve.
App. 52.
Report of Lieutenant von Manstein, commanding ist
Squadron, Dragoon Regiment No. 4.
August 2yth, 1914.
On August 9th the patrol, while evading two French
squadrons in the direction of Beheme, was fired upon by
inhabitants of this village.
A communication dated August 8th was seized, in which
the Chief of the Gardes Forestiers writes to the Burgo-
meister that Gendarmes and Verderers were instructed to
organise the inhabitants for armed resistance. An in-
habitant of Chiny informed me on August 10 th, in answer
to my questions — he took me for a Frenchman or an English-
man— that on the previous day the Garde Civile had been
in the village and carefully instructed the inhabitants
in the handling of weapons and the defence of the village.
On August 24th the inhabitants of Peissant had placed
strong barricades across all the entrances to the village,
shut the doors and window-shutters of every house, and
furnished them with loopholes. They refused to open
me a passage through, because they knew I wanted to
avoid a company of English infantry, which was quite close
to the village, and had with me only a single dispatch rider.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 55
During the night they then divulged to the English artillery
the names of the farms occupied by the ist Squadron,
Uhlan Regiment No. i, and the ist Squadron, Dragoon
Regiment No. 4, and also the houses in which our valuable
goods had been stored, so that the next morning the English
artillery brought these farms and houses under shell-fire.
Signed : von Manstein, Lieutenant, Uhlan
Regiment No. 10, commanding
1st Squadron, Dragoon Regi-
ment No. 4.
App. 53.
Military Court Examination of Lieutenant of Reserve
Bohme, Infantry Regiment No. 165.
Court of the 7th Infantry Division, Cherisy.
Present :
President of the Court, Dr. Welt.
Secretary, Lorenz, as Recorder of the Court.
November 25th, 1914.
There appeared as witness Lieutenant of Reserve Bohme,
Infantry Regiment No. 165, who, after the importance of
the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as
follows :
Wlien I was quartered at Retinne, an officer of the
Rhine Regiment came to me, and showed to myself and
other officers a Bond, which, according to his account,
had been found in the Burgomeister's office, in a neigh-
bouring village. The Bond was typewritten, and con-
tained the demand issued by the Belgian Government to
the populace, that they should carry on armed resistance
for payment. A fixed sum of money was mentioned in
the Bond. The Bond was stamped with an official seal.
The Bond was seen at the time by my comrades Pusch and
Kurt Wagner, as well as by Lieutenant of Research Bloch,
Infantry Regiment No. 27, and Lieutenant Brohm, Jager
Battalion No. 4.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Bohme.
Proceedings concluded.
Signed : Dr. Welt. Signed : Lorenz.
56 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
App. 54.
Military Court Examination of Reservist Richard
Weise, Fusilier Regiment No. 36.
Blankenburg (Harz), November i^th, 1914.
Herzogliches Amtsgericht.
Present :
Oberamtsrichter Dr. Schilling, Judge.
Gerichtsobersecretar Hornig, Secretary.
There appeared as witness the reservist Richard Weise,
6th Company, FusiUer Regiment No. 36, born March 29th,
1890, at Hohenmolsen, District of Weissenfels, at present
in the hospital of this place.
There were read over to him the following statements
made by ist Lieutenant Reyner on October 31st, 1914 :
" In the early days of August, it may have been the
middle of the month, I was on officer-patrol duty near the
Belgian frontier, with orders to occupy a bridge. A brief
engagement took place, and after an hour and a half the
patrol retired. I, with some fusiliers, received some special
orders, and for that reason left the patrol.
" During our retirement over a meadow we noticed in a
street-trench, near a group of houses, several civilians who
remained there. Wlien we approached nearer, we saw
lying in the trench a German soldier whose eyes had both
been cut out. Thereupon we attacked the civilians, who
ran off into the adjacent houses, and from these opened
fire upon us. What became of the cruelly treated soldier
I cannot say."
The witness thereupon declared : This statement is
correct. I adopt it also as my own statement to-day, and
make the following addition to it. I did not see the three
or four civilians (who, in fear of us, ran away from the
wounded German soldier into the adjacent houses) put out
the eyes of the soldier. That these men, however, were
guilty is clear from the fact that our wounded German
comrade implored us, " Take me with you ; they have just
put out my eyes."
The attention of the witness was then called to the
importance of the oath, and he accordingly gave his sworn
testimony.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Richard Weise.
Signed : Dr. Schilling. Signed : R. Hornig.
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 57
App. 55.
Military Court Examination of the Reservists, Gusta\'
Voigt, Fritz Marks, and Heinrich Hartmann, Infantry
Regiment No. 165.
Proceedings at Quedlinburg, in the Reserve Hospital.
Present :
President of the Court, Keil.
Secretary, Fahlberg.
Schilling, November 11th, 1914.
In the Reserve Hospital at Schilling, to which the above-
mentioned Court officials had proceeded, the following
examinations took place after the witnesses had been in-
dividually warned as to the importance of the oath :
I. Reservist Gustav Voigt.
As to Person : My name is Gustav Voigt. I am 24 years
old ; Protestant ; Reservist of the 6th Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 165.
As to Case : On the morning of August 6th found myself
with seven comrades separated from my detachment. In
order to get cover we had to creep through the gardens of a
village lying just beyond Herve in Belgium. We suddenly
saw five Belgian soldiers, who held up their arms and offered
to surrender. They called to us, and when we reached them
we noticed that they had with them two German soldiers of
the loth Hussars in handcuffs. One of them brought to
our notice that a third hussar was hanging dead in the tree.
We observed that the ears and nose of the corpse had been
cut off. The two hussars told us also that the five Belgians,
who were there, had hung and mutilated their comrade.
The Belgians were just on the point of slaughtering or
mutilating these two also, had we not arrived on the scene.
We disarmed the Belgians, took them prisoners, and handed
them over to a party of five Uhlans, who were already taking
several Belgian prisoners away with them. We, too, then
joined the Uhlans in order to regain our company, and,
while passing through the village, were fired at from the
cellars and windows. The name of the village I do not
know, but it lies between Herve and a large coalpit shaft
in the direction of Li^ge. I myself was wounded in the
street-fighting at Liege. On the day before this occurrence
our company had an outpost fight to the right of Herve,
in the course of which an Einjahriger of the 5th Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 165, was wounded and left behind.
58 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
WTien we passed this spot again on the following morning
we found the body of the Einjahriger lying under a garden
fence ; both his eyes had been gouged out. We were all
convinced that this had been done by villagers.
On about August 7th, as we were advancing towards
Li^ge, we saw a German infantry-man ; I believe he be-
longed to Infantry Regiment No. 27. He showed no
marks of any shot wound, but was dead, and all his private
parts had been cut away.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Gustav Voigt.
2. Reservist Fritz Marks.
As to Person : My name is Fritz Marks. I am 23
years old ; Protestant ; by calling a factory worker ; Reser-
vist of the 2nd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 165.
As to Case : On August 5th our battalion marched
through a village near Herve in Belgium. A man of the
5th Company came to meet us with the words, " What
brutality ! Now they have gouged out the eyes of one of
our Einjahriger." He pointed to the place where the
Einjahriger lay. We all had to go to the place, and saw
the Einjahriger lying dead by a garden fence, with his eyes
put out. We were convinced that this was the work of the
villagers. Next day, when we again passed through the
village, we were fired at from cellar gratings and windows,
so that orders were received to disarm the villagers and
make them prisoners. We forced our way into the houses
and carried out the order. As, in spite of this, the firing
did not cease, six guilty Belgian peasants were shot by order
of an officer.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Fritz Marks.
3. Reservist Heinrich Hartmann.
As to Person : My name is Heinrich Hartmann. I am
24 years old ; Protestant ; Reservist in the 2nd Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 165.
As to Case : I saw lying on the ground the Einjahriger
of the 5th Company, with his eyes gouged out. Our com-
pany leader, Hauptmann Burkholz, ordered us to search the
houses in the place. Inside the house, by the garden fence
of which the Einjahriger was found, we came across a big
strong man of middle age, who was lying on his bed and
pretending to be asleep. We brought him before the
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 59
officer, who cross-examined him. The man was then shot
by a musketeer of the 4th Company.
On the advance towards Li^ge we came across a German
infantry-man who had been thrust into a swampy pool
with his head and half his body under water; the man
was dead.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Heinrich Hartmann.
The witnesses were thereupon sworn.
Proceedings end.
Signed : Keil. Signed : Fahlberg.
App. 56.
Military Court Examination of Musketeer Paul Blanken-
burg. Infantry Regiment No. 165.
Blankenburg (Hartz), November i^th, 1914.
Herzogliches Amtsgericht.
Present :
Oberamtsgerichter Dr. Schilling, Judge.
Gerichtsobersecretar Hornig, Secretary.
There appears as witness Musketeer Paul Blankenburg,
7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 165, at the present
time in the Reserve Hospital of this place. The witness,
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to
him, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Paul Blankenburg. I was
born in Magdeburg, September 4th, 1893 ; Protestant.
As to Case : The following statement, which he had
made on October 31st of this year before ist Lieutenant
Reyner in this place, was read over to the witness :
" We were on the march in close column, and in the
course of it passed through a Belgian village, lying west of
Herve. In the village German wounded were lying, and
indeed I recognised some Jager troops from Jager Battalion
No. 4. The column in marching through suddenly came
under fire from the houses, and the order was therefore given
to remove all the civilians from the houses, and to get them
together into one place. While this was going on I noticed
that some girls of eight or ten years of age, armed with sharp
instruments, were busying themselves with the German
wounded. I subsequently ascertained that, from the most
severely wounded, the lobes and the upper parts of theii
ears had been cut off. On continuing our march, an ambul-
6o THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
ance soldier, belonging, as far as I remember, to the 27th
Regiment, was shot dead from a house by Belgian civilians
while he was occupied in a school-yard in rendering assist-
ance to a wounded man."
The witness therefore declared : " The statement just
read over to me corresponds to the truth. I again em-
phasise the fact that I myself saw girls of some eight or
ten years of age busying themselves with severely wounded
men in the Belgian village. The girls had steel instruments
in their hands — but they were not knives or scissors — and
with these instruments, which were sharp on one side, they
busied themselves among the wounded. We took the
instruments from them. The wounded had fresh wounds
on their ears, from which the lobes and upper portions had
■evidently been just cut off. One of the wounded told me
in reply to a question that he had been mutilated by the
girls in the way here described.'*
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Paul Blankenburg.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Dr. Schilling. Signed : Hornig.
App. 57-
Statement and Military Court Examination of Dragoon
Funke, 2nd Hanoverian Dragoon Regiment No. 16.
Caisnes, November yth, 1914.
Dragoon Funke states : At Herve men of the Magdeburg
Field Artillery Regiment, which was marching through the
place, drew my attention to the fact that a dead hussar
was lying near a straw stack. I went towards the body
and saw that the ears and nose of the hussar had been cut
o£E, and also that the whole of his face had been mangled.
Signed : Heinichen, Lieutenant.
Caisnes, November yth, 1914.
Present :
Deputy- President of the Court, Dr. Stahl (Gerichts-
assessor) .
Secretary, Fredersdorf.
There appeared as witness Corporal Funke. The
witness Funke made the same statement as that previously
made by Lieutenant Heinichen. After this had been read
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 6i
over he declared, '* This is so correct that I have nothing
to add to it."
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Funke.
The witness Funke was thereupon sworn. Proceedings
took place as above.
Signed : Stahl. Signed : Fredersdorf.
App. 58.
Military Court Examination of Reservist Ernst
Baldeweg, Infantry Regiment No. 35.
Magdeburg, November 1st, 1914.
Gericht der immobilen Etappen-Kommandantur No. i.
Present :
Military Assistant-Judge Dr. Pauls, Judge.
Gladrow, Secretary.
At the request of the Deputy-General in Command of
the IV. Army Corps, the Reservist Ernst Baldeweg, dairy
assistant in Berlin, 37 Rathenower Street, nth Company,
Infantry Regiment 35, 28 years of age, Reformed Church
of Germany, after the sanctity of the oath had been pointed
out to him, was examined as follows :
About the 8th of August 191 4, in a village close to
Verriers, I saw with my own eyes that in one stable one horse,
and in another stable four horses, had had their tongues
cut off. In the first case I noticed that the tongue had not
been completely severed, but hung from the mouth on the
jaws by a small fragment of flesh. I am of opinion that
Belgian civilians had mutilated the animals in order to
prevent their being taken on farther by the Germans.
Either on Sunday, August 9th, 191 4, or on Monday.
August loth, 1914, I saw at a village quite close to Herve
in Belgium a German hussar bound to a tree by his hands
and feet. Two large, long nails had been driven through
his eyes and his head, so that he was fixed to the tree by
the two nails. The hussar had ceased to live. In the same
village there was lying by a wooden fence in front of a farm
an infantry-man of the 52nd Infantry Regiment. His eyes
had been put out, his ears, nose, and fingers cut off, and
his stomach slashed about so that the intestines were visible.
The breast of the dead soldier had also been so badly
stabbed that it was completely mangled. For both these
62 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
cases of gross cruelty the Belgian civilians alone can be
held responsible.
I again assert that I have reported only what I personally
observed, and have refrained from any exaggeration.
Read over, approved, and signed.
Signed : Ernst Baldeweg.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Dr. Pauls. Signed : Glasdrow.
App. 59.
Military Court Examination of Musketeer Lagershausen,
Ersatz Regiment No. 230.
Hanover, November 21st, 1914.
President of the Court, Lindenburg.
Secretary, Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve
KOEPF.
There appears as witness Musketeer Lagershausen,
ist Ersatz Company, Reserve Regiment No. 230, who,
after the importance of the oath has been pointed out to
him, made the following declaration :
As to Person : My name is Hugo Lagershausen. I am
19 years of age ; Protestant.
As to Case : I was attached to the 8th Company, In-
fantry Regiment No. 73, which had pushed forward from
Spa towards Li^ge. 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 Chenee. 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 im-
possible 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
APPS. 2-66^DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 63
the same time I came across in the house six or seven
Belgian civihans ; 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 pronounce-
ment. 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 2yth, 1914.
Divisional Headquarters.
Present :
President of the Court, Jager.
Secretary, Brehmer.
There appeared as witness the soldier Koch, 4th Com-
pany, 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-Rohe.
As to Case : Up to August i6th of this year I belonged
to the ist Company of the Ersatz Battalion, Infantry Regi-
ment No. 25. We were assigned as escort to guard the
motor ambulances. The motor ambulances had been pro-
vided by the Voluntary Aid Society, and ran between
Li^ge and Aix-la-Chapelle. One day in the period from
ioth-i6th August I was ordered to accompany one of these
motors. We drove towards the battlefield in the vicinity
of the town of Vis6. In front of us the men of the Voluntary
Aid Society deployed, and we followed slowly after them.
From some rising ground I could easily survey the land
lying in front of me. At a distance of about 500 metres
64 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
I saw near a wounded German soldier two women sitting
in a crouching position. I at first assumed that the women
were praying beside the soldier. Hard by, three or four
men were standing. One of these suddenly fired at me.
I replied to the shot, whereupon the men and both the
women ran away. I then went up to the wounded soldier,
who was bleeding from a wound in the chest. His trousers
were open in front and partly drawn back. On nearer
inspection I ascertained that the sexual organ of the soldier
had been completely severed and placed in his mouth. The
soldier showed no longer any signs of life, but his body was
still warm. The sight appeared to me so terrible that
tears came into my eyes. I removed what had been put
in the mouth, and buried it in the ground. I left the
soldier lying there, as he was unquestionably dead.
On the same day I also found the body of a German,
whose ring finger had been cut off. When I told this to
the men of the Voluntary Aid Society, they gave me to
understand that this was no news to them, as they had
often seen the same thing before.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Mathias Koch.
The witness was sworn.
Proceedings end.
Signed : JAger. Signed : Brehmer.
App. 6i.
Report of Medical Corps Company 2, VI. Army Corps.
Beine, October i$th, 1914.
On August 23rd I went to the French field hospital
through Rossignol, where the company had established
its chief dressing-station. On the way a musketeer reported
to me that a dead German was lying in a house. I at once
inspected the corpse and ascertained that, in addition to a
wound, which was not mortal, the head of the soldier had
been burnt. A few metres away stood a half-filled bottle
of petroleum, and another half-filled with benzin. One
could clearly see from this that the inhabitants had dragged
the wounded soldier into the house, saturated his head with
petroleum and benzin, and then set it alight.
On the night of 24th-25th of August I drove in an
automobile from Rossignol to Florenville, where a number
of inhabitants were standing by a house engaged in a lively
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 65
conversation. When, about 100 metres farther on from
this point, I stopped my automobile in order to ascertain
the direction from a signpost, 1 was suddenly exposed to a
vigorous fire from these people behind me, so that it was
only by driving oft very quickly that 1 was able to save
my life.
Signed : Sternberg, Captain and Commander
of Medical Corps Company 2, VI.
Army Corps.
App. 62.
Statement of Senior Staff- Surgeon Dr. Kiefmann, Medical
Corps, VIII. Army Corps.
Proceedings at Field Hospital No. 3, VIH. Army Corps.
St. Morel, October i^th, 1914.
There appears as witness Dr. Beyer, who states that
Lieutenant Erich Koch, 8th Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 160, who had received a severe wound in the perinaeum,
with laceration of the rectum, informed him after receiving
his wound he had been stripped naked by the civilians,
robbed, and thrown into a cesspool.
Lieutenant Koch was in fact naked, and only wrapped
in a blanket when brought into the hospital.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Dr. Beyer, Staff-Surgeon.
There appears as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major (Medi-
cal Service) Joseph Steffen, who states in reference to the
case in hand :
I can only confirm the statement of Staff- Surgeon
Beyer. Lieutenant Koch gave me the same information,
and added the fact that the women also had taken part in
this outrage. Koch was wounded near Porcheresse.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Steffen, Acting - Sergeant - Major,
Medical Service.
Proceedings took place as above.
Signed : Dr. Kiefmann, Senior Surgeon and
Chief Staff-Surgeon.
66 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
App. 63.
Military Court Examination of Landwehr soldier Alwin
Chaton, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. y8.
Braunschweid, October 315^, 1914.
(The Hospital " Konzerthaus.")
Gericht der stellvertretenden XL. Brigade.
Present :
President of the Court, Dr. Behme.
Secretary, de Boer.
There appeared to-day as witness the Landwehr soldier
Alwin Chaton, 5th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment
No. y8, who made the following statement : ,
My name is Alwin Chaton. I am 32 years old ; Protes-
tant ; book-keeper at Emmerstadt, near Helmstadt.
During the street-fighting in Charleroi, in the course
of the fight we passed the main street and reached a side-
street leading from the main street. When I had come
to the street corner and fired down the side-street, I saw
some 50 to 60 paces in front of me a German dragoon lying in
the street. Three civilians were near him, one of whom was
bending over the soldier, who was still kicking with his legs.
I fired among them and hit the last of the three civilians ;
the others ran away. On coming nearer I saw that the
civilian I had shot had a long bloodstained knife in his
hand. The right eye of the German dragoon had been
cut out, and the left one as well, though this was still hanging
from the side of his head. From the nature of the wounds
there could be no doubt that the eyes had been cut out, not
in the fighting, but by sheer malice. A great deal of smoke
came from the body of the dragoon. He had no doubt
been soaked in inflammable liquid and set alight.
Later on I saw other bodies burning, though there was
no sort of fire in the vicinity ; these also must have been
set alight.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Alwin Chaton.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Behme. Signed : de Boer.
APPS. 2-.66-~DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 67
App. 64.
Military Court Examination of Acting-Sergeant-Major
Weinreich, Infantry Regiment No. 20.
Court of the 6th Infantry Division.
Present :
Deputy-President of the Court, Schmetzer.
Secretary, Hanse.
Ursel, November 1.0th, 1914.
There appears as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Wein-
reich, Machine-gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 20,
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Adolf Weinreich. I am 32
years of age ; Protestant.
As to Case : One day in the middle of August this year,
I proceeded with the Company Transport, behind the
company, which was taking part in the fight. At the
entrance of Neer-Linter I saw a German hussar lying in
the house covered with a sack. I dismounted from my
horse, lifted the sack, and noticed that the hussar was dead.
His face was covered all over with blood, the eye cavities were
bored out, the eyeballs themselves had been completely cut
away and had disappeared. The coat was torn open, the
breast exposed, and showed marks of some twenty stabs.
I covered the corpse again with the sack.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Adolf Weinreich.
The witness was hereupon sworn.
Signed : Schmetzer. Signed : Hanse.
App. 65.
Herzogliches Amtsgericht.
Present :
Oberamtsrichter Dr. Schilling, Judge.
Hornig, Secretary.
Blankenburg (Hartz), November 14th, 1914.
There appeared as witness Fusilier Paul Rohr, 8th Com-
pany, Fusilier Regiment No. 36, at present in the Reserve
Hospital at this place ; he was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Paul Rohr ; born on August
28th, 1892, at Galbitz, near Connern ; Protestant.
68 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As to Case : The following deposition, which he had
made before Lieutenant Reyner on October 31st, 1914,
was read over to witness :
" Whilst taking some straw for camp purposes from a
bam near Brussels we found two otherwise unwounded
German Uhlans hidden under the straw. Both had their
eyes poked out. The case, as I know, has already been
reported to my battalion commander, Kirchner."
He thereupon declared : I aihrm this deposition to-day,
and add the following detail : The occurrence took place
in a village near Brussels at about the end of August this
year. The two German Uhlans I found lying dead under
the straw in the barn were absolutely unwounded, with
the exception of their torn-out eyes, and there exists no
doubt in my mind that the wounds inflicted, when their
eyes were destroyed, were the sole cause of their death.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Paul Rohr.
After the witness had been admonished as to the
importance of the oath, he was duly sworn.
Signed : Dr. Schilling. Signed : Hornig.
App. 66.
Military Examination of Captain Troeger, Reserve
Infantry Regiment No. 204.
Ministry of War.
Military place of examination concerning violations of the
Laws of War.
Present :
Kriegsgerichtzrat, Dr. Linde, Judge.
Pfitzner, Secretary.
Berlin, November 24th, 1914.
There appeared as witness Captain Troeger, Reserve
Infantry Regiment No. 204, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Hans Troeger ; 45 years old ;
Protestant.
As to Case : On the march from Ghent to Thourout,
two volunteers of Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 203,
who had collapsed from exhaustion, were mutilated by
Belgian villagers, their ears and noses were cut off, their
stomachs slit open, and one of them had his skull fractured
by the heel of a boot. This fact was made known to us
APPS. 2-66— DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER 69
amongst others by the commanding officer of the company,
Captain zur Nieden, to whose company the two volunteers
belonged.
The following is another case, which took place at
Cessen-Kappel :
Non-commissioned Officer Schnitzer, 5th Company,
Reserve Regiment No. 204, reported to me on October 26th
or 27th that he had found a mutilated Prussian dragoon
at Cessen-Kappel whose ears and nose had been cut off,
and his stomach slit open by villagers. The said non-
commissioned officer thereupon searched the farms in
question with a detachment of his men, and found a few
armed inhabitants, who were shot at once.
On our march through Belgium from Ghent onwards
we were constantly fired on by the inhabitants from houses
and church towers.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Troeger.
The witness was sworn.
Proceedings concluded.
Signed : Dr. Linde. Signed : Pfitzner.
APPENDIX A— AERSCHOT
App. A.
War Office.
Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of
War.
Belgian Civilian Uprising in Aerschot on August iqth
AND 20TH, I914.
Comprehensive Report.
The officially summoned Belgian Commission of Inquiry,
together with the foreign Press, have included the case of
Aerschot in their innumerable calumnies against the German
method of waging war in Belgium. Neither could find
enough to say in their descriptions of the " barbarous "
attitude adopted by the German troops and their officers
towards the " harmless " inhabitants, nor against the
utter lack of ground for the Court of Punishment held in
the " peaceful " town. The true facts of the matter, which
have been established by a number of carefully sworn
testimonies given by unprejudiced witnesses, reveal quite
a different picture.
On August 19, 1914, German troops of the 8th Infantry
Brigade were housed in Aerschot. The town quietly watched
the Brigade Staff enter on the same day. Colonel Stenger,
in command of the brigade, sent his adjutant, Captain
Schwarz, in advance, in order to procure billets for the
members of the staff. Captain Schwarz was received in a
friendly manner by the Mayor and his wife. The Mayor
suggested that his own house, situated in the market-
place, would provide the best accommodation. The Colonel
and his orderly officer. Lieutenant Beyersdorff (App. i),
went there in the afternoon between four and five. The
relations between the officer staying in those quarters and
his host were from the very first amiable and polite
(App. I).
Colonel Jenrich, officer commanding Infantry Regiment
No. 140, attached to the Brigade, was made Governor of the
APPENDIX A.— AERSCHOT 71
town, and summoned the Mayor in order to ask him whether
any dispersed Belgian soldiers were hidden in the place,
or disguised as civilians in the houses. The Mayor replied
to both questions in the negative. Colonel Jenrich warned
him expressly against attacks by the civil population, for
which the Mayor, on penalty of death, would be held
responsible. Further, he desired him to see that the in-
habitants delivered up all weapons. This demand Colonel
Jenrich had to repeat twice, as it turned out that great
quantities of weapons were kept back by the population
(App. 2).
At 8 o'clock in the evening a particularly loud report
was heard in the towTi, which proved to be the signal for a
general firing on the German troops gathered together in
the streets and the market-place. The fire — evidently at
the given signal — opened from the roof windows of a comer
house near the market-place, situated opposite that of the
Mayor (App. 3). Three volleys were fired from this house,
then the shooting ceased for a short time, after which brisk
and rapid firing began again from many of the houses.
The shots came chiefly from the roof window. All the
doors and windows of the house from which the first shot
had been fired were firmly locked, and had to be broken
open by the soldiers. The house was set on fire. Several
civilians, who attempted to flee, were seized, many with
weapons in their hands (App. 5 ) . Eighty-eight men amongst
them were shot as francs-tireurs (App. 3).
Colonel Stenger had remained alone in his room in the
Mayor's house. By a notice on the door the house was
easily recognisable as being the quarters of the Brigade
Staff. Colonel Stenger, trusting to the assumed friendliness
of the inhabitants, had spent the afternoon on the balcony
adjoining his room, where he was clearly visible to all.
Towards the evening he retired to his brightly lit room,
leaving the balcony doors wide open (App. i). When
Captain Schwarz and Lieutenant Beyersdorff went to call
on him in the evening about 8 o'clock, in order to receive
instructions with reference to the uprising, they found
Colonel Stenger lying mortally wounded in the middle of
the lighted room, with the balcony doors still wide open.
The doctor, who was immediately summoned, could only
testify to the death that had already overtaken him (App. i).
The shots fired at the Colonel occurred then at the same
time as those of the first lively volleys fired from the house
opposite his room. It was the case of a systematic attack
72 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
upon the German troops, who, robbed of their leader, were
to fall into disorder and confusion. Hence the cessation
of the firing after the first volleys, when the -<rrkaiaab
saw they had succeeded in murdering the Colonel, and its
immediate hostile renewal against the apparently leaderless
troops. The sequence of events is so obvious that it is
only confirmed by the previous pretence of friendliness on
the part of the inhabitants, and not weakened by this
fact, as the Belgian representation of events would
have it.
An immediate search of the Mayor's house showed that
the family were not only cognizant of the hostilities, but
also participated in them. Shots were fired into the street
from the locked cellar, the key of which the family declared
to have been lost, and it had to be forcibly opened ; a stand
had even been moved to the cellar window, in order to
make their position easier for the marksmen (App. i), and a
musketeer was positively certain that he had noticed a shot
fired from the house (App. i). The Mayor's son alone could
be held responsible for the actual deed ; hidden away by his
family, he was fetched out of a dark room (App. i). But
since the whole family were guilty of the Colonel's murder
after having received him with such " hospitality," accord-
ing to Belgian reports, both father and son were shot on the
following day, August 20 (App. 2).
At the town Governor's instigation, Captain Karge,
officer commanding the Military Mounted Police, was lodged
in the house of the Mayor's brother, and thus he too shared
the same fate (Apps. 2, 3).
According to the nature of the firing, no doubt remains
of its being a case of a systematic and murderous attack on
the German garrison. This was also admitted to Captain
Karge by a civilian prisoner of the educated classes (App. 3).
The participation of the Mayor's whole family proves that
the Belgian authorities supported such treacherous deeds
against the German troops — deeds that were, unhappily,
only too frequent. In Aerschot this mischievous official
authority led to the ruthless murder of the commanding
ofiicer.
Berlin, January ijth, 1915.
Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of Military Law.
Signed : Major Bauer.
Signed : Dr. Wagner, Member of the Supreme
Court of Judicature.
APPENDIX A.— AERSCHOT 73
A. App. I.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Klauss, Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Ross, Clerk of the Court.
RouBAix, November 6th, 1914.
At the inquiry concerning the events in Aerschot, on
the night of August 19-20, 1914, there appeared as witnesses :
1. The Adjutant of the 8th Infantry Brigade, Captain
Schwarz.
2. The Orderly Officer of the 8th Infantry Brigade,
Lieutenant of Reserve Beyersdorff. After they had been
acquainted with the nature of the inquiry, and their atten-
tion had been called to the importance of the oath, they
were separately examined, as follows :
I. Captain Schwarz.
As to Person : My name is Carl Schwarz. I am 34
years of age, of the Protestant faith.
As to Case : On the 19th of August I was sent in advance
of Colonel Stenger, who later was shot, and was commanding
the 8th Infantry Brigade, to Aerschot, to find quarters for
the staff. The Mayor of Aerschot suggested to me that his
own house, situated in the market-place, would provide
the best accommodation. I entered this house, and was
received in the most friendly manner by the Mayor's wife.
Between four and five in the afternoon. Colonel Stenger
and the Orderly Officer, Lieutenant of Reserve Beyersdorff,
arrived.
Shortly before eight in the evening, soon after I had had a
short interview with the Colonel in his room, there suddenly
arose a brisk rifle-fire in the town ; it was directed on the
troops, who were partly passing through and partly halting
in the market-place. The first shots, which, according to
the sound, seemed to come from a northerly direction, I
thought came from the enemy's fire, who had been reported
as advancing from the north. But I was soon convinced
by the shots directed on our house that they were intended
for us. The shots did not emanate from our troops. After
a short pause, the firing was renewed with equal violence.
In the meantime, the Ma3^or was brought to me by the men
of the 140th Infantry Regiment. I had to protect him
from the fury of the men. I now went through the streets
with the Mayor, and through him tried to bring the citizens
to reason. After the firing had died do\vn, I handed the
Mayor over to the commandant of the town, Major Jenrich.
74 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As I now returned to the Mayor's house to receive orders
from Colonel Stenger, I found him lying seriously wounded
on the floor of his room. Owing to the many shots fired
at our adjoining rooms, and to the fact that the townsfolk
obviously knew that the commander was billeted in the
Mayor's house (indicated on the door), and further, that
Colonel Stenger could be seen through the wide-open doors
of the balcony, I was under the impression that the fire was
specially directed against the Colonel.
After Colonel Jenrich had given the command that the
troops should leave Aerschot, I personally, accompanied by
a few men of the 140th Infantry Regiment, made a thorough
search of the Mayor's house, from which shots were sup-
posed to have been fired. On this occasion, by my orders,
the locked cellar doors, of which the keys were alleged to
have been lost, were broken in with axes. In the cellar,
in front of the window which opened on to the street, I
found a conspicuous stand from which shots must have
been fired. The window-panes were completely shattered.
Whilst we were searching the living-rooms, the Mayor's son
came towards us from a darkened room. I, personally,
handed him over to the sentry in the market-place. Those
calumnies about our doings in the Mayor's house, published
in a foreign newspaper, are untrue.
The negotiations concerning the housing and catering
were conducted on both sides in a friendly fashion, mostly
with the Mayor's wife, as the Mayor was occupied at the
town hall. It was natural that, after the shooting of Colonel
Stenger, the friendly tone which had reigned should have
been changed to a strictly official one, and I did not omit to
show my horror at the sad event.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Schwarz.
Hereupon the witness took the oath.
2. Reserve Lieutenant Beyersdorff of the 12th Dragoon
Regiment.
As to Person : I am called Bruno Beyersdorff. I am
31 years of age, and a Protestant.
As to Case : At the hearing of the witness it turned
out that his evidence agreed with the evidence of Captain
Schwarz. Therefore Captain Schwarz's deposition was read
to him, whereupon he declared this evidence to be correct,
and confirmed it and added a few more details.
With the exception of a few short intervals, I was at
APPENDIX A.— AERSCHOT 75
the time in question in the same room with Captain Schwarz.
The negotiations concerning the housing and catering, which
we both had with the Mayor and his wife, were conducted
in an entirely friendly fashion.
I am, for similar reasons, of the same opinion as Captain
Schwarz, that the fire which was directed on our quarters
was especially intended for Colonel Stenger. In referring
to this, I want to add that Colonel Stenger, especially
noticeable by his decorations, sat for some time on his
balcony, and could be clearly seen from the whole market-
place. I also, with Captain Schwarz, left the room after
the first sounds of firing, and proceeded to the market-place
to restore order there amongst the troops, who had become
disorganised through the firing. When the shooting began
soon after, for the second time, I went alone to Colonel
Stenger's room, to ask him for orders. As no one opened
the door after repeated knocking, I entered, and found him
stretched on the floor in the middle of the room, with his
face on his bended arm, in his death-agony. As I could
observe wounds, and there was copious bleeding, I immedi-
ately fetched a doctor, who certified that the Colonel had
since died. I cannot give the name of the doctor. I was
not present at the searching of the rooms, which took place
later. There is no question of our having behaved in a
rough manner in the Mayor's house, as is supposed to have
been stated in a foreign newspaper. After the Colonel's
body had been found, we did adopt a strictly official tone
towards the Mayor's wife. On leaving the house, Captain
Schwarz said to the Mayor's wife, " Your husband had
been frequently warned, and you will have to bear the
consequences." I also wish to add to this, that, after the
firing had ceased, Captain Karge, as far as I know, gave
command for at least three houses to be set on fire, from
which shots were supposed to have been fired. I myself
ascertained that during the burning of the house belonging
to the Mayor's neighbour, 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 MiUtary Court.
76 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
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 ^rd, 191 4.
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 Regi-
ment, Colonel J enrich. 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 J enrich. 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 prepara-
tions 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 dis-
banded Belgian soldiers hidden away, or if there were other-
wise 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 any-
thing 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 like-
wise warned the Mayor and the population.
I also ordered the civilians to give up all their weapons
in front of the town hall in the market-place. After an
hour I ascertained that only a small quantity of arms had
been given up. I then renewed my commands to the
Mayor that he should see to the handing over of all weapons.
To my especial astonishment, 36 rifles were then brought
forth, which had evidently been intended for the purpose
of public shows and for the Garde Civique. Portions of
APPENDIX A.— AERSCHOT 'jj
ammunition for these rifles were found packed away in a
case. After repeated and serious warning to the Mayor,
a larger quantity of weapons was given up. Towards
8 o'clock the troops had just marched in, and still found
themselves in the streets. All at once, at 8 o'clock exactly,
firing suddenly began from all the houses, and this was
naturally returned by our men. I should especially like
to point out that before the commencement of the general
firing, a particularly loud report was heard, which must
have been the alarm signal. I succeeded, with several
other officers, amongst whom I may mention Brigade
Adjutant Captain Schwarz, in stopping the fire of our
soldiers in the market-place. Soon after I heard from
Captain Schwarz that the officer commanding the brigade
had been found shot dead in his room in the Mayor's house.
At about 8.30 in the evening I commanded the evacuation
of the town, and we bivouacked outside the place on the
way to Wispelaer.
In the meantime the houses had been searched by the
troops, and a considerable number of inhabitants taken
prisoners, who were proved to have taken part in the
attacks on the soldiers. Of the male population taken
prisoners the Mayor, with his son as well as his brof^r.
and every third man, were shot the next morning.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : J enrich.
Hereupon the witness was sworn.
Signed: Klauss, Lieutenant of Reserve and
Officer to the Military Court.
Signed : Ross, Acting-Sergeant-Maj or and Secre-
tary to the Military Court.
A. App. 3.
Present :
President of the Military Court, Hottendorff.
Secretary to the Military Court, Westphal.
TouRCOiNG, 'November 15th, 1914.
At the investigation concerning the events in Aerschot
on the night of August 19th to 20th, 1914, there appeared
as witness Captain Karge of the cavalry, officer commanding
the troops of the Field Cavalry Police of the II. Army Corps,
who, after his attention had been drawn to the importance
and sanctity of the oath, was examined as follows :
78 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As to Person : My Christian name is Hans. I am 42
years of age ; Protestant.
As to Case : The witness was handed the supplement
to this Record and declared :
I have given my evidence in writing in the supplement.
Witness then further added to the Record, after this supple-
ment had been read through :
I acknowledge the supplement just read as my own.
Several German officers told me that, according to report,
the Belgian Government, and especially the King of the
Belgians, had intimated that it was the duty of every
male Belgian to do the German Army as much harm as
possible.
An Order of this kind was also supposed to have been
found on a captured Belgian soldier. I also heard that
Belgian soldiers had been discharged in their native towns,
so that they could there fight in plain clothes against the
Germans. It is true that a number of Belgian soldiers,
who were partly clothed as civilians, were made prisoners.
An officer, who was present at the attack in Aerschot, told
me that on the belfry tower of a certain place in the neigh-
bourhood of Aerschot he had himself read that Belgians
who caught German officers were not allowed to keep them
prisoners on parole, but were to shoot them. I cannot
exactly repeat this officer's words, but they contained the
meaning I have just given.
A college teacher from Aerschot, whom I have already
mentioned in the supplement, assured me, as I now positively
remember, that the Garde Civique had orders to do the
German Army as much harm as possible.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Karge.
The witness thereupon took the oath.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Hottendorff. Signed : Westphal.
Supplement to A. App. 3.
On August 19th, 1 91 4, towards 8 o'clock in the evening,
I stood at an open window in the quarters which had been
offered me by the Mayor of Aerschot, whose brother's house
it was, situated in a street which led to the market-place.
It may have been a few minutes to eight when I heard a
shot. A column was just marching down the street towards
APPENDIX A.— AERSCHOT 79
the market-place. I leant out of the window, under the
impression that perhaps one of the soldiers had carelessly
fired a shot from his rifle ; immediately there was a fusillade.
I had just looked in the direction from which the single
shot had been fired, and I could ascertain that from the
ledge of the roof of a red corner-house, situated opposite
my billet, towards the right, the smoke and dust were
ascending. My certainty that the first shot had been fired
from this spot was strengthened, and I now distinctly saw
a second volley being fired from the same place, appearing
in thin clouds of smoke. The shots may have been fired
from about eight or ten rifles, and from the regularity of
the volley I had the impression that we had to do with
a well- organised and perhaps military operation. Shortly
after the second volley a third was heard, and added to
that a brisk and rapid firing took place, which did not
proceed only from the house mentioned, but also from the
other houses in this street.
Apparently this firing did not only come from the
windows, but also from the openings in the roof and prepared
loopholes in the attics of the houses ; it is because of this
that one can explain the small harm done to the men and
animals. The street was narrow, and the rifles had to be
placed in an unnaturally slanting position, if they were to
be aimed at the halting columns in the middle of the street.
The drivers and soldiers of the supply column had in the
meantime left their waggons and horses and sought shelter
from the fire in the doorways of the houses. Some of
the waggons had collided with each other, and the restless
horses, having lost their drivers, had broken loose.
As shots also came my way, I sought shelter against
the partition wall between the windows. After a short
time, I thought I heard the firing returned by our soldiers
in the market-place. Soon after, signals and calls were
heard to " cease fire." The firing did then cease for a time,
but was apparently renewed on both sides, though not so
violently as before.
I had taken the opportunity to leave my billet during
the cessation of the firing, and go to the market-place, to
inform a Colonel there of the proceedings I had witnessed.
At the same time, I asked permission to set fire to the house
from which the signal shot — as I took it to be — had been
fired, and from which the volley had also come. In my
opinion, the ringleaders were assembled there. The Colonel
refused my request. I hereupon returned to my street,
8o THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
but was there detained a moment by a rifleman, who,
standing in a doorway, called out, " Just now I plamly
saw a shot fired from the house opposite." He then
pointed out the house, which I recognised as that of the
Mayor.
I now took a few soldiers who were standing near by
(of the 140th Infantry Regiment), and proceeded with them
to the house from which the first shots had been fired, and
in the attic of which I guessed the instigators and leaders
still to be. In the meantime the regiment arrived, and —
giving my commands to the officer and his men — I ordered
the doors and windows on the ground floor, which were
firmly locked, to be battered in. The house had a front
door and a shop door. I then also forced my way into the
house, and with the help of a fairly large quantity of tur-
pentine, which was found in a tin can holding about 20 litres,
and which I had partly poured on the first floor, I succeeded,
after a short time, in setting the house on fire. Further,
I gave orders to the men who had so far taken no part in
this affair to occupy the entrances to the houses and arrest
all men seeking to escape.
As I left the burning house several civilians, amongst
them a young priest, were arrested in the neighbouring
houses. I had them taken to the market-place, where in the
meantime my troop of Field Cavalry Police had assembled.
I then ordered the columns to march out of the town, and
took over the command of all the prisoners, but released
the women, boys, and girls.
I received from a staff officer (divisional commander of
Artillery Regiment No. 17) the order to shoot all the captured
men. Then I gave orders to a part of my police force to
conduct the columns out of the town, whilst the others were
told to escort the prisoners and take them away. At the
exit of the town a house was burning, and by its light I
saw the guilty men, 88 in number, shot, but not before I
had taken away three cripples from among them.
Later on I met a second batch of prisoners. I picked
out the most intelligent looking, and told him all the
prisoners would be shot, but that I would save his life if
he told me the truth concerning the organisation of the
attack. For I looked upon the whole affair as such. This
man, who spoke German and was a teacher at a college in
Aerschot, confessed to its having been a great mistake of
the people of Aerschot to have sheltered some fugitive
Belgian soldiers, and to have hidden them and clothed them
APPENDIX A.— AERSCHOT 8 1
in civilian garments. These had joined the Garde Civique,
and they had then organised an attack.
If I consider all the circumstances of the strange and
remarkable behaviour of the Mayor, his brother, and other
citizens with whom I came into contact, then I have no
doubt that a great part of the civil population were aU
agreed in carrying out their hostile intentions.
Signed : Karge, Captain of Cavalry.
A. App. 4.
Present :
President of the Military Court, Jung ST.
Secretary to the Court, Appel.
Gnesen, November 2gth, 1914.
At the investigation concerning the events of the night
between August 19th and 20th, 1914, at Aerschot, Captain
Schleusener of the 49th Infantry Regiment, at present in
Gnesen, appeared as witness, and after his attention had
been called to the importance of the oath, was examined
as follows :
My name is Georg Schleusener, Captain and Company
Commander, 6th Pomeranian Infantry Regiment No. 49,
machine-gun section. I am 35 years of age, Protestant,
and I live in Gnesen.
Late in the afternoon of August 19th, 19 14, I arrived
with my machine-gun section, on a special mission, in this
little town of Aerschot, by the northern exit. About
350 yards from the market-place I heard a few isolated
shots, which I took to be exploding ammunition. But I
soon found I was mistaken, as I encountered some returning
cavalry patrols and their waggons, belonging to the 3rd
Infantry Division, trying to beat a hasty retreat. After
having succeeded in stopping our own firing, I myself saw
shots fired from the houses, whereupon I ordered our machine-
guns to be directed on the house fronts to the left. I was
told that shots had been fired from a house on the right.
As I commanded the guns to be turned round in order to
open fire, a medical officer told me that there were wounded
in the house. At my instigation a search was made, and
five men were found in the house. I did not allow this
house to be fired on.
Captain Folz. at present attached to the General Staff
6
82 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
in Berlin, is supposed to be able to give more direct informa-
tion concerning the death of Colonel Stenger.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Schleusener.
The witness was hereupon legally sworn.
Signed : Jungst, President of the Military
Court.
Signed : Appel, Secretary of the Military
Court.
A. App. 5.
Present :
President of the Military Court, Bernhards.
Clerk of the Military Court, Hofmann.
Darmstadt, January 12th, 1915.
There appeared as witness at the inquiry concerning the
detailed circumstances of the attack of the civil population
in Aerschot, Captain Folz. After he had been acquainted
with the subject-matter of the inquiry, and his attention
had been drawn to the importance of the oath, he made the
following statement :
My name is Hermann Folz. I am 32 years of age ;
Protestant ; Captain, 49th Infantry Regiment, at present
with the Reserve Flying Corps, Section 3. On a day in
August, the date of which I have forgotten, I arrived in
Aerschot, as my regiment's billeting officer, with the Staff
of the 8th Infantry Brigade. It was between three and four
in the afternoon when we rode into the place. Of German
troops, the 3rd Infantry Division had already passed
through in batches, and already the narrow and angular
little town was full of commissariat, artillery, and ammuni-
tion columns. We had been about three hours in the little
town, when suddenly violent firing began. The firing seemed
to come from the north-west exit of the village.
Immediately afterwards the Medical Corps, I believe it
to have been the 2nd (including a certain Dr. Wild) as well
as a section of the supplies of the 3rd Division, came towards
us, under incessant fire, and informed us they had been fired
upon. A Belgian battalion was supposed to be advancing.
With difficulty we managed to make headway with our
machine-gun company, and by taking a seat on the last
waggon, with the company leader. Captain Schleusener, I
proceeded in the direction of the alleged advance of the
^
APPENDIX A.— AERSCHOT 83
Belgian force. About three kilometres before the town,
near a windmill, we discovered that there was no enemy at
hand. I thereupon returned on foot to Aerschot. We had
already, during our march out of the town, heard continuous
firing. Entering Aerschot by a bridge, I noticed that our
troops were being fired upon from the houses. Shots came
sometimes from the upper floors, sometimes from the cellars,
and one could distinctly tell by the sound that both rifles
and machine-guns were being used. The situation developed
in such a manner that our own men had to seek cover with
their backs to the houses, and as soon as a marksman was
observed in the opposite house he was fired at. I saw
several of our men wounded by these shots, and the bullets
also whistled round my head. Near the town hall, which
was to have been converted into an artillery depot, stood a
captain of the 140th Infantry Regiment, who continuously
ordered the bugles to sound the " Cease fire." Evidently
the ofiicer first wished to stop the firing of our men in order
to be able to settle upon a plan of action. Brigade Adjutant
Schwarz, since fallen, met me in the market-place and
informed me that the officer commanding the 8th Brigade,
Colonel Stenger, had been shot. I immediately hurried
to the Mayor's billets, which were situated in the Mayor's
house in the market-place, and there found Colonel Stenger
dead on his bed. The orderly officer present. Lieutenant
Beyersdorff , Dragoon Regiment No. 12, told me he had found
the Colonel in the room, about three metres from the window,
lying dead on his face. On the spot one distinctly saw two
pools of blood, and I also noticed that the wall opposite the
window was marked by many bullet-holes, and the window-
panes were shot through. I saw a wound on the corpse
stretching from the right eye to the right ear, and also a shot
through the right breast, but of the latter one saw only
the broad hole caused by the bullet. The regimental doctor
of the 140th Infantry Regiment, who on the following day
opened the corpse in my presence, found in the passage of the
breast wound a shapeless lead bullet, which had broken up
on coming in contact with a hard substance. The bullet
had torn a main artery and caused immediate death.
