Chapter 20 of 27 · 3850 words · ~19 min read

Part 20

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 OPINION of the Commandant, 15th Mobile Forage Commando, Major v. Manteuffel.

In addition to my statement as a witness I would like to express expert opinion as Commandant and soldier to the effect that the whole firing was instigated by the inhabitants. At the same time, the approach of two Belgian battalions from the direction of Bueken was reported. The German detachments on duty were given the alarm to oppose this. When these troops had nearly got away, the Belgian inhabitants opened a lively fire upon them from windows and garret dormers. Our German soldiers went through the streets quietly and unsuspectingly, when they were suddenly fired on. The German soldiers in no way commenced or provoked the firing.

Signed: V. MANTEUFFEL, Major and 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.

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: