The German Army in Belgium, the White Book of May 1915

by Germany. Auswärtiges Amt

Already before the 23rd of August it was known to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood of Dinant that in this place there existed an organisation for treacherous attack on the German troops (Apps. 12, 51).

It was known that the surprise attacks upon the German troops by the local inhabitants, which took place at Sorinnes and other places lying to the east of the Meuse, were partly to be traced to emissaries from Dinant.

This organised effort was distinguished by its careful preparation and by the extent of its activities.

The houses were placed in a state of defence by the barricading of the doors and windows, by the construction of loopholes, and by the accumulation of a large supply of firearms and ammunition in the houses. The existence of large stocks of ammunition was proved in one way by the repeated explosions in the burning houses. In the night operations of August 21st trip-wires were drawn across the street (Apps. 3, 9, 10, 11, 18, 26, 28, 29, 31, 38, 49, 50, 52, 53, 70, 81).

From the fact that the firearms were not only in part sporting-guns and revolvers, but were partly machine-guns and Belgian military rifles (Apps. 2, 25), one may conclude that the movement had the support of the Belgian Government. The whole of Dinant with its suburbs on the right and left bank of the Meuse was prepared in the same way. Everywhere, in Leffe, in Les Rivages, in Neffe, one found the barricading of the houses, the loopholes, and the presence of weapons. At the same time it is expressly pointed out in the reports of the fighting that the belligerent Belgian civilians did not wear any kind of military badge (Apps. 4-7, 12, 15, 22, 24, 25, 31). The whole population was imbued with the same purpose—to hold up the German advance. If, by taking part in the dangers into which it knowingly ventured, some portion of it perished, it has only itself to blame.

This resistance offered to our troops was extremely obstinate. It was carried on with every kind of weapon, with military rifles and sporting-guns, with bullets and shot, with revolvers, with knives, with stones (Apps. 5, 10, 11, 25-28, 31, 35, 38, 43, 54, 55, 57, 58, 63, 67, 81). All grades, even the clergy (App. 18), took part in it, men and women, old men and children (Apps. 5, 6, 10, 12, 14, 18, 28, 29, 35, 41, 44, 54, 56, 59, 63). From the cellars of burning houses firing was still kept up. At the very moment when he was being shot by martial law, a franc-tireur discharged a revolver, which he had kept concealed, at the firing-party (App. 5). With treachery and cunning (Apps. 28, 32, 43, 44, 50, 68), themselves invisible from the outside, they fired from loopholes in the rear of passing detachments and on single officers. They disappeared before the advancing Germans (Apps. 12, 37, 64) through back ways into the caves and subterranean passages, to continue their work of assassination in some other place.

Some male francs-tireurs had put on women's clothing (Apps. 64, 65). The Geneva badge was misused by individuals and in the case of buildings in order, under its protection, to cause injury to the Germans (Apps. 9, 16-18, 32, 56, 66-70).

Even the wounded who were being transported to the rear, as well as hospital orderlies, were shot at from the houses (Apps. 71, 72).

The fanaticism of the population found its most revolting expression in the cruel murder of sleeping men, in the mutilation of the fallen, and in the burning of wounded prisoners who were bound up with wire for this purpose (Apps. 56, 59, 61, 67, 73-78).

In judging of the attitude taken by the troops of the XII. Corps in the face of the action of the civil population, which was hostile to the last degree and employed the most reprehensible methods, we must remember that the tactical aim of the XII. Corps was the rapid passage over the Meuse and the clearing of the enemy from the left bank. The speedy suppression of the resistance of the inhabitants, which was directly opposed to this aim, was a military necessity to be secured by all possible means. From this point of view, the bombardment of the town, which was taking an active part in the fighting, and the burning of the houses occupied by the francs-tireurs, as well as the shooting of inhabitants caught with weapons in their hands, were all justified.