In the inquiry concerning the violations of International Law committed against German troops, there appeared as witness Medical Non-commissioned Officer Ostmann of the 5th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 101, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following statement:
As to Person: My name is Otto Eduard Ostmann, 26 years old; Protestant; shop assistant by trade.
As to Case: On the evening of August 23rd, 1914, when it was getting dark, my company entered Les Rivages. It halted in the street at the beginning of the place. As there was no medical non-commissioned officer farther on, I went as far as the crossing-place over the Meuse and stood close by in the middle of the street. There was no one in the street in my immediate neighbourhood.
While I was facing the houses where some civilians were standing, a shot fell from a house to the right of me; I immediately felt a stinging pain under my right eye and felt blood running down my cheek.
My Battalion-Surgeon, Dr. Haupt, after examining the wound, said that a small shot had grazed me. The shot could only have been meant for me, since I was the only person standing in an open space of 2 metres in circumference.
I had duly put on the Geneva Cross band, which was visible.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Otto Eduard Ostmann.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: Naumann. Signed: Schwarzbach.