Report.
To Infantry Regiment No. 52.
On the 24th ult. I arrived as protection to our Army Telegraph Section with a platoon of the 11th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 52, at Louvain, and took up our quarters in the Court of Justice; we were exceptionally well received by the inhabitants. On the following day troop trains arrived continually with troops of the IX. Reserve Army Corps who marched off in the direction of Antwerp, because a sortie was reported from that city. Only one company and my platoon remained behind with the baggage. This and the thunder of the cannon which could be heard in the town seemed to furnish an opportune moment for the inhabitants to carry out the attack upon our troops which they had no doubt planned and prepared. At about 9 o'clock there commenced a violent firing upon our soldiers from the houses, especially directed upon the newly arriving trains. Major Hildebrand, leader of a not yet detrained battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 31, an old regimental comrade of mine, also suffered from this fire.
The fire was opened in the whole town in so surprising and uniform a fashion that preparations for it must surely have been made. In my opinion, the Belgian Garde Civique took part in it. This assumption of mine was confirmed by a document of the Belgian Government taken on the 23rd of August from the Burgomaster of Winghe-St. Georges, from which can be seen that the Garde Civique was to be mobilised. The distinctive signs mentioned in the letter (band and rosette) could not be found, because ostensibly they were to be distributed from Louvain, as the place belonged to this district. Lists of members for the last three years were also found. It was impossible to make arrests because, according to the statement of the Burgomaster, almost the whole population had fled; I suspect, however, that the male population had been "drawn" into Louvain where these "troops" were to assemble. In the course of the evening, troops were brought back into the town, and at about 12 o'clock the firing ceased at last. On the command of the General Staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps I then joined the other troops in the station square, and was suddenly ordered to destroy and set on fire two hotels from which firing had taken place during the whole time, and to fetch out the occupants. The principal culprits, however, evidently found an outlet in time over the roofs, for only the proprietor came out at about 5 a.m., and very soon he received his reward, as well as two priests who had distributed munition to the civilians. On the following morning we continued our march in the direction of Brussels, and on the way we were again violently fired at from different houses.
I reported by telegram what I had ascertained regarding the Garde Civique to the Commandant of the town of Louvain on the same day (the 23rd), so that he might be able to take counter-measures; I know nothing further of the result. But like all the others who have lived through the attack I am firmly convinced that the matter had been previously arranged by the authorities.
Signed: Kurt Brandt, Lieutenant of the Reserve,
9th Company,
Infantry Regiment No. 52.
D. App. 49.
Court of the 18th Reserve Division.
Present:
President, v. Kauffberg.
Secretary, Rappe.
Avricourt, January 8th, 1915.