War Office.
Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War.
Belgian Civilian Uprising in Andenne on August 20th, 1914.
Summary Report.
Andenne is a small industrial Belgian town of about 8000 inhabitants, situated on the southern bank of the Meuse, half-way between the fortresses of Huy and Namur, in the province of Namur. During their advance, the German troops had constantly come into contact with Andenne. About the 20th August 1914 two infantry regiments and a Jäger Battalion marched from Coutisse towards Andenne, towards the north, in order to be able to cross the pontoon bridge there over the Meuse. They were commanded by Major-General Freiherr von Langermann and Erlencamp; Major von Polentz was at the head of one of the infantry battalions.
The inhabitants of Andenne received the passing troops in an apparently friendly manner; they gave them water, and the soldiers believed that in the quiet of the evening they would be able to pass peaceably through Andenne and reach the Meuse, flowing northwards. But scarcely had the head of the marching column arrived at the bridge over the Meuse, when the peaceful picture presented by the town suddenly changed, and the inhabitants showed their true character, a thing which unfortunately occurred only too often in Belgium. This time their deeds were truly devilish. Bells pealed from the church tower; as they ceased, the citizens, recently so helpful, suddenly disappeared from the streets, and bolted their doors and let down the shutters. A mad fire from all sides was poured upon the unsuspecting troops. In the town they shot from the cellars and from specially prepared openings in the roofs, and bombs and hand-grenades were hurled down on the defenceless men who happened to be nearest. Machine-guns sent their murderous bullets through the soldiers' ranks. At the same time, hidden francs-tireurs began firing from the heights opposite the end of the bridge over the Meuse. Besides which men and women in wild fury poured boiling water from the half-open windows upon the German troops. Of Major v. Polentz's men alone over one hundred were scalded. Against this inhumanity the troops had to defend themselves energetically. They pressed into the houses and shot down the cowardly aggressors in their hiding-places. The houses which had served them for cover were set on fire. About two hundred inhabitants lost their lives in these fights.
These are the details of the street-fighting in Andenne, which are supplemented by the official report attached, made by Major-General von Langermann and Erlencamp; and also by the evidence on oath of Major von Polentz, as well as of Rifleman Roleff—all eye-witnesses—who gave evidence without prejudice; and by the report of Lieutenant Goetze.
Berlin, the 29th of September 1915.
Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War.
Signed: Major Bauer.
Signed: Dr. Wagner, Member of the Supreme Court of Judicature.