Part 10

On the afternoon of August 20, 1914, I received the command to march from Coutisse to Andenne with the brigade (1st and 2nd Guard Reserve Regiment and Guard Reserve Jäger 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 1st Guard Reserve Regiment, we heard suddenly and simultaneously a furious rifle-fire coming from 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 neighbourhood. The fire directed on us came solely from the civil population. Later it was reported to us that a document 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 friendliness 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 attention to the fact that this happened in Birdontige, near Stavelot, as well as in Evelette, south of Andenne. The most serious case, however, occurred in Andenne (between Liège 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 5th, 1915_.

Present: President of the Military Court, STACK. Secretary to the Military Court, Non-commissioned Officer WESSELMANN.

There appeared as witness Rifleman Hugo Roleff, of the 11th 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 Reserve 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 overthrown, 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.

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. Léon 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 l'Hôtel 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 l'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 the town hall. He was released towards the morning. Loroy only knows of the events by report.

8. Pane Tillmann, Rue Bran, 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, schoolmaster, 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. Pressure 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 barricades, 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 21ST TO AUGUST 24TH, 1914.

_Summary Report._

Immediately after crossing the Belgian frontier the XII. Army Corps had difficulties with the civilian population 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. Médard, 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, 1914, the operations of the German cavalry, in which among others Jäger 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.

On August 21st the XII. (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps engaged in operations before Dinant. The 2nd Battalion of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, 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 barricaded, 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 our men by the discharge of small shot. They were even pelted with stones (Apps. 2-5).

The battalion penetrated as far as the bridge, ascertained 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 attempts 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 comparatively slight loss, resulted in the dislodgement of the enemy forces from the heights of the left bank of the Meuse. On the other hand, the losses which the hostile civil population 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 1st 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 dislodge 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 were 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 consumed 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. 1, 5, 7, 10, 11).

The Regiments No. 108 and No. 182 had similar experiences 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 1st 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 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 bombardment, 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 11th Jägers, 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 concealed in the houses. There was firing from all the houses, although in many of them no one was found. The marksmen 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 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 Leffe. 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 foremost 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. 101 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.