German Atrocities from German Evidence
by Joseph Bédier (1864–1938)
- Free to read
- 35 min read
- 8 chapters
- Reading level: 7th grade
"German Atrocities from German Evidence" by Joseph Bédier is a historical account penned during the early 20th century, specifically in the context of World War I. This book serves as a critical examination of the actions of the German army during the war, aiming to provide concrete documentation of alleged war crimes based solely on German military records and diaries. It seeks to highlight the contrast between the purportedly honorable principles of warfare and the brutal reality as depicted by the soldiers' accounts. In this book, Bédier meticulously compiles a series of chilling excerpts from the diaries of German soldiers, detailing the atrocities committed against civilians in occupied territories such as Belgium and France. These accounts describe various acts of violence, including mass executions, pillaging, and the intentional harm inflicted upon women and children. Bédier emphasizes the systematic nature of these crimes, depicting a culture of violence that was not only tolerated but seemingly sanctioned within the German military. By relying exclusively on German sources, the author strengthens his argument, striving to present undeniable evidence that critiques the moral integrity of the German military's actions during the war, while also raising questions about the broader implications regarding the nature of warfare and humanity.
- World War, 1914-1918 · Atrocities
Read the opening
Chapter I
I open haphazard the Diary of a soldier of the Prussian Guard, Gefreiter Paul Spielmann (I Kompagnie, Ersatz-Bataillon, I Garde-Infanterie-Brigade). Here is his account of a night alarm in a village near Blamont on the 1^{st} September. At the bugle call, the Guard wakes, and the massacre begins (Plates 1 and 2.)
«The inhabitants fled through the village. It was horrible. Blood
was plastered on all the houses, and as for the faces of the dead,
they were hideous. They were all buried at once, to the number of
sixty. Among them many old men and women, and one woman about to be
delivered. It was a ghastly sight. There were three children who had
huddled close to one another and had died together. The altar and the
ceiling of the church had fallen in. They had been telephoning to the
enemy. And this morning, 2 September, all the survivors were driven
out and I saw four little boys carrying on two poles a cradle in
which was a child of 5 to 6 months old. All this was horrible to see.
A blow for a blow. Thunder for thunder. Everything was pillaged. And
I also saw a mother with her two little ones: and one had a large
wound in the head, and had lost an eye.»[2]
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About this edition
This free edition of German Atrocities from German Evidence by Joseph Bédier comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #47088, released 2014-10-10. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: History - Modern (1750+), History - Warfare.
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