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German Bgde Order says No Prisoners


Skipman

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I found this report in The People's Journal, and wondered what others might make of it. Is it just propaganda, or does the identification of the soldier, Company and Regt lend any weight to the story?

6/2/1915 The People's Journal

ALL SHOT

GERMAN BRIGADE ORDER SAYS " NO PRISONERS

The diary kept by a German soldier of the 112th Infantry Regiment appears to contain authentic first hand evidence of a German brigade order instructing the troops to take no prisoners, but to shoot the wounded and others who might fall into their hands. On the title page he has written his name-Reservist Reinhard Brenneisen, Fourth Company, 112th Regiment, Mulhaussen, and the words " The most important of my experiences during the campaign of 1914 "

On August 21, Brenneisen records an advance over the ground of the previous days fighting, and proceeds with sentences which are translated thus:-" There also came a Brigade order that all French, whether wounded or not, who fell into our hands would be shot. No prisoners were to be made "

Mike

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Overall I am skeptical. This regiment was in the area of Mulhausen at that time so that is correct. I would tend to believe it if there was an original copy of the alleged order, if we can show the man on a casualty list as being captured or killed and at what time and place. Even with the latter details it might only prove the man did really exist.

Given the propaganda at the time I believe the story is propaganda.

Ralph

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Reservist Reinhard Brenneisen from Egringen, Kr.Lörrach, of 4.Kompagnie, I.Bataillon, 4.Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.112 "Prinz Wilhelm" (depot at Mülhausen/Elsaß), is listed as slightly wounded on Verlustliste 43 of 24 Sep 1914, and then as Missing on Verlustliste 287 of 24 Dec 1914, according to which the battalion had recently been in action at Douai on 26/10 at Neunkirchen on 12/11, La Bassee on 16, 20 and 25/11, Festubert 16-25/11 and various skirmishes on 26, 27 and 30/11. He is confirmed as PoW in Verlustliste 833 of 16 Dec 1915.

The story of his diary also appears in Germany's Violations of the Laws of War 1914-15, compiled by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

http://www.archive.org/details/germanysviolatio00fran (page 53 in the pdf)

Brenneisen's note apparently read: "Auch kam Brigadebefehl sämtliche Franzosen ob verwundet oder nicht die uns in die Hände fielen sollten erschossen werden, es durfte keinen Gefangenen gemacht werden."

The same page also quotes from Musketier Anton Rothacher of 7.Kp, 7.badIR 142 (in the same brigade as Brenneisen), in a note dated Thursday 17 Aug 1914 (reproduced on p.54): "Die gefangenen u. verwundeten Franzosen werden alle erschossen, weil sie unsere Verwundete verstümpeln u. misshande[l]n. Brigadebefehl."

Rothacher is listed as seriously wounded in Verlustliste 253 of 5 Dec 1914.

Adrian

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Thank you also Adrian

Google translates this as

Brenneisen- "Auch kam Brigadebefehl sämtliche Franzosen ob verwundet oder nicht die uns in die Hände fielen sollten erschossen werden, es durfte keinen Gefangenen gemacht werden

Also, all the French brigade command was whether wounded or not we fell into the hands should be shot, it could not be made ​​prisoners

Rothacher-Die gefangenen u. verwundeten Franzosen werden alle erschossen, weil sie unsere Verwundete verstümpeln u. misshande[l]n. Brigadebefehl

The French captured and wounded, all shot because they verstümpeln(?) our wounded and ill-hande [l] n. Brigade command

Mike

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Sorry, Mike! Forgot the translations.

The first is as in your first post: "There also came a Brigade order that all French, whether wounded or not, who fell into our hands would be shot. No prisoners were to be made."

Rothacher's note translates as: "French prisoners and wounded are all shot, because they mutilate and ill-treat our wounded. Brigade Order."

Adrian

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During the Leipzig trials in the twenties there was one case where a German general (Karl Stenger) was prosecuted for issuing a brigade order not to take French prisoners. This could be related to that case. He was found not guilty. Interestingly one of his officers (a major Crusius) was condemned to two years for following the order ! :rolleyes:

Carl

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