“The terror raids of the Anglo-Americans also massacre thousands and thousands of German children. There, too, innocent blood is being shed through the action of the enemy, whose support of terrorism is forcing the German soldier to use his arms in the South of France.
“I beg to ask you”—concluded General Bridoux, writing to the German Commission—“whether the French Government is to consider the arguments cited above as reflecting accurately the position taken by the German High Command, in view of the facts disclosed in the first part of the present letter.”
We now submit Document E-190 as Exhibit Number RF-435, Page 141 of the document book, which describes the crimes committed at Ascq by a German unit which, in reprisal for the destruction of the railway, massacred 77 men of all categories and all ages, among whom were 22 employees of the French State railway, some industrialists, business men, and workmen. I quote:
“The oldest of these victims, M. Briet, retired, was 74 years old; he was born on 3 October 1869 at Ascq. The youngest, Jean Roques, student and son of the postmaster, was 15 years old, born on 4 January 1929 at Saint Quentin. Father Gilleron, a priest at Ascq, and his two protegées, M. Averlon and his son, who had fled from the coast, were also shot.”
This massacre was the cause of a protest made by the French Government at that time, to which Commander-in-Chief Von Rundstedt replied on 3 May 1944 (Document F-673, already submitted as Exhibit Number RF-392, Page 154):
“The population of Ascq bears the responsibility for the consequences of its treacherous conduct, which I can only severely condemn.”
General Bérard, president of the French delegation attached to the German Armistice Commission, was not satisfied with the reply given by Rundstedt; and on 21 June 1944 he reiterated the French protest, addressing it this time to General Vogl, president of the German Armistice Commission. This is still Document F-673, Exhibit Number RF-392. I quote:
“In all, from 10 October 1943 to 1st May 1944, more than 1,200 persons were made the victims of these measures of repression. . . .