How many surrendering German soldiers were shot on sight by American troops in WW2?
https://www.quora.com/
Former Retired, Former LawyerFri
An amazing and moving story!
GK,GS & HISTORY
Posted by
Rohit Singh
Aug 7
How many surrendering German soldiers were shot on sight by American troops in WW2?
In Haguenau, Germany, in late January 1945, The 101st received the order to send a patrol across the river crossing to capture enemies and make them talk. At the end of this patrol and after a short battle between the Americans and the Germans, the members of the squad left a German soldier in agony, who cried for his mother, for hours. One GI thought about going back across to knife him to death, but eventually, another threw a grenade, which silenced the German soldier. (Did Americans kill a wounded German because his cries disturbed their conscience?.)
Friedrich Lengfeld was a German officer, in World War two, and a company commander in the Hürtgen Forest.
His unit was to secure a minefield against the Americans, after fierce fighting, he heard cries of pain “Help me” from a wounded American soldier between the frontlines, the lieutenant ordered his soldiers not to fire on approaching American medics, they could evacuate the wounded solder, however, the soldiers cry for his mother and “help” continued for hours, Friedrich ordered his medics to form a squad to rescue the soldier, he took the lead (his actions did not go unnoticed by the Americans).
Leading his men through the minefield, he never made it; he stepped on a mine and bled to death. The Americans were so moved by his sacrifice, they built a monument,
To the young lieutenant, the voice crying out that day did not come from an enemy. Neither from an American nor a stranger. It came from a human being in need. Something inside Friedrich compelled him to act—a feeling so strong that not even the madness of war could block it out. In the German forest, where thousands met their deaths, that glorious impulse for life is now honoured.
When the fighting is over, all men become a Band Of Brothers.
Source - Dave Hargreaves
170.2K views
397 upvotes
6 shares
21 comments
108.8K views
View 2,743 upvotes
View 26 shares
****************************