According to the evidence of the doctor, the facial wound
was not caused by a shot from an infantry rifle. Owing
to the vertical passage of the wound, and the nature of the
shot, there can be no doubt that the Colonel was not fired
at from the street, but by an inhabitant of the opposite
house. To judge by the calibre of the breast bullet, the
84 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
weapon used must have been a muzzle-loader. The bullet
taken from the body I gave into the keeping of the pay-
master of the 2nd Battalion, 49th Infantry Regiment.
The paymaster's name is Wirowski. The revolt was then
systematically suppressed, and the houses searched for
francs-tireurs. In this way about forty civilians, amongst
whom were several — at least two — priests, were found with
weapons in their hands. According to my observations
and to the events described, there is no doubt that a
systematic plan of attack on the German troops had been
adopted by the Belgian civilians. The regimental adjutant.
Lieutenant v. Oppen, was also witness to the events, and
will be able to make a statement regarding them. The
Captain of the II. Corps of Military PoHce, named Karge,
was also present.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : FoLZ.
Legally sworn.
Signed : Bernhards.
Signed : Hofmann.
Supplement to the Record of November 15th, 1914.
APPENDIX B.— ANDENNE
App. B.
War Office.
Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of
War.
Belgian Civilian Uprising in Andenne on
August 2oth, 1914.
Summary Report.
Andenne is a small industrial Belgian town of about 8000
inhabitants, situated on the southern bank of the Meuse,
half-way between the fortresses of Huy and Namur, in the
province of Namur. During their advance, the German
troops had constantly come into contact with Andenne.
About the 20th August 191 4 two infantry regiments and a
Jager Battalion marched from Coutisse towards Andenne,
towards the north, in order to be able to cross the pontoon
bridge there over the Meuse. They were commanded by
Major-General Freiherr von Langermann and Erlencamp ;
Major von Polentz was at the head of one of the infantry
battaUons.
The inhabitants of Andenne received the passing troops
in an apparently friendly manner ; they gave them water,
and the soldiers believed that in the quiet of the evening
they would be able to pass peaceably through Andenne and
reach the Meuse, flowing northwards. But scarcely had
the head of the marching column arrived at the bridge
over the Meuse, when the peaceful picture presented by the
town suddenly changed, and the inhabitants showed their
true character, a thing which unfortunately occurred only
too often in Belgium. This time their deeds were truly
devilish. Bells pealed from the church tower ; as they
ceased, the citizens, recently so helpful, suddenly disappeared
from the streets, and bolted their doors and let down
the shutters. A mad fire from all sides was poured upon
the unsuspecting troops. In the town they shot from the
cellars and from specially prepared openings in the roofs,
S6 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
and bombs and hand-grenades were hurled down on the
defenceless men who happened to be nearest. Machine-
guns sent their murderous bullets through the soldiers'
ranks. At the same time, hidden francs-tireurs began firing
from the heights opposite the end of the bridge over the
Meuse. Besides which men and women in wild fury poured
boiling water from the half-open windows upon the German
troops. Of Major v. Polentz's men alone over one hundred
were scalded. Against this inhumanity the troops had to
defend themselves energetically. They pressed into the
houses and shot down the cowardly aggressors in their
hiding-places. The houses which had served them for cover
were set on fire. About two hundred inhabitants lost their
lives in these fights.
These are the details of the street-fighting in Andenne,
which are supplemented by the official report attached,
made by Major-General von Langermann and Erlencamp ;
and also by the evidence on oath of Major von Polentz, as
well as of Rifleman Roleff — all eye-witnesses — who gave
evidence without prejudice ; and by the report of Lieu-
tenant Goetze.
Berlin, the 2gth of September 1915.
Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of
War.
Signed : Major Bauer.
Signed : Dr. Wagner, Member of the Supreme
Court of Judicature.
B. App. I.
Berlin, January 21st, 191 5.
Official Report.
On the afternoon of August 20, 1914, I received the
command to march from Coutisse to Andenne with the
brigade (ist and 2nd Guard Reserve Regiment and Guard
Reserve Jager Battalion) ; from there we were to cross the
pontoon bridge over the Meuse. In the industrial town of
Andenne we had to call a halt of about ten minutes, during
which the inhabitants standing before their houses in the
narrow streets willingly gave us water and behaved in a
remarkably friendly manner. Just as I had crossed the
bridge at the head of ist Guard Reserve Regiment, we heard
suddenly and simultaneously a furious rifle-fire coming from
APPENDIX B.— ANDENNE 87
the heights opposite the bridge and from the houses. Not
only men fired at us, but also — as I was informed — isolated
women. Our men pressed into the houses from which the
firing proceeded, and shot down the armed inhabitants.
By my order the houses, from which firing had proceeded,
were set alight. These measures were helpful ; the rifle-
fire gradually decreased and finally ceased altogether, but
was renewed later against the troops that followed my
brigade. Marvellous to relate, our losses were insignificant ;
the francs-tireurs had aimed badly. I saw no single French
or Belgian soldier in the town or in the surrounding neigh-
bourhood. The fire directed on us came solely from the
civil population. Later it was reported to us that a docu-
ment had been found — on the next day, I believe — with the
Commandant of the town, showing the attack of the civil
population to have been minutely planned, with a fixed hour
for its commencement. Shortly before the prearranged
time all the inhabitants, who had met us with such friendli-
ness in the streets, locked themselves in, and at the given
minute the fire was opened upon us. No cruelties of any
sort were practised by the troops under my command, and
all inhabitants found without weapons in the streets were
especially spared ; if they seemed to us to be of a suspicious
character they were arrested.
Signed : Freiherr von Langermann.
B. App. 2.
Berlin, November 21st, 1914.
War Office.
Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of Military Law.
Present at the Court :
Dr. Wagner, as Judge.
Secretary to the Court, Pfitzner.
There appeared as witness Major von Polentz, of the
above-named place, who declared :
As to Person : My name is Fredrich von Polentz. I am
42 years of age ; Protestant ; Major in the 3rd Foot Guards
Regiment.
As to Case : In the latter half of August, as I marched
through Belgium in command of the battalion of the 2nd
Reserve Guard Regiment, I frequently saw the Belgian civil
population take an active part in hostilities against our
troops ; in particular, they fired upon us. I draw atten-
88 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
tion to the fact that this happened in Birdontige, near
Shavelot, as well as in Evelette, south of Andenne. The
most serious case, however, occurred in Andenne (between
Li^ge and Namur).
After we had marched in here, the bells from the church-
tower suddenly began to ring out a signal at about 6.30 in
the evening. Thereupon iron shutters were let down in all
the houses ; the inhabitants, who until then had been
standing in the streets, vanished ; and from different sides
firing began on my troops, especially from the cellars and
from openings in the roofs which the inhabitants had made
by removing the tiles. Also, from many houses boiling
water was poured over our men. In consequence, some
bitter street-fighting ensued between the civil population
and my troops, who had given no cause for this treacherous
attack. That these measures were well prepared, and
carried out by the whole population of the town of
Andenne and its suburbs, is proved by the fact that 100
— one hundred — of my men were hurt by scalding alone.
Also the marching column of troops following me was
attacked by the civil population of Andenne, as well as
those sections of the marching column preceding me, who
were fired upon.
In Lenze, north of Namur, I was met by the priest of
the place, who at first assured me in a friendly manner,
on his word of honour, that no hostilities of any sort need
be expected from the people in his parish. In spite of this,
shots from six or eight houses were heard fifteen minutes later.
These shots could only have come from the civil population,
as the regular enemy troops had long since been pressed
back.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : von Polentz.
The witnesses were thereupon sworn as above.
Signed : Wagner. Signed : Pfitzner.
[ B. App. 3.
Berlin, December $th, 19 15.
Present :
President of the Militar}^ Court, Stack.
Secretary to the Military Court, Non-commissioned
Officer Wesselmann.
There appeared as witness Rifleman Hugo Roleff, of the
AFrKNDJX B.— ANDENNE 89
nth Company of the 2nd Reserve Guards Regiment, and
after his attention had been called to the importance of the
oath, he made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Hugo Roleff . I am 28 years
of age ; Protestant Reformed Church ; by profession a
ribbon-weaver, living in Elberfeld, Osterbaum 9.
As to Case : I joined the 2nd Company of the 2nd Re-
serve Guards Regiment as private, and went with the
regiment to the front.
On August 20, 1914, the first half of the 2nd Company
was to serve as cover to the Artillery Munition Column.
We arrived at Andenne in the evening. As everything was
quiet we rode into the town. All went smoothly through
a few streets, but as we were going to turn into the main
street, bells were suddenly heard. At the same time we
received a murderous rifle-fire out of all the windows and
from all sides. Hand-bombs and hand-grenades were used
against us, and machine-guns were also employed. I
noticed this as I lay wounded in the street, and also
that regular shots came from the cellar windows, and
that the characteristic noise of machine-guns could be
heard.
Our horses broke loose, our waggon was struck by a
hand-grenade, the horses were thrown to the ground, the
waggon was overturned, and, the following waggons driving
into it, a wild confusion ensued. As the waggon was over-
thrown, I fell out and crushed the calves of my legs. We
immediately returned the fire, for it had been recommended
to us, and we were prepared in consequence. Before the
munition column could be set in order again and proceed,
we had to endure half an hour of continuous firing, until
the defence guard came to our help.
On account of my wound I was just taken to the market-
place, and then lay for two days in the house of a doctor,
who was, however, absent. After that I was cared for in
the schoolhouse, which had been turned into a hospital.
Some German families, who had lived in this place for a
considerable time, looked after us here. These told us that
the whole attack had been planned, and that the clergy had
issued directions from the pulpits.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hugo Roleff.
Signed : Stack.
Signed : Rudolf Wesselmann.
90 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
B. App. 4.
Namur, January 8th, 1915.
Report of the Inquiry into the alleged atrocities in
Andenne.
At the command of the Imperial Military Government
of Namur I went, on the 5th inst., to Andenne, in order to
obtain information from the Mayor Emile de Jaer regarding
the atrocities of war that were said to have occurred in
Andenne. He only knew that on August 20, at 7 o'clock
in the evening, a murderous fire was opened on our troops,
who wanted to cross the bridge leading to Seilles. At my
request he handed me over a list of those who had been
shot ; it contained 234 names. On examining this list it
turned out that only 196 persons had been shot without
any doubt whatsoever ; 28 were missing. I instructed
the Mayor to procure a number of trustworthy witnesses,
who in his opinion were in a position to give information
concerning the events.
Thereupon appeared :
1. Hermann Frerand, Place du Perron, merchant. He
could give no evidence, as he had been a prisoner from
August 21 to 23.
2. Alexander Wery, Rue Brun, merchant. He declared
that he had kept in hiding during the days of agitation.
He therefore knows nothing, but only heard reports.
3. Leon Lambert, Place des Tilleuls, merchant. He
knows nothing of the events, as he had been in hiding in
his cellar.
4. Florent Sebrun, factory director. Rue Wouters.
On the evening of August 20, at 7 o'clock, he was in the
garden of his brother-in-law, Dr. Melin, Grande Rue. A
large aeroplane appeared at a great height, and the German
troops immediately fired at it. Suddenly fire opened from
all sides of the town.
5. Madame Ermine Blanchart, Rue de I'Hotel de
Ville, will state personal grievances, but knows nothing of
the events.
6. Ernest Thys, Rue Brun, merchant, hid himself for
five days in his cellar.
7. Dr. Isidor Loroy, Rue de T Industrie, only knows
that the Mayor, Camus, who was a doctor in private life,
was shot in the Rue du Pont on August 20, after having
spent the night as a hostage, together with the priest, in
APPENDIX B.— ANDENNE 91
the town hall. He was released towards the morning.
Loroy only knows of the events by report.
8. Pane Tillmann, Rue Brun, chemist, had been wounded
since August 21, and can give no evidence.
9. Louis Cartiaux, Place du Chapitre, priest, was
arrested on August 19, at 9 o'clock in the evening, and
taken to the town hall. Here he met the Mayor, Camus,
who had already been taken as hostage. Cartiaux was,
however, released during the night. About the alleged
events he could only state that a detachment of troops had
already made an inquiry in September, and that three
suspected persons had been arrested, who were, however,
not inhabitants of Andenne. He did not know what had
happened to these three people. He refers the matter of
the boy who was supposed to have been shot because he
carried a cartridge on his person, to George Belin, school-
master. Rue Bertrand. The latter had told him that a
boy was going to be shot because he wore some lead as a
charm that had been given him by his brother.
10. Achilles Rambeaux, Rue Bertrand, assistant to a
notary, has nothing to report, as he had kept in hiding
in his cellar.
11. G. Belin, the schoolmaster referred to in No. 9, was
heard at Namur on the morning of January 6. He was
asked if he was prepared to swear to his alleged statement
concerning the shooting of a boy. He denied ever having
made such a statement in the most vigorous terms. Pres-
sure being brought to bear, he admits further that in
Andenne the opinion is held that a Belgian soldier of the
8th Line Infantry Regiment stayed behind, put on civilian
clothes, and actually fired on the German troops. This
soldier was universally known to the townsfolk by the
nickname of " Le Petit Roux," and was Flemish. Another
Flemish soldier, also in mufti, had been in his company.
Both had deserted from their detachments.
Furthermore all the above-named persons declared
unanimously that another doctor (not Mayor Camus),
aged 64 years, had not been shot. Those rumours were
also false which gave out that seven members of one family
had been killed by German bullets ; this matter concerned
two families and, moreover, two brothers of the name of
Savin.
That a number of people had been brought out from
the cellars, threatened with death, and placed in front of
the machine-guns, in case of firing from the nearest barri-
92 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
cades, could be proved from no side. It was universally
admitted, however, that rumours went round the town,
including those that gave out that inhabitants had been
killed with blows from an axe.
In Andenne itself 25 houses were destroyed, 12 in the
suburb Peau d'Eau, together therefore 37, while Andenne
contained 1900 houses. Not a single factory was destroyed
or burnt. Naturally, as is unavoidable in street-fighting,
many houses were damaged by gun-shots, but not so
severely as to cause the owners any considerable losses.
It is true that a large number of window-panes were
shattered when the cannon fired from the market-place.
According to the statement of the schoolmaster Belin,
the population of Andenne is rather a simple-minded one,
which accounts for the incredible rumours abroad in the
town.
Signed : Goetze, Lieutenant.
APPENDIX C— DINANT
App. C.
War Office.
Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of
War.
Belgian Civilian Warfare in Dinant from
August 2ist to August 24TH, 1914.
Summary Report.
Immediately after crossing the Belgian frontier the
XII. Army Corps had difficulties with the civilian popula-
tion of Belgium, which reached their climax in and around
Dinant. For the advance of the Army Corps Dinant had
especial importance, since here it was that the crossing of
the Meuse was to take place. The town with its suburbs,
Leffe and Les Rivages on the right bank of the Meuse, and
Neffe, St. Medard, and Bouvignes on the left bank, lies
along the river in a deep section of the valley. Both banks
rise up in terraces, steep and frequently rocky, to a height
of some 70 metres, the right bank somewhat higher than
the left. On the right bank about the centre of the town
stands the fortress, about 100 metres in height. Close by,
to the north, the high road from Sorinnes enters the town.
Two further approaches from the east are found in the deep-
cut flanking valleys which come to an end in Leffe and Les
Rivages.
On August 15th, 1 91 4, the operations of the German
cavalry, in which among others Jager Battalion No. 12 took
part, led to the temporary occupation of the right bank of
the Meuse. Owing to superior enemy forces, it was again
evacuated on the same day ; numerous dead and some
wounded were left behind.
On August 17th the enemy forces on the left bank of
the Meuse withdrew. From this time onward Dinant, Leffe,
and Les Rivages were free from the presence of any regular
enemy troops.
94 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
On August 2ist the XII. (ist Royal Saxon) Army
Corps engaged in operations before Dinant. The 2nd
Battalion of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. io8, together
with a company of pioneers, undertook on the evening of
this day a strong reconnaissance towards Dinant. As the
first houses on the road coming from Sorinnes were reached,
the sound of a signal shot was suddenly heard. The next
moment there came a rattle of musketry from all sides.
Shots were fired from all the houses, and the slopes were
lighted up with the flashes. The houses were firmly barri-
caded, so that rifle-butts, hatchets, and hand-grenades had to
be used to force an entrance. Trip-wires were drawn across
the road. Numerous wounds were inflicted on oar men by
the discharge of small shot. They were even pelted with
stones (Apps. 2-5).
The battalion penetrated as far as the bridge, ascer-
tained that this was occupied by enemy troops, and then
returned, being continually fired upon from the houses.
Under the necessity of haste it was impossible to clear the
place thoroughly of francs-tireurs. To some extent at-
tempts were made to master them by setting on fire the
houses from which the firing took place.
It was evident that this assault by the inhabitants on
the reconnoitring detachment took place according to plan,
that people known in Dinant were aware of the intended
operation, and that for this purpose well-prepared measures
had been adopted. Among other things indicating this
preparation was the fact that numerous houses and walls
had been provided with loopholes.
In view of these experiences we naturally assumed that
in any further operations the civilian population would also
take part in the fighting. Nevertheless, all anticipations in
this direction were far exceeded through the extent and
obstinacy of the people's participation in the fight.
On August the 23rd the left bank of the Meuse was to be
taken by the XII. Corps. After preliminary artillery fire
the infantry advanced in the direction of Dinant — the 32nd
Infantry Division to the north, the 23rd Infantry Division
to the south. On the left wing the (Guards) Grenadier
Regiment No. 100 forced its way into the town, on the right
of them Infantry Regiment No. 180, and in close conjunction
Rifle Regiment No. 108, whilst in the Leffe valley Infantry
Regiment No. 178 reached Leffe.
The fighting on August 23rd, accompanied by com-
paratively slight loss, resulted in the dislodgement of the
APPENDIX C— DINANT 95
enemy forces from the heights of the left bank of the Meuse.
On the other hand, the losses which the hostile civil popula-
tion of Dinant and its outskirts had inflicted on the XII.
Corps on August 23rd, and the effort which was necessary
to break down the completely organised resistance of the
civil population on August 23rd and the following days
were very considerable. Once more, as on August 21st,
people in Dinant and the neighbourhood had apparently
secured information that a movement of the corps was
imminent, and they were accordingly prepared. The
ist Battalion of the Guards Regiment, approaching from
Herbuchenne, were assailed by a vigorous fire from the
houses and alleys. Bit by bit, every house had to be fought
for singly with the use of hand-grenades in order to dis-
lodge from their hiding-places the inhabitants who had
stowed themselves away from cellar to attic and who were
making use of every possible kind of weapon. Those who
v/ere caught with weapons in their hands were immediately
shot, while suspected persons were led off as hostages to the
town gaol.
Despite these measures the Grenadier Guards were still
further fired on by the population, and thereby suffered
considerable losses, especially in officers. Here, among
others, fell Lieutenant Treusch von Buttlar, and Captain
Legler was severely wounded.
In the meantime, a great part of the place had been con-
sumed by fire, caused partly by the use of hand-grenades,
partly by the French and German artillery fire. All this,
however, was not sufficient to convince the population of the
uselessness and danger of participating in the fighting.
Until the evening, even on the march to the crossing-
place at Les Rivages, the regiment was fired on from the
houses (Apps. i, 5, 7, 10, 11).
The Regiments No. 108 and No. 182 had similar experi-
ences when they, to the north of the Guards Regiment,
reached Dinant. From the moment they reached the most
easterly houses they came under fire. The farm of Malais
was stormed by the ist Battalion of the Rifles (Fusilier)
Regiment No. 108, and the whole of the francs-tireurs who
made a stand there were destroyed. Fighting hotly for
every house, our men pressed forward in the direction of the
market, all the time expecting to be fired at by invisible
foes from cellars, caves, and hill-sides. It was here that,
among others. Major Lommatzsch of Infantry Regiment
No. 182 was fatally wounded by the bullets of two civilians
96 THE GERMAN ARxMY IN BELGIUM
from the windows of a house. They even fired down from
the cathedral (Apps. 12, 14, 18). Already in the course of
the forenoon the Commanding Officer of the 46th Brigade
recognised that it was impossible, without artillery bombard-
ment, to gain the mastery over the fanatical population.
The troops were, however, too much involved in house-
to-house fighting to be immediately withdrawn. It was
only after 3 o'clock in the afternoon that it was possible
to withdraw the troops to the heights north of Dinant, so
that the artillery, in particular, sections of Field Artillery
Regiment No. 12 and a battery of heavy artillery, could
now bring Dinant, from Leffe, more effectually under their
fire (Apps. 12, 19, 21).
In the early morning Infantry Regiment No. 178 had
set out from Thynes on their march towards Leffe, making
use of the Leffe valley road. Already before reaching Leffe
the advance company was fired on from detached holdings
as well as from the steep hill slopes (partially wooded),
which stretched along on the right and the left of the road.
This harassing fire was directed with particular activity
from the paper-mill situated on the left of the road and the
adjacent houses. For this reason, the slopes were searched
for francs-tireurs, later on with the co-operation of the
nth Jagers, and the barricaded houses forcibly opened and
cleared of inhabitants. All those caught with weapons in
their hands were shot. More and more vigorously the
advancing regiment was attacked by the inhabitants con-
cealed in the houses. There was firing from all the houses,
although in many of them no one was found. The marks-
men crept into their hiding-places in order to leave them
later on and renew their firing on the German troops. This
made it necessary to set on fire a number of houses in order
to drive out the marksmen from their places of concealment.
A number of inhabitants were marched off as hostages to the
monastery (Apps. 22-32).
The 9th Company of the 178th Regiment occupied the
garden of a villa along the Meuse and a factory which
fronted the enemy on the left bank of the Meuse (Apps. 25,
30> 79)-
Here again they were fired on ; the villa and the factory
were therefore cleared of their occupants. The proprietor
and a large number of the workpeople were fetched out of
the cellar of the factory and shot, whilst the women and
children found there were lodged in the monastery.
Practically for the whole of the day the 178th Regiment
APPENDIX C— DINANT 97
carried on a hot fight with the population of Leffe, and
suffered severe losses (Apps. 25, 26).
Infantry Regiment No. 103, which reached Leffe towards
evening, was also fired on by francs-tireurs from the slopes
of the Leffe ravine as well as from the houses, and defended
itself in the same way by disarming and shooting the men
found with arms, and by burning down single houses which
could not otherwise be cleared (Apps. 33, 36).
In the evening it became quiet in Lefie. The assumption,
however, that nothing more was to be feared from the
inhabitants proved to be erroneous. After nightfall the
left-wing outpost of the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiment
No. 178, posted as a guard against attack along the Meuse,
was assailed by a large body of the inhabitants to the south
of the barracks of the 13th Belgian Infantry Regiment.
A detachment of reinforcements cleared this locality and
the adjoining district, being continually fired upon from the
houses by francs-tireurs. A large number of persons caught
with weapons in their hands were shot (Apps. 22, 24, 29) .
In the night, towards 12 o'clock, the Detachment of
Zeschau came from Houx by the northern entrance to Leffe.
Scarcely had they reached the first houses when the fore-
most company received a brisk rifle fire. The houses, the
doors of which were barred and the windows barricaded
with furniture and beds, were stormed and set on fire as a
security against francs-tireurs, who were not otherwise to
be caught. The men found in them who were carrying
arms were shot (App. 38).
From the factory above mentioned also the detachment,
especially the Machine-Gun Company of Infantry Regiment
No. 177, was briskly and continuously fired on. The
shooting of the francs-tireurs only died out when the factory
was set on fire (Apps. 38, 64, 65).
Whilst these events were taking place in the north of
Dinant, in the south, also at Les Rivages and Anseremme,
sanguinary fighting with the civil population had taken
place. Late in the afternoon, Grenadier Regiment No. loi
with the 3rd Field Pioneer Company reached Les Rivages
by the road which ends there, in order to cross the Meuse.
The pioneers, with pontoon waggons for bridge-building,
had already entered the section of Dinant occupied by the
Guards Regiment.
On account of the fire which they received from the
houses, and of which they could not get the mastery, despite
all attempts in conjunction with the infantry to clear the
7
98 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
houses, they had been obliged to withdraw to the
heights.
The village of Les Rivages at first appeared as if deserted.
On the opposite bank the houses in Neffe, struck by our
artillery fire, burst into flames (Apps. 20, 39, 44) .
The crossing began at once. First the 2nd, then the
nth Company of Grenadier Regiment No. loi, gained the
left bank and advanced to the attack in. extended order
against the enemy infantry on the western heights of the
river-bank. The nth Company received about five con-
secutive discharges of small shot from a house in the narrow
alley through which they had passed in Neffe. The barred
house was broken open, and the francs-tireurs, a man and
two women, were_shpt. ^*--- -_
"TCrectly after this the company, led by the company
commander, reached the railway embankment. At this
spot a waterway led through the embankment ; before the
culvert lay a civilian with a sort of carbine, shot dead ; in
the dark culvert people were seen. From the top of the
embankment the officer advancing with another company
shouted down that he had been shot at from the culvert.
The company commander called out loudly, " Sortez,
on ne vous fera rien " (" Come out; nothing will be done
to you "). No answer came from the culvert, neither did
the people leave it who were concealed there. Thereupon
a number of volleys were fired into the culvert. The
Grenadiers continued their advance over the railway em-
bankment and up the heights. The detachment left behind
for clearing and guarding the culvert brought out about
thirty-five to forty civilians, men, half-grown lads, women,
and children, and with them about eight to ten rifles, not
sporting-guns, but apparently military rifles. A portion of
the civilians had been killed or wounded by the fire of the
Grenadiers (App. 40). In the meantime everything had
still remained quiet in Les Rivages. The first person who
showed himself was a lame man. He described himself
as the Mayor, and protested that the inhabitants of Les
Rivages were peaceable in contrast to those of Neffe. He
was therefore sent over to Neffe for the purpose of warning
the population in that place to keep the peace, as in that case
nothing would happen to them. The commanding officer
of Grenadier Regiment No. loi forcibly collected a large
number of persons from the nearest houses in order to hold
them as hostages against the hostile action of the populace.
It was made clear to them that their lives were guarantee
APPENDIX C— DINANT 99
for the safety of the troops. The causes for this measure
were the notorious hostihty of the population of Dinant,
and the report just made by an officer that, close by, to
the south of Les Rivages, towards Anseremme, shots had
been fired from the houses. The men were placed against
a garden wall to the left of the place of crossing, the women
and children who came with them out of the houses, some-
what farther down the river.
The bridge-building and crossing were in progress.
When the bridge had been built out about 40 metres alike
from the houses of Les Rivages and from the rocky slopes
close to the south of the " Rocher Bayard," francs-tireurs
began to direct a hot lire upon the Grenadiers, who were
waiting in close order for crossing, and on the working
pioneers. The greatest consternation and confusion ensued.
In consequence of this the male hostages assembled by the
garden wall were shot. _ "*
The shooting of the hostages, evidently visible to the
unseen francs-tireurs, resulted in the cessation of the firing
and a continuation of the bridge-building (Apps. 46, 48).
Partly during the night of August 24th and partly on the
next day the troops of the Corps were able to cross the
Meuse at Les Rivages and Neffe. On August 25th the rear
portions of the Corps also crossed the Meuse.
In no way, however, had the severe measures taken on
August 23rd put any final stop to the excesses of the francs-
tireurs. On the two following days also, columns passing
through and single persons were shot at from the slopes and
from the houses, although no longer to the same extent as
on August 23rd. This necessarily led again to retaliatory
measures, to the shooting of individual inhabitants caught
in the act, and to the artillery bombardment of buildings
which were occupied by francs-tireurs. The former
measures were taken on August 24th in Neffe and St.
Medard, and the latter on August 24th and 25th in all parts
of the town (Apps. 49, 50). If one reviews the whole of
the resistance offered to the German troops by the popula-
tion of Dinant and its suburbs, the first thing that strikes
one is its systematic organisation (Apps. 12, 25, 30).
Already before the 23rd of August it was known to the
inhabitants of the neighbourhood of Dinant that in this
place there existed an organisation for treacherous attack
on the German troops (Apps. 12, 51).
It was known that the surprise attacks upon the German
troops by the local inhabitants, which took place at Sorinnes
100 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
and other places lying to the east of the Meuse, were partly
to be traced to emissaries from Dinant.
This organised effort was distinguished by its careful
preparation and by the extent of its activities.
The houses were placed in a state of defence by the
barricading of the doors and windows, by the construction
of loopholes, and by the accumulation of a large supply of
firearms and ammunition in the houses. The existence of
large stocks of ammunition was proved in one way by the
repeated explosions in the burning houses. In the night
operations of August 21st trip-wires were drawn across the
street (Apps. 3, 9, 10, 11, 18, 26, 28, 29, 31, 38, 49, 50, 52,
53, 70, 81).
From the fact that the firearms were not only in part
sporting-guns and revolvers, but were partly machine-guns
and Belgian military rifles (Apps. 2, 25), one may conclude
that the movement had the support of the Belgian Govern-
ment. The whole of Dinant with its suburbs on the right
and left bank of the Meuse was prepared in the same way.
Everywhere, in Leffe, in Les Rivages, in Neffe, one found
the barricading of the houses, the loopholes, and the presence
of weapons. At the same time it is expressly pointed out
in the reports of the fighting that the belligerent Belgian
civilians did not wear any kind of military badge (Apps.
4-7, 12, 15, 22, 24, 25, 31). The whole population was
imbued with the same purpose — to hold up the German
advance. If, by taking part in the dangers into which it
knowingly ventured, some portion of it perished, it has
only itself to blame. ' ■
This resistance offered to our troops was extremely
obstinate. It was carried on with every kind of weapon,
with military rifles and sporting-guns, with bullets and
shot, with revolvers, with knives, with stones (Apps. 5, 10,
II, 25-28, 31, 35, 38, 43, 54, 55, 57, 58, 63, 67. 81). All
grades, even the clergy (App. 18), took part in it, men and
women, old men and children (Apps. 5, 6, 10, 12, 14, 18, 28,
29, 35, 41, 44, 54, 56, 59, 63). From the cellars of burning
houses firing was still kept up. At the very moment when
he was being shot by martial law, a franc-tireur discharges'
a revolver, which he had kept concealed, at the firing-parljr
(App. 5). With treachery and cunning (Apps. 28, 32, 43,
44, 50, 68), themselves invisible from the outside, they fired
from loopholes in the rear of passing detachments and on
single officers. They disappeared before the advancing
Germans (Apps. 12, 37, 64) through back ways into the
APPENDIX C— DINANT loi
caves and subterranean passages, to continue their work
of ,assassHi€i'tTnn in some other place.
Some male francs-tireurs had put on women's clothing
( Apps. 64, 65) . The Geneva badge was misused by individuals
and in the case of buildings in order, under its protection, to
cause injury to the Germans (Apps. 9, 16-18, 32, 56, 66-70).
Even the wounded who were being transported to the
rear, as well as hospital orderlies, were shot at from the
houses (Apps. 71, 72).
The fanaticism of the population found its most revolting
expression in the cniel murder of sleeping men, in the
mutilation of the fallen, and in the burning of wounded
prisoners who were bound up with wire for this purpose
(Apps. 56, 59, 61, 67, 73-78).
In judging of the attitude taken by the troops of the
XII. Corps in the face of the action of the civil population,
which was hostile to the last degree and employed the most
reprehensible methods, we must remember that the tactical
aim of the XII. Corps was the rapid passage over the Meuse
and the clearing of the enemy from the left bank. The
speedy suppression of the resistance of the inhabitants,
which was directly opposed to this aim, was a military
necessity to be secured by all possible means. From this
point of view, the bombardment of the town, which was
taking an active part in the fighting, and the burning of
the houses occupied by the francs-tireurs, as well as the
shooting of inhabitants caught with weapons in their hands,
were all justrfted.
In the same way, the shooting of the hostages in various
localities was also justified. The troops fighting in the town
found themselves in the direst extremity, inasmuch as they
were under the artillery, machine-gun, and rifle fire of the
regular troops posted on the left bank of the Meuse, and
were at the same time being fired at in the rear and on
the flanks by the inhabitants. The hostages were taken
as security in order to put a stop to the conduct of the
francs-tireurs. Despite this, and since the population
continued, as before, to inflict losses on the struggling
troops, the shooting of the hostages was carried out ; other-
wise, the holding of the hostages would have only implied
an empty threat. Their execution was all the more justified,
since, with the general participation of the populace in the
fighting, it w^as hardly a case of innocent victims.
In view of the military objective mentioned above and
the serious straits m which the troops found themselves.
102 THE .GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
treacherously attacked as they were from the rear, such
action on our part could not be avoided.
The lives of women and children were, on principle, spared,
so_long as they were not caught in the act, or it was not a
case of self-defence against their attacks (Apps. 5, 6, 25, 26,
28, 31, 35, 41, 47, 79). The fact that, despite this, women
and children were killed and wounded is intelligible from
the prevailing circumstances.
They were struck partly by shots coming from the
enemy on the left bank of the Meuse and partly by stray
shots during the house and street fighting (App. 10). In
the shooting of the hostages at Les Rivages a few women
and children were also hit. This happened in the case of
some who, contrary to the arrangements made, had left
their station which was apart from the male hostages, and
had crowded together with the latter (Apps. 45, 46). That
the troops of the XII. Corps did not show themselves
Jaarsh or cruel is proved by numerous cases in which they
exhibited, under the existing circumstances, a solicitude,
deserving special recognition, for women, old men, and
children (Apps. 52, 53, 55, 58, 80-86). A number of women
confined to their beds on account of child-birth were carried
from houses in the danger zone to a sheltered place and
laid on mattresses near our wounded (App. 5). Wounded
inhabitants — the wounds mostly originated from the
enemy's fire — were bandaged and given over to conscientious
medical treatment (Apps. 7, 10, 29, 44, 47, 50-52, 68, 86,
87). Little children found alone were handed over to
female care (Apps. 47, 51). The large number of women and
children from burning Dinant who were in Les Rivages
on the night of August 24th were sheltered in a house and
provided with food and drink (Apps. 45, 51) . In the morning
they all received coffee from the field-kitchen of the Guards
Regiment.
The account given by the surviving inhabitants of Dinant
about the fighting for their town, and the statements thereto
appended by the Belgian Commission of Inquiry, as well
as those of the hostile Press, are marked by their complete
silence as regards the part taken by the populace in the
fighting against our troops, and, with intentional exaggera-
tion, solely record what our troops have done to suppress
this participation in the fighting. In face of what positively
occurred, it is a malicious distortion of the actual facts to
maintain that, because orders had been issued to give up
all weapons, the inhabitants did not fire.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 103
Without doubt it is deeply regrettable that, in conse-
quence of the events of August 23rd and 24th, the flourishing
town of Dinant with its suburbs was burnt and laid in
ruins and a great number of human lives were destroyed.
The responsibility for this lies not on the German Army,
^t-enly on- the- population. The inhabitants collectively
engaged in conflict with the German troops contrary to
international law and in a fanatical and treacherous manner,
and forced our troops to take those counter-measures
required for the purposes of war.
Had the population held aloof from armed resistance
and open participation in the fighting, scarcely any injury
would have been incurred by them, as regards life or property,
despite the hazardous position in which they were placed
by reason of military operations.
Berlin, April nth, 1915.
Military Department of Investigation into the Violation
of the Laws of War.
Signed : Major Bauer.
Signed : Councillor of the Supreme Court of
Judicature, Dr. Wagner.
C. App. I.
Extract from the military diary of the General Officer
commanding the XII. (ist Royal Saxon) Army Corps.
August 22nd, 1 914.
On August 22nd the Imperial Headquarters remained
at the Chateau of Taviet. The day was occupied in
carrying on reconnaissances in the manner directed.
Towards 3 o'clock in the forenoon the report came through
a General Staff- Officer sent in advance that the 2nd
Battalion of Rifle Regiment No. 108 had succeeded by a
night attack in throwing the enemy back across the Meuse
at Dinant. Here the inhabitants had once more taken
part in the fighting, in some cases with shot-guns.
August 2^rd, 1914.
The General's Staff reached the western outlet of
Sorinnes at 4 a.m. The 23rd Infantry Division, present
at the same point, immediately reported its readiness
for opening fire; the 32nd Infantry Division, communica-
104 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
tion with which was at first lacking, did not report until
5.40 a.m. At 5.55 a.m. the Commander-in-Chief gave
the order to fire, which, at first, could not be complied
with on account of the thick weather.
In virtue of the command to open fire, the General in
command gave the order : " The divisions to occupy the
bank on this side of the Meuse with strong lines of riflemen,
to enable the slopes on the opposite side to be taken under
an effective infantry fire." As the weather, towards 6 a.m.,
permitted regular artillery fire to be delivered, it was
observed that the enemy only replied weakly. For this
reason the General in command gave the order at 6.30 a.m.
that his reserve troops were to follow their divisions, as
he expected a more rapid advance of the divisions towards
the Meuse. For the same reason the General Staff pro-
ceeded at 8 a.m. to Gemechenne.
The next reports received up to 8.30 a.m., as well as
a reconnaissance undertaken by Captain Bahrdt and ist
Lieutenant Count Schall in the district of Dinant, seemed
to contradict this assumption. At 8.50 a.m. a report
arrived from Colonel Francke, Infantry Regiment No. 180,
which seemed to confirm the original opinion of the
General in command. A communication by the Ober-
quartiermeister with reference to the observation of an
army airman coincided also with this opinion. At the
same time the Commanding General had directed that the
order for the crossing of the Meuse should be made out.
In the meantime, the troops had also advanced into
new positions in the direction of the Meuse. It seemed
to be more and more certain that the enemy had to all
intents and purposes withdrawn, and only continued to
offer any serious resistance at the presumed crossing-places,
especially at Houx.
Although 1st Lieutenant Berckmiiller and ist Lieu-
tenant Count Schall reported at 10.15 a.m. that on a
renewed reconnaissance near Dinant they had met with
brisk shrapnel-fire, the Army Corps order to cross the
Meuse was given at 10.20 a.m. ; for this purpose a half
of the bridge-building corps was placed at the disposal of
each of the two divisions. For the more rapid suppression
of the resistance at Houx, the reserve division of the
General in command was given back to the 32nd Infantry
Division at 10 a.m.
After the issue of this order, ist Lieutenant Hasse of
General Staff No. 3 arrived and reported that the II. Army
APPENDIX C— DINANT 105
had crossed the Sambre to the west of Namur on August
22nd, so that a serious resistance on the part of the enemy
on the Meuse was not to be expected. It was intended
to give the XII. Army Corps the direction on Anthee ;
the XIX. Army Corps, on the other hand, was to be taken
over the Meuse to the south of Givet. The possibihty of
getting into touch on the western bank of the Meuse with
the General Command (left wing, II. Army) was immedi-
ately communicated to the 32nd Infantry Division.
The opinion, seemingly confirmed by an air report received
in the meantime that the Corps would get across the Meuse
without serious difficulties, was destined to prove incorrect.
The 32nd Infantry Division met with serious opposition
at Houx and Lefie, and a similar experience befel the 46th
Infantry Brigade in burning Dinant. It was only at the
crossing-place of the 45th Infantry Brigade at Les Rivages
that everything, at first, appeared to go smoothly, so that
the 23rd Infantry Division reported at 12.40 a.m. through
Major V. Zeschau that they were able to commence the
crossing.
It was to be inferred from the reports in general that the
crossing, even if beset with difficulties, could still be effected
in the afternoon. A Corps command was therefore issued
at 5.10 p.m., which assigned Sommi^re as the objective of
the 32nd Infantry Division, and Onhaye that of the 23rd
Infantry Division.
The General Staff, in view of the shortly expected crossing,
proceeded from Gemechenne to the bend in the road 15
kilometres to the east of Dinant. At 2 p.m. the XIX. Army
Corps reported that the 24th Infantry Division was crossing
at Lenne with a brigade.
The troops of the Corps had, however, at the crossing-
places some very severe fighting with the enemy posted on
the west bank of the Meuse. This fighting, through the
participation of the inhabitants, assumed an especially
severe character. At the moment when the (Guards)
Grenadier Regiment No. 100 had lowered the first pontoons
into the water, a violent fire was delivered from the adjacent
houses. The troops found themselves in the unpleasant
position of being fired at by the infantry and artillery of the
enemy on the western bank and by the inhabitants in their
rear. The most unsatisfactory result of this fight was that
a part of the pontoons had been rendered unserviceable by
the bombardment.
Subsequently the crossing of the 23rd Infantry Division
io6 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
proved exceedingly difficult. The material to hand was no
longer sufficient for the building of a military bridge. The
General in command, who towards 7 p.m. had personally
ascertained the position of the 32nd Infantry Division in
Leffe, proceeded to the crossing-place of the 23rd Infantry
Division, which he reached towards 8 p.m. The position
of the Corps at this time was more or less as follows :
In Leffe the 32nd Infantry Division was still fighting
for the crossing. At Dinant the 46th Infantry Brigade had
been obliged to withdraw to the heights on the eastern bank
because it was impossible to remain in the burning town.
At Les Rivages a part of the bridge was ready, but the
material was not sufficient for its completion, consequently
a system of ferrying had to be contrived.
The commander of the 23rd Infantry Division accordingly
arranged that a mixed force under Colonel Meister
(Grenadier Regiment No. loi, Hussar Regiment No. 20,
ist Section, Field Artillery Regiment No. 12) should first
be put across. The (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100
was to follow next, while the remainder of the Army Corps
was directed to the bridge of the 32nd Infantry Division at
Leffe.
According to an Army Order sent at 7.15 p.m. to the
east of Dinant, the pursuit was to be taken up with the
available troops on the western bank of Meuse ; XII. Army
Corps; direction, Philippeville.
For correct transcript.
Signed : von Loeben, Captain on the General
Staff.
C. App. 2.
Extract from the Report of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108
on the fighting in Dinant during the night of the 21st-
22nd August 1 91 4.
When the rear of the 2nd Battalion had reached the first
houses in Dinant, a signal shot suddenly rang out. The next
moment there was a rattle of musketry on all sides. There
was firing from all the houses ; from all the slopes, which
are honeycombed by cellars and vaults, there came flashes.
All the houses were firmly barricaded. An attempt was
made to penetrate into the houses. If rifle-butts and
hatchets were not adequate, there were pioneers at hand to
throw in hand-grenades. Machine-guns had been fixed up
in a comer house.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 107
C. App. 3.
Extract from the Report of the ist Field Company of
Pioneer BattaUon No. 12 on the reconnaissance in force
of August 21 St, 1914, carried out with the 2nd BattaHon,
Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108.
As soon as the first houses in Dinant were reached, the
street-lighting was destroyed ; the columns marched closely
along by the two rows of houses and arrived as far as the
first cross-street. Here the head of the infantry column
suddenly received from the corner house on the right a very
violent fire, which was immediately returned. Instantly
there was firing from all the houses. A violent street-fight
then ensued. The pioneers forced the fastened doors open
with hatchets and axes, threw hand-grenades into the lower
rooms, and set others on fire with the torches which had been
in the meantime ignited.
Lieutenant Brink turned into the first side-street on the
left. This, however, had been obstructed by trip-wires ;
from the houses came firing, and stones were thrown.
All at once the company was fired at from the rear, and
was obliged to return to the corner of the street. Non-
commissioned Ofiicer Grosse, who had been struck by
several stones and lay unconscious by the trip-wires, was
also brought back.
The I St Company had fifteen slightly wounded and one
severely wounded.
C. App. 4.
Dresden, November 6th, 1914.
Chief Military Court, Dresden.
On citation Paul Kurt Buchner, Reservist, ist Field
Company, Pioneer Battalion No. 12, in Pirna, appeared as
witness and made a statement :
On the night of August 21st, 1914, my company was
sent on a reconnaissance towards Dinant in Belgium. The
2nd Battalion, Rifle Regiment No. 108, marched with us.
When we had arrived in the town we were briskly shot at
from the houses, and, indeed, chiefly with small shot. We
stormed a number of houses, and saw that the marksmen
were civilians without any military uniform or badge. We
then withdrew.
On August 23rd, 1914, the 23rd Division advanced to the
attack on Dinant. Here, also, we were vigorously fired
io8 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
on from the houses, and certainly only by civilians, of whom
a number were killed. It was here that I received a shot
in the thigh.
I then got into the hospital which had been estabUshed
in the Chateau of Sorinnes. In the night the Chateau of
Sorinnes was attacked and fired at by the inhabitants of the
place. The inhabitants were, however, beaten off before
they could force their way into the chateau.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Kurt Buchner.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Dr. Illing, Chief Counsellor of the
Military Court.
C. App. 5.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
Neufchatel, February 20th, 1915.
In the examination concerning the events in Dinant
the under-mentioned witness appeared and stated :
As to Person : My name is Herbert Max Reinhard
Brink. I am 22 years old ; Protestant ; Lieutenant in the
ist Field Company, Pioneer Battalion No. 12, XII. Army
Corps.
As to Case : I was leader of the platoon of the ist Field
Pioneer Company which took part in the reconnaissance in
force on the night of the 2ist-22nd August 191 4. In
Dinant, on that occasion, we were briskly fired at from the
houses. I did not see the marksmen ; certainly they were
not soldiers. I conclude this from the numerous injuries
from small shot which our wounded had. During the
street-fighting a little old cylinder-revolver, from which one
shot had been discharged, fell on my head. No officer and,
still more, no soldier would have been likely to use such an
antiquated weapon.
On August 23rd, 1914, I marched into Dinant with a part
of the ist Field Pioneer Company, and joined up with the
detachment of Count Kielmannsegg. We were fired at very
vigorously from the houses, among others also from those
on the bank of the Meuse, but not at all from the opposite
bank. The marksmen were civilians without any military
badge. I myself saw several civilians with weapons in
their hands. A woman also fired down at us from the
APPENDIX C— DINANT 109
stairs as we were forcing our way into a house. She was
immediately shot down from below.
I was witness how four men and a woman were shot
by grenadiers because they came out, armed7 from the
houses from which we had been fired at. I was further
witness how a larger number ot guilty inhabitants were
shot by order of Count Kielmannsegg ; the women and
children were first separated from the men. I saw, at the
moment when the volley was delivered, one of the men
draw a revolver from his pocket and fire at the soldiers. I
was astonished, too, that the weapon had not been taken
away from him. In any case, he had only just been brought
up at the last moment before the execution.
As far as I have seen, our soldiers did not in any way
behave cruelly towards the inhabitants. On the contrary,
from the houses out of which the inhabitants had been
driven, our men brought out on mattresses four women, who
were unable to walk on account of recent confinement, and
laid them in the street in a place sheltered from the firing,
close to our own wounded.
