During 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 Commander, Major Hoch, came to the company and spoke to 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: SergeantRichter, as Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 86.
Present:LieutenantOeser, as Officer of the Court.Acting-Sergeant-MajorLippmann, as Clerk of the Military Court.
Prouvais,March 26th, 1915.
There appeared for examination Lieutenant and Regimental 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; 22½ years old; Protestant; Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant, Grenadier Regiment No. 101.
As to Case: With Lieutenant von Zenker of the 1st 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 already burning 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-Majorand Clerk of the Military Court.
C. App. 87.
The Trenches,January 12th, 1915.
By Regimental Order, Chief Surgeon of the Reserve, Dr. Marx, Assistant Surgeon of the 2nd Battalion, 1st 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 Döbeln (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, 1914) 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 Officerand 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.
1. The uprising of the town of Louvain 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 architectural 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, especially 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 a great number, have plundered, desolated, and burned, and, in fact, completely destroyed the town.
These accusations are false; moreover, it has been confirmed 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. Intercourse between the inhabitants and the troops, whose number and composition were continually changing, appeared at first to be exceptionally good. No single case of excess occurred. The German troops behaved themselves in exemplary fashion, which even the Belgians recognised; 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, 11, 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 about Louvain advanced to meet them; further troops were sent from Liège 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 heavy 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. 1, 3, 45, 48).
Already before the fight had been decided, a German company of the Landsturm, which had been stationed at the north-western exit of Louvain, 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 themselves there. During their march through the town everything 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 Louvain at this time (Apps. 3, 7, 8, 38).
Among the inhabitants of the town who observed the march through of the Landsturm company were astonishingly 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 prepared 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 completely 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).
An especially violent fire was poured upon the market-place and the first échelon of the General Command stationed there. Several officers and men were wounded or killed. The Staff of the General Command alone lost 5 officers, 2 officials, 23 men, and 95 horses (App. 1).
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 obliged 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. 1, 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 town 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 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 was even carried away 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 sharp 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 the face of these brutal attacks, the German soldiers had to protect themselves by energetic retaliatory measures. As had been threatened, the inhabitants who had participated 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 the 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 soldiers to meet the attack more effectively. 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:
1. 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. 1, 20).
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. 1, 2, 6, 37).
In accordance with these facts, the attack evidently was carefully planned, and lasted for several days 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 official 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 themselves 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. 1, 30, 45, 48).
Unfortunately a number of priests also allowed themselves 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. 1, 19, 34, 37, 38, 41, 42, 45, 48). Those who appreciate the authentic facts discovered by the German Government regarding the case of Louvain, facts which are not based upon hasty examinations 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 what value can be attached to other similar accusations on the part of the Belgians against the German troops.
In the case of Louvain 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 that the compulsory spectators of this pretended scene were forced to show their appreciation by clapping. It is impossible 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 10th, 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. 1.
Court of Justice of the Government-General of Brussels.
Present:Dr.Ivers, Justice of Martial Law.Secretary,Reisener.
Noyon,September 27th, 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 échelon 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 detraining had not yet been terminated when the report was received from the 18th 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 the action was principally sustained by the 18th Reserve Division. Our losses were only small. While the different portions of the 18th 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 échelon 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, 1st 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 1st Adjutant, Captain v. Kretschmann, the Staff was successfully reformed during 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 Regiment 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 1st Squadron in Rotselaer was fired on suddenly by about 50 civilians, and, as a result, 2 hussars were wounded and 1 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 fire. 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 échelon 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 continuation of the attacks by the citizens, the town would be bombarded. On Wednesday forenoon the fighting recommenced with renewed violence. A systematic disarming of the town became impossible, also the collection of a fine 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 defence, 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 resounded from the burning houses, due to explosives and cartridges stored there. On the following day also the troops were continually 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:
1. 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 18th Division.
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 Predöhl, 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 exceptionally 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 Hôtel Métropole. 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 do it with the courage of despair. Their removal to Antwerp 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.Ivers. Signed:Reisener.