In the evening towards 7 o'clock I marched with my
detachment from Dinant to Les Rivages. On the way,
at the last houses in Dinant we again received a brisk fire
from the houses. We had no time to stop and clear these
houses, as we had strict orders to evacuate Dinant imme-
diately on account of the impending bombardment of the
place. As we entered Les Rivages the bridge-building was
in progress.
We remained at this place a further two days. After the
completion of the bridge, we noticed repeatedly on August
24th that our columns, which had crossed the bridge and
were marching downstream on the west bank of the Meuse,
were fired at from Dinant.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Brink, Lieutenant.
The witness was hereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 6.
Extract from the Report of the (Guards) Grenadier
Regiment No. 100,
August 2^rd, 19 14.
During the descent towards Dinant all three companies
of the ist Battalion received losses through the fire of
no THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
civilians — portions of the populace, amongst whom were
women and children — and presumably also from Belgian
soldiers in civilian clothing, who obstinately defended
themselves with every possible kind of weapon. In the
streets the companies encountered a murderous fire. In
parts every single house had to be fought for with the use
of hand-grenades. The civilians wore no military badge
or uniform ; if they were caught with weapons in their
hands, they were' shot. The remainder of the population
were led away to the town gaol. The Grenadier Guards
pressed farther on, all the time being fired at by the
ireacherous inhabitants. A great number of buildings
were provided with flags bearing the Geneva cross, yet
from these the troops were fired on with special
violence.
Grenadier H., thrice wounded, nevertheless continued to
take part in the fighting, while he called his comrade's
attention to the houses from which the inhabitants were
firing.
Late in the afternoon, since the whole place was not yet
in our hands, the artillery bombarded the town, which
now, for the most part, became enveloped in flames.
Towards 8 o'clock in the evening the house-fighting in
the midst of the burning streets broke out once more for a
short time.
The civilians detained in the prison were brought out.
Old men, women, and children were released ; the men were
led by up to Marche as prisoners.
On the morning of August 24th, after the pontoons had
been repaired, the regiment began to cross in pursuit of the
retreating enemy. VV^ile this was going on, shots from
different houses struck the marching column.
C. App. 7.
WiLLMSBARACKEN, January 6th, 1915.
Deposition.
By order of the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100,
Lieutenant-Colonel Count Kielmannsegg appeared for
examination and, being warned to speak the whole truth,
made the following deposition :
As to Person : My name is Bernhardt Hermann Car)
Kedel, Count Kielmannsegg, bom in Celle (Hanover) on
APPENDIX C— DINANT III
July 6th, 1866; evangelical- Lutheran ; Lieutenant-Colonel
in the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100 and Com-
mander of the ist Battalion.
As to Case : The town of Dinant was attacked and
occupied at about 8 o'clock in the forenoon on August 23rd,
1914, by the 3rd Company, ist Battahon, ist (Guards)
Grenadier Regiment. No enemy troops were discovered on
the right bank of the Meuse. Notwithstanding this, our
troops were fired on from the houses of the town by persons
in civilian clothing without any military badge or uniform,
whereby Captain Legler, the first of the Guards Company
to enter the town, was severely wounded. Sections of the
town were assigned to the companies for the purpose of
searching and clearing, with the injunction to take all
inhabitants, so long as they offered no resistance, to the
town gaol ; all those who offered resistance to be dealt
with by force of arms. The occupant of the house, from
which Captain Legler was wounded, was shot by my
order.
Infringements of the orders given by me have not been
reported from anywhere. The search took place by patrols
under leaders who were detailed for this purpose by the
companies. Several hundred inhabitants were brought into
the town gaol, and there put under guard. Before leaving
the town, in which the three companies had been engaged,
from about 8 o'clock in the morning until about
8 o'clock in the evening, in constant street and house
fighting, with their own losses as indicated, about a hundred
guilty inhabitants of the male sex were shot by my
direction and in accordance with an order given by higher
authority. Our own wounded, as well as the inhabitants
who were wounded, chiefly by the fire of the enemy on
the left bank of the Meuse, were bandaged and taken care
of by Chief-Doctor Merx of the 2nd Battalion of the
(Guards) Grenadier Regiment in a house prepared for this
purpose.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Kielmannsegg.
Witness was hereupon sworn.
Signed : von Haugk, Lieutenant and Officer
of the Court.
Signed : Beymann, Acting - Sergeant - Major,
Clerk of the Court.
112 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
C. App. 8.
(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. lOO.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Bandel, as Ofl&cer of the
Court.
Non-commissioned Officer Haunstein, as Military
Clerk of the Court.
GuiGNicouRT, January gth, 191 5.
By order there appeared as witness Captain von Montb6,
who, being warned to speak the whole truth, made the
following deposition :
As to Person : My name is Charles Sylvester Alban von
Montbe. I am 31 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : It has not come to my knowledge that any
cruelties have been committed by our soldiers on the in-
habitants of Dinant ; neither have the inhabitants of Dinant
been ill-treated or mutilated or been badly treated at all ;
on the other hand, various inhabitants of the place who
have treacherously fired from the houses, so far as one could
get hold of them, were shot.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : v. Montbe.
Witness was hereupon sworn.
Signed : Bandel, Lieutenant and Officer of the
Court.
Signed : Haunstein, Non-commissioned Officer
and Military Clerk of the Court.
C. App. 9.
GuiGNi COURT, January 8th, 1915.
Deposition.
Lieutenant Prietzel of the Reserve appeared as witness
and, being warned to speak the truth, in lieu of oath declared
as follows :
As to Person : My name is Ernst Rudolf Prietzel. I am
29 years of age ; Evangelical-Lutheran ; Dr. Jur. of Bautzen.
As to Case : When the 5th Company of the ist (Guards)
Grenadier Regiment marched into Dinant it was fired on
from the houses situated in the narrow lane leading from
Herbuchenne. I was myself able to observe shots from
about three windows. Grenadier Oberlander was killed ;
probably two or three Grenadiers were wounded. The
APPENDIX C— DINANT 113
shots undoubtedly did not come from the opposite bank of
the Meuse, which, at that time, was only weakly occupied
by the enemy troops. On the contrary, the shots were
discharged by the civilian population. In the narrow lane,
and previously towards Herbuchenne, there lay numerous
dead and wounded of the 8th Company, which had, in the
same way, been fired at by the civilian population from
the houses.
One could plainly see in the burning houses of Dinant,
mostly wrecked by our artillery, that cartridges were ex-
ploding in the flames. These houses were unsuitable for
military purposes, especially for defence. The cartridges
must therefore have originated from the civilian population.
On the other side of the Meuse was a building provided
with a Red Cross flag. The walls enclosing this building
had loopholes. The building was therefore, despite the
Red Cross flag, adapted for defence. The 5th Company, in
passing through the narrow lane mentioned above, replied
to the fire of the civilian population.
It is not true that soldiers of the Guards Regiment or of
any other regiment have taken any action which was not
absolutely required by the military situation or in conse-
quence of the behaviour of the civilian population.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Lieutenant of Reserve Prietzel.
Witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : von Loeben, Lieutenant and Officer
of the Court.
Signed : Baier, Non-commissioned Officer and
Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 10.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
NeufchAtel, February 16th, 1915.
In the matter for investigation with reference to the
events in Dinant, Acting-Sergeant-Major Bartusch appeared
as witness. After he had been made acquainted with the
object of the investigation, and the importance of the oath
to be taken had been pointed out, he was examined as
follows :
8
114 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As to Person : My name is Georg Wilhelm Bartusch.
I am 33 years of age ; Protestant ; Acting-Sergeant-Major,
Battalion Drummer, ist Battalion, (Guards) Grenadier
Regiment No. loo.
As to Case : On August 23rd I served on the staff of the
ist Battalion in Dinant. We slid down the steep slopes
into Dinant rather than ran. An inhabitant, the Luxem-
burger mentioned below, told me they did not believe we
should get down; on the contrary, they reckoned that we
would be shot on the way. From the very beginning we
were assailed by fire from the houses, small shot was also
used ; the firing came from all the openings in the houses,
from the windows and doors, and also from holes cut out
between the roof and wall. Below in the town we sought a
temporary shelter in a warehouse nearly opposite the gaol.
From here an attempt was made to clear the neighbourhood
of sharpshooters. All those of the inhabitants who were
found in the houses were taken to the prison. The persons
who had been caught with weapons in their hands were
separated and placed against the garden wall near the open
place. They were there shot by a detachment of Grenadiers
by order of Lieutenant-Colonel Count Kielmannsegg. How
many there were, I cannot exactly say ; there may have
been 50 or 100. They stood in three or four rows, and were
to my knowledge only men. That women and children
were shot with them, I did not see. One man tried to keep a
child on his arm, but this was prevented by a woman who
took the child from him. One must try to imagine the
confusion prevailing, and that all this was taking place while
we were still being fired on. I think it is possible that some
of the women and children, whom we had forced away from
the men, had fled behind the wall of the garden, and that
there they perished either by our bullets which pierced the
wall or by the bullets of the enemy on the other bank of the
Meuse. Everyone who stayed out of doors did so at the
continual risk of his life. At the very commencement,
when we reached Dinant, a girl of about thirteen years of
age received a shot in the stomach from the other bank
of the Meuse. She was bandaged by two German stretcher-
bearers.
One man was caught in the street by two Grenadiers,
who declared he had wounded Captain Legler. We tied
his hands with a cord and took him with us. He was,
however, rescued by civilians in the street-fighting. I
recognised him again among the men lined up for execution
APPENDIX C— DINANT 115
by the marks left by the cord on his hands. In a house
which had aheady been searched, and which I and a
Grenadier were again searching through, I found behind a
secret door two men of about twenty years of age ; each
had a revolver in his hand from which shots had already
been discharged.
Among the persons who had been taken to the prison
was a well-dressed man of about seventy years of age. A
bulging of his waistcoat attracted my attention ; when I
went to touch it he said, " Purse." I tore his waistcoat open
and produced from it a small revolver from which a shot
had already been discharged. As far as I know, this old
man was not among those who were shot. To judge by the
continuous firing, all the inhabitants of Dinant must have
taken part in the shooting. When we were attending to
the thirteen-year-old girl who had been shot, her father,
a Luxemburger living in Dinant, who spoke broken German,
said that in Dinant parents had given revolvers to their
children of ten to twelve years so that they might shoot
at the " AUemands."
In the prison we found about eight pistols and the same
number of swords, as well as a cigar-box full of cardboard
packets which were filled with small shot.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Bartusch.
Witness was hereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. II.
WiLLMSBARACKEN, February ^rd, 19 15.
Deposition.
By order of the regiment there appeared as witnes
Grenadier of the Reserve Straczinsky, 4th Company
(Guards), Grenadier Regiment No. 100, who, being
warned to speak the whole truth, made the following
deposition :
As to Person : My name is Felix Johannes Straczinsky ;
bom on the 15th June 1890 at Bautzen (Saxony) ; Evan-
gelical-JLu theran .
As to Case : I was wounded on August 23rd, 1914, in
Dinant by a discharge of small shot fired from a cellar
window. The shot went into my right ankle. The grains
ii6 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
of shot were removed at Julich, near Aachen, where I was
under treatment. I saw the shot myself.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Johannes Straczinsky.
The witness was hereupon sworn.
Also signed.
Signed: von Haugk, ist Lieutenant and
Officer of the Court.
Signed : Beymann, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk to the Court.
C. App. 12.
Extract from the Reports ol the Staff of the 46th Infantry
Brigade and of Regiments Nos. 108 and 182 on the
fighting at Dinant, August 23rd, 1914.
Staff of the 46th Infantry Brigade.
Towards 9 o'clock in the forenoon Regiments Nos. 108
and 182 reached the eastern slopes of the Meuse.
There now ensued a hot fight for the town of Dinant,
which was defended by francs- tireurs, and which resulted
in serious loss, especially of officers. As the Brigade Com-
mander was of opinion that Dinant could not be taken with-
out previously bombarding it with artillery, he gave the
order at 10 a.m. to again evacuate Dinant if possible. At
the time this was no longer practicable, since the regiments
were already too much involved in the house-to-house
fighting and were pressing forward in the direction of the
market-place.
Whilst every individual house was being hotly fought
for, the troops were being heavily fired on from the opposite
bank of the Meuse by artillery and machine-guns.
The commanders of the two regiments met in the market-
place. Since no decisive result was possible without
artillery against the enemy who were concealed in houses,
cellars, and caves, and who were even firing from the cathedral,
they resolved to gradually evacuate the town.
This was begun at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Rifle-Fusiher Regiment No. 108.
The 3rd Battalion in its advance on Dinant had at once
been fired at from the eastern houses. Nothing was to be
seen of the enemy, although continuous firing came from
APPENDIX C— DIN ANT 117
the northern border of the Dinant-Gemechenne road valley.
The farm of Malais was stormed by the ist Battalion. The
whole of the francs-tireurs who had resisted there were
killed. According to its instructions, the battalion reached
Leffe and Dinant under fire from the inhabitants. In the
house of Dinant there were no longer any of the enemy
forces either in uniform or provided with any military
badges, but it was the fanatical population, even women,
who fired on the troops. In the market-place there de-
veloped a brisk house-to-house fight. There was firing even
from the tower of the cathedral. Almost all the houses
were systematically defended. Both regimental com-
manders (of the io8th and 182nd Regiments) came to the
conclusion that the Meuse could not be reached without
the support of our artillery, and therefore ordered the return
of the regiments at 3.30 in the afternoon. At 5 o'clock
the bombardment of Dinant by our artillery began. On
the following morning the brigade crossed the Meuse on
the pontoon bridge at Leffe which was built by the 32nd
Infantry Division, since it was impossible to march through
burning Dinant.
Infantry Regiment No. 182.
During the advance of the regiment along the edge of
a valley it received a continuous shrapnel fire from the
western bank of the Meuse and infantry fire from the
buildings and copses on the edge of the valley, causing losses.
Captain Klotz, the leader of the machine-gun company,
fell through a shot from above, apparently from one of the
fortress-like watch-towers which stand there. Two battahons
penetrated into Dinant and on towards the bridge, and
received a detached fire from the houses and from the cliffs
of the east bank, in numerous rocky caves of which francs-
tireurs were hidden. At 5.30 in the evening the regiment
stood again on the heights above Dinant while our artillery
from the north furiously bombarded the town on both sides
of the river.
In the evening and during the night enemy sharpshooters
still continued to fire from the woods and buildings on the
edge of the valley, which they had reached by passages
in the rocks unknown to us, and into which they again
disappeared.
Ii8 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
C. App. 13.
Wood south-west of La Ville aux Bois,
February ^th, 1915.
Deposition.
By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment " Prince
George " No. 108 there appeared as witness Corporal
Schmieder of the loth Company.
Warned to speak the whole truth, he made the following
deposition :
As to Person : My name is Hermann Walter Schmieder.
I am 20 years of age ; of the Evangelical-Lutheran faith ;
gardener by calling ; now corporal in the loth Company.
As to Case : On the Sorinnes-Dinant road the following
occurrence took place in the part of the town of Dinant
which hes on both sides of the road. I witnessed how two
male civilians discharged pistol-shots at Major Lommatsch,
Battalion Commander, i6th Infantry Regiment No. 182,
from the first storey of a house standing directly on the
road. Major Lommatsch immediately collapsed,
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Schmieder.
The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations.
Signed : Lassow, Lieutenant and Ofiicer of the
Court.
Signed : Schubert, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 14.
Wood south-west of La Ville aux Bois,
February ^th, 19 15.
Deposition.
By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment " Prince
George " No. 108 there appeared :
1. Corporal Horn.
2. Corporal Matthes.
Warned to speak the whole truth, they made the following
deposition :
I. Horn.
As to Person : My name is Max Bruno Horn. I am
22 years old ; of the Evangelical-Lutheran faith ; machinery
APPENDIX C— DINANT 119
smith by trade ; now corporal, 12th Company, Rifle (Fusilier)
Regiment " Prince George " No. 108.
As to Case : On the afternoon of the 23rd August a
platoon of artillerymen was standing in the vicinity of
the water-tower at the fort of Dinant. All at once the
artillerymen sent for the infantry to help them. The group
in which I was moved up. The artillerymen were firing
with their pistols at about eight civilians who were armed
with rifles. When the civilians saw us coming they ran
down the slope towards Dinant. I did not see German
soldiers in Dinant commit any cruelties on the inhabitants.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Horn.
The witness was duly sworn.
2. Matthes.
As to Person : My name is Johannes Walter Matthes.
I am 28 years old ; of the Evangelical-Lutheran faith ;
butcher by trade ; now rifleman, 12th Company, Rifle
(Fusilier) Regiment " Prince George "No. 108.
As to Case : I concur to the fullest extent in the state-
ment of Corporal Horn, and have nothing further to add.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Matthes.
Witness was duly sworn.
Signed : Lossow, Lieutenant and Officer of the
Court.
Signed : Schubert, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk of the Court.
C. App. 15.
Wood south-west of La Ville aux Bois,
February ^th, 19 15.
Deposition.
By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment '* Prince
George " No. 108 there appeared as witness Rifleman Korner.
Warned to speak the whole truth, he made the following
deposition :
As to Person : My name is Artur Hugo Korner. I am
21 years old ; of the Evangelical-Lutheran faith ; glass-
cutter by trade ; now rifleman, nth Company, Rifle
(FusiHer) Regiment " Prince George "No. 108.
As to Case : I belonged to a patrol of twelve men led by
120 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Lieutenant Gauser and Berger with orders to arrest civilians
in Dinant who might take up arms against the Germans.
From a building in course of erection we observed that
civilians were firing on us from a house. We surrounded
the house, forced an entrance, and arrested about six male
civilians. All had firearms, but no military badge or uni-
form. Two of them were young people about eighteen years
old, another an older man with white hair. I know nothing
of cruelties having been perpetrated by German soldiers on
the inhabitants.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Korner.
The witness was duly sworn.
Signed : Lossow, Lieutenant and Officer of
the Court.
Signed : Schubert, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. i6.
Present :
1st Lieutenant Grau, as Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Limbacker, as Clerk of the
Court.
"The Front," February 28th, 1915.
There appeared as witness Major-General Francke, who,
after reference to the significance of the oath, was examined
as follows :
As to Person : My name is Franz Samuel Ludwig Francke.
I am 51 years old; Protestant; Major-General and Regi-
mental Commander, Infantry Regiment No. 182.
As to Case : I confirm that in Dinant a civilian who
wore a white band with the Geneva Cross was brought to
me by a corporal and two men of the 12th Company. The
party assured me that they had seen an arm with a Geneva
brassard project from between the shutters of a window
on the first floor of a house distant about thirty paces from
where I was, and that it had discharged a pistol into the
street which was thronged with soldiers. Several dead and
wounded soldiers were lying in the street who could only
have been hit from the houses or straight through from
the houses on the riverside. The soldiers stated that they
had broken into the house and had fetched out the occupants,
among whom was this man.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 121
The civilian explained to me, without being asked, at
first in hardly intelligible German, and then in French when
I addressed him in French, that he was a doctor, and that
he had protected the women who were in the houses, and
had not fired on the soldiers. I thereupon ordered him to
immediately bandage one of the wounded l5^ng there. On
his assertion that he had no bandages, I told him to fetch
some bandages from the pharmacy which was situated
directly behind me. I had already wondered that he had
not taken this simple step if he was really a doctor. As I was
very much occupied I could not watch him further myself,
but ordered a corporal and one man to accompany and
keep watch on the supposed doctor. Some time after, the
corporal came to me and reported that, as they entered
the ground floor of the pharmacy, the doctor had suddenly
run into the rear part of the house and not into the room
used for the pharmacy on the street front, whereupon they
had brought him out and shot him.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Franz Francke.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Grau, ist Lieutenant and Officer of
the Court.
Signed : Limbacker, Acting-Sergeant-Major, as
Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 17.
Present :
President of the Military Court, Naumann.
Secretary of the Military Court, Schwarzbach.
La Malmaison, December 1914.
In the investigation concerning the violation of inter-
national law committed against the German troops, there
appeared as witness Corporal Saring, who, after reference
to the significance of the oath, was examined as follows :
My name is Johann Georg Saring. I am 22 years of
age ; Protestant ; locksmith by trade ; corporal, 12th
Company, Infantry Regiment No. 182.
On the afternoon of Sunday the 23rd August, 1914, I
saw in Dinant the arm of a man thrust itself out from the
first storey of the pharmacy. The hand held a pistol. The
pistol was fired at us soldiers. The arm was wearing, as
I plainly saw, the Red Cross band. I burst the door in
122 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
with a pick-axe ; there came out children, women, and an
elderly man, and, last of all, the man with the Red Cross
band. This man was taken to Colonel Francke, whilst
the other civilians were detained in the corner of a house.
We then rushed towards the church in which the inhabitants
had been brought together. As I know for certain, we
were fired on from the tower of the church. This could
only have been done by the inhabitants ; enemy troops
were not to be seen the whole of the day.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Johann Georg Saring.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Naumann.
Signed : Schwarzbach.
C. App. i8.
Present :
President of the Court, Naumann.
Secretary to the Court, Schwarzbach.
La Malmaison, December gth, 1914.
In the investigation of the violation of the international
law committed against the German troops, there appeared
as witness Corporal of the Reserve Einax, nth Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 182, who, after reference to the
significance of the oath, was examined as follows :
My name is Karl Hermann Einax. I am 28 years old ;
Protestant ; cooper by trade ; corporal since November 21st,
1914. On Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, during the second
hour of the afternoon, as we advanced into Dinant, we
were fired on. It turned out that the fire came from the
other bank of the Meuse. We forced our way into the
houses and searched them. I saw how an elderly man
with grey bristly hair stepped out of a house, into which
our comrades had forced an entrance, and fired at us.
Major Lommatsch, who was severely wounded, died in the
afternoon in consequence of the wound.
On interrogation :
I then plainly saw that eight gun-barrels projected from
the attic windows of a house in the main street and were
directed at us. From the tower of the church and from
cellars we were also fired on. All this was done by the
inhabitants only.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 123
I remember distinctly that eight men were brought out of
a house from which there had been firing, amongst them
the pastor with a Red Cross band on his arm.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Karl Hermann Einax.
Witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Naumann.
Signed : Schwarzbach.
C. App. 19.
Extract from Reports of Field Artillery Regiment No. 12.
August 2yd, 1 91 4.
Regimental Staff.
As our infantry was hindered in the advance into Dinant
by franc- tireur fighting, the town was bombarded and set
on fire by the regiment.
ist Detachment.
Since we had not gained possession of that part of
Dinant situated west of the Meuse, and, according to reports
coming from the front, our troops had been fired on from
the houses by civilians. General Lucius gave the order to
bombard this part of the town. Two companies of the
ist Battery were posted on the western border of Her-
buchenne, and set on fire some large houses with about
thirty shrapnel shells.
As our infantry had again evacuated Dinant in the
afternoon, our detachment received orders to bombard
and burn the town. After a short time the order came to
cease fire.
At 6 o'clock in the evening the opposite heights of the
Meuse were in the possession of our infantry.
2nd Detachment.
The commander of the detachment asked for companies
from Captain Pechwell, 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 182, and proceeded with these to the position ordered ;
as all the houses and the quarries on the way had to be
searched for francs-tireurs, the position was only reached
at 8.30 p.m. At II o'clock two farms situated on the right
flank suddenly burst into flames ; at 11.30 lamp-signals
were observed from the quarries north-east of the position.
124 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
C. App. 20.
Extract from Report of Field Artillery Regiment No. 48.
As our infantry in Dinant, from the houses of which
there was heavy firing, were also still being fired on by
the fort, the 3rd Battery received the order to bombard
the fort from a more advanced position. In Leffe also,
our infantry made no headway ; the 5th Battery therefore
received the order at 4 o'clock in the afternoon to bombard
and set on fire the farm Roud Chene and the neighbourhood
of Leffe. Dinant was evacuated by our infantry from
3 o'clock in the afternoon onwards, and from 5 o'clock
onwards was bombarded by our Foot Artillery.
C. App. 21.
Extract from Report of Foot Artillery Regiment No. 19,
ist Battalion.
August 2^rd, 1 91 4.
At midday, by order of Major-General Schramm, the
Eichler Battery was moved forward on the road north of
Dinant to an advanced position south-west of Leffe, later
on to the Convent Place of Dinant, and from there bom-
barded Dinant itself.
August 24th, 1914.
The reconnaissance showed that the roads in the Meuse
Valley of Dinant-Leffe were impassable on account of the
debris of fallen houses, conflagrations, and the shots fired
from the houses by the inhabitants.
C. App. 22.
Extract from Report of the Staff, 64th Infantry Brigade.
The Infantry Regiment No. 178 had not only opposed
to it a strong force of the enemy, but was also being heavily
fired on by francs-tireurs from the houses of the village of
Leffe. A company of the 2nd Battalion as well as a detach-
ment of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 178, were, as the Brigade Staff itself saw, fired on in the
same way from all the houses as they were entering the
village of Leffe. This could only have come from the
inhabitants ; some of them were seized with weapons in
their hands and shot. Toward 1.45 in the afternoon a
detachment of heavy artillery opened fire on the houses
of Bouvignes which were occupied by the enemy, with
AJt'l^ENDlX C— DINANT 125
obvious results. As shots were being fired from the woods
and cliffs north and soutn ot Left'e on our troops passing
through the village street, the Kurhessian Jager BattaHon
No. II received the order to clear the woods. Here also
civilians, without any military badge or uniform, were seized
with weapons in their hands and shot.
64th Infantry Brigade.
Leffe, August 23rd, 1914, 11.50 a.m.
To Field Artillery Regiment No. 64.
The 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, is suffer-
ing especially through infantry fire from the houses with
the pointed towers and from the ruins to the right of them
in Bouvignes. The 64th Brigade asks you to kindly bring
these houses under fire.
64TH Infantry Brigade.
C. App. 23.
Extract from Report of Infantry Regiment No. 178.
August 2srd, 1 91 4.
When the leading company (9th Company) of Infantry
Regiment No. 178 had almost reached the Meuse in its
march through Leffe it received a brisk fire from the front
and on the right and left flanks, chiefly from the houses.
The 9th Company thereupon received orders to clear the
village. The battalion had a severe struggle and suffered
considerable losses, as it was under a violent infantry and
machine-gun fire from the opposite bank of the Meuse,
and, above all, because the battalion was being fired on by
the inhabitants from practically all the houses. Various
civilians who had fired at our troops were shot. At 8.30
about twenty inhabitants were still firing at us to the south
of the barracks of the 13th Belgian Infantry Regiment
They were fetched out and shot.
C. App. 24.
Present :
President of the Military Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary to the Military Court, Lips.
Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178 at
Variscourt, March yd, 191 5.
In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there
appeared as witness Lieutenant Koch, who stated :
126 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As to Person : My name is Friedrich Bruno Koch. I
am 47 years old ; Protestant ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Infantry
Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : I led the 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment
No. 178, on August 23, 1914. First of all, in the morning,
I had to deal with the franc-tireur firing in the Leffe valley
at "La Papeterie." As the battalion was continually
being fired on there from the houses, I gave the order, on
higher authority, to clear the houses. I was then detailed
to take over the leadership in the fighting at Leffe. There I
saw very many dead civilians lying all along the road and
also especially in an open space in Leffe itself. At nightfall
after the occupation of the place I had to secure the section
towards the Meuse — it was reported to me that my left-
wing post was being attacked by francs- tireurs. I snatched
together a number of men, led them personally to the scene
of the fighting, and instituted measures for clearing the
place. By my orders reinforcements arrived, and I gave
over to ist Lieutenant Wilke the further work of clearing
the place. During this work we were continuously and
heavily fired on by civilians without any military badge
or uniform. Consequently, in this affair also, very many
men who were caught with weapons in their hands were
shot.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Koch.
Witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 25.
Short Report to the Regiment of the 2nd BattaHon, In-
fantry Regiment No. 178, on the fighting at Leffe.
February 14th, 1915, 5 p.m.
In the advance on Leffe the battalion came across a
mill or factory. The advance guard, in which was the
Regimental Staff as well as the Staff of the 3rd BattaUon,
Infantry Regiment No. 178, were received by a heavy fire
from the factory. In the same way the battalion was fired
on from the surrounding heights. The foremost (9th) com-
pany stormed the factory ; here were found, despite a close
search, only about twenty men in civilian clothes without
any military badge or uniform, and some women, but no
APPENDIX C— DIN ANT 127
Belgian or French soldiers. The patrols sent out on the
heights also reported that they had seen only single fugitive
civilians, but no soldiers. The civilians captured in the
factory were shot by order of the Regimental Commander
because they had been firing. The battalion thereupon
continued its advance towards the Meuse unmolested.
When the head of the battalion reached the Meuse fire was
opened on it from the opposite bank. The battalion de-
ployed in the town. The locked-up houses had to be opened
by force by the companies in order to bring the enemy
under fire from the gardens in the rear on the Meuse bank.
For this moment the population seems to have waited, for
they suddenly opened fire on us from all sides with rifles
arid pistols. The companies were now obliged to contend
against two fronts, on the one side against the enemy on the
opposite bank of the Meuse, on the other against the popula-
tion. One of the first victims was Captain Franz of the
nth Company of the regiment, who was shot through the
leg from a cellar window. The civilian was fetched out of
the cellar by Captain Liicke of the 9th Company of the
regiment, single-handed, and, as he was caught with a
weapon in his hand, was immediately shot. In the
course of further operations six men of the battalion
were killed and a larger number were wounded in the
interior of the town, in places, in fact, where the fire of
the troops on the other side of the Meuse could not have
reached them. The losses were to be ascribed solely to the
attack of the inhabitants. From the circumstance that
Belgian military rifles were found with the greater number
of the prisoners and Belgian infantry cartridges in their
pockets, it may be concluded that Belgian soldiers, after
discarding their uniforms, had also taken part in the attack.
Hunting- rifles, obsolete and modern pistols were found in
the possession of the others. Whether women or children
participated in the fighting is beyond my knowledge ; at
any rate, none were intentionally shot. I had given the
order to hand over all women and children to the abbot of
the monastery in Leffe ; this was also done. How many
civilians were shot in the street-fighting, I am unable to
state.
The correctness of the foregoing statements can be
testified to by numerous persons belonging to the battalion
who have taken part in the fighting.
128 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178,
March ^rd, 191 5.
Present :
President of the Military Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary to the Military Court, Lips.
In the inquiry concerning occurrences in Dinant there
appeared as witness Major Franzel, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Georg Friedrich Artur
Franzel. I am 45 years of age ; Protestant ; Major and
Battalion Commander, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : On the reading over of the report of the
14th February 19 15 on the fighting at Leffe :
This report originated from me. I still hold to-day to
its contents. I still emphasise expressly that only men were
shot, no women and children.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Franzel.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 26.
6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
February 14th, 19 15.
Report.
On the night of the 22nd August 19 14, after its assembly
at Thynes-les-Dinant, the 32nd Infantry Division marched
by the so-called Leffe lower road to the northern suburb of
Dinant.
On the 23rd August, towards 5 o'clock in the forenoon,
a halt was made about 1500 metres east of the spot where
this way enters the Meuse Valley road ; the cartridge
waggons were emptied and the colours were unfurled for
the first time in the campaign. There the first command
to attack was given. The 64th Infantry Brigade deployed
on the heights to the north of the lower road.
The 2nd Battalion of the Infantry Regiment held itself
at the disposal of the Brigade Commander on this road
close to the first houses in Leffe. Shortly after the front
battalions had fallen in, I received the order from the
Battalion Commander, Major Koch, to report myself to
the Brigade Commander for a reconnaissance patrol. There
APPENDIX C— DINANT I2g
I received the instruction to reconnoitre a pathway which
leads by La Papeterie to the heights north of the lower road ;
a group of about ten houses on the left of the road, cluster-
ing round a large paper factory, is called La Papeterie.
In carrying out this order I rode first by the lower road
to La Papeterie in order then to turn off towards the heights.
On my approaching the factory some shots were fired,
evidently pistol-shots ; I then rode farther, because I
thought the firing was not meant for me ; but as it became
more brisk and I saw that the shots struck the steep-rising
wall of the rocks, as high as houses, on the right of the road,
and that I could not carry out the reconnaissance in this
very broken, rocky district on horseback, I turned back.
Only the sharpest pace saved me from the shots which, thick
as hail, struck the face of the cliff beside me. I reported this
affair to my Battalion Commander and took the foremost
section of the leading company in order to execute my
errand on foot without delay, not without having first asked
to have the factory cleared. On my second advance I was
again fired at, so that I found myself obliged to turn off
before the steep cliff in order to get forward under cover
of gardens and hedges. I succeeded in this without any
losses, although on this occasion I was still briskly fired at.
When I had returned from this patrol I learned that the
company had penetrated into the factory and had cleared
the place. I heard and saw shots still being fired from this
direction. I thereupon received the order to clear the
houses without regard to anything, but to spare old men,
women, and children. Having reached the houses of
the factory workpeople, I was heavily fired on from all
sides. Of the marksmen there was no trace to be discovered,
despite the keenest search. The houses were consequently
surrounded, and separate individuals forced their way into
the buildings. It turned out that these were strongly
barricaded. The doors were barred, the entrances to cellars
and basements were blocked up with boxes, mattresses, and
all kinds of domestic utensils ; windows and skylights were
covered with boards. I, personally, penetrated into two or
three houses, and am witness to the fact that it required
an extraordinary amount of strength and skill to gain an
entry to the forty-five buildings. In one house I found a
number of discharged Browning-pistol cartridge cases. This
house I had set on fire, as nobody was found in it. In this
district of Leffe we had to deal in the main, according to
my opinion, with Browning marksmen, who did not seem to
130 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
be properly acquainted with the weapon. The discharged
ammunition found proves this in the first place ; also, on the
other hand, the quick succession of shots, then a long pause,
because the marksmen were not properly acquainted with the
loading mechanism of the pistol. Some non-commissioned
officers reported to me that they had fought in the house with
armed civilians, had overpowered, killed, or shot them.
After the houses had been cleared and searched I
assembled my company and moved back by the road to the
original position of the battalion.
In the meantime the Marburg Jagers had marched up,
and had again searched the factory and the adjacent build-
ings. I saw how a number of men in civilian clothing, about
twenty, were shot by this unit in the yard of the factory.
Meanwhile m}^ company lay on the lower road and was
further fired on from the steep slopes of the valley, which
were covered with wood and thickets, through which the
road passed. On the right flank I sent out in advance
Lieutenant Schreyer of the Reserve in order to search the
thickets, whilst the Marburg Jagers advanced on the left.
With glasses I was able to plainly see several civilians on
the left slope who were firing at us. I believe I can remember
that they were equipped with pistols.
Suddenly I heard firing on the right above me from the
detachment of Schreyer, and saw at the same time how
one man collapsed on the left slope and rolled a few paces,
another crawled back apparently wounded, and a third
took to flight into the adjacent wood. The Marburg
Jagers, who soon after came to this spot, and with whom I
spoke later, had ascertained with certainty that in this
case we were dealing with civilians.
Soon after this. Lieutenant Schreyer came back and
reported to me that he had observed on the opposite slope
some suspicious rascals on whom he had fired. Shortly
after we were fired at from a detached house on the right
slope. This was somewhere about lo o'clock in the morning.
I once more sent out a strong patrol on the right bank to
clear out this house. The patrol soon returned and brought
a big, strong man about forty years old, in labourer's
clothes, and a lad of about sixteen years, as well as a number
of wailing women and children. The men had been armed,
according to the statement of the leader of the patrol, with
sporting-rifles which the patrol themselves in the house
had rendered unserviceable. I can no longer remember
the name of the patrol leader. The men were taken to
APPENDIX C— DINANT 131
the factory, the women and children bundled off to the
monastery in Leffe.
Towards midday the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiment
No. 178 was moved forward towards Leffe direct to the
Meuse. In the village street itself there lay a great number
of dead men in civilian clothing. On questioning different
soldiers I learnt that the troops marching through before us
had been fired on from almost every house ; hence the great
number of civilians shot. Dead women and children I did
not see.
I had my company halted at the monastery at Leffe, and
went forward myself to the Meuse. Parts of the 3rd and
1st Battalions of the 178th Regiment were still there,
fighting the enemy on the opposite bank. I also saw there
bodies of troops, in particular, of Regiments Nos. 102 and
103, of Rifle Regiment No. 108, of the Marburg Jagers, and
of the artillery.
In the compact rows of houses at Leffe, the reports of
firing were continuous, and one could not always tell from
whence they came. Without doubt they were pistol-shots
discharged from cellars and attics. I can also remember
that a large number of brown sporting-shot cartridge cases
lay in front of a house in the principal street of Leffe.
In the course of the afternoon I received the order to
occupy the bank of the Meuse with my company, and was
allotted for this purpose the school and the houses near it.
Behind the school was a gasometer, and close to the gaso-
meter coals had been piled up and set on fire — manifestly
by the civilian population. I therefore sent Acting-Sergeant-
Major Bauer, officer's deputy, with his men, in order either
to extinguish the fire or otherwise to prevent in some way
the threatened explosion. He reported to me, however,
that the pioneers who had already arrived before us, correctly
judging the danger of the gasometer, had emptied it.
After the enemy had evacuated the opposite bank in
the late afternoon, and the crossing of single detachments
of troops had already begun, I withdrew my company from
the school and from the bank of the Meuse and assembled
them in the street enclosed by two rows of houses. Towards
5 o'clock in the afternoon we were again fired on from these
houses, and, consequently, I got the order from the Battalion
Commander to search all the houses and to have all armed
persons shot without compunction. On this occasion, the
soldiers Hautschick and Altermann found in a house on the
floor a soldier of the 9th Company of the 178th Regiment
132 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
who had been shot. He lay with his face over a kneading-
trough, and had obviously been shot from behind. In the
adjoining room the soldiers found two sporting-rifles which
plainly bore the traces of having been discharged quite
recently.
In a vineyard just above this house two men were
caught with rifles by two other soldiers, whose names can
no longer be ascertained, and shot.
At about the same time Acting-Sergeant-Major Paatsch
(who fell at Saunois), together with Private Kaspar, broke
into a house close by the castle. Kaspar depicts the occur-
rence in the following way. On entering the house a man
on the ground floor threatened him with a long-barrelled
pistol. He struck this man down with a spade which he
had at hand. He then mounted with Paatsch to the first
floor. Six men were there with sporting-rifles, whom they
shot or felled with rifle-butts.
On the floor there stood a chair close to an attic window,
beside which lay a number of cartridges, a proof that the
people had fired from this window.
When they wanted to leave the house, five men armed
with rifles again opposed them. They were only able to
overcome these because their comrades came to their aid
from outside. In executing the order given by the Battalion
Commander to search all the houses, I met the Brigade
Commander, who again enjoined me to proceed without
any compunction, and to fire the houses in case the people
could not be got hold of. On this occasion I reported that
one company seemed too weak for such a task, especially
as the searching of the houses, with darkness approaching,
would take a lot of time. A second company was conse-
quently given to me. During the searching of the houses
we were continually being fired on by invisible marksmen.
The orders given to me by my Battalion and Brigade Com-
manders I have carried out. Men caught in the act were
shot ; where the marksmen could not be seized, the houses
were set on fire ; women and children were taken to the
convent.
This order which, by reason of the high risk run by our
troops, had proved to be absolutely necessary, I regarded
as executed after about fifty men had been shot and the
main street of Leffe had been rendered impassable as a result
of the burning houses.
Despite this, my company was again alarmed towards
II o'clock at night because a dismounted squadron of
APPENDIX C— DINANT 133
hussars on the quay had been fired on from a single house.
Once more I moved with my company through burning
Leffe in order to find the culprits. On the way I met Division
Commander Edler von der Planitz, who once again impressed
upon me the duty of proceeding against the fanatical f rancs-
tireurs without any compunction whatever, and by the
most energetic methods. I had the house, pointed out to
me by the hussars, surrounded and searched, but found
nobody there. After I had set fire to the house, I returned
with my company to the place where the regiment was
assembled.
Signed : Wilke, Captain and Company Leader,
6th Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 178.
Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178,
March 3r^, 191 5.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
At the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant, the
witness named below appeared and stated :
As to Person : My name is Manfred Horst Wilke. I am
30 years old ; Protestant ; Captain and Company Leader,
Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : On the reading of his report :
This report is in full conformity with the truth. In
addition to those statements which, as may be recognised
from the report, are based on the statements of others, I
mention that I pointed out to the individuals whom I
questioned to tell me the whole truth, so that their state-
ments could also be maintained on oath.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Wilke.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 27.
Sender : 7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
Date : February i^th, 1915.
Time : 11 a.m.
To the 2nd Battalion.
On August 23rd, 1914, towards 9.45 a.m., the 7th Com-
pany— placed at the disposal of the 3rd Battalion, which was
134 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
fighting in Leffe — marched into this place. While I rode
on to report the arrival of my company to the Commander
of the 3rd Battalion, 178th Regiment, the company halted
on the lower road leading to the Meuse, under cover from
the opposite heights of the Meuse, which were occupied
by the enemy.
During this brief halt the company was assailed by a
murderous rifle-fire which came from a house with closed
windows and bolted door. One man (Private Uhlemann)
was badly wounded in the right instep, another (Private
Neumann) was slightly wounded by three shots in the
arm and hand ; all the wounds came from small shot ; the
firing could only have been done by civilians.
The company then occupied the heights south of Leffe
on the east bank of the Meuse. From here could be plainly
seen how, from the windows of various houses, and stealing
about round the houses and in the gardens and yards,
civilians quickly popped up and fired on the German
soldiers. The company had lain on the heights by the
Meuse about 4 hours, and had made these observations
chiefly during the first i^ hours (10.30 to 12 midday). The
last facts I can bear witness to myself.
Signed : John, Captain and Chief Company.
ist Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
February igth, 19 15.
Deposition,
Captain John, questioned, made the following state-
ments, additional to his preceding report :
Before the 7th Company was placed at the disposal of
the 3rd Battalion in Leffe on the morning of August 23rd^
the company received the order from the Battalion Com-
mander, Major Koch, to send out, from the halting-place
of the battalion, about 500 metres east of Leffe, a detach-
ment to La Papeterie, in order to clear this group of houses
of armed civilians who had fired on marching troops and
mounted officers (Captain Wilke), and to shoot the guilty
civilians. For this purpose the detachment of Lieutenant
of Reserve Wendt (who fell later) was detailed to me.
When the detachment rejoined the company later on the
heights south of Leffe, Lieutenant of Reserve Wendt re-
ported to me that, in accordance with the order received,
he had had some men shot whom he had caught in the act ;
they were armed with Browning pistols.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 135
I was wounded myself on August 23rd towards 2.30
by a French rifle bullet which came from the west bank of
the Meuse.
I did not observe any shooting or ill-treatment of women
and children.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Johannes John.
Signed : Kaiser, Lieutenant and Legal Officer.
Deposition.
Present :
Lieutenant Thomas, as Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Lange, as Clerk of the Court.
There appeared as witness Captain John, who, being
advised of his previous statement, deposed :
As to Person : My name is Wilhelm Johannes John. I
am 36 years old ; Protestant ; Captain and Company Chief,
7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : I maintain my statements.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Johannes John.
Signed : Thomas. Signed : Lange.
C. App. 28.
7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
February i^th, 191 5.
Report.
I. On the events in Dinant I am able, as leader at that
time of the first platoon of the 5th Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 178, to make from personal observation the
following statements :
The 5th Company, in conjunction with the 2nd Battalion,
had halted in the morning hours of August 23rd in a valley
before Leffe. During this halt I heard shots from sporting-
rifles and revolvers (pistols) on the wooded heights which
stretch on both sides towards Leffe, without being able
to discern any of our assailants. No one in the company
was hit. This firing, intermingled with infantry fire, was
audible during the whole course of the day. Towards
8 o'clock the company marched into Leffe, where, in con-
sequence of the incessant firing, a frightful tumult pre-
136 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
vailed. Only a few civilians were to be seen in the streets.
These all showed signs of their peaceable intention by
holding up their hands. Almost all the windows of the
houses were closed with blinds, shutters, etc. ; and the
majority of these, as well as the doors, walls, and roofs,
were marked with apertures like loopholes.
Shortly after our entry Major Frenzel brought to the
Company Chief the order of the Brigade Commander to
shoot all the men found with arms. He pointed out a
long row of houses which were to be searched for men,
and added in explanation that the inhabitants had shot
at our firing-line from the rear. Captain Gause gave me
the order to take over the searching of the houses with my
detachment. I did this with one party. We found the
houses all shut up. Since our summons to open was
regularly ignored, we were everywhere obliged to gain
entry by force. Three men were shot ; their wives and
children I had taken to the convent, which had previously
been pointed out to me as intended for that purpose. I
also noticed during the course of the day that women and
children were taken there by our men quietly, some by
persuasion. In searching the houses it was seen that the
apertures, everywhere visible from the outside, were doubt-
less intended for firearms. According to my observations,
no women or children were fired upon anywhere by us.
That some incidentally came to grief in the melee was
not to be avoided. I saw one woman who had received
a glancing bullet in the foot. According to the statement
of the men, she had been wounded in a house which had
been fired into because it would not open voluntarily.
2. Further observations have been made by men of
the 5th Company and by the 7th Company, at that time
led by myself, which seem to be absolutely authentic.
The men in question, previous to their interrogation, had
all been warned of the probability of having to swear to
their statement.
Thus, eight men of the 5th Company were witnesses to
the fact that six civilians, among them one of very youth-
ful age, had fired on the company. These were all shot.
Reservist Kluge, with some other comrades, in searching
a house, found on the floor a German soldier who had
been shot, and close by him a civilian busy with his rifle
and ammunition, whom they shot. The observations of
the non-commissioned ofiicers and men of the 7th Company
are of a similar character to those made by me. Here
APPENDIX C— DINANT 137^
Privates Uhlmann and Neumann were wounded by small
shot fired from the houses. Acting-Sergeant-Major Schaefer
and several men noticed that civiUans (men) had fired on
German soldiers. German cartridges were also found here
on the civilians.
Signed : Kipping, Lieutenant and Company
Leader.
Deposition.
Present :
Lieutenant Thomas, Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Lange, Clerk of the Court.
There appeared as witness Lieutenant Kipping, who.
after the reading of his report of February 15th, 191 5,
stated :
As to Person : My name is Martin Friedrich Franz
Kipping. I am 29 years old ; Protestant ; Lieutenant of
Reserve.
As to Case : I maintain my statements.
Witness was thereupon sworn.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Martin Kipping.
Signed : Thomas. Signed : Lange.
C. App. 29.
8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
February i^th, 1915.
Report,
With reference to the fighting round Dinant on August
21 st and 23rd, Non-commissioned Officer Macher, 8th Com-
pany, Infantry Regiment No. 178, states :
Towards 7 a.m. on the 23rd August 1914 the order came
for the attack on Leffe, a suburb of Dinant. The 6th and
7th Companies, Infantry Regiment No. 178, occupied a
height in front of the place. The 3rd Battalion of the
regiment had already advanced ; the 5th and 8th Com-
panies followed in the valley in the second line.
When we came near the place we heard in front a muffled
sound of firing.
The 3rd Detachment of the 8th Company of the redment
was sent in advance to take cartridges to the 3rd Battalion.
The battalion, lying on the height, was engaged with the
enemy's infantry on the opposite bank of the Meuse. To
138 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
get there we were obliged to pass through Dinant. At the
entry to the town there already lay dead civiUans, and some
soldiers warned us against passing through the place in
close order as there was firing from the houses. After this,
we went through the street on the right and left along by
the houses, rifle in hand, ready to fire. The houses were
shut up, the cellar windows barricaded and provided with
loopholes. On the march back to the Company I saw that
the 5th Company of the regiment and the Marburg Jagers
were searching the houses ; there were also lying in the
street some dead civilians and a wounded German. Some
men and a number of women were handed over to the
platoon by a strange officer to be taken to the mill. Several
civilians had already been assembled there ; some dead
also lay there.
After we had again reached the company we heard,
coming from a farm on the right, firing which was apparently
meant for us. Riflemen of the Guards fetched the people
out of the farm ; they were only civilians, about six men
and a number of women and children.
When the company had been advanced to the open space
near the convent, firing came from a house standing opposite.
From this quarter also men were brought out. In the
searching of the house, under the leadership of Sergeant
Schuster of the 8th Company, a cellar which was occupied
by civilians was not opened. Sergeant Schuster therefore
fired through the door, and thereby wounded in the chest
a woman who was in the cellar. As Private Jentsch also
deposes, after the opening of the cellar, he immediately
provided for the transport of the wounded woman to the
hospital in the convent by men of the Medical Corps. Ac-
cording to the statement of Private Jentsch, the woman
died and lay for two days on a bier in the convent.
Finally the company arranged the frontage of the houses
along the Meuse for defence, and other companies undertook
to clear the inhabitants out of the houses. The women and
children were principally taken to the convent. Towards
10 p.m., when the baggage entered the place, the firing
from the houses began again. We were given the alarm.
The buildings behind us on the slopes afiorded a special
difficulty on account of the numerous exits. We here came
in contact with a company of Infantry Regiment No. 177.
The leader of the company ordered the houses to be set
alight because there was still firing from other windows.
He himself smashed a lamp and fired the first house. We
APPENDIX C— DIN ANT 139
then marched off and returned to the company. The
nocturnal firing, in my opinion, was done by civilians, for
our troops had already occupied the opposite bank. In one
house a dead soldier was lying on the floor, as was reported
to me by men of the company.
In one street the company was fired on from the rear ;
many of the men said at once that the assailant was a woman ;
this, however, could not be established with certainty.
Among the men seized I saw one of youthful age ; all the
rest were older ; grey-haired men were also among them.
Signed : Lucius, ist Lieutenant and Company
Leader.
Deposition.
Present :
Lieutenant Thomas, as Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Lange, as Clerk of the Court.
There appeared as witness Non-commissioned Officer
Macher, who, having been advised of the statement read,
deposed as follows :
As to Person : My name is Paul Otto Macher. I am
23 years old ; Protestant ; non-commissioned officer,
Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : I maintain my statement.
Signed : Macher, Non-commissioned Officer.
Signed : Thomas. Signed : Lange.
C. App. 30.
Having been apprised of the significance of the oath,
and advised as to the object of the examination. Major
Franzel mad the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Georg Friedrich Artur Franzel.
I am 45 years old ; Protestant ; Major and Battalion Com-
mander, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : On August 23rd the 2nd BattaUon, as ist,
received the order to place itself in possession of Leffe.
The whole of the Regimental Staff rode with the leading
company. At the beginning of the valley, which stretches
away to Leffe, there stood a factory ; the battalion was
fired at from here and from the heights behind. The factory
was at once stormed ; only a few civilians were found in it,
but no French or Belgian soldiers ; any escape of the people
who had fired from the factory was impossible as we had
surrounded the place. The guilty civilians, provided they
were men, were shot by order of the Commander of the
140 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
regiment, Colonel von Reyter, while some women arrested
in the factory were handed over later to the abbot of the
monastery.
On a further advance the battalion, in order to get into
the gardens on this side of the Meuse which were under the
fire of the enemy's infantry, was obliged to open forcibly
several locked-up houses. The inhabitants seemed to have
only been waiting for this, as we were now fired on from
the houses all round, especially from the cellars, apparently
with revolvers and pistols, for we found these later in clear-
ing the houses, some still loaded. One of the first who was
wounded by a shot from a cellar was Captain Franz, who
stood quite close to me. In all, my battalion had at that
time in the place itself — not by the Meuse — six killed ; the
number of wounded I am not able to state. The battalion
was forced by the treacherous attack to proceed against
the population ; all the houses, from which there had been
firing, were cleared by our troops. How many of the in-
habitants were shot on this day, I am unable to state
definitely ; at any rate, all the women and children were
led off to the monastery in Leffe and given over to the abbot.
I have further to remark that again late in the afternoon,
as our artillery was entering Leffe, the artillery-men were
fired on by inhabitants of the market-place, although several
francs-tireurs who had been shot were lying there. The
battalion was unable to finish the clearing of the place alone,
and was obliged to ask for support from the regiment, which
was granted in the shape of the 6th and 7th Companies.
In searching the houses, not one enemy soldier was found.
Consequently, the shots could only have been discharged
at us by civilians.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Franzel.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Starke, Magistrate.
C. App. 31.
Court of the (Deputy) 64th Infantry Brigade.
Present :
Military Magistrate Dr. Uhlig.
Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve Gorner, as
Military Clerk of the Court.
There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Stieb-
ing, 3rd Reserve Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, who.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 141
having been made acquainted with the object of the inquiry,
and advised as to the significance of the oath, declared :
As to Person : My name is Friedrich Franz Paul Stiebing.
I am 34 years old ; Protestant ; Acting-Sergeant-Major,
Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 19 14, Infantry Regiment
No. 177 and my regiment took part in the fighting on the
heights on the right bank of the Meuse. The 2nd Battalion,
Infantry Regiment No. 178, remained in reserve behind
the left wing, just at the entry into Leffe. The battalion
had halted for a rest, and arms were piled. The men lay
and sat in the ditches of the road ; otherwise the order of
march was kept, the 8th Company leading just at the
entrance into Leffe. The 6th Company, to which I belonged,
followed. It was about 9 o'clock in the morning when the
battalion was suddenly overwhelmed by a heavy fire. The
shots came from the thickets which covered the hills quite
close to Leffe. The district is such that Leffe stretches
along the road in a side-valley of the Meuse and at right
angles to the latter. No uniforms were to be seen on the
heights ; the firing came first from one thicket and then
from another. In the meantime a Captain of the battalion
had advanced into the village to reconnoitre, and came
galloping back shouting that he had been fired on in the
place by francs-tireurs. Thereupon two detachments of
the leading company sallied out from the village to the left
and right, in order to capture the sharpshooters on the hills.
They succeeded after a considerable time in capturing a
number of civilians (peasants), part of them in their shirt-
sleeves. These had fired on us with sporting-rifles and were
caught with the weapons in their hands. The range, from
which they shot at us, amounted to about 100 metres. They
fired down from the heights into the hollow in which we lay.
In the meantime the last detachment of the foremost
company had pushed forward into the village itself. The
men proceeded in quite detached formation. They were at
once received by francs-tireurs firing from the various
visible houses on both sides of the street. The detachment
was obhged first to clear each individual house of francs-
tireurs before they could again advance a little. The
street door had to be smashed in and each separate room
had to be captured from the francs-tireurs. About 10 a.m.
two platoons of our company, one of them the 2nd Platoon
under Lieutenant Schreyer, to which I belonged, came to the
help of our comrades. We were obliged to fight for eacli
142 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
individual house, to kill the male population in them who,
as far as I saw, carried rifles and fired, and to shut up the
women and children in order in this way to advance gradu-
ally. Only some quite old men were found without arms.
They were not killed, but locked up with the women. In
the afternoon, towards 3 o'clock, the house-fighting still
fluctuated, and we had not yet penetrated as far as the
village square when I received the order to go back with
about half a platoon and occupy the heights of the Meuse
from which francs-tireurs w^ere still firing. In executing
this order, I passed a wood-sawing factory before which lay
about thirty francs-tireurs who had been shot. This house
had been stormed by men of my ist Platoon. They told me
in the evening that each separate room in the house had
been occupied by civilians engaged in firing. The francs-
tireurs had been shot according to the usages of war.
Up on the heights I did not succeed in catching a franc-
tireur. Up there they were by this time very much scattered.
Right under the heights lay the village. I could look straight
down from above into the village street. The street-fighting
was still in progress, but became less since the village in the
meantime had begun to burn. On the opposite heights I
saw German Jagers— I believe Mar burgers — subduing armed
civilians. These francs-tireurs had previously also fired
on my platoon. When I returned, towards 7 o'clock in the
evening, from the heights, the whole place, as far as the
village square which lies on the Meuse, was in the hands
of the Germans. About the whole village, also on the
village square, there lay corpses of francs-tireurs. I took
part in the storming of eight or ten houses. They all afforded
the same picture : shots from the windows, street doors
barred so that they had to be forced open, all male persons,
without any military badge or uniform, armed with sporting-
guns. As soon as we got into the room they dropped their
weapons and held up their hands. During the street-
fighting and on the heights where the civilians were firing
I did not see any uniform. The civilians did not give me
the impression of being soldiers in civilian clothes. They
were mostly older people, 40 years old and upwards, or
young fellows of 17 to 18 years ; persons of 20 to 30 years
I practically did not see at all.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Stiebing, Acting-Sergeant-Major.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Dr. Uhlig. Signed : Gorner.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 143
C. App. 32.
Present :
Lieutenant Francke, Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Lange, Military Clerk of
the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major (Deputy Officer) Bauer states :
My name is Kurt Bauer. I am 24 years old ; Protestant ;
now Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve, attached to 6th
Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178 ; in civil life Cand.
Arch.
As my company leader had been fired at from a factory
in Leffe my platoon received the order to clear the factory
and the houses standing in the rear. I advanced with my
detachment and plainly saw that we were heavily fired on
from roof windows and skylights in the roofs of the factory
and the houses, as well as from bushes on the heights, by
civilians armed with pistols. We stormed the houses and set
them on fire. I was also witness to the fact that we were
even fired on from the monastery, although the Geneva flag
was hoisted above it.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Kurt Bauer.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Francke. Signed : Lange.
C. App. 33.
Extract from the Report of Operations, Infantry Regiment
No. 103.
August 2^rd, 19 14.
At 4.30 in the afternoon the regiment received the order
from the 32nd Infantry Brigade to move off to Leffe. The
regiment halted in the ravine east of Leffe behind the
pontoon column of the division. As the firing from the
slopes of the ravine down into the valley was continuous,
the 9th Company received the order to clear the southern
slopes. One man of the regiment was severely wounded by
a shot fired from a house by an inhabitant ; the house was
set on fire ; the men, who were inside with weapons in their
hands were shot ; in other ways, too, the place was cleared
of francs-tireurs.
144 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
C. App. 34.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of the
Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Military Clerk of the Court.
Orainville, March lyth, 1915.
Summoned as witness, there appeared Major Langheld,
who, after being advised as to the significance of the oath,
made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Karl Anton Emil Langheld.
I am 43 years old ; Protestant ; Major, Infantry Regiment
No. 143.
As to Case : On the afternoon of August 23rd I marched
with my battaUon at the head of the regiment from Lisogue
to Leffe. The march from the beginning of the Leffe
Valley was somewhat interrupted. During the advance
the report came from the rear that a man of the ist Company
had been shot at from a house. By command of Captain
Wuttig the house was set on fire by soldiers of the ist Com-
pany, and the men who were seized in it, with weapons
in their hands, were shot. During the whole of the after-
noon one heard continual firing among the houses in Leffe
and on the heights encircling the right and left of the Leffe
Valley. A company of the Jager Battalion, No. 11, was
engaged in clearing the slopes on which there were armed
inhabitants. The 9th Company of my regiment received
a similar commission on the southern slope. I myself
marched on with the loth and nth Companies to the
bank of the Meuse in order to cross over there. Here I
saw several times that guilty male inhabitants were
shot.
On the night of the 24th, from time to time, fugitives
turned up at our outposts — principally women and children
— amongst them a number of nuns led by a priest. I
sheltered them in a farm near which the nth Company
was in bivouac. Our men gave some of their provisions
to the people, although they had only a little themselves.
I pacified the fugitives myself, and as I was obHged that
same night to march farther, I handed over to the priest
a note to say that these people had incurred no blame. I
was unable to take further trouble about them. However,
I asked the Catholic Divisional Chaplain Kaiser, whom I
APPENDIX C— DINANT US
met next morning, to see that the people got away
safely.
Read over, approved.
Witness was sworn according to regulations.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed: Richter, Sergeant, as Clerk to the
Military Court.
C. App. 35.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of the
Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Military Court.
Orainville, March lyth, 1915.
Summoned as witness, there appeared Lieutenant Richter,
who, being advised as to the significance of the oath, made
the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Martin Richter. I am 31
years old ; Protestant ; Lieutenant of ist Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case : On the advance of the ist Battalion of 4th
Infantry Regiment No. 103 on the 23rd August 1914 to the
crossing-place over the Meuse at Leffe, there came a single
shot from a farm. A soldier of the ist Company of the
regiment was wounded.
By order of Captain Wuttig the farm was searched.
About fourteen male civilians were arrested who had with
them weapons and ammunition for sporting-rifles, pistols,
etc.
A thirteen to fifteen year-old lad was released on account
of his age ; the other thirteen persons were shot.
Read over, approved.
Witness was sworn as usual.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve and
Officer of the Court.
Signed : Richter, Sergeant, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
10
146 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
C. App. 36.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of the
Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Military Court.
Orainville, March lyth, 1915.
On summons there appeared as witness Lieutenant of
Reserve Martin, who, being instructed as to the significance
of the oath, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Kurt Martin. I am 24 years
old ; Protestant ; Lieutenant of Reserve, 2nd Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case : I have seen how a German soldier was
wounded by small shot, and know that he died of the effect
of the injury in the castle before Leffe. The doctor who
treated him was Dr. Schneider, now in Infantry Regiment
No. 102.
The inhabitants of Leffe arrested in a house near the
factory were well treated. After their provisions were
exhausted, they were provided for from the field kitchen
of the 5th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103. They
were later on released by a general order. At one time
I was detailed as guard of the hospital which was located
in the Chateau de Chession, near Leffe. The proprietress,
a Madame Chiehe, and her people we also provided with
food; she expressed her warm appreciation of the kind
treatment.
Read over, approved.
The witness was duly sworn.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Richter, Sergeant, as Clerk of the
Mihtary Court.
C. App. 37.
Report of the 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178,
on the fighting round Dinant on August 21st and 23rd,
1914.
February 14th, 19 15.
Private Jentsch states in general the same as the witness,
Non-commissioned Officer Macher,i except that he actually
* See App. 29.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 147
only saw a great pool of blood on a floor ; the dead German
soldier, of whom he had heard, had already been concealed.
He does not now know to which company he belonged. On
the same day, according to his statement, a further batch of
four civilians were shot because they had attacked a sentry
of Infantry Regiment No. 182. These people were fetched
out of an underground passage. The order was given by
Lieutenant Tranker.
In the military school about 400 men in civilian clothes
were guarded. These were well looked after, and were also
later on allowed to receive their relations. On the fourth
day we were relieved by Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 106.
Signed : Lucius, ist Lieutenant and Company
Leader.
Deposition.
Present :
Lieutenant Thomas, as Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Lange, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
There appeared as witness Private Jentsch, who, after
the reading over of the preceding report, made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Karl Albin Richard Jentsch.
I am 22 years old ; Protestant ; private, 8th Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : I maintain the correctness of my statements.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Jentsch.
Signed : Thomas. Signed : Lange.
C. App. 38.
Present :
Military Magistrate, Hunersdorf.
Military Court Secretary, Muller, Clerk of the
Military Court.
CoRBENY, December 12th, 19 14.
In the investigation concerning the violations of Inter-
national Law committed against German troops, there
appeared as witness Captain Nitze, who, after reference to
the significance of the oath, was examined as follows :
I4S THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As to Person : My name is Otto Hermann Oswald Nitze.
I am 34 years old ; Protestant ; Company Leader, Machine-
Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 177.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 19 14, as we were marching
into Leffe, I found myself several hundred metres in front
of the company, and was all at once fired at from the sur-
roimding houses.
I first rode back to the company and confirmed the order
already given to bring the houses under fire. I then rode
to the Detachment Leader, Lieutenant-Colonel von Zeschau,
reported the attack, and received the order to have the
houses searched and, in case any male persons were found
in them with arms, to set the houses on fire.
In the search there were discovered by Lieutenant-
Colonel Reichel in my presence two persons of forty years of
age who had hidden themselves in a room and were armed
with a Belgian pistol and a rifle of an ancient pattern.
As I heard, a third man had also been found in the
house. The first two men were immediately shot. While
Lieutenant-Colonel Reichel went on farther to search other
houses I saw how at least eight rifles were discharging on the
search-parties a brisk fire from the first floors of at least two
houses. The marksmen stood behind windows barricaded
with mattresses. I saw the flash of the shots and heard
the bullets whistle ; as far as I could judge from the reports,
they were using partly bullets, partly small shot. Only
the horse of Assistant Doctor Sippel was woimded.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Nitze.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Hunersdorf. Signed : Muller.
C. App. 39.
Extract from the Report of the 3rd Field Pioneer Company.
August 23rd, 1914.
The patrols were heavily fired on from the houses and
from the other bank.
The company advanced with the pontoon waggons on
the steep, narrow road into Dinant behind Rifle (Fusilier)
Regiment No. 108 and Infantry Regiment No. 182.
There was firing from the houses, although one could see
little of the enemy. The company took part in searching
the houses for civilians ; some were arrested with arms in
APPENDIX C— DINANT 149
their hands and subsequently shot. The infantry had
considerable losses here.
The order came to evacuate the town as it was to be first
bombarded by our artillery.
The company, with Grenadier Regiment No. 10 1, reached
the Meuse at Les Rivages. The village appeared to be
quite peaceful ; nevertheless, a number of inhabitants were
arrested by the Grenadiers for security. The rifle-fire of
the enemy on the left bank was only very weak. The houses
over there burst into flames, one after another, as a result
of our artillery fire. The crossing began at once with a
half-column corps, Pontoon train, Train Battalion No. 12,
which had been assigned to the company ; the building of
the bridge was at once begun, and at first proceeded rapidly.
Suddenly we received heavy rifle-fire from the houses on
the right bank. The firing was briskly answered by the
Grenadiers who were waiting in dense masses to cross.
The houses were set on fire. On the afternoon of August
-24th the bridge was finished. In the meantime, it frequently
happened that firing came from the heights, and even from
the cellar of a burnt-out house. In such cases, civilians
caught with arms in their hands were shot.
C. App. 40.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
Invincourt, March 1st, 1915.
In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in
Dinant there appeared as witness Major von Zeschau, who
stated :
As to Person : My name is Amd Maximilian Ernst von
Zeschau. I am 41 years old ; Protestant ; Major and
Battalion Commander, Grenadier Regiment No. loi.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 19 14, towards 6 o'clock
in the afternoon, I, with my nth Company, reached the
Meuse at Les Rivages, and was at once taken across. I had
the order to gain the heights on the other bank, to the right
of the 2nd Company, which had already been put across.
Opposite Les Rivages were connected rows of houses. We
first went downstream as far as the church, and then turned
off to the right. I passed with a detachment through a
very narrow lane ; the shop windows and house doors were
ISO THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
closed. Suddenly four to five shots came from behind me.
My men at once broke open the house from which the shots
were fired. The house was empty ; at the back was a small
yard with a washhouse. In the yard lay a discharged
sporting-gun.
Going farther, we came to a railway embankment through
which ran a culvert. Before it lay a dead civilian with a
weapon like a carbine. On the other side of the embank-
ment was Lieutenant von Oer, who shouted to me that he
had been fired at from the culvert. In the culvert I noticed
some people ; a few paces in front of the culvert crouched
some of my men with rifles at the ready, and, on my question,
reported that there had been firing from the culvert. I
shouted into the culvert, *' Sortez, on ne vous fera rien.'*
As the people did not come out, I caused about live to six
men to fire some shots, ten to twelve in all, into the culvert.
As there arose a great outcry in the culvert, I left a non-
commissioned officer behind to clear it. This officer re-
ported to me next morning that he had fetched out about
thirty-five to forty civilians, men, half-grown lads, women,
and children, and with them a number of weapons — he told
me there were about eight to ten carbine-shaped weapons.
The captured civilians were handed over at the bridge-
head. About 200 metres behind the railway embankment
I came into fighting contact with the French infantry.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : von Zeschau.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 41.
Present :
President of the Court, Oertel.
Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major Sommerburg.
Proviseux, March 2nd, 19 15.
There appeared as witness for examination Non-com-
missioned Officer Faber, who, after reference to the signifi-
cance and sanctity of the oath, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Kurt Friedrich Faber,
non-commissioned officer, loth Company, Grenadier
Regiment No. loi. I am 22 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : According to my war-diary, I crossed the
APPENDIX C— DIN ANT 151
Meuse at Dinant on Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, at 6.5 p.m
in company with Major von Zeschau and about three
detachments of Grenadiers. We were bound for the ridge
of hills lying opposite, as these were said to be occupied by
the enemy. On my way thither I noticed in a side-street
that a woman discharged shots at us from a revolver from
a half-opened door. I thereupon fired at the woman, who
quickly banged the door to. I do not know whether I hit
her.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Kurt Friedrich Faber.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Oertel, Lieutenant and Officer of the
Court.
Signed : Sommerburg, Acting-Sergeant-Major
and Clerk of the Court.
C. App. 42.
Present :
President of the Court, Lieutenant of Landwehr
Oertel.
Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major Sommerburg.
Proviseux, March 2nd, 1915.
There appeared as witness for examination Grenadier
Schlosser, who, after reference to the significance and sanctity
of the oath, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Franz Otto Schlosser,
Grenadier, loth Company, Grenadier Regiment No. loi;
22 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : On the afternoon of August 23rd, 19 14,
I crossed the Meuse at Dinant in a boat with Captain
Graisewsky, Lieutenant von der Decken, and men of the
loth Company, Grenadier Regiment No. loi. When we
were about the middle of the river, there began a heavy
fire on us from various directions. On the other bank we
occupied, by order of the Captain, a trench, and there
received a heavy fire from the houses which were on the
right and left of us. I saw with my own eyes that several
women stood at the window of a house and discharged shots
at us. We then received the order from the Captain to
fetch the occupants from the houses, and brought about
twenty persons out, I believe, only women and children.
152 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
These were brought down as prisoners to the Meuse. We
then set fire to the houses.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Franz Otto Schlosser.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Oertel, Lieutenant and Officer of
the Court.
Signed : Sommerburg, Acting-Sergeant-Major
and Clerk of the MiUtary Court.
C. App. 43.
Extract from the Report of Grenadier Regiment No. loi,
22nd to the 30th August 1914.
August 2^rd, 1914.
The Mayor of Les Rivages appears and protests that none
of the inhabitants are in possession of weapons, and that no
attack would take place on the troops.
After the Divisional Bridge (Pontoon) Train had arrived,
the Pioneers begin the construction of a bridge over the
Meuse, but a heavy enemy fire, partly from infantry, partly
from the inhabitants on the opposite bank, perforates the
pontoons and makes any further construction impossible.
At first the nth Company is put across the Meuse and
proceeds on a broad front through Leffe, where they are
fired on from the houses and from the railway embankment.
Several civilians, who fired on the company from places of
concealment, are shot ; the houses are set on fire.
Following the 2nd Company the remaining companies
of the ist Battalion have also reached Les Rivages. Whilst
the battalion is standing by the Meuse to cross over, it is
attacked from the houses by the inhabitants of the place.
From all the windows, from the hedges of the gardens, from
the slopes of the hills, bullets and shot from the rifles of the
inhabitants rattle down on the companies.
The battalion at once received the order to take up the
fight against the fanatical inhabitants of the place. With
fixed bayonets, the Grenadiers rush through the narrow
streets ; with pick-axes and axes the closed doors and
windows are burst open. In groups the Grenadiers force
their way into the houses in order to seize the occupants
who are still firing on us. Not only men and youths take
part in the fighting, but also old men, women, and children.
APPENDIX C— DIN ANT 153
The francs-tireurs have well chosen their hiding-places.
Already twilight is falling, but still the fire of the enemy
does not abate.
Our object is to reach the other bank of the Meuse, but,
on the other hand, the troops and columns which follow
us must be able to pass through the place without being
attacked anew. Thus there only remains one remedy,
to set the place on fire, and soon it is a sea of flames.
C. App. 44.
Report on the Street-fighting in Les Rivages (Dinant)
on August 23rd, 1914.
The companies of the ist Battalion of Grenadier Regi-
ment No. loi had reached Les Rivages in the afternoon of
August 23rd, 1914, but had to be retired for about 600 to 800
metres on the road from Pont de Pierre on account of our
own artillery having opened a heavy fire on this locality.
The Mayor of the place, who was fetched up by me, pro-
tested that there were no weapons at hand, and that the
inhabitants entertained no plot against our troops. He
was commissioned to have ready, within a fixed time, bread
and butter for the companies at the outlet of the place,
where later the bridge was thrown over the Meuse. The
companies did not get there to enjoy these, since, in the
meantime, the 2nd Company had crossed over and the
remaining companies were involved in the street-fighting.
When the companies, after the cessation of our artillery
fire, had again been led out to Les Rivages and had been
divided into commandos to receive the victuals asked for,
the inhabitants began a murderous fire on the companies
from all the houses and gardens and also from the hill-
slopes. Inside and outside the houses, men of all ages were
firing, also innumerable women and even girls of ten years
of age. Here a woman was severely wounded in the breast
by the inhabitants, and was bandaged by us.
The battalion received the order to take up the fight
against the inhabitants of the place, who were firing as if
demented ; for this purpose the 3rd and 4th Companies
pushed forward to the street- and house-fighting, whilst
portions of the ist Company remained on the river-bank,
A part of the inhabitants who were acting in a particularly
mean fashion and were firing madly with all kinds of fire-
arms, without let or hindrance, upon our troops, were shot
154 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
down to the number of about twenty ; amongst these were
some women who, with special cunning, fired again and again
into the companies from the rear. This shooting was done
to defend ourselves and to scare the inhabitants from
any further atrocities. About lOO to 150 men and women,
also children, were seized and taken over the Meuse to the
opposite bank by the first rope-ferries, partly to prevent
further outrages, partly to remove them, as far as they
appeared innocent, from the terrible fighting.
The fighting of the 3rd and 4th Companies in the streets
lasted until far into the darkness, until finally the burning of
the whole place put a stop to the general activity of the
population.
The order to take up the street-fighting by direction
of the regiment came through me and was detailed by me
to the 3rd and 4th Companies. I, for my part, can only
protest that the inhabitants of the place — men of every age
women and girls — fired madly on us at a given signal, and
that the remedy taken only constituted an act of self-defence.
The situation in which the troops found themselves, especi-
ally at the spot where the bridge was later thrown across,
deserves, in every true sense, the name of a witches' cauldron,
for a worse situation, brought about by a raging force of men
and women, cannot be imagined. Despite all the dreadful
impressions of such fighting, I have since always admired
the calmness our men maintained in the presence of such
brutes, far removed from any thought of cruelty, even
though they themselves were exposed to the worst.
Signed ; Schlick, Major and Commander,
ist Battalion, Grenadier Regiment
No. loi.
C. App. 45.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
NeufchAtel, March 2nd, 1915.
In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there
appeared as witness Major von Zeschau, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Karl Adolf Heinrich von
Zeschau. I am 46 years old ; Protestant ; Major and Adjutant,
General Command, XII. Army Corps.
As to Case : On the 23rd of August 1914 I arrived at
the Meuse in Les Rivages at 6 p.m. All the houses were
APPENDIX C— DINANT 155
«
closed; none of the inhabitants were to be seen. The
Grenadiers stood in column of route on the by-road which
enters Les Rivages, the head of the column at the valley
road. I inquired whether the houses had been searched.
Thereupon a patrol was dispatched to search the houses,
and an acting-sergeant-major reported to me that the houses
were empty. I stayed there about a quarter of an hour
and watched the effect of our artillery on the houses on the
left bank of the Meuse. At this time there came along by
the valley road from Dinant a number of inhabitants —
men, women, and children — who were held up by the
Grenadiers.
As the bridge was half finished and some pontoons with
Grenadiers were at the opposite bank, my task was finished
and I returned to the Commanding General. When I again
returned to the bridge-head at Les Rivages there lay there
a heap of corpses. I learned that shortly after my departure
there had been firing from the seemingly empty houses.
In the night several hundred inhabitants who had come
from Dinant arrived at the crossing-place. These were
well treated ; many women and children were also provided
with provisions by the soldiers.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : von Zeschau.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 46.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
NeufchAtel, February igth, 1915.
In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in
Dinant there appeared as witness Captain Reserve Ermisch,
who stated :
As to Person : My name is Karl Traugott Hubert
Ludwig Ermisch. I am 37 years old ; Protestant ; engineer
(with diploma), director of mines, now Captain of Reserve,
ist Field Pioneer Company.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 19 14, I was with the 3rd
Company of the Pioneer Battalion No. 12, and present
when the pontoons of the Corps Bridging Train, at first
brought down to Dinant, were obliged to turn back. We
156 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
then made a detour into the valley road which leads to Les
Rivages ; from there I was sent out to reconnoitre the place
for the bridge. In Les Rivages all was peaceful. Neither
French nor German soldiers were to be seen. When I had
been there about one hour, my company arrived with the
bridging waggons and other German soldiers. These
rounded up the civilian population standing near as host-
ages. In the meantime, I commenced with the construction
of the bridge. Somewhere about 4 or 5 o'clock we suddenly
received a tolerably heavy fire, which was directed straight
towards us at the bridge-head. We were forced to conceal
ourselves under the cover of the bridge. I noticed plainly
that the firing came from the slopes to the right and left of
the flanking valley, and particularly from a red house not
far from the Bayard Rock, which stands near the north of
Les Rivages. In consequence, the hostages were shot by
direction of a senior Grenadier officer.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Ermisch.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 47.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
NeufchAtel, March 2nd, 19 15.
In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there
appeared as witness, ist Lieutenant of Reserve Freiherr
von Rochow, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Heinrich Bemhard Wichart
Freiherr von Rochow. I am 30 years old ; Protestant ; ist
Lieutenant of Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 17, now Com-
mander of the Cavalry Staff Escort of the General Command,
XII. Army Corps.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 1914, I reached Les
Rivages at nightfall, and saw at the crossing-place a great
heap of corpses. In the course of the evening, when the
crossing was in progress and things had become quieter,
we saw that some wounded were among them. These were
brought away. I myself saw a girl of about eight years with
an injured face, and an older woman with a shot in the upper
part of the thigh taken to the women prisoners and handed
APPENDIX C— DINANT 157
over to the doctor. I remained until the bridge was finished
the next day. Up till then shots were being fired again
and again, obviously by the inhabitants. The houses were
searched by field-police. The people who were in them
were examined, and in the course of this I also acted as
interpreter. Two men, from whose house there had been
firing, and in whose pockets ammunition was found, were
shot. A woman was not shot, although a loaded revolver
was found on her, because her guilt was not fully estab-
lished.
The guilt of every single person was dispassionately
considered by the officers present.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Freiherr von Rochow.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 48.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
NeufchAtel, March 2nd, 1915.
In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there
appeared as witness Major Steinhoff, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Fritz Eugen Steinhoff. I am
48 years old ; Protestant ; Major and Commander of
Pioneers, XIL Army Corps.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 1914, about 5 o'clock in
the afternoon, I came to the crossing-place at Les Rivages,
where there was no one except an officer's patrol of the
Pioneers. I went as far as the bank, and then on about
100 metres towards Anseremme. Various soldiers pointed
out to me that there was firing from the bridge, and from
the houses near the bridge. Wounded soldiers lay in the
street. I was also fired at, and other soldiers warned me
against proceeding farther.
I went back to the crossing-place, and there met Colonel
Meister, to whom I reported my observations. He had the
district cleared by a detachment, which brought in a large
number of men and women. Of these, the men were placed
by a wall at the crossing-place, the women and children
somewhat farther downstream. The crossing and building
of the bridge was now in progress. When the bridge had
158 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
been pushed out about 40 metres, a heavy rifle-fire was
delivered from the houses of Les Rivages and from the
rocks above on the waiting Grenadiers and the Pioneers
at work. I myself heard the whistle, on a rough estimate,
of 100 bullets. A great confusion ensued. Everybody
sought cover, and work was interrupted. Even the
Grenadiers, who stood there in a mass, were in great agita-
tion. I went again through a garden-plot to the Meuse
in order to look after the Pioneers. At this moment the
fire of the enemy flared up, and simultaneously I heard a
couple of rapid volleys in the immediate vicinity.
I thereupon went back and saw at the spot, where
previously the captured men had stood, a heap of corpses.
From that moment onwards the francs-tireurs' firing ceased
completely, and the bridging work proceeded undisturbed.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Steinhoff.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 49.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
NeufchAtel, February 18th, 1915.
In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there
appeared as witness the Divisional Chaplain, Dr. Kaiser,
who stated :
As to Person : My name is Dr. Paul Kaiser. I am
52 years old ; Roman Catholic Divisional Chaplain of the
32nd Infantry Division.
As to Case : I lay in Leffe from the evening of the 23rd
until the morning of the 25th August. On the afternoon
of the 24th August, a Captain of my acquaintance invited
me to eat a plate of soup with him. This took place in
a courtyard where, besides ourselves, were the Captain's
servant, who was cooking the soup there, and two or
three units who were pottering about round a freight-
automobile. All at once some shots were heard and
missiles flew quite close over us. Everyone was naturally
•excited. In the direction from which the shots presumably
came, stood a fairly new brick-built house, distant about
ioo metres. Between the first floor and the attic was a
APPENDIX C— DIN ANT 159
white ledge in which one could see several holes, and from
which arose smoke, evidently from a shot which had just
been discharged. As I learned, the house was then searched.
Shortly afterwards, a whole procession of civilians, men
and women, were led off by us ; these persons, as I was
told, had all been arrested in the house. They were then
handed over to the Cadet School, which was used as a
prison.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Dr. Kaiser.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 51.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
NeufchAtel, February 18th, 19 15.
In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in
Dinant, there appeared as witness Staff-Surgeon Dr. Petrenz.
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to him, was examined as follows :
My name is Max Georg Hand Petrenz. I am 36 years
old ; Roman Catholic ; by profession Dr. med., Staff-
Surgeon with the Commander of the Train, Xllth Army
Corps.
Questioned on the subject of his examination, he stated
the following :
On August 2ist and 22nd, 1914, I was in Taviet ; on
August 23rd the mounted echelon of the General Command
started off and reached the Meuse at Les Rivages towards
10 o'clock in the evening. As I learned, the village of
Sorinnes had been cleared on August 22nd of all the men
and suspicious characters by our troops. When I came
to Sorinnes early on the 23rd August I saw a burning
house surrounded by our troops. I learned that passing
hussars had been fired on from the house, that the house
had been searched for the marksmen without result, and
that in order to smoke them out of their hiding-places
the house had been set on fire. I related this when I had
ridden back again to Taviet, to my billet-landlady, a
woman of the middle class. She gave it as her opinion
that they were certainly, some of them, once more from
i6o THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Dinant. She related further, that suspicious characters
had been sent out from Dinant to the surrounding dis-
tricts ; if these did anything to the German troops, the blame
was put upon the inhabitants. I gathered from her words
that the resistance to the German troops was directly-
organised in Dinant.
Our mounted escort set out from Taviet at three in the
afternoon, made a halt for some time to the south of the
Sorinnes-Dinant road, and carried out the descent to the
Meuse in the ravine which leads to Les Rivages. We
reached this point when it was already dark. In the
night there came here a large number of women and children
who really wanted to go still farther south. As this was
attended with great danger, because everything on the
way was burning, we detained them there and sheltered
them in a large empty house, just opposite the pontoon
bridge, where they were safe from the danger of fire. Be-
sides myself, a number of Grenadier officers of the (Guards)
Grenadier Regiment No. lOO also looked after the sheltering
of the women and children. The next morning, at my
request, all the women and children were provided with
warm coffee by Captain von Criegern.
On the bank of the Meuse, between the river and a
garden wall, there lay close to the left of the pontoon
bridge a heap of civilians who had been shot ; how many
I do not know — I estimate the number at from thirty to
forty. I do not know who had shot them. I have heard
that the Grenadier Regiment No. loi had carried out an
execution there. Among those who had been shot were
also some women; by far the majority were young lads.
Under the pile I discovered a girl of about five years old,
alive and quite uninjured. I took her out and brought
her to the house where the women were. She accepted
some chocolate, was quite pleased and evidently quite
unconscious of the gravity of the situation. I thereupon
examined the pile of corpses to see if any more children
were among them. I only found further a girl of about
ten years with a wound in the leg. I had her bandaged
and lodged her with the women also. The next morning
she was almost without pain. It turned out that the
mother of the girl was among the women who had come
from Dinant. The mother and daughter were very grateful
to me.
The pile of corpses was so situated that it could not be
seen from the house in which the women and children were
APPENDIX C— DINANT i6i
Ipdged. When I was getting ready at 9 o'clock the npxt
morning for marching off, Pioneers were about to dig a
common grave for the bodies behind the garden wall,
before which they lay. It was in an orchard. I convinced
myself personally and by daylight that only the dead lay
there. Any mistake of burying alive is precluded.
Further, I will cite the following :
In the course of the night I was requested by a Grenadier
officer to take a wounded civilian from a house in danger
of fire into a safe place. The man had a bullet woimd
in the upper thigh ; he belonged to the better class. He
told the Grenadier officers that he had been shot by Belgian
francs-tire urs because he would not grant them a hiding-
place in his house. He had been bandaged by our people,
and was now carried into the house to the women.
The next morning, after crossing the Meuse, we rode
along the left bank in order to gain the road to Onhaye.
The bank lying opposite, as well as the houses of Dinant,
seemed deserted. Only in the doorway of some hotel
stood a civilian who aimed a rifle at us and fired, without
making a hit. When we replied with revolver shots he
disappeared.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Dr. Petrenz.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 52.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of
the Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Military Court.
Orainville, March lyth, 1915.
Summoned as witness there appeared Private Steglich,
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Willy StegUch. I am 22
years old ; Protestant ; by calHng bricklayer in Miigeln,
now private in the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regi-
ment No. 103.
As to Case : With Acting-Sergeant-Major and some other
men — ^there were also present some Marburg Jager — I
II
l62 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
fetched the occupants out of a house in Dinant which had
been wrecked by the impact of a shell, and set them at
liberty. There were men, women, and children. They were
then brought to a house where, at the instigation of an
officer of the Marburg Jager, they were protected and
looked after by two Red Cross nurses.
In various houses in Dinant we found a quantity of small-
shot ammunition lying piled up by the windows ; every-
where the lowest pane was broken, evidently to allow a
rifle to be pushed through the opening.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the
Court.
C. App. 53.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of
the Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Court.
Orainville, March lyfh, 1915.
Summoned as witness there appeared Acting-Sergeant-
Major Bartsch, who, after the importance of the oath had
been pointed out to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Erich Bartsch. I am 25
years old ; Protestant ; Acting-Sergeant-Major in the
Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case : As patrol leader I found in a series of
houses in Dinant sporting ammunition lying all ready, from
which it may with certainty be assumed that it had been
used by the francs-tireurs before their expulsion, as ammuni-
tion for firing on the German troops.
From the streets I saw inhabitants in the cellars of
burning houses, chiefly women and children, who were no
longer able to save themselves from their perilous position.
Through the men of my patrol, in company with the Marburg
Jager, their rescue was made possible, and the persons saved
were lodged in houses which were guarded by German
troops. At times the work of rescue could only be carried
out with great danger to life on the part of the patrol.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 163
I myself was witness to the fact that Sisters of Mercy,
in company with German soldiers, fetched along provisions
for the inhabitants who had been given protection.
I was also present when Colonel Hoch sent all non-
interested persons to their homes, with the strict injunction
not to let themselves be seen in the streets.
For the other inhabitants whose houses had been com-
pletely burned down, lodging was procured in the houses of
the railway signalmen.
Close to Dinant a bullet was found by a hussar in
the leaden centre of which a spear-shaped steel blade
had been inserted. This missile was passed round in my
platoon.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
C. App. 54.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of
the Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Military Court.
Orainville, March lyth, 1915.
Summoned as witness there appeared Reservist Hent-
schel, who, after the importance of the oath had been
pointed out to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Alfred Hentschel. I am
25 years old ; Protestant ; by trade a butcher in
Dresden, now Reservist, 9th Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 103.
As to Case : In a house in Dinant which stood at the
right of the bridge I found a severely wounded civilian, an
old man with white hair, who still had his sporting rifle with
him. I also came across civilians farther on in Belgium
who had fired on the German troops with sporting rifles. In
a village beyond Dinant, which cannot be very far from
Dinant, I had my right hand injured by shot-woimds. The
shot are probably still in the fingers.
On this side of the Meuse, where a convent stood, we
i64 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
distributed bread and what else we still had (cold meat, etc.)
to the population, women and children, also men.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon duly sworn.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
C. App. 55,
Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, Officer of the Court I.
La Ville-aux-Bois, January 20th, 1915.
There appeared Assistant Surgeon of Reserve, Dr.
Sorge, ist BattaUon, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108,
^yho, being warned to speak the truth, made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Kurt Hermann Georg Sorge.
I am 27 years old ; Protestant ; ist Assistant Surgeon of the
Ear Department of the town Infirmary of Friedrichstadt,
Dresden.
As to Case : During the fighting of the ist BattaUon,
Rifle Regiment No. 108, near and in Dinant, I was always
in the immediate neighbourhood of the troops engaged. I
have repeatedly bandaged riflemen whose injuries were to
be ascribed to non-military rifles (shot-wounds).
Women, children, and old men were always spared.
The burial of the inhabitants who had been shot, as far as
my sphere of work extended, never took place on the
same day. I have, moreover, repeatedly seen that bread
and drink were handed to various inhabitants by the
riflemen.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Dr. K. Sorge, Assistant Surgeon of
Reserve, ist Battalion, Rifle
(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Glaser, Lieutenant of Reserve,
Adjutant, ist Battalion, Rifle
(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, as
Officer of the Mihtciry Court.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 165
C. App. 56.
Wood south-west of La Ville-aux-Bois,
February ^th, 19 15.
By order of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment '* Prinz Georg "
there appeared as witness Non-commissioned Officer Lauter-
bach, who, being warned to speak the whole truth, made the
following statement :
As to Person : My name is Paul Rudolf Lauterbach. I
am 27 years old ; Protestant ; by trade mechanician, now
non-commissioned officer, loth Compamy, Rifle (Fusilier)
Regiment No. 108.
As to Case : When, on our advance with the company,
from the fort we had reached the Sorinnes-Dinant road in
Dinant, I distinctly saw how a woman, standing at full
height at a window, fired on the German soldiers with a
rifle. The woman was immediately shot by a German
soldier, and fell with the upper part of her body on the
window-sill.
Volleys of rifle-fire were discharged from a remarkably
large house on the west bank of the Meuse which was fly-
ing the Red Cross flag.
South of the Dinant-Sorinnes road by the Meuse, at a
place which I am no longer able to fix, I saw lying there
the charred body of a German Jager whose feet were bound
together with wire.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Paul Rudolf Lauterbach.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Lossow, Lieutenant and Officer of the
Court.
Signed: Schubert, Clerk of the Military
Court.
C. App. 57.
(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, 2nd Battalion.
WiLLMSBARACKEN, January 315^, 19 15.
Deposition concerning the woimding by the discharge
of (small) shot in Dinant.
There appeared as witness Grenadier Bischoff, who,
being warned to speak the truth, made the following
statement :
i66 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As to Person : My name is Karl Bischoff. I was bom
on January i8th, 1893, at Diirschau, near Zittau ; Protestant;
by trade butcher.
As to Case : When the 7th Company was marching
through Dinant at about 7 o'clock p.m. on August 23rd we
were fired on from two houses. I was struck in the left arm
and the left leg. An examination of the wounds in the leg
showed that they resulted from a discharge of small shot.
In the Carolahaus in Dresden a small round bullet
was removed in an operation by Dr. Kretzschmar from
the left foot ; besides this a pellet was located in the
left upper thigh, and is still there. On December loth I
returned again to the 7th Company.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Karl Bischoff.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : V. Loeben, Lieutenant and Officer of
the Court.
Signed : Baier, Non-commissioned Officer and
Clerk of the Court.
C. App. 58.
Present :
Lieutenant of Landwehr Oertel, as Officer of the
Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Sommerburg, as Clerk of
the Court.
Proviseux, March 2nd, 19 15.
There appeared for examination as witness Deputy-
Officer Ebert, who, after the importance of the oath had
been pointed out to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Eduard Kurt Ebert, Deputy-
Officer, Acting-Sergeant-Major, nth Company, Grenadier
Regiment No. loi ; 33 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 1914, I came back early,
towards 9 o'clock, from a patrol which I had undertaken on
the previous evening from before Chateau Reux to Dinant
in company with Lieutenant Schurig and some men of the
9th and 12th Companies of my regiment, which lay in
readiness about half an hour's distance from Dinant. On
the way back from Dinant to the regiment we found at
the end of the town a non-commissioned officer and six men
of Rifle Regiment No. 108 lying dead in the road. Some of
APPENDIX C— DINANT 167
the dead showed wounds on the face and chest, which
Lieutenant Schurig, as well as myself, recognised without
doubt as having been caused by small shot.
On the evening of the same day, probably about 5 p.m.,
I stood with the 12th Company of Grenadier Regiment
No. 10 1 in the street on the bank of the Meuse below the
place where the bridge was being built. All at once a heavy
fire was opened on us from all sides, especially from above.
A man of the 12th Company, who stood beside me, received
a shot in the stock of the rifle. I removed the missile
myself from the wood ; it was a small round bullet. The
firing then died down, and I was put across the Meuse.
After I had crossed over, I received the order from
Lieutenant and Adjutant Stark to guard the civilian
prisoners who had been rounded up there, and later the
military prisoners also. I then saw how men of my guard
handed water to the captive women and children and gave
them chocolate. I myself bandaged a woimded French
sergeant.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Eduard Kurt Ebert.
The witness Ebert was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Oertel, Lieutenant of Reserve and
Officer of the Court.
Signed: Sommerburg, Acting-Sergeant-Major
and Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 59.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Dachsel, as Officer of the
Court.
Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve Steiger, as
Clerk of the Court.
La Ville-aux-Bois pr£s Pontavert,
March 6th, 1915.
At the request of the Imperial German Court of Justice
of the General Government in Belgium there appeared by
order, as witness, Medical-Corps Non-commissioned Officer
Rost, who, after the importance of the oath had been
pointed out to him, and he had been warned to speak the
truth, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Paul Richard Rost, Medical-
iki THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Corps Non-commissioned Officer, 6th Company, Rifle
(Fusilier) Regiment No. io8 ; 25 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : When I was attending the wounded in
Dinant on the night of August 21st and 22nd, I noticed that
behind the men, some in their shirt-sleeves, who were
firing from the windows, the heads of women were also
visible.