D. App. 2.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present:Dr.Ivers, Judge of Military Law.Secretary,Reisener.
Noyon,September 27th, 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 Hôtel Métropole, where the Commander-in-Chief had also stayed, and that the town was perfectly quiet. We then proceeded to the Hôtel Métropole 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 Antwerp was attacked and asking for immediate support from the IX. Reserve Corps. At that time about half of our 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 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 surrounding 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 allowed 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 to our Hôtel Métropole. When we arrived there we found in front of the house a civilian, shot. It appeared that this man had sat in the Hôtel Métropole, 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.
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 11 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 Hôtel 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 Hôtel 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 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,Rambeau.
Louvain,September 23rd, 1914.
Major v. Manteuffel, commanding 15th Mobile Commando, declared as follows:
As to Person: My name is Walter v. Manteuffel, born 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, 1914, at noon, we arrived at Louvain. The town gave me an impression of quietude and peace. One company of Landwehr Regiment 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 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 1st Company of the Landsturm Battalion Neuss, under 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt, arrived at the station.
At about 7.30 p.m. I had gone to the Hôtel Métropole, 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 surrounding houses to be searched. This was effected in such a manner that all inhabitants found with arms or ammunition 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 to the hotel with the Staff a murderous fire was opened 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 23rd, 1914.
Expert Opinionof the Commandant, 15th Mobile Forage Commando, Major v. Manteuffel.
Expert Opinionof 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 Commandant.
D. App. 4.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present:Dr.Ivers, Judge of Military Law.Secretary,Rambeau.
Louvain,September 23rd, 1914.
Lieutenant of the Landwehr Ibach, Adjutant, Mobile Foraging Commando No. 15, declared as follows:
As to Person: My name is Ernst Ibach, born on May 16th, 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 Louvain 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 Commandant, 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, commenced 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 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 23rd, 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 1st Lieutenant Winkler, at the Hôtel "Métropole de Suède," 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 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 until 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.
Louvain,September 23rd, 1914.
First Lieutenant Telemann of the Reserve, Supply Commando, declared as follows:
As to Person: My name is Paul Telemann, born 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.
On the evening of August 25th I and two 1st Staff-Surgeons were having supper in the Café Royal—since burned down—in the market. Suddenly—as far as I remember, soon after 8 p.m.—I heard lively firing in the market, which steadily increased. 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 direction 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, apparently 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 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.Ivers, Judge of Military Law.Secretary,Rambeau.
Louvain,September 17th, 1914.Station Buildings.
During the judicial proceedings of the Court of the Government-General at Brussels for the purpose of ascertaining 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 Landsturm 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, 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt, 1st 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 Liège. On the 25th there were only about 100 men in Louvain of the v. 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 1st 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-Louvain, and the main points of attack were Herent and Bueken.
Shortly after 7 o'clock I ordered 1st 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 particularly 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 German 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, 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt's 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-line and took part in the fight with a rifle; 1st 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 officer 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 1st 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 17th, 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 11th, 1869; Catholic.
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 1st Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, on August 24th, 1914. My company was quartered 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 Liège, 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 unexpectedly 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 (Hôtel de l'Industrie), 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 replied, "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 of Military Law, Dr. Ivers. 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.Ivers. Signed:Rambeau.
Court of the Government-General at Brussels.
Present:Dr.Ivers, Judge of Military Law.Secretary,Rambeau.
Louvain,September 17th, 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 19th, 1914.
There appears on citation Captain v. Sandt as witness, 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 Hôtel de l'Industrie at Louvain. I did not see myself the light signals shown at the station, but soldiers of my company assured me repeatedly in the most trustworthy manner that light 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 Battalion—I think of the 7th—under the command of Colonel v. Berund, told me credibly that a German soldier had been found in the Hôtel de Suède with the head beaten in. According to their statement another German soldier was found dead in the Rue Maria Thérèse, his legs and arms having been chopped off. This house was consequently set on fire.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed:Otto v. Sandt.