The next day I saw in the courtyard of the Chateau of
Sorinnes, among the dead lying there on biers. Corporal
Kirchhof of my company. He had an injury to the skull
which could only have originated from a blunt instrument.
The brain-pan was quite smashed in.
On August 23rd I found on a detached estate near
Dinant, close by the road which leads from Sorinnes to
Dinant, a German soldier almost completely carbonised,
lying imder a burnt heap of straw. He appeared to be a
Jager, judging from portions of his equipment which lay
near. I was told by comrades that a second Jager had
been found in a field in the vicinity of Dinant, with his face
biunt. The estate, where I found the Jager, had been
organised as a dressing-station for wounds.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Paul Richard Rost.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Dachsel. Signed : Steiger.
C. App. 60.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Dachsel, as Officer of the
Court.
Non-commissioned Officer Steiger, as Clerk of
the Court.
La Ville-aux-Bois pr^s Pontavert,
March 6th, 19 15.
At the request of the Imperial German Court of Justice
of the General Government in Belgium, there appeared
by order, as witness. Rifleman Lange, who, after the import-
ance of the oath had been pointed out to him, and he
had been warned to speak the truth, made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Emil Bruno L^ng6, Rifleiiiglh
of Reserve, 7th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 ;
25 years old ; Protestant.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 169
As to Case : In the night-fighting at Dinant on August
2ist I saw an elderly woman firing at us from a house
which was brightly lighted up by a lamp burning in the
street. After some time she fell backwards ; apparently
she had been hit by us.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Emil Bruno Lange.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Dachsel. Signed : Steiger.
C. App. 61.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Dachsel, as Officer of the
Court.
Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve Steiger,
as Clerk of the Court.
La Ville-aux-Bois pr^s Pontavert,
March 6th, 19 15.
By request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of
the General Government in Belgium, there appeared by
order, as witness, Rifleman Vorwieger, who, after the
importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, and
he had been warned to speak the truth, made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Paul Vorwieder, Rifleman,
6th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 ; 20 years
old ; Protestant.
As to Case : In the street-fighting in Dinant on August
2 1st I saw in a house, which I was just about to enter,
a woman about thirty years of age standing with a revolver
in her hand, ready to fire.
On August 23rd I found in an open field, about 600 metres
from Dinant, a dead Saxon Jager — I recognised him as such
by his uniform — with face completely carbonised. He lay
on his back, his arms widely extended.
Read over, approved, signed.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Dachsel. Signed : Steiger.
C. App. 62.
There appeared as witness Reservist Hund, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Artur Otto Himd ; I was
170 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
bom on February 15th, 1889, at Dresden ; Protestant ; at
the time Reservist in the 12th Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 178.
As to Case : I saw how the twelve-year-old son of the
Lawyer Adam shot at me and two comrades with a revolver.
The two comrades were wounded.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hund.
Signed : Ryssel, Lieutenant and Officer of the
Court.
Signed : Schultz, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk of the Military Court.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178,
March ^rd, 19 15.
In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there
appeared as witness Reservist Hund, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Artur Otto Hund ; I was
born on February 15th, 1889, at Dresden ; Protestant ; at
the time Reservist in the 12th Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 178 ; coachman by calling.
As to Case : I was sent with two comrades into the house
to see if it was vacant, so that it could be turned into a
hospital. We were shot at in the garden behind. When
we went in the direction of the shots we found under a
bush a twelve-year-old boy with a revolver in his hand.
One of my comrades was fatally wounded by the shots,
the other slightly. The lad was shot on the spot by one
of the comrades who had also come up. We knew by
photographs in the house that he was the son of the occupier
of the house.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hund.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 63.
There appeared Private Trenkler, 12th Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 178, who stated :
As to Person : My name is Max Julius Trenkler ; I was
bom on December 31st, 1891, at Markersdorf ; Protestant ;
APPENDIX C— DINANT 171
at the time on the active Ust, 12th Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : I have seen civilians firing with (small)
shot, and, in a like manner, children have fired on our
soldiers in the rear of the convent.
Signed : Max Trenkler.
Signed : Ryssel, Lieutenant and Officer of the
Court.
Signed: Schultz, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk of the Court.
Present :
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary, Lips.
Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178,
March srd, 19 15.
In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there
appeared Private Max Julius Trenkler as witness, who,
after the reading over of the preceding statement, declared :
Details as to myself are correctly given ; I am an excavation
worker.
As to Case : On the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, we
lay in reserve on the northern slope of the Leffe valley
opposite the convent in the wood. There we saw how a boy
on the opposite slope behind the convent fired at us from a
fir copse, and with small shot too. The shot fell in our
vicinity. We called to comrades who were on the road
to go and search for the lad behind the convent. They
then brought him along. I do not know what they did
with him.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Trenkler.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Schweinitz. Signed : Lips.
C. App. 64.
Report on the encounter of the Machine-Gun Company
with Francs-Tireurs at Leffe-Dinant on August 23rd,
1914.
Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 102.
The Machine-Gun Company of Infantry Regiment
No. 102 had started off from Houx in the rear of the regi-
ment towards the evening of August 23rd, 1Q14, and had
172 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
marched along the Meuse to Leffe. When the company-
had entered Leffe about midnight, and the last of their
vehicles were passing a bridge, two white figures were all
at once seen under it. The men of the company bringing
up the rear noticed these people ; two shots followed close
upon one another, and immediately after two figures
enveloped in white clothes were seen to jump into the
Meuse. The marksmen of the Machine-Gun Company
fired at the two persons, who, shortly after, were washed up
dead to the bank. A closer examination showed that they
were two men wearing female dress, who had wrapped
themselves up in white cloths. Under the bridge stood
two chairs, and from here the column in marching by had
been fired on. It was supposed that the two francs-tireurs
wanted to blow up the bridge, and, surprised by our people,
flew to arms ; as their retreat was cut off, they wanted to
make their way through the water.
Shortly after. Infantry Regiment No. 177, which was
marching behind us, was fired at from the factory which
stands close to the bridge. As was ascertained, a passage
led from the bridge into the factory, which was, at any rate,
made use of by other francs-tireurs in order to withdraw in
safety into the factory, from the windows of which they
then opened a brisk fire.
Signed : Noack, Lieutenant and Company
Leader.
C. App. 65.
Present :
ist Lieutenant Winkler, as Officer of the Court.
Non-commissioned Officer Schwertner, as Clerk
of the Military Court.
Near St. Marie, March yth, 1915.
In the matter for inquiry concerning the firing on a
Machine-Gun Company by francs-tireurs at Leffe-Dinant
there appeared as witnesses Privates Biichner and Ulbricht
of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 102,
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to them, were examined individually as follows :
I. Private Biichner.
As to Person : My name is Heinrich Max Emil Biichner,
22 years old ; private in the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 102.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 173
As to Ca$e : On August 23rd, 1914, the Machine-Gun
Company, Infantry Regiment No. 102, marched from
Houx along the Meuse by Leffe to the mihtary bridge at
Dinant. The company arrived in Leffe towards midnight
of the 23rd and 24th August 1914. On the left of the line
of march was a large factory. From this a brook or canal
led into the Meuse. Our route passed over this brook or
canal by a bridge. I marched with Ulbricht behind a
provision waggon which brought up the rear. When the
centre of the company was on the bridge, two shots came
from the direction of the bridge towards us. I at once ran
with Ulbricht to the bank of the Meuse to see if anybody
there had fired. The two shots appeared to have been
alarm shots, for immediately after several rifle-shots were
fired from the factory. While we were running to the
bank of the Meuse, two white figures came out from under
the bridge in order to swim to the other bank of the Meuse.
I immediately shot with Ulbricht at the two white figures.
We reached one whilst still close to the bank, whilst the
other was already in the middle of the Meuse. Both figures
were hit, for the one who was already in the middle of the
river suddenly drifted with the stream, while the other was
floated up to our bank. Together with Ulbricht, I let myself
down the steep bank with the aid of comrades who had
come up, by means of a bearing-girth. We drew the white
body from the water, threw back the white cloth, and saw
by the face that it was a man. This man was wearing
women's green stockings and a pair of black low shoes such
as women wear. He had received a shot in the back of the
head and was dead. We then went under the bridge ;
not far from the water stood two chairs. From the bridge,
the canal went through a tunnel towards the factory. In
this tunnel-canal, which was about 50 metres long, there
was very little water ; one could easily go upright in it.
With Ulbricht, I had penetrated about two to three metres
into the tunnel, but as our company was marching on and
were being called by our comrades, we turned back. Behind
us came men of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 177 ; they went into the factory in order
to search it whilst I and Ulbricht went to our company.
The firing only came from the factory when the two white
^gures had discharged the two shots , the firing, which
lasted about five minutes, evidently came from the windows
of the factory and originated from several persons. During
this time our company halted, then it moved nearer to the
174 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
military bridge. As the firing from the factory opened
again shortly after, the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 177, replied with the machine-guns. We
now saw the flashes of the francs-tireurs' fire at the windows
of the factory. The firing from the factory only ceased
when the place had been set on fire.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Bijchner.
2. Private Ulbricht.
As to Person : My name is Friedrich Richard Ulbricht,
22 years old ; Protestant ; private in the Machine- Gim
Company, Infantry Regiment No. 102.
As to Case : The statements of Private Biichner, which
were read over to me, I fully endorse.
I have nothing further to add.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Ulbricht.
The witnesses were thereupon sworn.
Signed : Winkler, ist Lieutenant and Officer
of the Court.
Signed : Schwertner, Non - commissioned
Officer and Clerk of the Court.
C. App. 66.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Glaser, as Officer of the
Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve Referendar
RiCHTER, as Clerk of the Court.
SiNZBARACKEN, February 25th, 1915.
Rifleman Kahler, ist Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment
No. 108, after the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to him, stated :
As to Person : My name is Emil Robert Kahler, 22 years
old ; Protestant ; electrician at Kiel, on active service
since October 14th, 1913, in the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment
No. 108.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 1914, I saw in a street at
Dinant a civilian, about twenty-seven years old, who wore a
band on the left arm with the Geneva badge, and who fired a
revolver from a house door at a Pioneer, but without hitting
APPENDIX C— DINANT 175
him. I thereupon shot the civilian. The Pioneer took the
revolver away from him.
Kahler took the oath as a witness.
Signed : KAhler.
Signed : Glaser, Officer of the Court.
Signed : Richter, as Clerk of the Court.
C. App. 67.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve and Battalion Adjutant
Dachsel, as Officer of the Court.
Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve Steiger, as
Clerk of the Court.
La Ville-aux-Bois les Pontarvet,
February 2nd, 19 15.
There appeared by order as witness, Assistant-Surgeon
Dr.med. Kockeritz, who, after the importance of the oath
had been pointed out to him and he had been warned to
speak the truth, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Albin Werner Kockeritz. I
am Assistant-Surgeon of Reserve, Dr.med. ; 28 years old ;
Protestant.
As to Case : During the night-fighting of August 21st to
22nd, I was in Dinant. I did not see any cruelties committed
by our troops against the inhabitants, who fired with shot-
guns and buck-shot from their windows. In the further
fighting round Dinant also, at the close of which we moved
into Dinant, I saw no misusage whatever of the civilian
population.
That the bodies of inhabitants, who had been shot for
taking part in fighting, were mutilated, is untrue. I saw,
however, in a side-valley a German cavalryman, who had
apparently been shot down, lying charred upon a grating
and fastened with wire. This was in the vicinity of the
Field Dressing Station put up by the 22nd and 3rd Battalion,
Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 and the ist Field Artillery
Regiment No. 12 and stationed west of Dinant.
The firing, which came from the hospital denoted by a
Red Cross flag, lighted up for a long way the opposite bank
of the Meuse.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Dr. Kockeritz.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Dachsel. Signed : Steiger.
I7|5 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
C. App. 68.
(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. lOO, Of&cer of Court III.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Bandel, as Officer of the
Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Ranke, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
GuiGNicouRT, January qth, 1915.
By order there appeared as witness :
Non-commissioned Officer Martin, loth Company
(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, who, after having
been warned to speak the truth, made the following state-
ment :
As to Person : My name is Otto Kurt Martin, 22 years
old ; Protestant.
As to Case : Concerning the article ** The incredible
atrocities of the German soldiers," Martin made the following
statement :
Inhabitants of the town of Dinant were only shot after
it had been conclusively established that they had treacherT
ously fired at us from the houses. Moreover, there was firing
from houses which displayed the Red Cross. I did not see
any mutilated inhabitants. I likewise do not know of any
cruelties or crimes by our troops. I did not see that our
troops were treated by a Belgian doctor. On the contrary,
I noticed that wounded inhabitants were treated by German
doctors and bandaged by our military non-commissioned
officers. I know nothing of the remainder of the incidents
mentioned in the article. I have nothing further to add.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Kurt Martin.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Bandel, Lieutenant and Officer of
the Court.
Signed : Ranke, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 69.
Report to (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100.
In the fight at Dinant, heavy rifle fire was directed upon
our troops from several houses on the west bank of the Meuse,
especially from a large red Infirmary. These houses were
APPENDIX C— DIN ANT 177
all distinguished as hospitals by the hanging out of flags
with the Red Cross, and were, in consequence, at first spared
by our troops. Later, however, after the occupation of
these houses by hostile, armed inhabitants had been de-
finitely ascertained, and it was recognised that the Red
Cross only served as a blind, the houses were brought under
fire and destroyed. Witnesses to this are all the officers of
the 1st Battalion (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100.
Signed ; Zeidler, Captain and Battalion
Leader, (Guards) Grenadier Regi-
ment No. 100.
C. App. 70.
Present :
Military Magistrate, Naumann.
Secretary of the Military Court, Schwarzbach.
La Malmaison, December 10th, 1914.
In the inquiry concerning the violations of International
Law committed against German troops, there appeared as
witness Non-commissioned Officer Esche, loth Company,
Grenadier Regiment No. 100, who, after the importance of
the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following
statement :
My name is Bruno Arno Esche, 24 years old ; Pro-
testant ; factory worker.
On Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, in the afternoon, I saw
plainly with field glasses from the right bank of the Meuse
that the windows of a large red house on the left bank of
the Meuse were blocked up with boards, mattresses or cover-
lets. Loopholes were cut out in the house at the height of
a man. The house was flying the Red Cross flag.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Bruno Arno Esche.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Naumann. Signed : Schwarzbach.
C. App. 71.
St. Erme, December lyth, 1914.
StafT-Surgeon Dr. Lange, after the importance of the
oath had been pointed out to him, made, as witness, the
following deposition :
12
178 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As to Person : My name is Richard Gotthold Lange,
33 years old ; Protestant ; Staff-Surgeon and Battalion
Surgeon of the 3rd Battalion Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : Directly after the entry of the battalion
into Leffe it was surprised by shots which not only came
from the two ranges of hills but also from the houses and
cellars. The houses from which the shots came were there-
upon searched for sharpshooters and the guilty civilians
found there were shot. The houses from which there was
no firing were searched in the same way, and their occupants
were guarded in the street. It was reported to me that a
sergeant-major of the 9th Company of my regiment had
been severely wounded, whereupon I rode through the
streets and was continuously fired at from the houses,
especially from the cellars. I found two German wounded
inside the houses, further, one dead in a cellar and another
dead on a ground floor. As the number of the wounded
accumulated, I saw myself obliged to arrange as a dressing-
station the villa of Councillor Adam, where I was busy up
till II o'clock at night. The number of the wounded
German soldiers, on the handing over of the hospital to the
2nd Medical Company, amounted to about eighty men.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Dr. Lange.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Starke, Officer of the Court.
C. App. 72.
Present :
Military Magistrate, Naumann.
Secretary of Military Court, Schwarzbach.
La Malmaison, December 8th, 1914.
In the inquiry concerning the violations of International
Law committed against German troops, there appeared as
witness Medical Non-commissioned Officer Ostmann of the
5th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. loi, who, after
the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him,
made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Otto Eduard Ostmann,
26 years old ; Protestant ; shop assistant by trade.
As to Case : On the evening of August 23rd, 1914, when
it was getting dark, my company entered Les Rivages.
It halted in the street at the beginning of the place. As
APPENDIX C— DINANT 179
there was no medical non-commissioned officer farther on,
I went as far as the crossing-place over the Meuse and stood
close by in the middle of the street. There was no one in
the street in my immediate neighbourhood.
While I was facing the houses where some civilians
were standing, a shot fell from a house to the right of me ;
I immediately felt a stinging pain under my right eye and
felt blood running down my cheek.
My Battalion-Surgeon, Dr. Haupt, after examining
the wound, said that a small shot had grazed me. The shot
could only have been meant for me, since I was the only
person standing in an open space of 2 metres in circumference.
I had duly put on the Geneva Cross band, which was
visible.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Otto Eduard Ostmann.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Naumann. Signed : Schwarzbach.
C. App. 73.
Present :
Military Magistrate, Naumann.
Secretary of the Military Court, Schwarzbach.
La Malmaison, December ^th, 1914.
In the inquiry concerning the violations of International
Law committed against German troops, there appeared as
witness Transport Soldier of Reserve Miiller, 2nd Field
Pioneer Company, Pioneer Battalion No. 12, who, after the
importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the
following statement :
My name is Emil Erwin Miiller, 26 years old ; Protestant ;
fruit grower.
On the afternoon of August 25th, 1914, in company with
Non-commissioned Officer Fehrmann, I saw a number of
bodies of civilians and that of a woman lying in front of a
house in a cross-street in Dinant. We entered the house.
In the room on the right there lay an officer — a lieutenant
of Infantry Regiment No. 182 — a sofa-cushion under his
head ; his head and a part of his chest were covered with a
white cloth. All three civilians wore the uniform of In-
fantry Regiment No. 182. In the adjoining room there lay
stretched out dead a non-commissioned officer and five
privates of the same regiment.
1 80 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
I lifted up the cloth covering the lieutenant and saw
that he had received a shot in the head. I did not see any
further injuries to the officer.
One of the privates who lay beside the lieutenant had
his trousers unbuttoned in front so that one could see his
body. This soldier had a shot in the lower part of the
body. Extending from the larynx to at least lo cm. to
the left was a cut which was bloody and the edges were
probably i cm. apart. The blood had flowed down towards
the side. I am convinced that it could only have been a
wound from a cut.
In the other room the trousers of one of the soldiers
were unbuttoned so that one could see the body. This
man had a cut or stab wound in the lower body about 3
cm. wide. The clothing of the remaining soldiers showed no
disarrangement, they all bore shot -wounds.
The scene conveyed the impression that the officer, the
flon-commissioned officer and the men had been attacked
in their sleep by the inhabitants in that quarter. I infer
this from the fact that the officer had a sofa-cushion and the
others either a cloth or a knapsack under their heads. The
rifles stood in a corner.
In the house with Fehrmann and myself was also Pioneer
of Reserve Kretzschmann.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Emil Erwin MtJLLER.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Naumann. Signed : Schwarzbach.
C. App. 74.
By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment " Prinz Georg**
No. 108 there appeared Staff-Surgeon of Reserve Dr.
Holey, who, having been warned to speak the whole truth,
made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Franz Alfred Holey. I was
born on September 21st, 1878 ; Protestant ; practising
physician in civil life, during the war, Staff- surgeon and
battalion-surgeon with the 3rd Battalion, Rifle (Fusilier)
Regiment No. 108.
As to Case : On August 23rd, as we were proceeding to
Dinant, my attention was drawn by Major von der Pforte,
a short distance from Dinant, to the body of a German
soldier, who had been fastened with wire by the hands and
feet to pegs which had been driven into the ground. The
APPENDIX C— DINANT i8i
body was almost completely carbonised, and to all appear-
ances some highly inflammable liquid had been poured over
it. According to the state of the existing lines of demarca-
tion, the man must have been burnt alive. By the remains
of the uniform, particularly the buttons, he was plainly to
be recognised as a German soldier.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Dr. Holey, Staff -Surgeon of Reserve.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Further remark : The body lay in the neighbourhood of
an estate near the marble quarries.
Signed : Lossow, Lieutenant and Officer of
the Court.
Signed : Schubert, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 75.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Dachsel, as Officer of the
Court.
Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve Steiger,
as Clerk of the Court.
La Ville-aux-Bois, near Pontarvet,
March 6th, 19 15.
By request of the Imperial German Court of Justice
of the General Government in Belgium there appeared
by order as witness Corporal of Reserve Wahl, who, after
the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him,
and he had been warned to speak the whole truth, made
the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Hermann Kurt Wahl, 22 years
old ; Protestant ; Corporal of Reserve, 5th Company, Rifle
(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 ; shop assistant at Deuben,
near Dresden.
As to Case : On the march to Dinant on August 23rd,
I saw lying in a ditch by the road to the east of the Sorinnes-
Dinant road a dead Jager. His hands and feet were
bound together with wire. The body was otherwise com-
pletely charred. I was only able to recognise that he was
a Jager by the articles of equipment lying near.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hermann Kurt Wahl.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Dachsel. Signed : Steiger.
1 82 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
C. App. 76.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Dachsel, as Officer of the
Court.
Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve Steiger, as
Clerk of the Court.
La Ville-aux-Bois, March yth, 1914.
By order there appeared as witness Rifleman Will-
kommen, who, after the importance of the oath had been
pointed out to him, and he had been warned to speak the
truth, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Paul Robert Willkommen,
rifleman, 7th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 ;
22 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : On the afternoon of August 23rd, I found
a completely charred body quite close to an estate near
Dinant, where we had set up a dressing-station. On
closer inspection it proved to be a Saxon J agar whose
hands and feet had been tied up. He lay in the ditch close
to the road. We covered him with straw. That he was a
Saxon Jager I recognised with certainty from his buttons
and other articles of equipment.
On this day, before we marched through Dinant and
crossed the Meuse, my company made a halt at an estate
near Dinant. The inhabitants of the estate — several men,
women, and children — fetched us water. I and several
of my comrades gave in return some cigars to the men and
sweet stuff to the children.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Paul Robert Willkommen.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Dachsel. Signed : Steiger.
C. App. 77.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Dachsel, as Officer of the
Court.
Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve Steiger, as
Clerk of the Coiirt.
La Ville-aux-Bois, March yth, 1915.
There appeared by order as witness Corporal Oehmigen,
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed
APPENDIX C— DINANT 183
out to him, and he had been warned to speak the truth,
made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Otto Albert Oehmigen ;
corporal, 6th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 ;
23 years old ; Protestant.
As to Case : Before we marched through Dinant on
August 23rd I saw in a cabbage field near Dinant the body
of a Saxon Jager with a charred face lying on his back. He
lay in the middle of the field, not by the road. I did not
notice whether his feet and arms were tied.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Otto Albert Oehmigen.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Dachsel. Signed : Steiger.
C. App. 78.
Prouvais, February 2^h, 1915.
By order of Field Artillery Regiment No. 12 there
appeared as witness this day Captain von Lippe of the
Light Munitions Columns, 2nd Division, ist Field Artillery
Regiment No. 12, in order to be examined on oath regard-
ing the occurrences in Dinant. Captain von Lippe
stated :
As to Person : My name is Fritz von Lippe. I am 40
years old ; Protestant ; estate-tenant by calling, attached
to the Light Munitions Column of the 2nd Division, Field
Artillery Regiment No. 12.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 1914, behind the firing
position of the 2nd Division, ist Field Artillery Regiment
No. 12, I saw the bodies of a rifleman and a Jager. One
had his eyes gouged out, and the other lay half burnt under
a heap of straw with hands and feet tied together.
Captain von Lippe testified his statements on oath,
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to him.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Fritz von Lippe.
Signed : Haase, ist Lieutenant and Ofiicer of the
Court.
1 84 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
C. App. 79.
St. Erme, December Tjth, 1914.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Gopfert, after the importance of
the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Oswald Emil Gopfert. I
am 27 years old ; Protestant ; battahon drummer, 3rd
Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
As to Case : When my battalion was entering Leffe,
numerous shots came from almost all the houses. We
supposed at first that the shots came from soldiers ; however,
it could only have been civilians, since no soldiers were
found in the houses. I saw with my own eyes that a
civilian fired at and wounded Captain Franz. Only the
men who were implicated in the firing from the houses
were shot, while the old men, women, and children were
taken to the convent. I was myself present when an old
man, who had been fetched out of a house, was separated
from the guilty civiHans and taken to the convent.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Gopfert.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Starke, Officer of the Court.
C. App. 80.
GuiGNicouRT, January 8th, 1915.
Deposition.
There appeared, as witness. Lieutenant of Reserve
Loser of the 5th Company, (Guards) Grenadier Regiment
No. 100, who, having been warned to speak the truth, made
the following statement :
My name is Walter Loser. I am 28 years old ; Protestant ;
Forest -referendary on the State Forest Preserves, Elster IL
at Adorf in Saxony.
As to Case : On entering Dinant the 5th Company,
(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, was ordered to fire
only at civilians who were themselves shooting at our
troops. The order was everywhere complied with. No
atrocities were committed by our troops. I even know of
APPENDIX C— DINANT 185
cases where our troops treated with the greatest considera-
tion the innocent inhabitants of Dinant, who evidently
were suffering under the critical condition of the time. I
remember to have seen how the men of our regiment carried
infirm old people and children through the rows of burning
houses with the intention of rescuing them.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Loser, Lieutenant of the Reserve.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Von Loeben, Lieutenant and
Officer of the Court.
Signed : Baier, Non-commissioned Officer and
Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 81.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of the
Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Military Clerk of the Court.
Orainville, March i.yth, 19 15.
Summoned as witness there appeared Non-commissioned
Officer of Reserve Teubner, who, after the importance of
the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Georg Teubner. I am 26
years old ; Catholic ; by trade a locksmith at Schirgiswalde,
now non-commissioned officer of Reserve, Machine-Gun
Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case : In the night, after we had crossed the
Meuse, two platoons of the Machine-Gun Company lay by
the railway ; an infantry guard lay opposite. In the
house where the guard lay were already some civilians.
In the early morning a Belgian woman came to us and
gave us to understand by motions of the hands — we could
not understand French — that somewhere a house was on
fire, and that we were to help. We saw that something
must be particularly amiss there, and some of the men
followed the woman with tools (hatchets, etc.). I was not
able to go at once myself. When, later, I was on my way
to the burning house I met the men with the rescued
civilians who had stayed in the cellars and had been buried
by the debris. They were men, women, and children —
1 86 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
among them a priest. The people were taken to the guard,
and there examined ; later they were again released.
In the last house of a village behind Dinant we found
a large quantity of ammunition (shot and spear-like missiles),
which were evidently placed there for use. In the gable-
roof were openings similar to loopholes.
On the march farther I saw a civilian who had been
shot lying by the comer of a house ; he had a gun still in
his hand — it was a double-barrelled sporting-gun.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Sergeant Richter, 2ls Clerk of the
Military Court.
C. App. 82.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of
the Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Court,
Orainville, March lyth, 19 15.
Summoned as witness there appeared Corporal Richter,
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Max Gustav Richter. I am
23 years old ; Protestant ; by trade a chairmaker at Baren-
stein, now corporal, 6th Company, Infgmtry Regiment
No. 103.
As to Case : The 6th Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 103, after the fighting at Dinant, was detained to guard
the bridge. Lieutenant Lemke was Local Commandant of
the district allotted to us. We lay there four to five days.
During these days Lieutenant Lemke had those civilians
who were innocent taken to a house and looked after.
The people received bread, meat, potatoes, and milk.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 187
C. App. 83.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of
the Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Military Court.
Orainville, March lyth, 1915.
Summoned as witness there appeared Lieutenant Lemke,
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Martin Lemke, 27 years
old ; Protestant ; merchant at Zurich, now Lieutenant of
Reserve, 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case : One night between the 23rd and the
26th August 1914, a large column of 3700 captured Belgian
soldiers came through Dinant. I had been left behind
with a platoon of the 6th Company, Infantry Regiment
No. 103, as bridge-guard, and was, during the days named,
Local Commandant of Dinant-Bouvignes. This long column
of prisoners I lodged in double columns of route on the
railway track in the neighbourhood of the station at Dinant.
At intervals 100 paces I had lighted large wood-fires.
Towards 3 o'clock a heavy fusillade broke out. Two
Belgians jumped down from the railway embankment
into the road and were shot by my sentries. A wounded
Belgian was at once taken to the " Red Cross " near by,
where a small-shot wound in the posterior was able to
be ascertained with certainty. The firing with small shot
came down from the wooded height on this side of the
railway track amongst the resting column, and the result
was, that a panic broke out among the prisoners, of which
the two Belgians were the victims. The Belgian officers
present, as well as the Mayor of Bouvignes, to whom I
explained the affair, expressed their indignation about the
francs-tireurs.
The inhabitants were well treated by the soldiers under
my command. On August 24th a number of women,
children, and men were fetched out of the cellar of a burning
house on the road to Bouvignes by our soldiers at the risk
of their lives. During those days I provided with victuals
a total of over fifty inhabitants, mostly women, also children
and various men belonging on the average to the better
classes. Among them were also patients from the wrecked
hospitals. An old lady who could not walk was carried
by our soldiers to the " Red Cross." We provided the
1 88 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
people with woollen coverings for the night, and gave up
some mattresses from our district, which had been quite
forsaken. For the invalids and a little child we provided
milk. For the " Red Cross " in Bouvignes, where some
twenty wounded French soldiers were lying, among them
one Major and one ist Lieutenant, we also provided
victuals, especially flour for baking bread. The people
could not adequately express their gratitude. The Lord
of the Manor at Bouvignes, the Mayor of Bouvignes, a
Mons. van Willmart of the same place, have taken a note
of my home address in order, after the war, to inquire
after my welfare. The people had all acquired a high
opinion of Germany. Mons. van Willmart even wants to
visit me after the war. A health-resort patient at Dinant,
a legal official from Brussels, who was staying there with
his two sisters, has written a card to my mother to testify
his gratitude.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
C. App. 84.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of
the Court.
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Military Court.
Orainville, March lyth, 191 5.
Summoned as witness there appeared Captain Schroder,
who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Severin Schroder. I am
34 years old ; Protestant ; Captain and Company Chief,
6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case : My company was bridge-guard on the left
Meuse bank from the 23rd to the 24th August. In some
houses were from 150 to 200 civilian prisoners, among them
also many women and some children. I had the pro-
visions brought together from the partially destroyed
houses in order to provide for my company. On the
petition of some women for victuals I gave them bread,
rice, and sausage, and some for the remainder of the civilians.
APPENDIX C— DIN ANT 189
I had explained to the inhabitants that nothing would
happen to them as long as they remained in the houses
under the protection of the company. A number were
let go at their request, as they did not appear to be under
suspicion. Men who seemed open to suspicion were de-
tained; some women remained voluntarily. When I was
relieved. Lieutenant Lemke, who remained behind with
his platoon, took over the prisoners.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
C. App. 85.
Present :
Lieutenant of Reserve Kleberger, as Officer of
the Court ;
Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the Military Court.
Orainville, March lyth, 1915.
Summoned as witness there appeared Captain von
Liider, who, after the importance of the oath had been
pointed out to him, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Georg von Liider. I am
41 years old ; Protestant ; Captain and Battalion Com-
mander, 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 103.
As to Case : On August 23rd, 1914, as Company Chief,
I led the Machine-Gun Company. This was transported
late in the evening on pontoons across the Meuse. The
company remained until midday of August 24th, on the
other bank of the Meuse, to await the arrival of the vehicles
which were to reach the left bank of the Meuse by the
bridge erected by the Pioneers. When the vehicles arrived
in the afternoon of August 24th the company marched off.
Diuring the time the company remained on the left
bank of the Meuse, inhabitants who had been arrested by
the soldiers were continually being brought to a house
which was situated next to the halting-place of the company.
I saw the bringing of these inhabitants to the house, and
can confirm that they were decently treated in every
respect by the soldiers escorting them.
In the forenoon of August 24th my Regimental Com-
mander, Major Hoch, came to the company and spoke to
190 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
the inhabitants interned in the house. At their request
he let many of them go free.
My impression was that the arrested inhabitants were
very kindly treated. They were allotted a room for the
night, and on the morning of August 24th were well and
plentifully provided for.
Read over, approved.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: Kleberger, Lieutenant of Reserve
and Officer of the Court.
Signed : Sergeant Richter, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
C. App. 86.
Present :
Lieutenant Oeser, as Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Lippmann, as Clerk of the
Military Court.
Prouvais, March 26th, 1915.
There appeared for examination Lieutenant and Regi-
mental Adjutant Florey, who, after the importance of the
oath had been pointed out to him, made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Georg Friedrich Florey ;
22| years old ; Protestant ; Lieutenant and Regimental
Adjutant, Grenadier Regiment No. loi.
As to Case : With Lieutenant von Zenker of the ist
Company, I bandaged a man (inhabitant) in Les Rivages
who had a gaping wound in the head. Later on I gave
the men of my platoon the order to carry a woman of about
eighty years from an aheady biuning house and bring her
into safety. My Grenadiers at once complied with this
order and handed over this old lady for further care to
other inhabitants. In Neffe I endeavoured to fetch a
doctor for the wounded inhabitants.
At that time I was platoon leader in the 4th Company.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Florey, Lieutenant and Regimental
Adjutant.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed : Oeser, Lieutenant and Officer of the
Court.
Signed : Lippmann, Acting-Sergeant-Major and
Clerk of the Military Court.
APPENDIX C— DINANT 191
C. App. 87.
The Trenches, January 12th, 1915.
By Regimental Order, Chief Surgeon of the Reserve, Dr.
Marx, Assistant Surgeon of the 2nd BattaHon, ist Grenadier
Regiment (Guards) No. 100, appears, and, being warned to
speak the whole truth, makes the following deposition :
As to Person : My name is Karl Theodor Hans
Marx. I was born on April 3rd, 1878, in Dobeln (Saxony) ;
Evangelical- Lutheran ; Senior Surgeon of the Reserve,
1st (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100.
As to Case : I also extended my medical activity during
the whole of the day to the wounded inhabitants of Dinant.
In one case I treated a young girl with a shot wound in the
head, and allowed her a separate room in the house where I
had set up my place for dressing-station, so that her parents
could be with her. As towards the evening that part of
the town in which my hospital lay came under heavy
artillery fire, I had the girl carried to a safer part of the
town. This was in the street where the town gaol of Dinant
is situated. The wounded girl, in consequence of her
severe injury, lay at the point of death. In a column of
inhabitants which was being sent across the Meuse was
a clergyman, whom I recognised as such by his clothes.
I begged him to take charge of her, and was witness how he
gave her absolution. I was present the whole day (August
23rd, 1 91 4) in Dinant, and did not notice any excesses on
the part of the German soldiers.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Dr.med. Hans Marx.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : v. Haugk, Lieutenant and Officer of
the Court.
Signed : Hartmann, Non-commissioned Officer
and Military Clerk of the Court.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN
App. D.
War Office.
Military Inquiry Office regarding the Breaches of Rules and
Usages of War.
The Uprising of the Belgian Populace in Louvain,
25TH TO THE 28TH August 1914.
Summary Report.
I. The uprising of the town of Lou vain against the
German troops of occupation and the judgment inflicted
on this town have found a lasting echo in the whole world.
In the first place, because Louvain is a town famous
on account of its time-honoured University, its rich archi-
tectural monuments and art treasures, the fate of which
would interest wide circles ; principally, however, because
of the action of the opponents of the German people, especi-
ally of the Belgian Government, who have circulated and
spread abroad in the world by means of the Press, by their
foreign diplomatic representatives, and by agents sent
everywhere, reports of the events of August 1914, which
were designed to prejudice public opinion against the
Germans.
The Commission appointed by the Belgian Government
for inquiry into the violation of the code of International
Law and of the laws and usages of war, has tried by every
means to throw the blame for the disturbances in Louvain
on the German troops. In several reports it has brought
forward the accusation that the German troops, in violation
of International Law and without any reason, have attacked
and ill-treated the — so it is alleged — unsuspecting and
peaceful inhabitants of Louvain, have wounded and killed
192
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 193
a great number, have plundered, desolated, and burned,
and, in fact, completely destroyed the town.
These accusations are false ; moreover, it has been con-
firmed that the German troops have acted in a manner free
from reproach and have committed no deeds in violation of
International Law. On the contrary, heavy blame attaches
to the civil population of Louvain and the neighbourhood
for having, by reason of their disregard of the rules of
international law, and through their thoughtless and
criminal action, inflicted injury on the German Army, and
also, as the result, on the town of Louvain.
2. According to inquiries which were instituted, the
events in Louvain occurred as follows :
On August 19th, 1914, the first German troops marched
into Louvain and occupied quarters in the town. Inter-
course between the irdiabitants and the troops, whose
number and composition were continually changing, ap-
peared at first to be exceptionally good. No single case
of excess occurred. The German troops behaved them-
selves in exemplary fashion, which even the Belgians recog-
nised ; further, the population of the town made such
friendly advances that the German soldiers in Louvain
felt so secure that many of them went about without arms
(Apps. 2, 3, 7-9, II, 18, 31, 36, 38, 40, 45, 48).
This peaceful picture suddenly changed on August 25th,
1914. On that day Belgian troops from Antwerp made a
thrust in the direction of Louvain. The German troops in
and alDout Louvain advanced to meet them ; further troops
were sent from Liege via Louvain to the front. The fighting
took place on the road to Malines, near Bucken and Herent,
in the vicinity of Louvain. The fight ended in the hea\'y
defeat of the Belgians, who were thrown back in the evening
towards Antwerp.
The inhabitants of Louvain, who had remained in secret
communication with Antwerp even after the occupation of
their town, and who had information of the impending
attack by their countrymen, had apparently not reckoned
on this result of the fight. They held the erroneous opinion
that the projected breaking through of the Belgian Army
must, with the help of English troops, be successful, and saw
in the advance initiated by the Belgian troops a promise of
success and also an encouragement to themselves to take
part in the fighting (Apps. i, 3, 45, 48).
Already before the fight had been decided, a German
company of the Landsturm, which had been stationed at
13
194 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
the north-western exit of Lou vain, marched back towards
7 o'clock in the evening to a place situated at the east end
of the town, near the station, in order to establish them-
selves there. During their march through the town every-
thing was apparently still quiet. In the streets there were
isolated ammunition and baggage columns, and several
small detachments of German soldiers. There were no
very large bodies of troops in Lou vain at this time (Apps.
3, 7. 8> 38).
Among the inhabitants of the town who observed the
march through of the Landsturm company were astonish-
ingly large numbers of young men, apparently belonging
to the wealthier classes, who stood about in the streets and
retired slowly into the houses (Apps. 7, 10, 34, 46) ; women
and children were not to be seen.
The return march through the town of the Landsturm
company and other small bodies of troops most likely
strengthened the inhabitants of Louvain in the belief that
the Germans were beaten and retreating, and encouraged
them to execute an apparently long-thought-out and pre-
pared plan to annihilate the Germans during their retreat
through the town. A little later, after the above company
had arrived at the station square and settled themselves
to rest, about 8 p.m. German time, rockets shot up in the
town. Quite a number of soldiers saw first a green and
then a red rocket appear against the dark evening sky
(Apps. 7, 8, 12-17, 22, 38, 45, 46).
At the same time, in consequence of this signal, the
inhabitants of Louvain began to open a furious fire from
different parts of the town upon the German troops who
were in the town-hall square, the station square, and the
intermediate town quarters.
They shot with rifles, revolvers, and pistols out of
cellars and out of the windows of the buildings, and
especially out of windows in the roofs (Apps. 1-8, 7-13,
18-22, 24, 25, 29, 30, 32, 33, 36, 45-49) ; the firing sounded
in several places as if machine-guns were in use (Apps. 2,
29, 38, 40, 42, 46, 49). The German soldiers were com-
pletely surprised at this attack. Many of them were
wounded and some were killed before they could offer any
resistance. Among the columns and the baggage sections,
which had drawn up in the streets, confusion reigned,
because the horses, who had shied from fright and were hit
by the bullets and small-shot, broke loose and were galloping
through the streets (Apps. 8, 18, 19, 37, 47).
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 195
An especially violent fire was poured upon the market-
place and the first echelon of the General Command stationed
there. Several officers and men were wounded or killed.
The vStaff of the General Command alone lost 5 officers,
2 officials, 23 men, and 95 horses (App. i).
The fire was most violent in the Rue de la Gare and
at the station. The Landsturm company, standing there
between the baggage carts, was obhged to retire into the
station in order to find better cover. A vigorous fire was
also directed upon the troops drawn up at the Place du
Peuple (Apps. 6, 20, 46).
The horror of this treacherous attack was increased
by the darkness which had already fallen on the town,
the street-lighting having been destroyed. The surprised
troops tried to assemble, sought to defend themselves, and
returned the fire. When this ceased for a moment they
entered the houses out of which shots had been fired, by
the order of their superior officers, and searched for the
culprits. Several of these had been killed in the fight
(Apps. I, 3, 29, 37) ; others were found in possession of
arms and were shot according to the usages of war, after
having previously been found guilty of unjustifiable
participation in the fight (Apps. 19, 20, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43,
44, 48). Many were able to escape through the back exits
of the houses to participate once more in the continual
recommencing street-fights.
While these fights were raging, the General in command
of the XI. Reserve Army Corps, von Boehn, returned from
the battlefield to the town.
This was about 11.30 p.m. On his way to the town
hall he was several times shot at. So as to put an end
to the street-fighting, he ordered a brigade of the Landwehr
to enter the town, and had the Mayor and other distinguished
citizens arrested as hostages. At his order they were led
through the towTi and told to order the insurgents in a
loud voice to cease their hostilities. Although accompanied
by threats of severe punishment, these orders had no effect.
The population continued to attack the troops. In their
fury they even shot at the doctors, the hospital orderlies,
and at the sick and wounded who were under the protection
of the Red Cross (Apps. 9, 21, 25-28, 47). They paid so
little attention to the Geneva Convention that they also fired
out of houses from which flew the Red Cross flag (Apps. 29,
38) ; they even directed their fire against a military hospital
(Apps. 25, 27, 28). On more than one occasion the use
196 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
of explosives and bombs is vouched for (Apps. 36, 37, 46) ;
it is proved also that hot tar was poured upon the German
troops (Apps. 25, 29).
In some cases the population \yas even carried g-W^y to
commit barbarous atrocities on German soldiers who had
become defenceless. Private Hoos found in the cellar of
a house the corpse of a German soldier whose abdomen
had been cut open with a sliarp knife so that the intestines
were protruding (App. 35) ; one of the German soldiers
had a revolting mutilation inflicted upon him by one of
the inhuman inhabitants, in consequence of which he died
(App. 37).
In th^ face of these bnital attacks, the German soldiers
had to protect themselves by energetic retaliatory measures.
As had been threatened, the inhabitants who had partici-
pated in the attack were shot, and the houses out of
which they fired were burned. It was impossible to prevent
the fire from spreading to other houses, and thus some
rows of them were destroyed. It was in this way also
that the Cathedral caught fire (App. 4). A further spreading
of the conflagration was prevented by our troops who, led
by their officers, undertook the work of extinguishing th^
fire in a self-sacrificing manner (App. 46). Thanks to
their efforts, only a comparatively small part of the town,
i.e. the quarter between the station and the town hall,
suffered. The magnificent town hall was saved through
the efforts of our troops. The burning houses lit up the
dark night and enabled our sol4iers to meet the attack
more efiectively. Thus it diminished gradually ; only
here and there a few shots were fired during the night.
The next morning, however, the attacks were renewed with
great violence. The disturbances still continued on this
and the following days, though the hostages were, on
August the 26th and 27th, again led through the streets
in order to exhort the inhabitants to keep the peace (Apps.
1,37.38,40,44.45,47)-
That the insurrection did not break out accidentally,
but was prepared long beforehand, can be proved, apart
from the above-mentioned rocket-signals which announced
the beginning of the surprise attack, by the following
facts :
I. The circumstance that arms had been found in large
quantities, though these, according to the declaration of
the Mayor, had been already handed over on August 19th
(Apps. I, 20).
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 197
2. The observation that a great number of young men
entered Louvain and dispersed in the town (App. 34). It
was easy for them to take up quarters in the hotels and
the lodging-houses left by the students.
3. Numerous stores of cartridges and explosives, which
had been hidden there by the population, exploded in the
burning houses (Apps. i, 2, 6, 37).
In accordance with these facts, the attack evidently
was carefully planned, and lasted for several d^ys with the
utmost stubbornness. The length of time during which
the revolt against the German military force continued
excludes any idea of spontaneous and excited actions
on the part of isolated persons. The direction of the
treacherous revolt must have been in the hands of highly
placed persons. Everything points to the fact that the
authorities had a hand in the organisation. The officii
headquarters of the Chief of the so-called Garde Civique
were in Louvain ; he was still in the town immediately
before the rising, and the movement commenced there
with the dispatch into Louvain of undisciplined young men
not wearing any distinctive badge or uniform, who, together
with soldiers transformed into civilians, concealed them-
selves in the houses in order, while invisible themselves, to
fire at a suitable moment upon the apparently departing
German troops.
The Belgian Government itself has never dared to speak
about the regular troops having participated in these
actions. We are here dealing with the perfidious deeds
of francs-tireurs who were most readily received and
offered hiding-places by the population of Louvain. The
crimes of the Garde Civique will be unveiled to the whole
civilised world in the classical case of Louvain (Apps.
I, 30, 45, 48).
Unfortunately a number of priests also allowed them-
selves to be carried away into misusing their influence upon
the civilian population, and encouraging them to shelter
the insurgents ; it is certain that some of them even took
direct part in the fighting (Apps. i, 19, 34, 37, 38, 41, 42,
45, 48). Those who appreciate the authentic facts dis-
covered by the German Government regarding the case
of Louvain, facts which are not based upon hasty examina-
tions of people labouring under strong excitement and
possessing little education, by equally agitated examiners,
but which are founded upon inquiries entered upon in a
calm and quiet spirit, will be able to judge for themselves
198 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
what value can be attached to other similar accusations on
the part of the Belgians against the German troops.
In the case of Lou vain the Official Belgian Commission
of Inquiry has tried to account for the doubtless very
embarrassing fact, so difficult to be explained away, of the
shots fired in the streets by maintaining that the German
troops had fired on their own soldiers. But it conceals the
point that the firing lasted several days and was renewed
continuously. This simple fact does away with the thread-
bare attempt to explain the beginning of the street-fights.
While the Belgian Commission of Inquiry so lightly
brushes aside the above-mentioned principal question of
the violation of International Law, it seeks to calumniate
the German Army by accusations in isolated cases. We
have not been able to establish the truth of any of these
cases ; the impartial person must not overlook in this
matter on what kind of evidence these cases are founded,
nor how these accusations recede into the background,
compared with the principal question of the origin of the
street-fights. They are based on the depositions of the same
persons who are responsible for the statement that Louvain
was completely destroyed, and that of the whole town
nothing but the town hall and the station remained intact,
as is asserted in the third Report of the Commission and
thus announced throughout the whole world.
The adjoining sketch shows how matters really stand
with regard to the conflagration ; in reality not one-sixth
part of the town, but only the quarter in the proximity of
the station, was destroyed by the fire (App. 50).
One of the few positive calumnies can be brought home,
because it foolishly tries to cast a slur on the entire German
Army Administration ; according to the fifth Report of the
Commission, a " large part of the booty (derived from the
alleged looting) was forwarded in military waggons and
later on sent to Germany."
This allegation is a pure invention, for what has to be
forwarded in waggons and railway trucks is decided by the
Army Administration, and the latter has never made any
arrangements of the kind.
The slight importance the Commission even attaches to
the tales dished up to them and unfortunately passed on
without criticism is also shown in the fifth Report, which
mentions the execution of Bishop Coenraets and Father
Schmidt. The Commission even speaks about the " alleged "
execution, and adds without further ado the fairy-tale
APPENDIX D.— LOU VAIN 199
that the compulsory spectators of this pretended scene were
forced to show their appreciation by clapping. It is im-
possible to admit more forcibly that the hurriedly collected
material was brought out in order to create a sensation
whereby truth and justice would have to suffer. One must
know, moreover, that — as can hardly have been concealed
from the Belgian Commission — Mons. Coenraets, who is
safe and sound, is living to-day with Professor Toels in
Jirlen, Holland.
Berlin, April 1.0th, 1915.
Military Inquiry Office, regarding the Violations of the
Rules and Usages of War.
Signed : Bauer, Major.
Signed : Dr. Wagner, Councillor of the
Supreme Court of Justice.
D. App. I.
Court of Justice of the Government-General of Brussels.
Present :
Dr. IvERS, Justice of Martial Law.
Secretary, Reisener.
NoYON, September 2jth, 1914.
The General commanding IX. Reserve Army Corps,
General of Infantry v. Boehn, declared :
As to Person : My name is Max von Boehn, aged 66 :
Protestant.
It was made known to the witness that the Governor-
General Field-Marshal General Baron von der Goltz had
ordered an inquiry by the Court in order to establish whether
a punishable offence in connection with the burning of
Louvain could be charged to the account of German military
persons, and, if so, to which persons ; he states as follows :
As to Case : When the first echelon of the General
Command entered Louvain on August 25th, the orders
received were first briefly talked over, and the report to the
Army Headquarters, dealing with the time of arrival of the
troops of the 9th Reserve Corps, was prepared. The de-
training had not yet been terminated when the report was
received from the i8th Reserve Division that the enemy
was advancing to the attack against Bueken, along the
road Malines-Louvain. I went immediately by motor to
the battlefield with the Chief and a part of the Staff. Here
200 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
the action was principally sustained by the i8th Reserve
Division. Our losses were only small. While the different
portions of the i8th Reserve Division were advancing,
the hussars and one part of the infantry were furiously
fired upon by the inhabitants in Herent, as well as from
the windows of the houses south of Bueken. They lost
heavily. People caught firing were shot and their houses
set on fire.
When I was on the point of returning to Louvain at
midnight with the officers of my Staff, I was warned by the
17th Landwehr Brigade, which was resting to the north
of the town, not to enter it, as infantry fire had been heard
there. But, as it was necessary for the whole Staff to be in
Louvain, I drove in my motor into the town, where we
were very soon fired upon. I ordered the above-mentioned
Landwehr Brigade to enter Louvain, and went with portions
of it to the town hall, where the Mayor and other hostages
were arrested. Under the protection of a detachment of
infantry they were instructed to announce that if the
firing out of houses continued, the hostages would be shot
and the place set on fire by the artillery. It now also
came to my knowledge that the first echelon of the Staff,
after having entered the town, and being drawn up in
the market-place, was suddenly assailed by a murderous fire
from the surrounding houses.
The officers and men present, of course, returned the
fire ; nevertheless, apart from other officers, Captains of
Cavalry v. Harnier and v. Esmarch, Captain v. Raven,
ist Lieutenant v. Oertzen, Lieutenant Risler, as well as
several men, were wounded or killed. Nearly all the saddle-
horses were killed or wounded, or had stampeded and
could not be recaptured. The total loss of the Staff in dead,
wounded, and missing amounts to 5 officers, 2 officials,
23 men, and 95 horses fully harnessed. Different houses
in the proximity of the market-place had thereupon been
set on fire. Shots had also been fired out of the hotel into
which the hand-baggage of the Staff had already been taken.
I therefore decided to move with the General Command to
the station, and to remain there. The station had to be
held, as transport trains were arriving at intervals of an
hour. First of all, fresh horses were put into the waggons,
and the Staff was rearranged. Owing to the foresight of
the Commander of the Ammunition Column, Colonel
Stubenrauch, assisted by the ist Adjutant, Captain v.
Kretschmann, the Staff was successfully reformed during
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 201
the night in spite of the greatest difficulties, and held in
readiness at the station. A portion of the Landwehr Brigade
also remained here and one company of Infantry Regi-
ment No. 163, in order to guard the further unloading of
trains during the night. The heavy baggage of Reserve
Regiment of Hussars No. 6 was fired on when moving out
of the cavalry barracks, and was forced to return. When,
in the evening, the regiment of hussars had returned to the
barracks, shots were fired into the buildings from all the
surrounding houses. Peace was only restored when all the
houses had been set on fire and the inhabitants shot, in
so far as they were found with arms in their possession.
Numerous explosions of stored cartridges and explosives
proved that the attack had been carefully planned and
prepared. The next morning the regiment of hussars was
able to leave the barracks without any losses, but a patrol
of the ist Squadron in Rotselaer was fired on suddenly by
about 50 civilians, and, as a result, 2 hussars were wounded
and I horse killed.
Whenever bodies of troops showed themselves in the
town they were fired at. Towards midnight an especially
lively fire was suddenly directed from the roofs of the houses
opposite the station upon the troops and the General
Command encamped there. The proclamation of the
Mayor had consequently been fruitless. Therefore there
was nothing else to be done but to have the civilians found
firing from the windows, of whom several were discovered
to be soldiers in disguise, shot, and the houses set on j&re.
In spite of those measures, the troops of the Reserve Corps,
who had been fired at from all sides when coming into the
station, were obliged to fight when marching through the
town on the forenoon of the following day, and sustained
some losses. On the morning of August 25th I went with
the officers of the Staff to the field of battle. We were also
fired at when driving out. The second echelon of the
Staff remained behind, as well as Staff Officer Captain
Albrecht, to whom I gave orders to collect the arms in the
town. For the execution of this order, the 2nd Battalion
of Infantry Reserve Regiment No. 75 and a company of
Infantry Reserve Regiment No. 163 were placed at his
disposal. A threat was made that, in the event of a con-
tinuation of the attacks by the citizens, the town would be
bombarded. On Wednesday forenoon the fighting recom-
menced with renewed violence. A systematic disarming
of the town became impossible, also the collection of a fine
202 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
of twenty million francs levied on the town. According
to the statement of Captain Albrecht, he was obliged to
assemble the whole garrison at the station, in order to hold
it under any circumstances for the coming reinforcements.
He was especially menaced from the houses situated to the
east, and from a factory which had been prepared for de-
fence, and had therefore to be levelled to the ground. But
even from the remaining outer walls, which had escaped
destruction, the fire was reopened. The occupants who
had fled into the cellars procured ladders, from which they
renewed the firing. Several armed persons, remarkable
because of their robust and still comparatively young
appearance, were discovered in the trees of the Boulevard
and arrested. Many of them were ascertained to be soldiers
in disguise by their identification discs and parts of their
uniform they were wearing underneath the civilian clothes.
Numerous and violent explosions resoimded from the
burning houses, due to explosives and cartridges stored
there. On the following day also the troops were con-
tinually fired upon. Captain Albrecht had the people once
more exhorted by two priests to keep the peace, but this
attempt also was in vain. As the revolt again extended
a detachment of artillery was sent into the town on August
27th, and several houses were destroyed. This detachment
of artillery was put at the disposal of Lieutenant-Colonel
Schweder, Commander of the Landsturm Battalion Neuss.
On August 28th, 2nd Infantry Reserve Battalion, Regiment
No. 75, was replaced by Landwehr Regiment No. 53, and the
detachment of artillery was replaced by a Landsturm
battery. On the same day a detachment of pioneers made
a breach in the convent, situated at the exit leading to
Herent, from which building the military road was fired
upon with special intensity.
In spite of these measures, the firing upon columns and
troops continued without interruption until August 28th.
After the preceding evidence. His Excellency v. Boehn
also gave the following legal opinion about the burning
down of Louvain before Dr. Ivers, Councillor of the War-
Field Court of Justice, leading the inquiry :
The progress and the fury of these fights already prove
that we are here dealing with a planned organisation. It is
proved beyond doubt by the following facts :
I. In a church in Louvain 300 rifles were found, and in
Herent numerous rifles, pistols, and a great quantity of
ammunition were discovered by the 18 th Division.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 203
2. A large number of the civilians, who took part
in the rising and were shot, were ascertained to be
soldiers.
3. In the haversacks of fallen soldiers civilian clothes,
especially garments of priests, were found. The priests
themselves led and incited the population. In Bueken, for
instance, the signal to fire was given by the priest leaving
the church. In spite of his assurance that no armed men
were in the church, five were caught. They fired from the
roof of the church. All these people were shot.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Predohl, Reserve Regiment of
Hussars No. 6, reported that he was fired at by twelve priests
while on patrol duty. After they had been arrested with
the help of the field-battery column of the III. Reserve
Corps, which was close by, they were taken to the III.
Reserve Corps to be tried, but they were liberated by the
court-martial, as it could not be proved who had fired.
These people had identification discs and wore military
boots and under-garments.
4. During the fights a uniform was often found close to
the empty haversack, but no corpse ; the owner had no
doubt disappeared in civilian dress.
5. Amongst those persons caught red-handed and shot
immediately were quite a number in very disarranged
workmen's clothes. By their delicate hands, their excep-
tionally fine and superior underclothes, one could recognise
with certainty that the garb of a workman was not their
usual one. Inhabitants of the place declared they did not
know these people and had never seen them there before.
The Garde Civique formed the nucleus of these bands of
francs-tireurs, at the head of which was evidently the
Commandant of Louvain, whose baggage was taken as
booty to the Hotel Metropole. It is obvious how easy it
is for bodies like the Garde Civique, who usually wear
civilian clothing, to continue to wear it or put it on again,
as best suits their purpose. Louvain was obviously the
centre of this organisation, which was most effectively
made use of here because the Commandant was on the
spot.
The sortie from Antwerp on August 25th was evidently
the signal for the commencement of activities.
Consequently the whole population had to be removed
from the district ; to as large an extent as possible they were
taken as prisoners to Germany. For as Antwerp is not
completely shut off, they could always rise again, and would
204 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
do it with the courage of despair. Their removal to Ant-
werp would therefore be no real remedy.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : von Boehn.
The witness was then sworn. Apart from that, he had
taken the oath on his opinion given in to-day's report of the
proceedings.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Dr. I vers. Signed : Reisener.
D. App. 2.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. IvERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Reisener.
NoYON, September 2yth, 1914.
Major von Klewitz, officer of the General Staff, IX.
Reserve Corps, declares as follows :
As to Person : My name is Wilhelm von Klewitz, born
at Magdeburg on February 3rd, 1872 ; Protestant.
The witness was told that the Governor-General, Field-
Marshal General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial
proceedings for the purpose of ascertaining whether military
persons, and, if so, which, are guilty of the destruction of
Louvain by fire ; he then made the following statement :
As to Case : When the General Staff arrived at Louvain
station, Captain Albrecht, who has since fallen and who had
preceded the General Staff, reported that he had prepared
quarters in the town, at the Hotel Metropole, where the
Commander-in-Chief had also stayed, and that the town was
perfectly quiet. We then proceeded to the Hotel Metropole
in the town, and from there to our offices. This was about
6 o'clock p.m.
We had just spread out our maps and were informing
ourselves with regard to the situation when Acting-Sergeant-
Major Fischer returned by motor from the III. Reserve
Corps and reported that the III. Reserve Corps before Ant-
werp was attacked and asking for immediate support from
the IX. Reserve Corps. At that time about half of oiir
corps was detrained and the other half still on the rails.
The Chief of the General Staff and I immediately went to
see the General in command. Meanwhile the greater part
of the officers of the General Staff with the horses had
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 205
arrived and were still busy with the unloading. It must
also be mentioned that on driving up to the battlefield the
Commanding General ordered the alarm to be sounded, and
the troops already quartered in Louvain were ordered to
the battle-ground.
At 9 o'clock p.m. the General, the Chief of the General
Staff, and I returned to Louvain by motor-car. The battle
took place at Bueken, 7 km. north of Louvain. On returning
to Louvain we already found in the villages situated between
Bueken and Louvain regular troops (of the Landwehr)
who declared that our men were being fired at in the sur-
rounding villages. We saw ourselves how all the traffic
was stopped in a village because firing from the houses had
taken place. All troops warned the Commanding General
from going into the town because street-fights were taking
place there. But the Commanding General declared that
he would not leave his Staff in the town if fighting were
going on, and he wished to return to the Staff. We were
therefore obliged to get out when we got into Louvain.
The Commanding General, with the chauffeurs and we few
officers, went through the dark town to the market-place
at about 10 o'clock p.m. During this march through the
town a flank fire was opened on us every time we turned a
street corner. Suddenly, the Staff veterinary surgeon of the
corps arrived and reported that the Staff of the General
Commandant had been attacked, and that the horses were
either shot or had stampeded. The men were firing on the
houses. The baggage therefore was safe, only the horses
were gone. We went first of all to the town hall, and there
found a number of hostages who had been taken in the
meantime. My brother, Lieutenant v. Klewitz, now told
the hostages in the presence of the Commanding General
that they would be shot if the firing in the town did not
cease at once. The hostages then begged to be aJlowed to
use their influence in the streets. Lieutenant v. Klewitz
then passed through the town with the hostages, and the
inhabitants were exhorted to be quiet. We then went tq
our Hotel Metropole. When we arrived there we found
in front of the house a civilian, shot. It appeared that
this man had sat in the Hotel Metropole, and when the hotel
was searched he had been found in a room, armed, and had
wounded two soldiers, whereupon the soldiers shot him in
a hand-to-hand fight and threw him out of the window.
Besides one civilian person, of whom we know nothing, there
was no longer anyone in the hotel.
206 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
The Commanding General then went, under escort of a
company of infantry, through the streets to the station,
and stayed there in order to conduct the whole affair.
The motors of the General Staff had also taken up a position
there. Temporary quiet reigned at the station. At about
II o'clock p.m. some isolated shots were fired from the
surrounding houses upon the troops stationed at the railway
station, which was followed by continually increasing firing,
so that the Commanding General ordered the house to be
taken. The house was taken and, as armed resistance
was encountered, it was set alight. The house was
hardly alight when I saw personally the following
incident :
I was standing with my back to the station and looking
at another house. I saw how the corner window on the
top was lit up, a dark figure appeared at the window, and
a shot was fired into the street. At the same moment
when this shot was fired I saw how the tiles in the roof
of the Hotel Maria Theresa were raised, and a terrible
fire was opened from the roof of this hotel upon the troops
in the station square. We all immediately sought cover.
Personally I had the definite impression that we were
being fired on with machine-guns from the Hotel Maria
Theresa ; the bullets were rattling down on us. On the
following morning one was able to ascertain that we had
been fired upon with machine-guns, because at the station
one could distinctly see the rows of fire. The fire from
the machine-guns lasted about four to five minutes, and
was immediately replied to by our troops, who finally
took the house and set it alight. In the meanwhile, a
number of wounded were brought in. Definite instructions
had been given to burn at once all those houses from which
firing had taken place. Many Belgian civilians were taken
with arms in their hands ; they were to be shot by order of
the General in Command. At about 2 o'clock the firing
ceased. Stores of ammunition continually exploded during
the burning down of the houses. The General in Command
sat in a railway carriage from 2 till 4 o'clock at night.
At 4 a.m. the army corps marched to the battle. We did
not pass through the main streets, but drove along
an avenue. Here I saw distinctly the following
incident :
As I sat in the motor several shots were fired out of
a cellar on the left at a distance of 20 metres. We fired
on this cellar-opening, whereupon the firing ceased. The
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 207
Commanding General left the motor with loaded revolver
and went to the open place just in front of the bridge. We
then went to the battlefield. Behind us, infantry advanced.
The officer marching at the head was shot by a civilian
who sat on a tree at exactly the same place where we had
left the car.
As the regular line of halting-places was continually
fired at, orders were given to clear the town by force.
Two guns with 150 rounds were sent. The two guns fired
shrapnel from the station into the streets. Thus at least
that quarter near the station was made safe, and in this
way it was possible to take the columns, that had been
bivouacking for days before Louvain, through the
town.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : v. Klewitz.
The witness was then sworn.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Reisener.
D. App. 3.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. Ivers, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Ram beau.
Louvain, September 23ri, 1914.
Major v. Manteuffel, commanding 15th Mobile Com-
mando, declared as follows :
As to Person : My name is Walter v. Manteuffel, bom
at Gnesen on January 23rd, 1864 ; Protestant.
The witness was informed that the Governor-General,
Field-Marshal General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged
judicial proceedings for the purpose of ascertaining whether
German military persons, and, if so, which, were guilty and
deserving of punishment ; he then made the following
statement :
As to Case : On Sunday, August 23rd, 19 14, at noon,
we arrived at Louvain. The town gave me an impression
of quietude and peace. One company of Landwehr Regi-
ment No. 66 occupied the town hall. There were no other
troops present. As soon as troops arrived, the company
was to commence the victualling. This was the case on
2o8 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Tuesday at noon. The following troops had arrived in
the meanwhile : two companies and a battalion of the
27th Landwehr Brigade, which were accommodated in the
town hall and in the building opposite. Sections of troops
of the IX. Reserve Corps also marched through the town.
In the afternoon, at about 5 o'clock, the ist Company of
the Landsturm Battalion Neuss, under ist Lieutenant v.
Sandt, arrived at the station.
At about 7.30 p.m. I had gone to the Hotel M6tropole,
Rue Vital Decoster, to dine. I had just finished the soup
when a gendarme (we had six of them with us) brought
me word that I was to go to the town hall. On the way
he told me that inhabitants had fired upon soldiers in the
town. A few minutes later at the town hall I heard
suddenly lively firing in the town-hall square. I saw the
company in the lower room standing at the windows and
replying to the firing of the inhabitants. In front of the
town hall, on the entrance staircase, I also saw soldiers
firing who replied to the firing of the inhabitants in the
direction of the houses. When asked, they all declared
that inhabitants had first fired on them from such-and-
such windows. The whistling of the bullets was similar
to that of Brownings, and totally different from the sound
of our projectiles. In the meanwhile, the firing had been
stopped by the company leaders. In the upper room lay
another company. It was quiet for a time. The town-
hall square was now filled with artillery — one battery —
and with columns, motor-cars, and benzine-tanks. A
tremendous rifle-fire now commenced again from the
surrounding houses of the townsfolk. I saw how one
company sought cover in the entrance to St. Peter's
Church.
In the meantime, we had deposited the wounded in the
town hall ; I believe there were three, wounded chiefly in
the legs.
After the firing had again ceased I ordered the sur-
rounding houses to be searched. This was effected in such
a manner that all inhabitants found with arms or ammtmi-
tion were immediately shot. The houses were set on fire.
I saw myself one Belgian civilian on whom was found a
roll of cartridges. At about this time the General in
Command, IX. Reserve Corps, His Excellency v. Boehn,
arrived at the town hall at about 10.30 p.m. He was very
indignant about this firing by the Belgians. When he rode
tp the hotel with the Staff a murderous fire was opened
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 209
upon him and his Staff from windows and roofs, without
any provocation, and three of his adjutants were seriously
wounded, a troop of about ninety horses was stampeded,
wounded, or killed. His Excellency v. Boehn asked to be
conducted to the town hall to see the hostages. In his
own presence and that of his officers, the hostages were
told in French that if the town continued to be fired on,
the town would have to pay a contribution of twenty million
francs, the hostages would be shot, and the town destroyed.
I offered to make these measures at once known to the
inhabitants by going through the town with two hostages
and a group of soldiers, and the hostages repeated the
words of General v. Boehn. On the following morning the
General had this procession with the hostages repeated.
Several houses from which firing had taken place were
already burning. No firing by the inhabitants was heard
at the town hall, but on the boulevards the firing is said
to have been continued. I wish to add that at the town
hall a horse was killed by a shot in the head.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : v. Manteuffel.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September 2^rd, 19 14.
Expert Opinion of the Commandant, 15th Mobile Forage
Commando, Major v. Manteuffel.
In addition to my statement as a witness I would like
to express expert opinion as Commandant and soldier
to the effect that the whole firing was instigated by the
inhabitants. At the same time, the approach of two Belgian
battalions from the direction of Bueken was reported. The
German detachments on duty were given the alarm to
oppose this. When these troops had nearly got away,
the Belgian inhabitants opened a lively fire upon them from
windows and garret dormers. Our German soldiers went
through the streets quietly and unsuspectingly, when they
were suddenly fired on. The German soldiers in no way
commenced or provoked the firing.
Signed : v. Manteuffel, Major and Com-
mandant.
14
210 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
D. App. 4.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. IvERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
Lou VAIN, September 2yrd, 19 14.
Lieutenant of the Landwehr Ibach, Adjutant, Mobile
Foraging Commando No. 15, declared as follows :
As to Person : My name is Ernst Ibach, bom on May
i6th, 1882, at Braunschweig ; Protestant ; Municipal
Councillor at Halberstadt.
The witness was informed that the Governor-General,
Field-Marshal General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged
judicial proceedings for the purpose of ascertaining whether
German military persons, and, if so, which, were guilty and
deserving of punishment ; he then made the following
statement :
As to Case : On August 25th, 1914, I was as adjutant
of the Forage Commando at Lou vain in the town hall there.
Between 7 and 8 p.m. it was reported to me several times
at short intervals that Belgians had fired upon our German
troops on the outskirts of the town. I asked the Com-
mandant, Major V. Manteuffel, to come to the town hall.
Shortly after his arrival, at about 8 p.m., violent firing
took place directly outside the town hall. On going from
the office of the Commando into the hall, our soldiers told
me that the inhabitants had fired from the opposite windows
and roofs. The German soldiers replied to the fire. Among
the soldiers at the town hall I saw several with shot-wounds ;
one was injured in the upper part of the thigh, and was
bandaged at the office of the Commando. In the course of
the night, German soldiers brought in a corpse wrapped in
a red cover ; the bearers related that he was an ensign of
the 90th Regiment, who had been shot in the head by the
Belgians.
During the night I noticed that a house diagonally
opposite and one behind the town hall were burning. I
went to see Judge Schmit, who was at the town hall as a
hostage, and upon my request he asked the police to collect
the firemen who, in company with German soldiers, com-
menced operations for extinguishing the fire. The other
houses burned near the town hall and the Peter Church were,
as far as I could see, set on fire by sparks from neighbouring
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 211
conflagrations. The roof of the church burned first. The
endeavours of an hussar officer to extinguish the fire by
means of a Minimax apparatus from the roof of the church
were ineffective.
A soldier coming to the town hall gave me a broken
shot-gun which had been found in the possession of an
inhabitant shot by summary court-martial.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Ernst Ibach.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
D. App. 5.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. Ivers, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September 2'^rd, 1914.
Judge of Military Law Grebin declared as follows :
As to Person : My name is John Grebin, born at
Halle a.S. on May 30th, 1867 ; Protestant ; President of
the Court of Justice at Aschersleben.
The witness was informed that the Governor-General,
Field-Marshal General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged
judicial proceedings for the purpose of ascertaining whether
any German military persons, and, if so, which, were guilty
and deserving of punishment ; he then made the following
statement :
As to Case : I am President of the Military Court of
Justice, Mobile Supply Commando No. 15, and since Sunday,
August 23rd, 1914, I have been at Louvain. On Tuesday,
August 25th, at about 7 o'clock p.m., I was having supper
with Major Manteuffel, Captain v. Westhofen, and ist
Lieutenant Winkler, at the Hotel " Metropole de Suede,"
Rue Vital Decoster. Suddenly a gendarme came and
reported to Major v. Manteuffel that the alarm had been
raised. Major v. Manteuffel immediately set out, whilst
we others remained a few minutes longer, and then followed
the Major. We then left the hotel and went to the Rue de
la Station on our way to the town hall. On the way there
I stopped twice for a short time, addressing a German
company marching through the Rue de la Station from the
direction of the market-place to the station, and immediately
212 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
afterwards speaking to an officer who sat in a motor-car.
When I entered the market-place I heard suddenly violent
firing to the right of me, in a street leading to the market-
place at the corner of the Rue de la Station. To judge
from the sound, the firing did not come from German
military rifles. As I advanced a few more steps towards
the town hall, violent firing could be heard in the market-
place, which, to judge from the direction of sound, came
from the houses. As I could not proceed and could not
remain without cover in the market-place, I sought cover
between the baggage-carts standing on the left of me in the
market-square. While I stood there, a bullet fell a few
steps away from me upon the pavement, and I could clearly
see the sparks flying up. When after a time the firing
ceased, I went to the town hall, where I remained untU
the morning.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Johannes Grebin.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed ; Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
D. App. 6.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. Ivers, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
Lou VAIN, September 2'^rd, 19 14.
First Lieutenant Telemann of the Reserve, Supply
Commando, declared as follows :
As to Person : My name is Paul Telemann, bom at
Nordhausen on October 20th, 1877 ; Protestant ; Royal
President at the Ministry of Public Works in Berlin.
The witness was informed that the Governor-General,
Field-Marshal General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged
judicial proceedings for the purpose of ascertaining whether
German military persons, and, if so, which, were guilty and
deserving of punishment ; he then made the following
statement :
As to Case : Since noon on August 25th the infantry
barracks, Rue de Tirlemont, with about 300 men suffering
from foot trouble and a few slightly wounded doing guard
duty at Louvain, were under my supervision.
APPENDIX D.— LOU VAIN 213
On the evening of August 25th I and two ist Staff-
Surgeons were having supper in the Caf^ Royal — since
burned down — in the market. Suddenly — as far as I re-
member, soon after 8 p.m. — I heard lively firing in the
market, which steadily mcreased. The hostess, a German,
immediately switched off the electric light, and we and the
other guests of the establishment, chiefly officers and non-
commissioned officers of our army, went into a back room
so as not to be hit from the street. As the greater number
of us were without arms, we decided for the present to wait
there.
When after a time the firing ceased, we hurried into the
street, and there met German soldiers going along the
houses for the purpose of taking action against those from
which inhabitants had fired. As far as I remember, only
isolated shots fell at that time. We went over to the town
hall, where I met a group of people from my barrack who
had gone to the town hall to look for me. I at once went
with them to the infantry barracks. During this time
also only isolated shots were fired behind us.
The guard and a large number of soldiers stationed
there stood in front of the infantry barracks with their
rifles ready, and they showed me several houses in the Rue
de Tirlemont from which inhabitants had fired on them.
I forbade them, under threat of heavy punishment, to set
these houses on fire as they had intended, as I wished to
protect the " Military Hospital " opposite the barracks
and the barracks themselves with the wounded. A short
time afterwards we heard continuous firing from the direc-
tion of the adjoining Place du Peuple, and in this direction
we also saw several houses burning. Motor-cars arrived
now, bringing German wounded to the " Military Hospital."
As far as I remember, there were in all about thirty to thirty-
five, amongst whom were also some severely wounded, as,
for instance, Captain v. Esmarch, who had shot wounds in
the head and had dislocated both arms in his fall from
horseback.
Owing to the fairly strong wind the entire blocks of
houses behind the field hospital began to catch fire, ap-
parently from the houses set alight in the Place du Peuple ;
I had thus to direct my whole attention to the safety of the
wounded. Fortunately the wind abated somewhat later
on and drove the flames to the other side, so that after
bringing up fire-hose, it was possible to save the field hospital.
During the night the crack of isolated gun-shots and the
214 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
explosion of ammunition in the burning houses continued
intermittently.
In the early hours of the morning a division of pioneers
marched through the Rue de Tirlemont, who asserted that
they had just been fired on from the houses of this street,
and they also wanted to set the houses on fire. I forbade
this for the reasons already mentioned.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Paul Telemann.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
D. App. 7.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. I VERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September Tjth, 1914.
Station Buildings.
During the judicial proceedings of the Court of the
Government-General at Brussels for the purpose of ascer-
taining whether any German military persons, and, if so,
which, were guilty and deserving of punishment for the
burning down of Louvain, there appeared as witness :
Lieutenant-Colonel (Active List) Schweder, commanding
2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, who made
the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Max Karl Schweder, born
in Posen on April 24th, 1856 ; Protestant.
As to Case : On Monday, August 24th, 1914, the Land-
sturm Battalion Neuss, coming from Neuss, arrived in
Tirlemont, and was immediately detrained. I went with my
Staff by motor to Louvain, where I arrived about 6.30 p.m.
It was my intention to prepare everything for the drawing
up and quartering of the Company v. Sandt. The company
also arrived at Louvain at 8.10 p.m. ; it was quartered
near the station, with closed ranks in an alarm quarter.
I, ist Lieutenant v. Sandt, ist Surgeon Dr. Berghausen, and
Adjutant-Lieutenant Lamberts took up our quarters at an
hotel opposite. The night of August 24th to August 25th
was quiet. On August 25th, at 6 a.m., began the marching
of the troops of the IX. Reserve Army Corps through
Louvain towards Malines, coming from Liege. On the
25th there were only about 100 men in Louvain of the v.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 215
Sandt Company, because about 100 men were told off for
guard and sentries. As far as I know, no other troops were
present in Louvain on Tuesday, August 25th, except this
company. During the day, until 5 o'clock p.m., the town
was perfectly quiet. At 5 o'clock Staff-Major-General,
17th Reserve Division, v. Rosenberg appeared and ordered
the company to be ready at the north-west exit of Louvain.
I and ist Lieutenant v. Sandt immediately led the company
there and drew it up, covered by the crest of a small hill.
The company lay there from 5.45 till 7 o'clock at this point
without taking part in the fight, which, as far as I remember,
had already begun at 11 a.m. on both sides of the main
road Mechlin-Lou vain, and the main points of attack were
Herent and Bueken.
Shortly after 7 o'clock I ordered ist Lieutenant v. Sandt
to march back with his company and to draw it up ready at
the station at Louvain, because I felt that the company
was more necessary there than outside the town. I myself
went on foot through the town, which was almost devoid
of troops, to the station. I saw some isolated persons and
several of the inhabitants in small groups standing in front
of the houses and walking about in the streets. The houses
were everywhere dark. Of the German forces I saw in the
evening only a few baggage-carts accompanied by small
detachments.
About 500 paces from the station, in the Rue Leopold,
I saw suddenly the flash of a rocket across the station road.
At the same moment firing took place from all surrounding
houses, from windows, attics, cellar gratings, upon me and
upon the German soldiers near — about fifteen men, who
were in the street either singly or were following their
baggage, which was ahead of them. I emphasise particu-
larly the point that before the rocket went up the streets
were perfectly quiet, and that the soldiers went quite quietly
and harmlessly on their way. I assert distinctly that
neither a Gernian officer nor a German soldier had once fired
upon the inhabitants of Louvain before this attack began.
I collected about ten soldiers, with whom I went to the
station, part of them going on one side of the road and part
of them on the other. On the way, a distance of about
500 metres, I with my men, about ten of them, were fired at
from the houses of this street, so that we were continually
under a hail of bullets. During this march I ordered my
soldiers to reply to the fire directed upon them.
When I arrived at the station, ist Lieutenant v. Sandt 's
2i6 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
company was already fighting the inhabitants of the
surrounding houses, who fired from the roofs, windows, and
cellar windows. I immediately placed myself in the firing-
hne and took part in the fight with a rifle ; ist Lieutenant
V. Sandt did the same. About ten minutes later there was a
pause in the firing, which I made use of for sending strong
patrols into the nearest houses, from which firing had taken
place, to bring out the inhabitants. I took the company
straight back to the station. One non-commissioned
ofiQcer and five men of the company were wounded, several
by small-shot.
In the course of the evening His Excellency v. Boehn
appeared with a few officers, and I and ist Lieutenant v.
Sandt had to give a general report.
I finally add that, with short intervals, the inhabitants
fired during the whole night from their houses, and also
from the group of houses to the east of the station.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Max Schweder.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
D. App. 8.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. Ivers, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September lyfh, 1914.
Station Buildings.
First Lieutenant of Reserve v. Sandt, 2nd Westphalian
Hussar Regiment No. 11 and leader of the company, 2nd
Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, declares the
following :
As to Person : My name is Otto v. Sandt, born at Bonn,
May nth, 1869 ; CathoHc.
The witness was informed that the Governor-General,
Field-Marshal General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged
judicial proceedings for the purpose of ascertaining whether
any German military persons, and, if so, which, were guilty
and deserving of punishment ; he then made the following
statement :
As to Case : I arrived at Louvain from Neuss with the
ist Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion
Neuss, on August 24th, 1914. My company was quartered
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 217
in closed ranks in an alarm quarter near the station. The
night passed quietly ; on the morning of August 25th I
commenced at once to fall in 150 sentries as a railway guard.
There were no other troops in Louvain on this day except
a section of railway engineers, about 60 strong. During
the day, great trains of troops of the IX. Reserve Army
Corps, coming from Li^ge, went through Louvain towards
Malines. At about 5 o'clock Colonel Schweder ordered
me to march with my company to the north-west exit of
Louvain ; at about 6 o'clock my company lay upon a
small hill in a covered position. A good deal of fighting
was taking place about 1500 metres away from us. I did
not take part in it with my company. On the command
of Colonel Schweder we marched back to the station square
at Louvain. On the way to the town-hall square many
German troops with the baggage passed us. Inhabitants
stood singly and in groups before the various houses. On
the way to the station square all was quiet ; one could not
anticipate that the inhabitants were planning an attack.
At about ten minutes before 8 o'clock I was with my
company in the station square near the baggage that was
ready to march. I stood with my company about five
minutes, when my company was suddenly and quite im-
expectedly fired at from all the surrounding houses, from
the windows and attics. At the same time, I heard lively
firing in the station road and all the adjacent streets ;
firing also took place from the window of my hotel (Hotel
de rindustrie), directly from my room.
We stood near the baggage ; then we knelt down and
fired upon the houses opposite. After a short time the
baggage horses and those of the officers, some of which had
been wounded by shots, ran away. I then sought cover
with my company inside the doors of a few houses. Five
men of my company were wounded in this attack. That
so few were wounded can be explained by the fact that the
inhabitants fired too high. On the command of Colonel
Schweder I then led my company back, close to the station.
An hour later an adjutant came who called my name —
V. Sandt. He said that he was an adjutant of His Excellency
V. Boehn. The adjutant asked me, " Can you swear that
Belgians fired on your company from the opposite and
adjacent houses ? " I repHed, ** Yes ; I can swear that."
The adjutant then led me to General v. Boehn, who stood
near. His Excellency desired an accurate report. I gave
my report exactly as I have given it here before the Judge
2i8 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
of Military Law, Dr. I vers. After having given my report.
His Excellency said to me, '* Can you swear to the accuracy
of what you have just reported to me, especially to the fact
that the inhabitants first fired from the houses ? " I
replied to this, *' Yes ; I can swear to this.'*
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Otto v. Sandt.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. I vers. Signed : Rambeau.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. IvERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
Lou VAIN, September lyth, 1914.
Station Buildings, 4 o'clock p.m.
First Lieutenant v. Sandt added the following :
About half an hour after His Excellency v. Boehn had
spoken with me about the firing of the Belgians from their
houses upon my company, and after His Excellency had had
these houses at the station set on fire, and while they were
blazing, with the exception of the house " Maria Theresa "
(an hotel which was not set on fire because near it were the
military benzine stores), two or three more volleys were
fired from the windows, and particularly from the roof of
this hotel directly upon the officers and men standing in front
of the station. Besides my company, about 150 soldiers of
the 35th Reserve Regiment, just detrained, stood in front
of the station. It was only now that — after having removed
the barrels of benzine — we fired on the house and set it alight.
After this statement too had been read to the witness
he declared it also on the oath which he had taken at the
first examination on the morning of the same day.
Signed : Otto v. Sandt.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
Court of the Government-General of Belgium.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
Malines, November igth, 1914.
There appears on citation Captain v. Sandt as witness*
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 219
and after the object of the examination has been made
known to him, he is examined as follows :
As to Person : As already stated.
As to Case : I can only confirm as perfectly true my
statement of September 17th, 1914, which has been shown
to me again. Like my commander, Schweder, I had taken
up my quarters in the Hotel de I'lndustrie at Louvain.
I did not see myself the hght signals shown at the station,
but soldiers of my compan}^ assured me repeatedly in the
most trustworthy manner that Ught signals had gone up
near the station, and the firing from the surrounding houses
commenced immediately afterwards. The shots from these
houses were undoubtedly fired by civilians. There were
not yet any German soldiers in the houses at that time.
Our soldiers only fired after a lively fire had been opened
on them from the houses. Our troops marched into Louvain
in close order when they arrived from the fight at Bueken,
and they were not pursued by Belgian troops as far as
Louvain. The Belgian troops had been pressed back
beyond Herent to Bueken. There was no reason at all for
our troops to fire prior to the firing from the houses. I
emphatically declare on my oath that it is altogether out
of the question that our troops should have previously
fired upon each other by mistake in Louvain. I was told
that identification discs were frequently found on shot
civilians, so that one may assume that Belgian soldiers in
civilian clothes took part in the firing. I did not myself
see any mutilated German soldiers in Louvain, but soldiers
of the Marine Battahon — I think of the 7th — under the
command of Colonel v. Berund, told me credibly that a
German soldier had been found in the Hotel de SuMe
with the head beaten in. According to their statement
another German soldier was found dead in the Rue Maria
Ther^se, his legs and arms having been chopped off. This
house was consequently set on fire.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Otto v. Sandt.
The witness affirmed the correctness of his statement,
referring to the oath already previously made.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
220 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
D. App. 9.
Court of the Government- General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. IvERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September 2y^d, 1914.
First Surgeon, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion
Neuss, Dr. Berghausen made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Georg Berghausen, born
at Cologne o.Rh. on February ist, 1881 ; Old Catholic.
As to Case : I am Battalion Surgeon in the Landsturm
Infantry Battalion Neuss, and arrived at the station of
Louvain with the ist Company of this regiment on August
24th, 1914, at noon. I lived with the Staff in the Hotel
*' De la Ville," and in order to prepossess the proprietor
and the employes I immediately paid out of my own pocket
50 francs for the purchase of provisions. The evening of
the 24th and the night passed quietly. At noon on the
25th I was on duty at Herent and Bueken. At about
4 p.m. I was again in Louvain. At about 5 o'clock I heard
that there was a battle proceeding at Bueken. The ist
Company of the Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, under
ist Lieutenant v. Sandt as company leader, marched to
the north-west exit of Louvain. I had gone there previously
by motor, and went as far as the fighting-line before Bueken,
where I was repeatedly fired at whilst sitting in my car,
though I was wearing the white armlet with the red cross.
I returned to Louvain in my car at 11.30 p.m. I got out
near the town hall and sent my car with the chauffeur to
the station. I myself went on foot along the Rue de la
Station in order to go to the station where I was living.
On the way, between the town hall and the station, I was
fired at from the windows of the houses about ten or twelve
times. Close to where the Monument stands, I saw a
German soldier lying dead on the ground ; he had been
shot in the head (mouth). His comrades, with whom he
had passed the Monument, told me on inquiry as to who
had shot the soldier, that the shot had been fired from the
corner house of David Fischbach. With the help of my
servant I broke open the street door, and there first en-
countered the occupant, old David Fischbach. I questioned
him regarding the murdered soldier, because, as the other
soldiers declared with certainty, the shot that had killed
APPENDIX D.—LOUVAIN 221
the soldier on the Monument place had been fired from
his house. Old David Fischbach declared that he knew
nothing about it. His son, young Fischbach, then came
down the stairs of the first floor, and from the porter's
lodge came an old servant. I immediately took father,
son, and servant into the street. At this moment a tumult
arose in the street because the soldiers, standing near the
Monument, and I myself, were being terribly fired on from
a few houses farther away on the same side. During this
time I lost Fischbach, his son, and the servant in the
darkness.
Lively firing proceeded from a house obHquely opposite
the present commando. Rue de la Station, No. 120. Just
in front of this house, No. 120, two officers of high rank and
several soldiers passed, hurrying in the direction of the
station on account of the violent firing. I can state with
certainty that the officers and soldiers, who went along the
Rue de la Station during the time that I passed from the
town hall to the railway, did not fire. Accordingly, it is
certain that while the German soldiers did not fire, the
inhabitants fired on us German officers and soldiers from
their windows in the Rue de la Station on the night of
August 25th to 26th, at between 11 and 12 o'clock, and,
particularly that when we passed the house No. 120, Rue
de la Station, I saw myself that a murderous fire was
directed upon us ofiicers and soldiers from the second floor
of this house. ^ That we, or some of us, were not killed, I
can only explain by the fact that the officers and soldiers
ran along on the same side of the street from which the
firing took place, and that, moreover, it was dark.
A few minutes later I met, near the Monument, the
commissariat Commandant, Major v. Manteuffel, with the
Belgian president of the Red Cross, the prior of the
Dominican Monastery, and the old priest of the town. We
four or five all saw the shot soldier and, a few steps farther,
the old Fischbach lying shot in front of the Monument.
I assumed that the comrades of the shot soldier, who had
seen the firing from the house of Fischbach upon their
comrade, had immediately carried out this punishment on
the owner of the house. I then joined the Commandant
with his group of eight soldiers and the three hostages.
The Commandant went with his soldiers and the three
hostages through the main streets of the town, and the
Father Prior announced in a loud voice in Flemish and
French that no Belgians should fire upon German soldiers.
222 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
otherwise the hostages would have to be shot and the
town would have to pay a fine of twenty millions, and
furthermore the houses, from which German soldiers had
been fired at, would be burnt.
From this statement of mine, which I can conscientiously
swear to, it can be clearly seen that on the night of August
25th to 26th, and also on the forenoon of August 26th, the
inhabitants fired repeatedly and frequently upon German
officers and German soldiers without any cause, that is to
say, without a German officer or a German soldier having
first fired upon the inhabitants.
Finally, I wish to add that during those days I saw
myself a ist Surgeon, a Captain, and a Landsturm soldier
wounded by small-shot, the two former in the face ; I
treated the Landsturm soldier myself ; he had shot -wounds
in the forehead, on the right hand, and the right thigh.
I also treated a fourth wounded, a Landsturm soldier with
shot -wounds in the thigh.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Dr. Georg Berghausen.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
D. App. 10.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. Ivers, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September lyth, 1914.
Station Buildings.
Non-commissioned Officer Friedrich Hfillermeier, ist
Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion
Neuss, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Friedrich Hiillermeier, born
at Hardenberg, near Neviges (district of Diisseldorf), on
November 13th, 1874 ; Protestant.
As to Case : On Monday, August 24th, 1914, our com-
pany, coming from Neuss, arrived at Louvain, the ist
Company having gone as far as Louvain by rail. I was
attached to the baggage, consisting of three carts, three
drivers, six men, and four cyclists. We arrived at Louvain
at about 9.30 p.m. The night passed quietly at Louvain.
On August 25th everything in Louvain was quiet until
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 223
5 o'clock p.m. Our carts and baggage, with the necessary
guard, stood in front of the hotels in the station square.
At 5.30 the baggage leader, Non-commissioned Officer
Cardinco, came and gave orders to fetch the horses at once
from the avenue and side-street, and to make them ready
for marching. We stood harnessed. At about 8 o'clock
our company, with ist Lieutenant v. Sandt at its head,
returned from the north-west exit of Louvain and drew up
between our baggage. The company had been barely
five minutes near the baggage when suddenly and unex-
pectedly we were terribly fired at from the surrounding
houses, from windows, attics, and particularly from the
roofs. Beside me stood the servant of Colonel Schweder,
Corporal Fehnes. He received a wound in the head and
several in the arm, and was carried from the place seriously
injured. I also saw four of our horses hit by shots from
the windows. I saw that many shots were fired on us from
the Hotel de 1' Industrie, the hotel where our officers were
staying. Several soldiers of our company are said to have
been grievously injured. I add, that the inhabitants fired
too high. This was our good fortune, for, in the terrible
fire directed upon us from all the houses in the station
square most of the German officers and soldiers would have
been killed or seriously wounded. At the command of
Colonel Schweder the company was then led close to the
station building. We stood close to the station for about
a quarter of an hour, and then I saw that the houses at the
station — except the Hotel " Maria Theresa " — were blazing.
The Hotel " Maria Theresa " had not been set on fire
because, as I heard only later on, the German military
store of benzine was near it. But I saw clearly that several
volleys had been fired from the windows and the roof of
this hotel, which were aimed directly at the officers and men
in front of the station. Besides my company, about 120
to 150 soldiers from a regiment just detrained stood at the
station. Only, now, since the volleys had been fired from
the house ** Hotel Maria Theresa," we also fired at this
house and set it alight. Not a single shot was fired either
by our soldiers, standing near the baggage, or by my
company, which returned about 8 o'clock from the north-
west exit of Louvain, and which was partly standing between
our baggage and partly lying down a little distance away.
Only after we German officers and soldiers had been fired
at from almost all the houses round the station did we
receive orders to reply to the fire. I can swear to this.
224 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
The witness, after his statement had been read over to
him, was admonished that his statement must be perfectly
true, since he would have to swear to it. The witness
declared :
I have only spoken what is quite true, and I can swear
to it to the best of my knowledge.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Friedrich Hullermeier.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
Court of the Government-General of Belgium.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
Malines, November igth, 19 14.
There appears on citation the witness mentioned below,
who, after the object of the examination had been made
known to him, was examined as follows :
As to Person : Friedrich Hiillermeier, aged 40 ; non-
commissioned officer, 1st Company, 2nd Landsturm
Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.
As to Case : On the afternoon of August 25th the alarm
was raised in Louvain because there was a battle in the
neighbourhood. I had instructions to be ready at the
station to march with our baggage-carts (the baggage of the
Staff and our company). I saw nothing of a light signal
or a green light near the station. But towards the evening
my attention had been aroused by a very large number of
young people in civilian clothes — compared to the number
previously — who moved about in the streets, and also went
into some of the houses. Towards the evening I also saw
some figures glide past the windows of the surrounding
houses, and I noticed curtains at the open windows being
pulled together. Suddenly, after 8 o'clock p.m., we were
fired at from all sides as if by word of command. Many of
us were wounded ; some of us were seriously injured. My
horse was shot in the head. We were ordered to lie down,
and we fired upon the houses. Previous to this firing there
was perfect quiet, and we were on the best terms with the
inhabitants. Comrades, particularly such as had stood
guard at the station, assured me in the most credible manner
that on that evening, and prior to the sudden firing, they had
seen light signals go up, especially red and green lights. I
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 225
declare on my oath that I saw myself how we were fired at
from the surrounding houses, particularly from the windows
and attic dormers ; I also clearly noticed many shots from
the Hotel de 1' Industrie and whole volleys from the windows
and the roof of the Hotel " Maria Theresa.**
I maintain my statement, made on September 17th, 1914,
which has been read over to me.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Non-commissioned Officer Huller-
MEIER.
The witness affirmed the correctness of his statement
with reference to his previous oath.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. II.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. IvERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September lyth, 1914.
Station Buildings.
Landsturm-soldier Wilhelm Krebbers, ist Company,
2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, made
the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Wilhelm Krebbers, bom in
Crefeld, October loth, 1873 ; Catholic.
As to Case : I can testify with certainty that the German
officers and we German soldiers only fired on the houses
after the inhabitants had previously made a murderous
attack upon us Germans by firing many shots and whole
volleys from the windows and especially the roofs of all
houses near the station.
I was baggage leader. After the firing was finished, my
baggage-cart and horses had disappeared. It was not until
about 12.30 at night that I met in the Rue de la Station
two soldiers of a strange regiment with my cart and my
horses. I got on the cart and drove to the station. When
I passed the Hotel " Maria Theresa " several volleys were
fired from the windows and the roof upon my cart. The
horses bolted and only stopped behind the station at a wall.
The statement was read over to the witness, and he was
15
226 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
admonished to speak only the truth, since he would have to
swear to it. He then declared :
I have spoken the perfect truth, and can swear to it
with a clear conscience.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Wilh. Krebbers.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
D. App. 12.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. IvERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September lyfh, 1914.
Station Buildings.
Sergeant-Major Schmiele, ist Company, 2nd Mobile
Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, made the following
statement :
As to Person : My name is Arnold Schmiele, born on
May 5th, 1882, at Berlin ; Protestant.
As to Case : I am Sergeant-Major, ist Company, 2nd
Mobile Landstiirm Infantry Battalion Neuss, and am under
the immediate command of ist Lieutenant v. Sandt.
When I had heard the first two or three shots of the
inhabitants from the houses opposite the station — it was
about 8 o'clock p.m., shortly after dark — I noticed coming
in a south-westerly direction a swarm of small bluish
balls of light that descended on us without making any
noise and were then extinguished. I immediately drew the
attention of the soldiers near me to this ; five to six soldiers
had, so they told me, made the same observation as I had
done. In my opinion, this rocket was to be the sign for the
inhabitants to begin firing at once upon the German soldiers ;
in any case, it is certain that immediately after the appear-
ance of the rocket in the sky, the inhabitants fired from their
houses. I saw that we German soldiers were fired on from
two houses in the station square directly from the roof
and from the attic windows.
I can swear according to the truth that in the station
square where my company lay, the inhabitants were the
first to fire on us from the houses, and that it was only then,
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 227
after the Belgians had commenced the firing, that we
Germans fired on the houses in the station square.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Arnold Schmiele.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
D. App. 13.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. Ivers, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September 18th, 1914.
Landsturm-soldier Kiippers, Landsturm Battalion Neuss,
made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Hubert Kiippers, born at
Giichen, district of Grevenbroich, on April nth, 1877 ;
Catholic.
As to Case : I am a soldier of the ist Company, Landsturm
Infantry Battalion Neuss.
On August 25th I was, in the evening between 7 and
9 o'clock, sentinel in front of the main entrance to the
station building at Louvain. At about 8 o'clock the leader
of our company arrived with his company in the station
square. One part of the company drew up between our
baggage-carts in the station square, another part lay down
on the ground a few paces from us. The company had
only been in the station square for about five minutes
when I saw a green rocket go up, going in the direction
above the Hotel " Maria Theresa " at the station square.
I saw how the rocket became extinguished above the Monu-
ment in the station square and a number of bright, many-
coloured little balls fell down, which all went out in the
air before they touched the ground.
Hardly had the green rocket and the small balls become
extinguished when, on the opposite side of the town, and
also in the direction towards the station, a red rocket became
visible. After a few minutes the red rocket also became
extinguished, and immediately afterwards a number of
luminous little balls, blue, red, and green, from the rocket
fell down and were extinguished before touching the ground.
Only a few seconds later a murderous fire was opened upon
228 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
the German soldiers from the windows and attics of nearly
all the houses in the station square. I am certain that the
two rockets were a sign to the Belgians for commencing the
fire upon the German soldiers. At 9 o'clock I was relieved.
I immediately reported to Non-commissioned Officer
Griinewald, on duty in the guardroom, that at about
8 o'clock I had seen two rockets go up, one from the left
of the town and the other from the right — the first, a green
one, followed immediately by a red one, from both of which
fell a quantity of luminous, many-coloured, small balls.
After the witness had been earnestly exhorted to speak
the truth, he made the following statement :
I am ready to swear conscientiously to the incident of the
two rockets just as I have described it.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hubert Kijppers.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. I vers. Signed : Rambeau.
D. App. 14.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present :
Dr. IvERS, Judge of Military Law.
Secretary, Rambeau.
LouvAiN, September iSth, 1914.
Non-commissioned Officer Engemann, Landsturm Bat-
talion Neuss, made the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Hugo Engemann, born at
Barmen on June 13th, 1876 ; Catholic.
As to Case : I am a non-commissioned officer of the ist
Company, Landsturm Battalion Neuss, and on August 25th
I was on duty at signal-box 2. The guard is posted at
some 800 metres' distance from the station at Louvain.
I sat in front of the guard-house and noticed in the twilight,
immediately after 8 o'clock, a red rocket in the sky. In
my opinion it rose above the main railway station at Louvain.
Immediately afterwards I heard loud firing from the town.
I can swear to my statement with a clear conscience.
Signed : Hugo Engemann.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Ivers. Signed : Rambeau.
APPENDIX a— LOUVAIN 229
D. App. 15.
Malines, November igth, 1914.
Court of the General-Government of Belgium.
Present :
President, Stem pel.
Secretary, Stemper.
On citation there appears the witness mentioned below,
who, after the object of the examination has been made
known, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Frederic Messelke, aged
42 ; corporal, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, ist Company,
at present in Malines.
As to Case : On August 25th I marched with my
company in close order through Louvain to the station
there. In the preceding action the Belgians had been
pressed back. On our return the town was quiet, nor
did we hear any shots on our return march. The troops
in Louvain did not mistake us for Belgian troops trying
to enter the town. Above the station I saw suddenly,
at about 8 o'clock p.m., a blaze of light as of a rocket.
On the appearance of this light we were suddenly fired
upon from every quarter. At the command of our Feld-
webelleutnant we fired on the houses. The shooting
continued for some time. I immediately told my comrades
that the signal light mentioned above was evidently a
rocket.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Fritz Messelke.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to him, the witness was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 16.
Malines, November igth, 1914
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
There appears as witness Corporal Heinrich Weinen,
and is examined as follows :
23© THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
As to Person : My name is Heinrich Weinen, aged 38 ;
corporal, ist Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Battalion
Neuss, at present in Malines.
As to Case : On August 25th I saw from the station
square a light signal suddenly given. Upon this signal
we were fired at on all sides from the windows of the
surrounding houses. The rooms, from which the shots
came, were dark. I did not see any figures at the windows ;
I only saw the flash of the shots ; the flashes from the
objects pointed from the windows, which I took to be
revolvers, were reflected from the houses upon the street.
The bullets struck the square close to us and burst about
our heads too.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Heinrich Weinen.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to him, the witness was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 17.
Malines, November igth, 1914.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
There appears on citation Musketeer Wilhelm Mainz
as witness, and is examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Wilhelm Mainz, aged 39 ;
musketeer, ist Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss,
at present in Malines.
As to Case : On August 25th, in the evening, I was
on guard at the signal cabin, about 1000 metres from
the railway station at Louvain. Once, on turning round
— it was between 8 and 9 o'clock — I saw clearly two
bright rockets rising near the station. After the ascent
of these rockets, I heard all at once in the town, and
more especially near the station, violent firing.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Wilhelm Mainz.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to him, the witness was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
APPENDIX D.— LOU VAIN 231
D. App. 18.
Lou VAIN, November 16th, 1914.
Stationsstrasse, 118.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
On citation there appears as witness Corporal Erwin
Bastian, who is examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Erwin Bastian, aged 28,
at present engaged at the Commandant's office at
Louvain.
As to Case : On August 22nd I came here with ist
Lieutenant Thelemann, and was billeted upon a wine
merchant, W. Philipper, opposite the infantry barracks,
with two more comrades. Up to August 25th the relations
between the local inhabitants and the soldiers were
throughout good, so that the men went partly without
arms. On this evening we retired to rest about 8.30 ;
half an hour later we heard isolated shots in the street.
From what seemed to me the unusual sound of these
shots, I believe I can say with certainty that the
shots did not emanate from our weapons. We dressed
ourselves at once. From the window of my quarters
I noticed several horses, especially officers' horses, galloping
through the streets riderless and coming from Tirlemont.
I also saw baggage horses without riders galloping past,
presumably from the baggage column, which was then
stationed in the market square here. Later we went to
the infantry barracks, and there reported ourselves. When
the shooting increased, we made our way out under the
command of a non-commissioned officer to the Tirlemont
street, but soon returned again to barracks. Our section
had not been firing. On the way I saw dead horses lying
in the street. Riderless horses also galloped past us.
In the barracks we occupied the windows. From there
I saw the flashes of different shots ; according to the
illumination they caused, they had been fired from the
surrounding houses, perhaps at the height of the roof in
the direction of the street. I heard the bullets from these
shots fall in the street ; I had the impression that
they came from small bore rifles. It was dark in the
street ; there was no light ; the electric lighting, which on
232 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
the previous day was in order, had been destroyed during
the night.
Read over, approved, signed.
; Signed : Erwin Bastian.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed
out to the witness, he was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 19.
LouvAiN, December 16th, 1914.
Stationsstrasse, 118.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
There appears on citation as witness Musketeer Robert
Dreher, and is examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Robert Dreher, aged 23 ;
musketeer, nth Company, Infantry Regiment No. 48, at
present engaged at the Commander's office at Louvain.
As to Case : I arrived here on August 20th, and have
remained here since that date. I was in the infantry
barracks here, suffering with bad feet. On the evening of
August 25th, at about 9 o'clock, I heard shots in the street.
I therefore marched with several men under the command
of a non-commissioned officer. In the Rue de Tirlemont
shots were fired upon us from right and left of the houses of
this street, and, as I could clearly see in the illuminating
flashes of the firing, by people dressed as civilians. The
shots came from the windows and roofs ; the bullets struck
the street. It was clear from the sound of the shots that
they did not come from German weapons. We entered the
houses from which the shots had come and brought out
five to six civilians, all of whom still held revolvers in their
hands. These persons were later on shot at the railway
station. I did not notice any previous signal lights ; rider-
less horses galloped past us, as well as baggage-carts and
horses, without drivers. On the morning of August 26th
I saw on the railway-station square many civilians shot,
more than 100, among whom were five clergymen, because
they had shot upon German soldiers, or because arms had
been found with them. On August 27th I was in the town
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 233
with a comrade. I was shot at, without being injured, from
behind the hedges of a garden. It was in the afternoon ;
I was unable to see the person who had fired the shot. On
civiHans who had been shot we subsequently found dis-
tinguishing marks, from which I conclude that they were
Belgian soldiers.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Musketeer Dreher.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to the witness, he was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 20.
LouvAiN, November 16th, 1914.
Stationsstrasse, 118.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
On citation there appears as witness Corporal Willi
Krober, who is examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Willi Krober, aged 24 ;
corporal, 8th Leib-Grenadier Regiment, at present in
Louvain at the Commandant's office.
As to Case : I have been here since the 21st of August,
in the infantry barracks, Rue de Tirlemont, with bad feet.
On August 25th, at about 9 o'clock in the evening, we here
heard shots which, according to the sound, came from
revolvers, but not German ones. We had to form up in the
court. A sergeant-major distributed cartridges among us,
whereupon I marched off with about twenty men. In the
Rue de Tirlemont we were vigorously fired at from houses
to the right of the barracks and from houses near the military
hospital, the shots being fired from small rifles. We entered
a restaurant, from which shots had been fired on us, and we
found that the owner had about 100 Browning cartridges.
He was taken prisoner and shot. In the public square I
saw in the above-mentioned night two dead baggage horses
and several German soldiers lying dead in the street. By
the light of the shots it could be clearly seen that we were
being shot at from the houses of the Rue Tirlemont. We
234 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
also heard the bullets from these shots strike the street.
On our return to barracks I still heard many shots in the
distance. On August 26th I did not go out. On August
27th, in the afternoon about 5 o'clock, I went with five men
under the command of a non-commissioned officer from
the town hall to the market-place. In this square we were
shot at with revolvers from the roofs of several houses ;
the bullets fell near us.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Willi Krober.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to the witness, he was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 21.
Malines, November 18th, 1914.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
There appears on request as a witness Assistant Medical
Officer Keuten, who declares :
As to Person : My name is Arnold Keuten, aged 25 ;
Assistant Medical Officer of the 2nd Mobile Landsturm
Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.
As to Case : As far as I remember, I came to Louvain in
the course of the afternoon of August 27th, and was there until
the beginning of October, when the Landsturm Battalion
marched off. In the course of the afternoon I heard shots
in the Rue de la Station. I was then wearing the Red
Cross armlet. I had the impression that shots were being
fired on us from a house in spite of my visible Red Cross
armlet. We moved towards the house. A German soldier
of another battalion jumped out of the first floor of this house,
and in doing so broke the upper part of the thigh. He
related to me that he had just been pursued and shot at by
six civilians in the house. Later I went to the station at
Louvain. There two German soldiers, both wounded by
small shot, were taken to the ward under my care. They
had small shot in the upper part of the thigh and the
abdominal muscles respectively. According to their state-
APPENDIX D.— LOU VAIN 235
ment, civilians fired at them from houses when they were
standing at the station between carriages.
From September loth to September 1 2th I had the care of
a concentration ward in Wygmael, about 5 kilometres from
Louvain. From the loth to the 12th of September there had
been some engagements in the vicinity, especially at Rotzelar
and Wackerzerl. It was reported to me that there were still
on the battlefield about 300 Belgians. I went there twice
to take care of the wounded Belgians, the first time with
a cart and a few men wearing the Red Cross. In bringing
out the severely wounded Belgians from a house, we were
shot at from bushes two or three times, though it was still
light. On the second occasion, too, when I went to the field
with two motor ambulances and two transport cars for
wounded, marked with the Red Cross and carrying flags with
the Red Cross that were visible a long way off, shots were
fired at us from bushes ; the drive was merely undertaken
in order to bring in Belgian wounded.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : A. Keuten.
The witness was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 22.
Malines, November igth, 1914.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
There appears on citation as witness Non-commissioned
Officer Joseph Fenes, who is examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Joseph Fenes, aged 44 ;
non-commissioned officer, ist Company, 2nd Landsturm
Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.
As to Case : I arrived at Louvain on the evening of
August 24th with my Landsturm Battalion. In the afternoon
of the following day, at about 4 o'clock, I was ordered to
saddle at once, ready for battle, the two horses of our com-
mander, Lieutenant-Colonel Schweder. The hotel, at which
my commander had put up, was situated at the right,
looking from the station square, at a corner of the square.
^
236 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
When I arrived at the hotel with the two saddled horses
my commander had already left in his automobile for the
battlefield. I was instructed to wait with the two horses
outside the hotel. From this point in front of the hotel I
could well overlook the station square. I noticed that on
the stroke of 8 o'clock (German time) a rocket went up
suddenly from the station square, such as I have seen them
at displays of fireworks. The rocket, giving a bright light,
went up from the square to the right of the station from
a bush near which there are to-day graves ; I was about 50
metres away from it. I only saw one rocket go up. Before
the rocket went up I had already noticed that between
6 and 7 in) the evening a remarkable number of the
civilians who passed me entered the hotel of my commander
and went up the stairs.
Hardly had the above-mentioned rocket gone up when
shots were fired from all the surrounding houses upon the
German soldiers who were in the station square. The shots
were fired from the houses by civilians, as I noticed dis-
tinctly— it was still fairly light. I also saw civilians running
about on the roofs of the surrounding houses and firing
down from the roofs. The first shot fell from a window of
the top storey of the hotel of my commander, outside which
I was waiting, and, as I distinctly noticed, was fired by a
civilian. Immediately afterwards many more shots were
fired from the windows of this hotel into the street. For
safety's sake I at once mounted one of the horses. But
immediately after I had mounted, it was shot in the leg (hind
leg) from the window of my commander's hotel, so that it fell
down with me. Just afterwards the other horse also was
struck by a bullet from the hotel. It fell on me, so that I
broke a rib and shoulder. As I was lying between the two
horses, I received suddenly from above, from a window
of the hotel, a shot on the crown of the head. (Witness
shows the wound; the injury is to-day still clearly visible,
and is situated on the upper part of the head, approximately
in the centre, so that he must have received the shot from
above.) I was carried to the hotel by a comrade and
bandaged by a German military doctor who did not belong
to our battalion. Later on I was moved to another house,
and then laid down in a place amongst some bushes. From
there I saw that brisk firing was still taking place from the
surrounding houses. The persons firing the shots I could not
recognise because of the darkness. I declare most positively
that the German soldiers only fired after the civilians had
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 237
already begun the firing from the houses, after the rocket
had gone up. After the rocket had ascended, wild and
indiscriminate firing at once began from all the surrounding
houses. A mad confusion ensued. Ridedess horses and
driverless baggage-carts tore past.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Joseph Fenes.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to the witness, he was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 23.
Malines, November igth, 1914.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
There appears on citation as witness Medical Non-com-
missioned Officer Adam Meschede, who is examined as
follows :
As to Person: My name is Adam Meschede, aged 42;
medical non-commissioned officer, ist Company, 2nd Land-
sturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.
As to Case : On the evening of August 25th, between
8 and 9 o'clock, I was in a ward at the railway station
of Louvain. As trained medical non-commissioned officer
I was bandaging the wounded there. Among the wounded
two German soldiers of the ist Company of our battalion
were brought to me this evening ; their names are Kloenters
and Roesseler. In both cases I ascertained, and I declare
this on oath, that they had been injured by small shot in
the head.
On this evening I had in all about forty to fifty German
wounded brought to me.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Adam Meschede,
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to
the witness, he was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
238 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
D. App. 24.
Malines, November igth, 1914.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
There appears on citation as witness Musketeer Franz
Bongartz, who is examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Franz Bongartz, aged 41 ;
musketeer, ist Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss.
at present in Malines.
As to Case : On the evening of August 25th we came
back from an engagement near Bueken, and formed up at
the station. Suddenly, as if by command, shots were
fired upon us from all sides from the surrounding houses,
as I clearly saw. Whole volleys were discharged at us. I
saw how we were being shot at from a restaurant there.
We brought out from this restaurant a few women and
one man, who were taken to the town hall. On the way
there we were shot at from the houses. On the following day,
at about 8 o'clock in the morning, I was shot in the knee.
A German sentry showed me his rifle which, as I convinced
myself, was hit by small shot. I saw clearly that civilians
fired from the houses ; the shot I received in the knee was
fired from a cellar by a civilian.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Franz Bongartz.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to the witness, he was duly sworn.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 25.
QuEDLiNBURG, November 22nd, 1914.
Court of the Ersatzbataillon, 5th Hannoverian Infantry
Regiment No. 165.
Present :
MoELLMANN, Lieutenant, as Officer of the Court.
Bringern, Sergeant-Major, as Military Clerk.
There appeared as witness Musketeer August Zander,
3rd Ersatz Company, 5th Hannoverian Infantry Regiment
No. 165, shop assistant by calling, and after the import-
ance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he was
examined as follows :
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 239
As to Person : My name is August Zander, aged 21 ;
Protestant ; born in Schonebeck a.E., now living in Qued-
linburg infantry barracks.
As to Case : On August 21st I was brought to the field
hospital at Louvain because I was hurt in the foot. The
field hospital was situated in the barracks of the nth Belgian
Line Infantry Regiment, opposite the military hospital, and
was recognisable by a Red Cross flag.
Food was conveyed to us regularly by young Belgians,
who visited a school in Louvain to train as clerics, by a
few Dominicans or Franciscans, who wore yellow coats,
and also by a few civilians. The nursing attendants wore
white armlets with the red cross.
On August 25th these people, who had given us our
food, had from the afternoon onwards disappeared without
a trace. The evening meal we received on this evening
from a civilian ; it must in some way have been spoiled, for
most who had eaten of it were attacked by violent diarrhoea.
In the evening, when most were already abed, it may
have been 9 or 9.30, we heard suddenly violent firing.
All who could jumped from their beds and endeavoured to
get rifles to defend themselves.
The senior soldier present in the field hospital was a
battalion drummer (sergeant-major) from Regiment No. 27,
who was lying in bed severely wounded. He tried to quiet
us by saying that we were under the protection of the Red
Cross; no one could hurt us. Those of us who had been
able to get rifles crowded to the entrance of the field hospital
in order to defend ourselves.
I saw quite clearly two or three persons sitting on the
roof of a neighbouring house, who fired at our hospital.
Below at the door, where the guard stood, we heard
violent firing. One could distinguish clearly between the
pistol firing, carried out by the Belgians, and the rifle fire
of our own troops. Meanwhile, one or other of our soldiers
came to us and told us to rest quietly ; the attack under-
taken by the inhabitants had failed. They only said that
our sentinels were having a bad time, that they were covered
with hot tar, and were suffering great pain.
Finally we went to bed again. We heard throughout
the night single pistol shots, which could be clearly dis-
tinguished from our rifle shots.
Next morning, between 8 and 9, I had gone into the
court. Two other soldiers were near. Suddenly about
ten pistol shots were fired on us, which, as I saw clearly.
/
240 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
struck the ground quite close to me. The shots had evidently
been fired from the opposite roof by pushing back the tiles.
On the way to the station, which we took on the same
morning, we were repeatedly told by our posts to take care,
as more shots had been fired. At the Louvain station it
was some hours before the field hospital train went off.
During this time several pistol shots fell again at the end
of our column, which were evidently intended for the hospital
train ; a comrade was immediately afterwards carried
from the rear part of the column, where he had just been
severely wounded in the legs, to the front of the train.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : August Zander.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed as above.
Signed : Moellmann. Signed : Bringern.
D. App. 26.
Report.
On August 26th, 1914, a motor-car, provided with a
Red Cross flag and painted with the sign, stopped in the
town hall square at Louvain.
The night affair in the streets was finished.
The square was being cleansed from blood, etc. From
Mons had arrived a vehicle with wounded.
Of these Captain Count v. Reventlow, 12th Grenadier
Regiment, was carried in the Voluntary Aid Society's
automobile. It was i p.m., sunny, raining at times. Rifle
fire upon this automobile was opened from the windows of
the houses.
Signed : Georg v. Zitzewitz, Capitanleutnant,
Delegate of the Voluntary Aid
Society.
D. App. 27.
FuRSTENWALDE (Spree), Novemhef 2^th, 1914.
Present :
Lieutenant Prince zu Carolath-Beuthen, as Court
Ofticer.
Sergeant-Major Altendorf, as Clerk.
There appears as witness Uhlan Friedrich Herzog,
1st Field Squadron, Uhlan Regiment (ist Brandenburg)
No. 3, who states :
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 241
As to Person : My name is Friedrich Herzog, aged 29 ;
Protestant.
As to Case : I was in the hospital at Louvain. On the
evening of August 25th, 1914, 9 o'clock, we heard shots
directed upon our hospital. The shots came from a house
opposite the hospital. They were fired by civilians, whom
I saw myself.
On the next day I was taken from the hospital to the
station at Louvain. On the way there I saw how shots
were fired by civilians upon four nursing sisters who were
carrying a wounded German soldier. The soldier, on this
occasion, was hurt in the foot.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Friedrich Herzog.
The witness was sworn.
Proceedings took place as above.
Signed : zu Carolath-Beuthen, Lieutenant,
Officer of the Court.
Signed : Altendorf, Sergeant-Major, Clerk.
D. App. 28.
Frankfurt a.C, November 2^rd, 1914.
Court of the Reserve Battalion, Grenadier Regiment Prince
Carl von Preussen (2nd Brandenburg) No. 12.
Present :
Lieutenant and Adjutant Quander, as Officer of
the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major Troschel, as Secretary.
On citation there appears as witness Reservist Emil
Getzke, 2nd Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 12, now
with the 2nd Company of Reserve Grenadier Regiment No.
12, and after the importance of the oath has been pointed
out, he is examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is as stated. I am 24 years
old ; Protestant ; fireman by calling, living in Berlin,
Winstrasse 58.
As to Case : From August 19th to 26th, 1914, I was
in Louvain, wounded, where I was stationed with other
wounded men in a school arranged as a hospital.
On August 25th, shortly after 9 p.m., we suddenly
heard rifle fire coming from the street, which later on was
augmented by machine-gun fire. As we could see nothing
from the window owing to the geographical position of our
16
242 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
house, an Offizierstellvertreter, unknown to me, called the
hospital guard, which was stationed in a building separ-
ated by the school-court, to inquire about the reason for
the firing. The guard having replied to the query, the
Offizierstellvertreter ran quickly over and returned in a few
moments. He ordered all lights in the house to be ex-
tinguished, and no one was to fire. On the afternoon of the
following day the hospital was cleared. All the wounded,
I amongst them, were conve37ed to the station in a furniture
van. Immediately behind the van, sisters of the Red Cross
carried a severely wounded soldier. When we had arrived
at the station, and were about to leave the van, we were
suddenly fired on by civilians who were passing. None
of the wounded were hit, nor the sisters, but a few of the
Landwehr men, who were accompanying the conveyance
of the wounded. They, as well as the guard at the station,
at once replied to the firing. A number of the assailants
were hit by rifle shots.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Emil Getzke.
The witness was then sworn.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Quander, Officer of the Court.
' Signed : Troschel, Secretary.
D. App. 29.
Cologne, November i^th, 1914.
Royal Government.
Present :
President Greeven, as Judge.
Referendary, Dr. Wolter, as Secretary.
On citation there appears as witness the soldier Dada-
czynski, 6th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 27,
who states :
As to Person : My name is Stanislaus Anton Dada-
czynski, aged 31 ; Catholic ; gardener in Stassfurt, near
Magdeburg, at present in the reserve battalion, Reserve
Infantry Regiment No. 27.
As to Case : When my battalion was in a village before
Louvain, the name of which I do not remember, I was taken
by a non-commissioned officer to Louvain on account of
lung-trouble, together with two other soldiers who were
suffering with their feet.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 243
On Tuesday, August 25th, 1914, about 9 p.m., we were
lying in the barracks in which I was placed, in our rooms, on
the straw. Each one had by his side his rifle, also loaded
cartridges. Suddenly we heard shots directed upon our
barracks from the hospital opposite. Shots also came from
the houses near the hospital. I can say with certainty
that shots were also fired from the hospital. We could
hear distinctly that shots were being discharged not only
from guns, but also from machine-guns.
When we heard the shooting we took our rifles and ran
from the second or third storey, where we were stationed,
downstairs. As the main entrance of the barracks was
covered by machine-gun fire, we could not get out of the
barracks. Some of us, who tried all the same, were
wounded ; one fell dead. When the shots ceased for a
moment we ran, thirty to forty together, out of the
barracks. We were shot at from all surrounding houses,
from cellars and windows.
We now stormed all the houses from which shots had
fallen ; I with four others rushed into the first house to the
left of the hospital. We brought out five inhabitants ; from
the other houses, close by, about twenty men were brought
out. Those who were found with arms were immediately
shot or bayoneted. Some twenty men, who were unarmed,
^ve brought to the barracks. From all side-streets near
the hospital came shots. We had to rush house after house.
Wherever an armed inhabitant was discovered he was
killed. The house in which he was found was set on fire.
I myself, together with a comrade, bayoneted one in-
habitant who went for me with a knife.
Shots were fired not only from the windows and cellar-
openings, but from the upper storeys of houses tin boxes
filled with hot tar were thrown on us. I saw myself how a
box filled with tar was thrown upon the helmet of one of
my comrades, so that the tar ran down his neck and shoulder.
Another comrade had been hit by such a tar box on the
arm, so that the tar ran down his sleeve. Happily for
them, the tar was no longer so very hot as to cause worse
burns.
During the storming of the houses we again made a
number of prisoners, among them women and children ;
these were taken for safety's sake. We brought these
prisoners also to the barracks, and had to guard them there.
Shots were heard until 2 a.m., and between 6 and 7 a.m.
the firing commenced afresh.
244 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
At about 9 a.m. I saw a church burning near the town
hall, also many houses in the neighbourhood. The shoot-
ing continued intermittently until Thursday, August 27th,
when I received instructions to accompany the convoy of
captured francs-tireurs, to which were added about four
hundred English prisoners, from Louvain via Aachen to
Cologne, where we were dismissed to the Ersatz Battalion,
Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 27.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Stanislaus Dadaczynski.
After the importance of the oath had been urged upon
the witness, he was duly sworn.
Proceedings closed.
Signed: Greeven. Signed: Dr. Wolter.
D. App. 30.
Aix-la-Chapelle, November i^th, 1914.
Garrison Command.
Present :
President of the Court, Captain Schneider.
Secretary, Klinke.
On citation there appears as witness Hen* Hubert
Sittart, Member of the Imperial Diet, living in Aix-la-
Chapelle, and on being questioned he declares the following :
On August 31st a number of women of Louvain told
me there, with tears in their eyes, of the sorrow caused them
by the bombardment of the town. They admitted em-
phatically that our troops had been fired at from the houses
and cellars. One of them, the widow of a medical man,
thought the firing had been done by the Garde Civique.
But when she heard that wounded were lying at Aix-la-
Chapelle who had been seriously wounded by small shot,
she had to admit that civilians had also taken part in the
firing. She also agreed with me when I declared that the
Garde Civique, as well as the regular troops, deserved no
forbearance if they fired from an ambush, from cellars and
roofs instead of in open, honest fighting.
The vice-rector of Louvain University, Monsignore
Coenraets, told me that he was ordered as hostage to read
out to the people a proclamation to the effect that the
hostages would be shot and fire opened on the town if the
troops were treacherously fired at. He had hardly read
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 245
this out in one street when shots were actually fired upon
the German soldiers accompanying him.
The importance of the oath having been pointed out
to the witness, he was sworn according to regulations.
Signed : H. Sittart.
Signed : Schneider. Signed : Klinke.
D. App. 31.
LouvAiN, November 14th, 1914.
Court of the Government-General of Belgium.
Present :
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
On citation there appears the witness Albert Lemaire,
aged 37, professor of medicine, chief physician of St. Peter's
Hospital at Louvain, living in the Leopoldstrasse, and he
declared :
In the afternoon of August 25th German Landwehr
(I do not know the number of the regiment) was quartered
on me. The Germans behaved quietly and decently.
Later on they marched out in consequence of an alarm.
Later on in the evening, whilst taking supper with my
family, I heard violent firing in the street. We fled to
the cellar. Between 11 and 12 o'clock (Belgian time)
I went once from there into the garden. There I was
several times fired at, but owing to the darkness I cannot
tell by whom. Previously I heard a German call out,
" Louvain is on fire." I could see from my garden various
reflections of conflagrations. I did not see civilians fire
from houses or in the streets. Nearly all the houses of
doctors and professors in the Leopoldstrasse are burned
down.
On the following day I had my family taken to the
hospital by two German soldiers for safety's sake. On
Thursday, August 27th, the bombardment and destruction
of the town was announced. I went to the country with
my family. On my return I found my house burned down.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Professor Dr. Albert Lemaire.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out,
the witness was sworn according to regulations. The
examination took place in the German language.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
246 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
D. App. 32.
Proceedings at Louvain, November 20th, 1914.
Court of the Government-General.
Present :
President, StempelT
Secretary, Stemper.
Legal Statement 0/ Evidence.
In a side-street of the Rue de Tirlemont at Louvain,
near the prison, the following was ascertained :
In this side-street there is on the left-hand side, coming
from the Rue de Tirlemont, a long wall, about 4 metres high.
Opposite this wall lies a continuous row of houses of several
storeys. The wall shows numerous traces of gun-shots.
According to the traces of these shots, which are still clearly
visible, they have been fired without a doubt from the upper
storeys of the houses opposite. The range of these shots
on the wall extends, according to the traces there left,
transversely from the top to the bottom.
Signed : Stempel. Signed : Stemper.
D. App. 33.
Deposition of Reservist Hermann Behnke, nth Company,
Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 86, received by Pastor
Friedrichs in the reserve field hospital at Hagen, on
September 21st, 1914.
On August 25th we arrived at Louvain station in a
military transport train. We heard brisk firing, so that we
assumed that a battle between our troops and the Belgian
troops was taking place. However, when we arrived in
the town, we saw that civilians were firing from the houses
and from trees. We noticed that German troops were
fighting a regular street battle with these civilians. We
went to the assistance of our troops. The civilians were
requested to leave the houses from which firing had taken
place. These houses were then set on fire.
Proceedings at Hagen in the Ofiice of the reserve field
hospital, Hochstrasse 45, on November 28th, 1914,
placed at the disposal of the Royal War Ministry,
Military Examination Ofiice for infringement of military
law.
There appears Hermann Behnke, reservist, nth Com-
pany, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 86, and declares ;
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 247
The above is my correct name. I was born on February
28th, 1887, at Neuhof in Mecklenburg-Schwerin ; Pro-
testant ; married.
Admonished to speak the truth, I make the following
statement :
I maintain as correct the deposition made on September
2ist before the Protestant minister, Wilhelm Friedrichs.
This deposition is true in every respect, and it has been read
over tome.
Behnke is then sworn.
Signed : Hermann Behnke.
The correctness of the above is certified by :
Signed : Dr. Jotel, Chief Regimental Surgeon.
Signed : Winand Engel, Clergyman of the
field hospital.
D. App. 34.
; Quarters at Thiescourt, November 2gth, 1914.
Present :
Leader of the proceedings, Lieutenant Stegmueller.
Secretary, Schmidt.
There appeared as witness Captain Josephson, who,
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out,
declared :
As to Person : My name is Walter Josephson, aged
46 ; Protestant ; Leader of 2nd Battalion, Landwehr
Infantry Regiment No. 53.
As to Case : On August 27th, 1914, the 3rd Battalion,
Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 53, marching from
Rotzelaer to Louvain, had to conduct a transport of about
1000 civilian prisoners. At first, the 9th Company, under
my leadership, and the 12th Company, Landwehr Infantry
Regiment No. 53, under the leadership of Captain Ernst,
carried out the supervision. When subsequently further
transports of prisoners were added, the ist Battalion of
the Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 53 assisted in the
supervision. Amongst the prisoners were a number of
Belgian clergymen, one of whom particularly attracted
my attention because at every halt he went from one
prisoner to the other and spoke to them excitedly, so that
I had to put him under special supervision. At Louvain
we delivered the prisoners at the station ; another section
of the troops, whom I cannot now name, undertook the
watch over them. On the following morning I was told
248 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
by various people, amongst whom was also Captain Ernst,
that the clergyman above mentioned had fired upon a
guard, but had not hit him, and that he had therefore
been shot on the square outside the station, probably by
the order of the local commandant. Captain Ernst saw
his body still lying there on the following day.
With regard to the conditions then prevailing at
Louvain I am able further to state the following :
The 3rd Battalion, Landwehr Infantry Regiment
No. 53, entered Louvain on August 25th, that is, on the
day of the sudden attack, and remained at Louvain
from August 27th to September ist. My company was
quartered on the Belgian rector of an intermediate school,
a very quiet, sober-minded man, with whom I fully dis-
cussed the attack. He related to me that he had gone
for a walk in the neighbourhood of Louvain on the day
of the attack, and had visited an inn. The host told him
that on that day a troop of about 100 young men, who
conversed in different languages, had passed his house
on the way to Louvain. They asked for drinks and
lodgings for the night, but the whole thing appeared to
him so suspicious that he removed the sign outside his
inn, so as to have nothing to do with these people. He
said to the rector literally, " If these people get to
Louvain, there will be bad smells there to-morrow," by
which he meant to say that then blood would flow. The
rector also stated to me that in almost every house at
Louvain a room for students is to be let. These rooms
were tenantless at the time in question on account of
the university holidays ; friends and acquaintances of
the students, or persons who posed as such, could quite
easily get admission to these rooms ; he assumed that
these rooms had been occupied by the above-mentioned
persons. It was, at any rate, a striking fact that when I
rode at the head of my battalion, together with Captain
Ernst and the adjutant, Lieutenant Stegmueller, in order
to quarter myself at Louvain in the Rue des Joyeuses
Entrees, there was a young man in almost every house,
whereas the younger Belgian male population had been
called up for war service ; that, furthermore, the inhabitants
absolutely urged us to quarter only officers in their houses,
and that, finally, in all officers' quarters there was — so
we were told — only in the outhouses room for the officers'
servants, and never in the houses in which officers were
quartered.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 249
I had to supply the guard at the railway station from
my company ; opposite the station building lies a block
of houses, and in front of it a street fenced off by boards
from the station. From this plank-fence the watch was
fired on daily in the dark. I had then all the houses
cleared and the block of houses surrounded by guards.
On the evening of this day I saw myself how, at dark, a
troop of 50 to 60 civilians emerged from the wood which
was about 600 to 800 metres away, but withdrew when
the guard was noticed. From this date the firing upon
the guard ceased.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Josephson, Captain and Battalion
Leader.
The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations.
Signed : Stegmueller. Signed : Schmidt.
D. App. 35.
Proceedings at Reserve Field Hospital
AT Cleve, October gth, 191 4.
Royal Court of Justice.
Present :
Judge, Fritzen.
Secretary, Frings.
There appears the under-mentioned witness, and, after
having been acquainted with the object of the examina-
tion, he was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Adam Hoos, aged 32 ;
Catholic ; soldier, 2nd Company, Landwehr Regiment
No. 55, at Wesel, at present in reserve field hospital at
Cleve.
As to Case : On August 25th we entered Louvain
and took part in the street-fighting. On the morning of
August 26th, when searching the houses for wounded, we
found in the cellar of a house a soldier of our regiment
whose name I do not know, whose body had been cut
open so that the entrails protruded. We did not ascertain
whether the dead man was otherwise wounded. In my
opinion, the cut could have only been effected with a sharp
knife.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Adam Hoos.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Fritzen. Signed : Frings.
250 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
D. App. 36.
LuBECK, March Sth, 1915.
Court of Justice, Department 10.
Present :
Judge, DuBEL.
Secretary, Giese.
At the request of the war minister appeared on citation
the witnesses mentioned below, who were examined indi-
vidually and in the absence of witnesses to be heard subse-
quently.
I. Student Oldenburg.
As to Person : My name is Hans Ludwig Oldenburg,
aged 24 ; Protestant ; student of law ; at present non-com-
missioned officer, 3rd Reserve Company, Reserve Battalion
No. 162.
As to Case : On August 25th, between 9 and 10 o'clock
p.m., our regiment entered Louvain in marching order.
The standard of the battalion was at the head of our com-
pany. It was already dark and, in marked contrast to
the places through which we had passed the previous night,
a surprising number of gas-lamps were alight. In the
doors of the houses stood Belgians in civilian dress who
behaved in a quiet and not unfriendly fashion. I saw no
windows illuminated. Having marched into Louvain for
about ten minutes, there was suddenly a halt. Two to
three minutes later, but perhaps sooner, we were suddenly
fired at from the houses of the right and left. I also saw
the flashes of several shots from the houses near me. From
one house I also saw bombs fall ; one fell about 10 metres
away from me in the street and exploded there with great
detonation. I do not know whether anyone was hit by it.
I can point out accurately the house from which the bomb
fell. It stood on the left side, near the second lamp, which
stands behind the next cross-road, or the next yard-entrance,
on the left.
When the bomb fell, no shots had as yet been fired by
us. We now received orders, "About turn, march." But
after we had turned we were ordered from the rear to shoot
into the houses. We then fired into both fronts of the
houses. I cannot say what reply was made to our fire
because the noise and confusion was too great. It also
became at once quite dark, because we demolished the
lamps with our fire so as to offer no aim to the opponent.
This firing may have lasted a full hour. During the firing
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 251
I saw a soldier near me fall. I was then run over and lost
consciousness. When I recovered from my swoon, the firing
was still continuing. I dragged myself to the nearest wall,
and was then driven by an automobile to the field hospital.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Oldenburg.
The witness was sworn.
2. Corporal Hoehne.
As to Person : My name is Max Robert Theodor Hoehne,
aged 28 ; Protestant ; art dealer ; at present corporal,
4th Reserve Company, Reserve Battalion No. 162.
As to Case : On the evening of August 25th, at about
9 o'clock, our regiment marched into Louvain in column
of route. At the head marched the ist Company. Then
followed the 2nd, to which I belonged. It was already
dark. The gas-lamps were alight. Outside in the suburb
a few windows showed light. People in civilian dress put
water in the street for us. But we did not drink of it because
an officer warned us not to do so. The civilians behaved
in a quiet and not unfriendly manner.
We marched over the railway bridge into the town
straight on. At a point where there was a square occupied
by automobiles, the road made a sharp bend. We marched
past this bend straight on again. Up till then nothing
happened, except that we saw no civilians at all in the
town. The windows of the ground floors in this part of the
street were closed by shutters. The windows of the upper
floors were open. But this fact only struck me when we
were fired at. Shortly after my company passed the bend
of the road, a shot rang out, and this was immediately
followed by brisk firing. I saw many such shots flash from
the upper windows, and also noticed how sparks flew about
as the bullets fell into the street. Immediately at the
beginning of the firing two men behind me fell ; one of
them was Corporal Wiessner. Wiessner sat down at the
roadside ; the other soldier remained lying in the street,
face down. We now dispersed on both sides and fired into
the upper windows. During the firing I saw yet another
soldier fall. In the meantime we had destroyed the
lamps by our fire, so that nothing could be seen. I cannot
say how long the firing continued. After some time the
order was passed along to cease firing. When we were
about to reassemble we were fired at from the windows of
the ground floors. I was hit by small shot that had been
fired directly through a window-pane on the ground floor ;
252 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
the shot remained in the haversack and coat. A comrade
who turned towards the window fell at once owing to, so 1
assume, a shot in the head.
We now fired also into the ground-floor windows, remov-
ing 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 over-
turned 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, 191 5.
Present :
Officer of the Court, Ahrens.
Secretary, Heinhorst.
At the investigation regarding the events at Louvain
the following witnesses appeared, and, after the importance
APPENDIX D.— LOU VAIN 253
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.
On the evening of August 25th, 1914, at about 9 o'clock,
the 3rd Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75,
entered by train the station at Louvain. At a distance of
about 300 metres from the station building our train was
suddenly fired at from both sides of the railway embankment.
I heard the shots rattling against the carriages. The train
stopped, and an order was given to leave the train. I made
my men at once deploy along the track and reply to the firing.
We were about three to four minutes under fire when I
received some small shot in the right upper thigh. I then
had myself bandaged, and was not a direct witness of the
subsequent events. The firing, after scarcely ten minutes,
suddenly ceased, whereupon the companies were rallied.
In the dark one could only see the flashes of the shots.
They came for the most part from above, so that one was
obliged to assume that they had been fired from the windows,
roofs, and trees. I did not see any individual persons who
fired. About an hour and a half later I heard from the railway
station, where I lay wounded, another burst of violent firing,
which, however, ceased again at once.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Walter Kruse.
The witness was sworn.
2. Sergeant -Major Ludwig Hilmer, 3rd Company,
Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 215, at present at Bremen.
When the train with the 3rd Battalion, Reserve Infantry
Regiment No. 75, entered the station at Louvain on the
evening of August 25th, 1914, at about 9 o'clock, we were
suddenly fired at from both sides, at a distance of about
300 to 400 metres from the station building. The window-
panes in my compartment broke at once. We got out and
replied to the firing. The enemy could not be seen, because
it was already quite dark. We only saw the flashes of the
shots, and assumed that they came from the houses at each
side of the railway. Five men of my company were wounded
in this fight. I ascertained that the wounds were partly
caused by small shot. After about ten minutes the firing
ceased, but was resumed again at once. Only when we
had the lights on the station extinguished did the firing
cease. The companies now rallied to the station, removed
their packs, and were ordered to fire all the houses from
2S4- THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
which firing had taken place, after searching them first.
With this order we received strict injunctions not to hurt
a hair of women and children. My company entered in
groups the houses of the section allotted to it. Captain
Brinckmann and I entered an inn diagonally opposite the
station, and found there behind the bar a waiter with a
ball-gun and ammunition. He was immediately taken to
the railway commandant by some men. We then continued
searching. Various civilians were led off by my men, and
after a final decision of the commandant they were shot
in the place before the station. In accordance with my
orders, I helped to fire several houses, after having con-
vinced myself in every case that no one was left in them.
At about 12 o'clock p.m. this work was finished, and the
company returned to the station building, in front of which
lay about fifteen inhabitants, shot. Two clergymen also
stood there who were to serve as hostages. I heard a
patrol report that in a church inhabitants had been taken
with guns and munition. Sleep was not to be thought of
during the night, because the town was echoing with the
explosion of bombs and munition stored in the burning
houses. One might have believed oneself in a heavy artillery
fire. On the morning of August 26th the company was
again alarmed, because baggage was being fired at in the
town. We advanced into a street about five minutes'
distance from the station, and were here fired at from the
houses, apparently with shot-guns. We entered the houses
and took prisoner several civilians whose behaviour had
been suspicious. The houses from which the firing had
come were then set on fire. About noon the company
returned to the station. At about 3 o'clock p.m. I
stood with an acting- sergeant-major at the monument
in front of the station, when we were suddenly exposed
to a violent fire. Immediately afterwards five riderless
horses galloped towards us, coming from the street in which
the shots had been fired. As was ascertained subsequently,
the horses were those of gendarmes whose riders had been
shot in the town. Arrangements were now made and
published in the whole town by the ringing of bells and
the beating of drums that every company advancing into
the town must be headed by a number of hostages. These
were to be shot the moment there was any more firing from
the houses. Among the hostages held at the station were
clergymen and state officials. In spite of these measures,
the inhabitants again fired on that evening and during the
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 255
night. The morning of August 27th passed without any
special events for my company, because we urgently needed
rest. It was only during the afternoon that we were again
active. As peace could not be restored in the town by
means of hostages, the order was issued to take all male
inhabitants, aged seventeen to fifty. I carried out this
order by the help of a strong platoon of eighty men after the
order had been read out everywhere by a lieutenant. The
people had to be fetched out of every house. After three
nours' work I took 200 to 300 persons to the station. Every
man on whom arms or munition was found was shot ;
these again numbered some fifteen to twenty persons. The
others were notified that if shots were again fired during
the night they would all be put in front of a machine-gun.
This announcement was effective, for the next night passed
perfectly quietly. On the following morning, hardly were
the prisoners dismissed when the firing began afresh.
My company, accompanied by hostages, advanced again
ittito the town, and was again fired at. Again we had to
fire some houses. On this occasion I saw with my own
eyes how a civilian fired from a high window upon Captain
Brinckmann. I heard the shot fall in the street. The
Captain at once ordered the burning of the house. From
here we advanced to a monastery on a hill. It was said
that firing had taken place there, but we found neither arms
nor munition. But immediately we again heard cries for
help from the main road leading past the monastery ; we
hurried back, and had to assist an artillery column that had
been fired at. We again set a few houses on fire, whereupon
the command was given for all inhabitants to leave Louvain,
as firing with artillery was to commence. This happened
between 2 and 4 o'clock p.m. whilst our battalion was
still at the station. I observed myself that the artillery
projectiles only fell in those parts of the town in which
attacks had been made.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hilmer.
Hilmer was sworn.
3. Soldier Heinrich Westerkamp, company of wounded,
Reserve Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75.
At noon, on August 25th, I had arrived at Louvain with
the 2nd Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75.
Whilst we were being provisioned from the field-kitchens
in that part of the town which is near the suburb of Herent
we were struck by the number of young strong people who
256 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
were in the street and putting their heads together. At
Herent I was transferred to the baggage because of foot-
trouble whilst my battalion marched on. I was about to
draw water from a well when suddenly the baggage was
being fired on from all sides. The baggage had already
turned about, and as the horses could not be stopped we
returned to Louvain at full speed. But there, too, all was
not safe, as we heard from stragglers ; we wanted to drive
past the station into the nearest village in order to spend
the night there. We got, however, only about 50 metres
beyond the station, and had to halt there because a wheel
had come off a cart. Hardly had the carts stopped on the
perfectly dark road when we were violently fired at from
the houses near us, as well as from those on the other side
of the railway and from the bushes on the railway embank-
ment. The man beside me on the cart immediately
received a shot in the foot. We dismounted and tried to
make ourselves safe. At that moment a civilian came
running up towards me from a house, pointing a revolver
at me. I immediately shot the person down. A hand-
grenade exploded immediately after this, about 7 to 8 metres
away from me, and smashed a horse. Three of us now
sought cover in the recess of a house, from which we
succeeded in reaching a goods-shed. At this time — about
9 p.m. — the 3rd Battalion arrived, which we joined. During
the night the detonations never ceased, and the houses
round the station were burning. From the Hotel du Nord
a machine-gun had even been fired, as could be distinctly
heard from the regular shots. On the following morning
I ascertained that five horses of the baggage transport had
been killed. I remained in front of the station building until
noon on August 26th, and I here saw that about forty
persons were examined by an officer and about half of them
were shot. Two clergymen were also brought forward, one
of whom declared himself a German, and said that he had
not fired. I heard subsequently, however, that a Browning
pistol was found on him. I also saw a man of Regiment
No. 162 or 163 carried past on a stretcher. He whimpered
terribly, and I heard that whilst doing patrol duty in the
town several inhabitants fell upon him and cut off the
scrotum. Later on I heard that the man had died of his
wound. A Belgian who addressed me in German declared
that the whole misfortune could have been avoided if the
clergy did not from the pulpit praise those who fire upon
German troops. At noon on the same day we followed the
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 257
company with the baggage after having previously received
fresh horses. We only found a heap of ruins where the
village of Herent had stood. About three days later I met
Lieutenant Foerster (now of the 4th Company, Reserve
Infantry Regiment No. 75). He told me that German
soldiers had had the genital members cut off and put into
the mouth, and that the latter had then been sewn up.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Westerkamp.
The witness was sworn according to regulations.
Signed : Ahrens, Lieutenant and Judicial Officer.
Signed : Heinhorst, Non-commissioned Officer.
D. App. 38.
Altona, March 1st, 1915.
Court of the Commandant.
Present :
President, Dr. Steengrafe.
Secretary, Koch.
There appeared the merchant Gruner as witness, and,
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to
him, he was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Richard Gruner, aged 23 ;
Protestant ; merchant in Hamburg.
As to Case : After mobilisation I offered my services
voluntarily and went into the field as a motor driver on the
staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps. On the evening of
August 25th, 1914, we arrived at Louvain. As a sortie had
been announced from Antwerp, the German troops were taken
from Louvain and, as I assume, employed in the attack.
The baggage, including the motors, stopped in the square in
the immediate vicinity of the Hotel M^tropole. At the com-
mand of Captain von Esmarch, I followed the troops who
were marching off and brought back one company for the
protection of the staff, which was then drawn up in the place
mentioned above. At about 9 o'clock p.m. I saw a green
rocket ascend over the town. At the same moment com-
menced the firing upon us from the houses surrounding the
place. I also heard the regular " tak, tak " of machine-
guns. The German soldiers fired again and succeeded in
beating down the hostile fire ; the houses from which
firing had taken place were set alight. I had the impres-
sion that the proceedings had been systematically prepared.
17
258 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Up till then we had been treated by the inhabitants with
the greatest kindness and amiability.
After the attack in the centre of the town had been
dealt with, the troops in the interior of the town were
conducted to the station. Until then I had not seen any
sign of interference on the part of the Belgian clergy. On
the way to the station [ saw a man in clerical garb, with
unmistakable clerical physiognomy and a broad-brimmed
hat with two tassels, directing our troops to a certain road.
I myself drove along another road, following some cars
before me. Subsequently I heard that the troops who had
followed the directions of the clergyman reached a cul-de-sac,
and were there exposed to fire from the houses.
When I arrived at the station I heard that here, too, an
attack had been made upon the German soldiers by the
civilian population from the surrounding houses, and had
been defeated ; in the station square and throughout the
town houses were burning. All citizens taken were con-
ducted to the station square, examined, and, if their guilt
was ascertained, shot according to martial law. I myself
acted as interpreter during part of the examinations. The
examinations continued through the night until the follow-
ing morning. The number of persons shot by court-martial
may have been eighty to a hundred ; among them may
have been ten to fifteen clergymen. This number is ex-
clusive of one man in unmistakable clerical garb, because
beneath his clerical garb he wore civilian dress. Among
the clergymen shot was the one I mentioned previously,
and of this I am quite sure. He was pointed out by soldiers
as the one who had directed them and their comrades into
the cul-de-sac ; he, too, was shot. I interpreted during the
examination of two further clergymen. On one of them a
revolver was found that still contained four cartridges, and
one had been discharged ; he, too, was shot. It had, more-
over, been announced previously that every inhabitant on
whom arms were found would be shot. I cannot now say
what was furthermore ascertained in relation to this clergy-
man ; but no one was shot whose participation in the
attacks upon the German troops was not determined
beyond doubt by at least two witnesses, or on whom arms
were not found. Those brought up for examination must
have rendered themselves suspect in some way, otherwise
they would not have been examined at all.
During the night isolated attacks upon German troops
took place, also during the day.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 259
During the examinations many of the Belgians related
that their behaviour towards the Germans had been repre-
sented to them by the authorities, also by the preachers, as
a matter of faith. When we fetched the wounded in auto-
mobiles during the night we were fired at, and also from a
convent.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Gruner.
The witness was duly sworn.
Authenticated :
Signed : Steengrafe, President.
Signed : Koch.
Berlin, March igth, 1915.
Ministry of War.
Military Examination Bureau for Infringements of Martial
Law.
Present :
President, Dr. Grasshoff.
Secretary, Pahl.
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 ist,
1 91 5. 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
26o THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
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.
It is not true that the persons were arbitrarily selected
when arrangements for shooting them were made ; on the
contrary, the examinations were carried out strictly accord-
ing to the facts. I examined myself the persons brought
forward for arms, and frequently found arms on them. I
also had instructions to see whether the accused were
Belgian soldiers, which could be seen from the identification
disc. On many of the persons brought to me I found the
military disc in the pocket or in the purse. Captain Albrecht
proceeded — I assume on higher command — in such a way
that he ordered those to be shot on whom either arms or
a rallying sign was found, or those of whom it was testified
by at least two witnesses that they had fired upon the
German troops. In my opinion it is quite out of the question
that any innocent person lost his life ; particularly Captain
Albrecht did under the circumstances all that was possible
to exhort the soldiers to speak the truth ; if no arms or
identification discs were found, he himself questioned the
witnesses as to whether they could make their assertions
with certitude, and he pointed out to them that the life
and death of a man depended upon their word. And
only when the soldiers maintained their assertions after
this admonition, the command for the shooting of the
condemned was given.
Amongst the persons brought forward were a number
of priests ; of these about ten to fifteen in all were shot. I
ascertained myself that one priest carried a loaded revolver
which had been fired once, and the empty cartridge-case
was still in the barrel. I furthermore recognised another
priest as the one who, according to the testimony of the
soldiers, had intentionally decoyed them into the fire of
the francs-tireurs. These two were undoubtedly genuine
clergymen. On a third man wearing clerical garb, and
civilian clothes underneath, I found a mihtary identification
disc.
I was in the station square during the whole examina-
tions, and I can therefore testify from my own knowledge
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 261
that no mock-execution of priests has taken place, and that
not one of the involuntary spectators of these scenes was
forced to applaud.
Among the persons brought forward there were many
civilians who, when they became aware that I spoke French,
called to me that they were innocent, and that the priests
bore the whole guilt of what had taken place. They ex-
pressly pointed to the priests who had been brought forward.
Amongst them was a Belgian civilian who, as a sign of his
goodwill to the Germans, showed a document, according
to which the King of Prussia had bestowed the Order of the
Red Eagle upon him. I took the opportunity to remonstrate
with this person that he, an educated man, and the other
men of his station had not stopped the populace from
making the attack ; he replied, "It is quite impossible
for us to prevail upon the people who are in the hands of
the clergy."
I remained at Louvain until August 26th, 1914, 4 p.m.
During August 26th I still heard and saw, now and again,
firing from the houses ; comrades of mine were wounded
actually at my side ; thus also the voluntary soldier Wupper-
mann. During the morning of August 26th I spoke in the
station square, where there were many women prisoners,
with two of them who evidently belonged to the educated
classes. One of them, an American from St. Louis, ad-
dressed me in English and begged me to release her and
another known lady from imprisonment, as they were
innocent. She explained to me that the clergy were re-
sponsible for the events. She then called the other lady,
a Belgian, with whom I also conversed in French. She
also confirmed to me that the firing from the houses was
due to the conduct of the clergy. She related the following :
In the evening, Belgian soldiers dressed as civilians entered
individual houses and forced the inhabitants by threats
to receive them and to admit them to the windows in order
to shoot from them ; previous to that the clergy had gone
into the houses and declared to the inhabitants that it
was their duty to receive and support the Belgian soldiers
because the German troops were making war upon the faith
of the Belgians.
During the critical days, particularly violent firing on
the German troops came from a convent outside Louvain,
on the road from Louvain to Bueken. I have heard this
repeatedly from soldiers, and on August 26th, 191 4, in the
afternoon, whilst going in my automobile to Bueken, I had
262 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
to pass the street near the convent under special protective
measures. In order to be safe from any firing from the
convent we had to take with us several civihans, who were
placed partly upon the footboard of the car, partly upon the
cooler.
I wish to emphasise that even during the examinations
in the station square we were fired at from houses there.
I particularly remember the incident when about ten to
twelve young people in sporting-caps — which was frequently
the distinguishing mark of disguised Belgian soldiers —
were brought up quite close to the station building, and
that I was fired upon from a building opposite on my way
to see these persons, and that the prisoners ran away, and
that we Germans fired after them.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Richard Gruner.
The witness was sworn.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Pahl.
Signed : Dr. Grasshoff.
D. App. 39.
GuiscARD, March 1st, 191 5.
Present :
Member of the Military High Court, Riese.
Secretary, Reisener.
There appeared as a witness Non-commissioned Officer
Muesfeldt, and, after the importance of the oath had been
pointed out to him, he was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Willy Miiesfeldt, aged 33 ;
Protestant ; non-commissioned officer, IX. Reserve Corps.
As to Case : On August 25th I arrived with the first
party of the General Command at Louvain. We unloaded
and drove with the baggage to the market-place. Here
we remained, as it was said that the English were near, and
that we might have to go into action that day. In the
evening, at about 9 o'clock. Captain von Esmarch, leader
of our baggage, arrived in the automobile and said that
matters had turned out differently, and that we could march
off to quarters. The Captain mounted the horse and gave
the order " Mount." He had hardly said this when firing
commenced from all sides. I fetched my rifle from the
cart, took cover, and fired. Then I noticed that the Captain
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 263
lay on the ground, wounded ; I brought him into safety
beneath a cart, and continued firing. I cannot say exactly
how long the firing continued. When it ceased, the order
was given to search the houses from which the firing had
taken place for francs-tireurs. I approached a house from
which firing had taken place, battered the street door, and
went down the cellar, from which shots had also been fired.
1 found there a man of about forty years of age, with dark
pointed beard, who had a revolver in his hand. I immedi-
ately threw myself upon him, and in spite of his struggles I
led him up the stairs, where I handed him over to gendarmes.
I did not indeed see this man shoot, but I assume it with
certainty, since I found him with the revolver in his hand ;
he struggled, and there was no one in the house except
his wife. All this I related to Captain von Esmarch at
Christmas when he was here on a visit to the General
Command. There was a pharmacy in the house, which I
mentioned above.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Non-commissioned Officer Muesfeldt.
The witness was sworn.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Riese. Signed : Reisener.
D. App. 40.
Alton A, March 1st, 191 5.
Court of the Commandant.
Present :
President, Dr. Steengrafe.
Secretary, Sergeant Meyer.
There appears as witness engineer Weiss, who, after the
importance of the oath has been pointed out to him, he
declares as follows :
As to Person : My name is Robert Weiss ; engineer, in
Altona ; aged 31 ; Christian ; motor-driver.
As to Case : After mobilisation I offered my services as
a volunteer, and went into the field as motor-driver on the
staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps.
On the afternoon of August 25th, 1914, we arrived at
Louvain. The inhabitants behaved at first more than
kindly towards us.
Towards the evening I had driven a wounded man to
264 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
the field hospital near the market-place. The field hospital
was established in a monastery. About 9 o'clock I drove
the car with Captain von Harnier in it from the monastery
back to the market-place, when suddenly firing began on all
sides from the houses. I stopped my car and remained
unhurt ; Captain von Harnier was wounded in the arm ;
he hurried to the market-place, and I sought cover beneath
the car.
I may have remained there about half an hour when a
platoon of German infantry came along the road. I called
to the leader, and he had the surrounding houses, from which
the shooting continued, covered by fire. I then took the
car to safety in the yard of the monastery.
When, after a short time, I wished to leave. Captain von
Esmarch was carried in, covered with blood. Whilst being
carried to the field hospital, he was fired upon from the
monastery. I went into the monastery with an infantry-
man ; we found a revolver, but to save ourselves from
being cut off we could not enter the vaults of the monastery
into which the people had evidently retired.
The Belgian field hospital did not want to bandage
Captain von Esmarch ; I finally forced a Belgian surgeon,
whom I caught by the arm, to apply the bandage.
Subsequently, on driving my car to the market-place,
and from there to the station with the General Staff, I saw
everywhere on the way burning houses ; now and again
isolated firing from the houses still took place.
At the station there were no burning houses, and strict
orders had been given to set no houses on fire there. After
half an hour the firing from the hotels opposite the station
began. From that point right to the station there was
firing with machine-guns ; I could distinctly hear the
regular " tak, tak."
It was only then that orders were given to raze the
houses in front of the station ; they were set on fire, but
even from the burning houses, and finally from the ruins,
the firing continued briskly. We suffered losses.
Later on, isolated shots were fired.
The citizens who had in any way taken part in the
attack were brought to the station square, and, if foimd
guilty, shot according to martial law.
The soldiers, who brought the citizens along, were
exhorted — as I have myself heard — to bear witness carefully
and conscientiously. The examinations were conducted
by of&cers of the General Staff. Whoever carried loaded
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 265
arms, in spite of the prohibition issued and announced,
was shot at once.
In the town lay several men in clerical garb, shot ; at
the station, too, several men in clerical dress were shot ;
all were examined, but I was not present at the examinations.
On the following day, too, isolated shots fell upon us from
houses.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Weiss.
The witness was sworn in accordance with the regulations.
Signed : Dr. Steengrafe, President.
Signed : Meyer.
D. App. 41.
Court of the Commander.
Present :
President, Dr. Steengrafe.
Secretary, Meyer.
Altona, March ^rd, 1915.
There appeared as witness merchant Dammann, who,
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to
him, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Carl Dammann, aged 31 ;
Christian ; merchant in Hamburg ; soldier of the Reserve. •
As to Case : After mobilisation I volunteered for duty
as motor-driver, and as such I was assigned to the Staff of
the IX. Reserve Army Corps.
On the evening of August 25th, 1914, we arrived in
Louvain. At first the inhabitants were very obliging.
My motor-car was put in the market-place, a big square
near which is the Hotel M^tropole. In the evening, towards
9 o'clock, we motor-drivers stood under the trees of the place
and chatted together. Comrades told me they had seen a
rocket go up.
Suddenly an awful firing commenced from the houses
surrounding the place. The fire was first of all directed
on the baggage-carts which were to be drawn up at the
place. Each one of us sought cover, I on a baggage-cart,
the horses of which had just been shot. My car showed
later on a hole as large as a fist in the protective cover and
in the body of the car ; to judge by the way the tin was
bent, the shot must have come from below, from a cellar.
266 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
Whilst we sought cover, the firing continued, and some of
us were wounded. In my opinion this was a well-prepared
and planned attack of the civiUan population.
After the firing had become less violent, we drivers
went to the station. At the market-place and in its small
side-streets the houses were burning. During our drive
to the station, German patrols passed us everywhere. In
the station square firing took place principally from the
four large hotels there. The firing in the station square
continued till the morning.
Those persons of the town who had participated in the
attack upon the Germans were taken to the station square
in the course of the evening and during the night. An officer
then examined them ; the soldiers who had brought up
the people were examined. A number of men, nearly
fifty, were shot in the station square after the examination
was over.
As far as I remember, there were two persons in clerical
garb amongst them ; but there may have been more.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Carl Dammann.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Dr. Steengrafe, President.
Signed : Meyer.
D. App. 42.
Court of the Commander at Altona.
Present :
President, Dr. Steengrafe.
Secretary, Kahl.
Altona, December 2Sth, 1914.
On citation there appears as witness Captain of Land-
wehr II. Hermansen, who, after the sanctity of the oath had
been pointed out to him, makes the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Richard, aged 37 ; Pro-
testant ; Public Prosecutor at Diisseldorf ; at present
in the Reserve Battahon, Infantry Regiment No. 76,
Hamburg.
As to Case : I arrived at Louvain on August 25th at
about 9 o'clock p.m. after a railway journey of 55 hours.
At the moment of alighting a violent fire was opened
upon the station and its vicinity from the houses lying
round the station. I also heard a mechanical noise, which
I took to be machine-gun fire.
AFt-ENDlX D.— LOUVAIN 167
We took part in the searching and the burning down of
houses from which hring had taken place.
Some of the houses were lurnished with regular loopholes,
among them also houses which, as I saw on the following
morning, had flown white flags.
On September ist, at Lombeek, St. Catharinen, near
Ternath, west of Brussels, 1 made the acquaintance of a
priest, to whom I expressed my approval of the quiet bearing
of the inhabitants of Lombeek towards our company.
He said, " Yes, for weeks I have been preaching this
from the pulpit, and my flock listens to me. I have told
them that if they wished to fight, they should go to Antwerp,
put on uniform, and obtain a rifle. The enemy is only doing
his duty ; his soldiers are children of the same heavenly
Father."
I replied that, if all his colleagues in office had acted
thus, much that was disagreeable would have been avoided
both for the Belgians and for us. He did not contradict
me; we remained talking a little while longer, and when
I took my leave of him, he blessed me.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Hermansen.
The witness was then sworn according to regulations.
Signed : Steengrafe, President.
Signed : Kahl.
D. App. 43.
Present :
President, Felgner.
Secretary, Becker.
Flensburg, January 8th, 1915.
There appeared as witness Captain von Vethacke, who,
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out
to him, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Moritz, aged 37 ; Protestant ;
Captain, Reserve Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment
No. 86.
As to Case : I have just read Captain Hermansen's
statement of December 28th, 1914, and I confirm it with
the following remarks :
I know for certain that among the corpses living in the
station square there were several dressed in clerical garb.
The examinations in the station square in Louvain were
carried out very carefully. Each company had its portion
268 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
of the town which it tried to clear of francs-tireurs. Persons
found with a rifle in their hand were at once shot, but others
who could not be at once convicted of the participation in
the attack were led to the station building for a decision
to be come to there regarding them. The witnesses accom-
panied them in order to give their testimony in the station
square. Whatever priests were shot, were found guilty
before the Court. I also made the acquaintance of the
priest mentioned by Captain Hermansen at the end of his
statement ; he made an excellent impression on me also ;
he did not contradict me when I expressed my view that
priests had stirred up the people and had taken part in
the attacks. From my conversation with this priest I
gained the impression that he did not approve of the
behaviour of his colleagues in office.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : von Vethacke.
The witness was sworn according to regulations.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Felgner. Signed : Becker.
D. App. 44.
Court of the Bavarian Landsturm Infantry Battalion
Gunzenhausen.
Present :
President, Captain Hahn.
Secretary, Walz.
ViELSALEN, February 4th, 19 15.
On citation there appeared as witness Herr Karl Dorffer*
bom on December 25th, 1877, at Erda, district of Wetzlar ;
Protestant ; ist Lieutenant, Reserve of Prussian Railway
Regiment No. 3, assigned to the Railway Constructing
Company No. 17, at present commanded by the Bavarian
Staff Officer of railway troops in Vielsalen.
The witness, to whom the importance of the oath was
pointed out, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My personal description is correctly stated.
As to Case : On August 24th, 1914, I was commanded
to effect the detraining at the station in Louvain. I was
acting manager in the station as well as commandant over
the station. On August 25th detraining took place almost
continuously ; I particularly mention the detraining of
the IX. Reserve Corps and the General Staff of this corps.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN
269
On the evening of August 25th, at nightfall, shots fell
suddenly in front of and on both sides of the station area ;
in this area were detachment of troops and trains. At
first I did not attach much importance to the firing ; but
as it became more violent I went to the front of the station
building.
I now saw that violent firing was taking place, particulariy
from an hotel to the right of the station. From the long
flash of fire from the individual shots I assumed that military
rifles were not being used. I know for certain that firing
took place from the upper floors of this hotel, but the windows
from which firing took place were dark.
The following design will indicate the position of the
hotel more clearly :
il, from which, aflCT it h»d bttn sO on
yel aaolhcr volUy wa* ftred on the troops
mt of the station. ^
Hotel from which
firing look place first.
To Brussels arul
Antwerp.
To judge by the violence of the firing I must assume
that firing from other houses also took place.
Through ofi&cers of the Mecklenburg Dragoons belonging
to the General Commando of the IX. Reserve Army Corps
— if I remember right, through Captain von Alten and
another o£&cer — the news was received at the station that
even the transport of the Army Corps had been fired on in
the town. A high ofiicer gave the command to search the
hotel mentioned and other houses, and then to set them on
fire. A number of persons, partly middle aged, partly
older people, were taken out of these houses, and a great
number of them — but only males — were immediately shot
according to martial law. It was then qxiiet in the station
270 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
square for a long time. I would point out that I could not
stand in the station square continuously, because I had
business to transact in the station itself. It was therefore
impossible for me to watch all the events in front of the
station. At about ii or 11.30 p.m. — most of the houses in
the station square were burning — a volley was fired on us
from the roof of an hotel on the left of the station ; the
hotel was already burning at the bottom. I stood, as it
happened, in the centre of the station square with several
officers ; there remained nothing for us but to throw our-
selves upon the ground so as to offer the smallest possible
target. Orders were then given to search this house once
again ; in spite of this, a few isolated shots were fired during
the night from the houses in the station square, especially
from the houses on the road to Tirlemont, opposite the
loading ramp, upon which artillery and vehicles were
unloaded even during the night.
I know that, after the volley had been fired from the
house last mentioned, a high officer gave orders to clear
the people from all the houses round the station ; a number
of women and children, also old and middle-aged men, were
thereupon apprehended ; a few of the men were shot
according to martial law, but in a great number of cases
it could not longer be ascertained whether they had taken
part in the firing. These persons were first housed in the
station ; part of them were later on transported.
On August 26th a few isolated shots fell near the station.
On my request, the commandant of a battalion — according
to my notes it must have been Colonel von Treskow, 2nd
Battalion, Reserve Regiment No. 76 — had various houses
on the road to Tirlemont cleared ; this officer told me that
in doing so he lost one of his reserve officers. I cannot
say whether there were persons of the Garde Civique among
the Belgians who fired on us.
As to the persons shot — I speak, of course, only of my
own observations — it had been ascertained by witnesses
that they were guilty.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Karl Dorffer, ist Lieutenant of the
Reserve.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed : Hahn, Captain and Officer of the
Court.
Signed : Friedrich Walz, Secretary.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 271
D. App. 45.
Court of the Mobile Commissary Commando, i, VII. Army
Corps.
Present :
President, Elble.
Secretary, Casser.
P6RONNE, December 2gth, 1914.
There appears on citation as witness Paymaster Otto
Rudolph, Reserve Railway Constructing Company No. 11,
at present at Peronne, who, after the importance of the
oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Otto Rudolph, aged 34 ;
Protestant ; police officer at Worms.
As to Case : The Reserve Railway Constructing Company
No. II, of whom I am paymaster, marched into Louvain
on August 24th, 1914. My Commandant instructed me to
arrange for quarters for the officers and the horses of the
company near the principal railway station. I first applied
to the proprietors of the hotels in the station square, especi-
ally to the proprietor of the Hotel ** Maria Theresa." Every-
where I was received in the kindest way. As the rooms of
the hotel were, however, already engaged by officers of
other units of troops, I could not get the necessary rooms.
I therefore tried to find quarters in the main road leading
from the town hall direct to the station, but the name of
which I have forgotten. Here the necessary rooms were
put at my disposal in the kindest way. In the house No. 105
of this street I found quarters for three officers. In the
house diagonally opposite, the apartments of a bank
official, I was also well received.
The quarters were not occupied on this day, because
the company was trench-digging at the station during the
whole night.
On the following day I had requisitioned vegetables,
straw, etc., at Linden and Kessel-Loo, the latter a suburb
of Louvain. The various farmers fulfilled my requirements
in the kindest way. In the evening I returned from the
requisitioning. On the way, in the suburb Kessel-Loo,
male civilians, who had assembled in imposing numbers,
intimated to me that the English had succeeded in breaking
through near Louvain. On inquiring for the messenger
who had brought this news I heard that priests had related
it. I also remember actually to have seen three priests
272 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
at the eastern exit of the village at about 7 o'clock p.m.
They went through the streets singly, and here and there
made communications to the people. As I heard the firing
of cannon at no very great distance, I hurried to reach the
main station at Louvain. I arrived there at about 8
o'clock p.m. At about 9 o'clock I suddenly saw, near the
station, a rocket go up. At the same moment I heard
violent gim-fire. In order to inform myself regarding the
firing, and to have a better view, I went to a " G "-car of
the company transport, which was about 30 metres distant
from the station square. From the open peep-hole of the
" G "-car I obtained a good outlook over the station square
and towards the road that connects Louvain with Kessel-
Loo. I saw quite clearly firing upon the railway train
from the roof of the third house of the street opposite to
the train entering Louvain. I also remarked firing towards
the station square from a window on the third floor of an
hotel. From a window of the Hotel ** Maria Theresa "
firing upon the station square took place. During the
firing, the station square and the adjacent streets, which I
was able to overlook, were filled with our troops. The
firing could only be intended for our troops. Our men
replied to the firing. I myself fired at a window of the
second floor of the fifth house of the road that is parallel
to the train, from which a civilian, whom I could clearly see,
was firing.
After our side had received the signal to stop firing, I
went to the station square ; this may have been at about
10.30. A General there had instructed the field-gendarmes
to search the houses from which firing had taken place for
arms and ammunition. On my report of what I had seen,
a search was also made in the third and fifth houses of
the street parallel to the train. In both houses suspected
persons with guns and suitable ammunition were found.
One of these persons who was examined at the station had
cartridges which fitted the guns in his pocket.
At about 12 o'clock p.m. several civilians, among them
about six or seven priests, were shot in the station square.
Suddenly a window was opened on the second floor of the
Hotel " Maria Theresa," where I had received information
in such a trustworthy manner during my search for quarters
on the previous day. I saw a male person who repeatedly
tred upon the troops assembled in the station square.
Firing also took place from houses whose inhabitants had
wished to signify their friendliness by flying white flags.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 273
On the following day, August 26th, at about 12 o'clock,
I again went to the station square. A large number of
male and female inhabitants of Louvain were there. Among
the male inhabitants who were held as hostages I recognised
the bank official who was the proprietor of the house in
the Rue de la Station in Louvain. I entered into conversa-
tion with him ; he told me that the Belgian Garde Civique
had fired from his house, as well as from house No. 105
in which I had intended to engage quarters. When asked
why he had permitted it, he told me that on August 25th,
1914, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, members of the
Belgian Garde Civique had appeared and had forcibly
seized the houses under threat of death ; he said that the
citizens of Louvain did not wish this treacherous firing,
but had been forced by the Garde Civique to put up with
the firing from the houses.
At about 2 o'clock p.m., when a few of the houses in
the main street of Kessel-Loo, opposite the main railway
station, had been set on fire, firing took place from the
other houses of this street whose inhabitants had on the
previous day conversed with me apparently in the kindest
way.
In my opinion, supported by the foregoing personal
observations, this treacherous firing was organised according
to plan.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Rudolph.
The witness was then sworn.
Signed ; Elble, President.
Signed ; Casser, Secretary.
D. App. 46.
War Ministry.
Military Examination Office for Infringements of Laws of
War.
Berlin, February 12th, 1915.
Before the President at the War Ministry in Berlin, Dr.
Grasshoff and the Secretary Pahl, there appears to-day,
without citation. Captain Karl Friedrich von Esmarch
(permanently living at his country seat, Schonheim, Post
Rinkenes, district of Apenrade, at present wounded in
Berlin, Club Hospital, Wllhelmstrasse 30, landowner).
The witness requests to be heard as such with regard
18
274 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
to his observation of the events at Louvain on August 25th,
1914.
The importance of the oath was pointed out to him,
and he makes the following statement :
As to Person : My name is Karl Friedrich von Esmarch,
aged 40 ; Protestant.
As to Case : On August 25th, 1914. I arrived at Louvain
as Commandant of the Headquarters of the Corps, IX.
Reserve Army Corps. We arrived in Louvain by train
about 6 o'clock p.m. We detrained the horses and the
ist Division. We were to march to a Belgian hussar
barrack, take in provisions, and move into quarters. On
the way from the station to the barracks the adjutant
brought me the order to turn back because the alarm was
being raised as our troops were fighting about 10 km. outside
the town. The horses and ist Division were therefore to
go to the Place du Peuple in Louvain, taking in provisions
there, and the riding horses were to follow on a new order.
We rode to the place designated, and drew up there. In
the square stood a train column. The square was therefore
rather fully occupied on all four sides with vehicles and
horses. Gradually it became dark. Infantry regiments
marched past us ; on the south-west side of the square
they went in the direction of the town hall. As I had
only a few Staff guards to escort the hand-carts, I asked
a passing infantry regiment for a company as reinforce-
ment. I had become uneasy as to our safety for the follow-
ing reason : At first the streets were full, very full of
inhabitants ; towards the evening all movement of the
inhabitants suddenly stopped; the streets gave me the
impression of being deserted ; I also noticed that generally
the roller shutters in the houses were down. I obtained
the company and drew it up on the north-west side of the
square; I then rode to the opposite (south-east) side of the
square, where the forage master stood, in order to urge him
to hasten matters.
I had hardly arrived there when I heard a clock strike.
I did not count the strokes, there may have been eight or
nine. It was already perfectly dark. At the same moment
I saw a green rocket go up above the houses south-west
of the place. Shortly afterwards the sound of gun-fire
came from the direction south-west of the place. This
first gun-fire was followed by general firing from all the
houses round the square itself ; the firing was directed upon
the German troops in the square. The shots came from the
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 275
closed shutters ; one could clearly see their flashes ; holes
must therefore have been bored previously in the shutters.
I now wanted to gallop to the company to make arrange-
ments, and as I could not ride through the whole park
of vehicles I had to ride round them, i.e. round the north-
eastern part of the square. In doing so I was shot from
my horse on the north-eastern side of the square. I heard
distinctly the rattling of machine-guns, and the bullets flew
in great quantities all round me. I was severely hit by
hve bullets ; I also received a large number of grazing
shots ; my whole coat was in rags. When I had fallen from
the horse I was run over by a baggage-cart, the horses of
which bolted on account of the firing ; I was dragged
to the corner of the square which separates the north-east
side from the north-west side. Here I remained lying under
the cart for about half an hour. During this time I never
lost consciousness and I accurately observed my surround-
ings. The bullets continually rebounded on the pavement
all round me ; I noticed clearly the cracking off of numerous
splinters. I also heard repeatedly the explosion of appar-
ently heavy projectiles all round me ; I thought artillery
was firing ; but as there was none present there is only
one explanation, that the inhabitants were throwing hand-
grenades on us from the houses in the square. The firing
was not answered to by our troops until some time had
elapsed. The firing on both sides continued for about half
an hour, during which time I lay under the cart ; the chain
of the brake-shoe had caught my belt so that I could not get
free by myself. When the shooting ceased somewhat, my
servant came and released me from my position. He
brought me to the place where my company was drawn up
on the north-west side of the square and laid me on the edge
of the square, leaning my back against the wheel of a cart.
From this position I could observe all the houses on the
north-west side of the square and also the first houses on
both sides contiguous to the square. I noticed the following :
The company continued firing into the houses. The
firing of the inhabitants gradually ceased. The German
soldiers then beat open the doors of the houses and set
them on fire by throwing burning parafiin lamps into the
houses or by knocking off the gas cocks, igniting the escaping
gas and throwing tablecloths and curtains into the flames ;
now and again benzine was used as an incendiary means.
Colonel von Stubenrauch gave the order to set the houses
on fire, and I heard his voice. As soon as the smoke in
276 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
the houses became stronger, the francs-tireurs came out of
their houses down the stairs. In many cases they still held
their arms in their hands ; I saw clearly muskets, revolvers,
military rifles, and other firearms. I was particularly struck
by the great number of revolvers. The francs-tireurs were
to a man evil-looking figures such as I have never in my
life seen before ; they were shot by the German sentries
standing below. Our men took great care to spare women
and children, who were allowed to leave the burning houses
without interference. I have not seen a single case in which
a woman or child were hurt. Some of the women and
children even assembled in the square round us and were
very well treated by the German soldiers. Near me stood
a woman with a perambulator containing a small child. The
soldiers standing round were consoling the weeping woman.
I watched the scenes of burning the houses and taking
the francs-tireurs perhaps for half an hour. My servant
then brought up a motor-car. Together with other
wounded I was driven to a hospital, which we only reached
after driving to and fro for some time. It was a Belgian
military hospital ; I took it to be a monastery at the time,
because there were many monks there. I was handed
over about 12 o'clock, midnight, August 25th, 1914. On
the very next day, August 26th, 1914, I was again fetched
in an automobile and taken to Louvain station to be trans-
ported to Liege.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Karl Friedrich von Esmarch.
The witness was sworn.
Proceedings took place as above.
Signed : Grasshoff. Signed ; Pahl.
D.App.47.
Present :
President, Dr. van Gember.
Secretary, Lempfrid.
Wesel, January Sth, 1915.
There appeared as a witness Musketeer Schmidt, who,
after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him,
was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Alfred Schmidt, aged 32 ;
Protestant ; butcher ; musketeer, 9th Company, Landwehr
Infantry Regiment No. 53.
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 277
As to Case : With regard to participation of civilians in
the battle I know the following : I was attached to the Staff
of the 2nd Battalion, Landwehr Regiment No. 53, as a
butcher. On August 25th we had arrived at Louvain in
the afternoon about 5 o'clock. At first we could not go
to our quarters. In the evening at 9 o'clock I was near
the baggage. A lieutenant, who was leader of the baggage,
called us together and explained to us that we were to keep
our eyes open, because things did not seem quite safe. We
had hardly returned to our baggage, which stood in a some-
what narrow turning in the market, when I heard a loud
shot. This was evidently not a rifle-shot, but rather a
shot from a small gun, and evidently a signal ; for its sound
had hardly died away when we were fired on from all sides
from the houses. The shots came from the cellars and from
all floors ; it was real rapid fire. The horses having shied
and the carts having become interlocked, as I stood between
two carts, I could not at first get out. After about five
minutes I got free, looked about for my comrades, and could
see none. I therefore ran to the market, but was fired at
there too, also in two side-streets into which I wished to turn.
At a third street I finally succeeded in finding cover inside
a new building. After a time a few comrades assembled
there. We then determined to advance together towards
the gun-fire which we heard in the distance. Coming
through a street in which firing went on continually, I
stepped on an iron grate with which cellar holes are covered
in Louvain ; I fell through, fell on my arm, and broke my
wrist. Immediately behind me two other comrades fell
into the cellar. We had hardly fallen on the floor when we
were fired at from the interior of the cellar. After some
time a sergeant-major of artillery came who had evidently
seen us fall down, and he asked from the road whether we
were Germans. I then stepped up to the cellar opening,
and was pulled up by him by my iminjured hand. The
other two could not rise. I told this to the sergeant-major,
who then said that help was coming immediately. I was
taken to a barrack and bandaged. I cannot say from
own knowledge what happened to my comrades who had
fallen in with me. On the following day, however, I was
told at our quarters that they had been severely wounded.
On August 26th, at about i o'clock in the afternoon, we
were to be sent off by rail. The signal for starting had
already been given when the train was heavily fired at from
the houses near the station. One could hear the rattling
278 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
of the bullets. Everybody who could do so had to load.
Not till half an hour later were we able to proceed, the
firing lasted so long. The train was only a hospital train,
and was marked as such with the red cross.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Schmidt.
The witness was sworn.
Signed : Dr. van Gember.
Signed : Lempfrid.
D. App. 48.
Present :
President, Dr. Czarnikow.
Secretary, Thiele.
Allemant in France, December 18th, 1914.
There appeared as witness Lieutenant Brandt of the
Reserve, Infantry Regiment von Alvensleben (6th Branden-
burg) No. 52, who, after the importance of the oath had been
pointed out to him, was examined as follows :
As to Person : My name is Kurt Brandt, aged 32 ;
Protestant ; book-keeper in the printing works of J. Schmidt
at Markneukirchen, Saxony.
As to Case : I can only repeat the statements which I
made in my report to my regiment on September 27th.
The report was then read to the witness, and he then
declared the following : The report is the one just mentioned
by me. I repeat its contents. The letter of the Belgian
Government mentioned therein and the list of members of
the Garde Civique found, I handed to the regiment on the
following day. Lieutenant Dunkel of the Reserve will con-
firm the correctness of my statements ; he was then also at
Lou vain, and led a train of the Army Telegraph Section I.
During the firing, field gendarmes handed over to me
about five civilians who bore no badge or uniform. The
gendarmes reported that they had taken the persons with
arms in their hands, and they also produced the arms. I
did not examine the prisoners, but had them taken to the
Commandant.
The owner of the hotel mentioned by me, who appeared
in the morning from within the hotel when it was already
quite burned down, was handed over by me to the General
Staff Officer of the IX. Reserve Army Corps, a captain,
whose name I do not know. It was the same officer who
had given me instructions to destroy the two hotels. The
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 279
civilian was examined by the officer and shot about half an
hour later. At about the same time two priests were shot ;
when I saw them, they had already been apprehended. On
inquiry, an orderly officer of the Commander General told
me that they had distributed ammunition among the
civilians.
Major Hildebrand, mentioned in my report, had ex-
pressly pointed out that he and his people had been fired
on particularly from the houses opposite the station.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Kurt Brandt.
The witness was sworn.
Proceedings closed.
Signed : Czarnikow. Signed : Thiele.
Sender : Brandt (Kurt), Lieutenant of Reserve.
Place of dispatch : Wood near Fort Cond^.
Date : 27.9, 4 p.m.
Report.
To Infantry Regiment No. 52.
On the 24th ult. I arrived as protection to our Army
Telegraph Section with a platoon of the nth Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 52, at Louvain, and took up our
quarters in the Court of Justice ; we were exceptionally
well received by the inhabitants. On the following day
troop trains arrived continually with troops of the IX.
Reserve Army Corps who marched off in the direction of
Antwerp, because a sortie was reported from that city.
Only one company and my platoon remained behind with
the baggage. This and the thunder of the cannon which
could be heard in the town seemed to furnish an opportune
moment for the inhabitants to carry out the attack upon o\x£
troops which they had no doubt planned and prepared.
At about 9 o'clock there commenced a violent firing upon
our soldiers from the houses, especially directed upon the
newly arriving trains. Major Hildebrand, leader of a not
yet detrained battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 31,
an old regimental comrade of mine, also suffered from this
fire.
The fire was opened in the whole town in so surprising
and uniform a fashion that preparations for it must surely
have been made. In my opinion, the Belgian Garde Civique
took part in it. This assumption of mine was confirmed
by a document of the Belgian Government taken on the
280 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
23rd of August from the Burgomaster of Winghe-St. Georges,
from which can be seen that the Garde Civique was to be
mobihsed. The distinctive signs mentioned in the letter
(band and rosette) could not be found, because ostensibly
they were to be distributed from Louvain, as the place
belonged to this district. Lists of members for the last
three years were also found. It was impossible to make
arrests because, according to the statement of the Burgo-
master, almost the whole population had fled ; I suspect,
however, that the male population had been '* drawn "
into Louvain where these " troops " were to assemble. In
the course of the evening, troops were brought back into
the town, and at about 12 o'clock the firing ceased at last.
On the command of the General Staff of the IX. Reserve
Army Corps I then joined the other troops in the station
square, and was suddenly ordered to destroy and set on
fire two hotels from which firing had taken place during the
whole time, and to fetch out the occupants. The principal
culprits, however, evidently found an outlet in time over the
roofs, for only the proprietor came out at about 5 a.m.,
and very soon he received his reward, as well as two priests
who had distributed munition to the civilians. On the
following morning we continued our march in the direction
of Brussels, and on the way we were again violently fired at
from different houses.
I reported by telegram what I had ascertained regarding
the Garde Civique to the Commandant of the town of
Louvain on the same day (the 23rd), so that he might be
able to take counter-measures ; I know nothing further of
the result. But like all the others who have lived through
the attack I am firmly convinced that the matter had been
previously arranged by the authorities.
Signed : Kurt Brandt, Lieutenant of the
Reserve, 9th Company, Infantry
Regiment No. 52.
D. App. 49.
Court of the i8th Reserve Division.
Present :
President, v. Kauffberg.
Secretary, Rappe.
AvRicouRT, January 8th, 1915.
There appeared as witnesses the persons mentioned
below, who, after the importance of the oath had been
APPENDIX D.— LOUVAIN 281
pointed out to them, were, in the absence of the witnesses
to be heard subsequently, examined as follows :
1. Captain Schaefer, Reserve Field Artillery Regiment
No. 18.
As to Person : My name is Walther Schaefer, aged 40 ;
Protestant.
As to Case : I was leader of the light ammunition column,
2nd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment No. 18, and arrived
with my column at the station in Lou vain on August 25 th,
1914, at about 8 p.m. The train was so long that only half
of it could be brought up to the station platform. When
the first half of the train had been unloaded, and I was
remaining with about 100 horses in the goods station, a
murderous gun-fire suddenly commenced. The firing evi-
dently came from the roofs and windows of the rows of
houses to the east and west of the station. It lasted from
twenty minutes to half an hour. In the meantime, a train
with infantry arrived. I heard subsequently that the
infantry replied to this fire from the carriages.
When the firing had ceased I drew my horses under
cover in a goods shed. We had barely arrived there when
we were violently fired at from the direction of the church
tower. I had the impression that the shots came from
above ; it was related generally that a machine-gun had
been placed in position on the church tower. The firing
lasted at first only for a short time, but was repeated at
brief intervals, and continued intermittently for a few hours.
I cannot state the period more accurately.
I was also in the sheds of the stations. A General Staff
Officer of the IX. Reserve Corps was busy there and helped
me to get the second half of my train unloaded ; this was
about I o'clock at night. At 2 o'clock I marched off in the
direction of Herent-Bueken.
The General commanding the IX. Reserv^e Corps and
Captain Vieregge were during the night in the square in
front of the station.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Schaefer.
The witness was sworn.
2. Lieutenant of the Reserve Duckwitz, Reserve Field
Artillery Regiment No. 18.
As to Person : My name is Richard Duckwitz, aged 28 ;
Protestant.
As to Case : I belonged to the fight ammunition column,
which arrived on August 25th, 1914, about 8 o'clock p.m.,
282 THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM
at the goods station of Louvain. Soon after my arrival I
was commanded by the leader of the column to ride to
Bueken and to report to the Commandant of the i8th
Reserve Division the arrival of the column. I rode along
a broad boulevard that leads along on the outer edge of
Louvain. The street was perfectly quiet. When I subse-
quently came to smaller streets, I met infantry marching
along rifle in hand. They called to me to dismount because
firing from the houses was taking place. I met infantry
who told me that I could not proceed because our iirfantry
was firing with machine-guns into the town from the other
side. One could hear the firing. When it became more
quiet after a few minutes I rode on and reached Bueken,
part of which was burning. After having made my report,
I was told to ride back and to tell the column to come up
at once. On the return journey I missed the boulevard
and got into the town. I rode along a broad street and
overtook a troop of twenty to thirty gendarmes on foot,
revolver in hand. With them were several officers, a
priest in white cassock, and a few civilians surrounded by
a division of soldiers. The priest called out a few words in
French now and again ; I heard subsequently that he called
out to the people to put lights in the houses. I also saw
that light was burning in some houses ; the street itself was
dark. As I could not proceed I returned to Herent, where
I remained during the night.
On the following morning, at about 4 o'clock, I rode back
to Louvain. I found the boulevard, and arrived at the
station at about 6 o'clock. The houses surrounding the
station were partly burned down, partly still burning. In
front of the station was the General in Command with
several officers. After making my report to the leader of
my column we soon marched off and left Louvain un-
molested via the boulevard mentioned above.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed : Duckwitz.
The witness was sworn.
Proceedings took place as above.
Signed: v. Kauffberg. Signed: Rappe.
MEAOHv anotu, ashforo, kent * is ocvomshiw «t., e.c«.
I
HOME USE
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
MAIN LIBRARY
This bsok is due on tlie last date stamped below,
l-month loans may be renewed by calling 642-3405.
6-month loans may bo recharged by bringing books
to Circulation Desk.
Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior
to due date.
ALL BOOKS ARE SUBJECT TO RECALL 7 DAYS
AFTER DATE CHECKED OUT.
T'iPrrT
\ 'lU^V
UMiV. CF CALIF.. BERK,
JAN
- 2 2005
I*
<i
B ^
LD21-A30m-7,'73
(R2275S10)476 — ^A-32
General Library
University of California
Berkeley
y
47941JS
UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNlA LiBftAftY
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11