German Atrocities
from German evidence
STUDIES AND DOCUMENTS ON THE WAR
German Atrocities
from German evidence
by
Joseph BÉDIER
Professor at the “Collège de France”
Translated
by
BERNHARD HARRISON
LIBRAIRIE ARMAND COLIN
103, Boulevard Saint-Michel, PARIS, 5e.
1915
German Atrocities
from German evidence
Pudor inde et miseratio.
Tacitus.
I intend to prove that the German armies cannotwholly escape from the reproach of sometimes violatingthe law of nations, and I mean to prove my case accordingto French custom from absolutely trust worthy sources.
I shall make use only of documents most rigorouslyexamined, and I have taken care to criticize their text asminutely as if in times of peace I were questioning theauthority of some old chronicle or the genuineness of someold chart. And I shall do so perhaps from professionalhabit, perhaps impelled by an inward longing to getat the truth, in any case for the good of the case I ampleading: for these pages are intended for every one; forthe casual reader, for the indifferent, and indeed for theenemy of my country. I wish that the casual reader whomay by chance open this pamphlet in an idle momentshould be struck by the genuineness of the documents,if he has eyes to see, just as their sordid character willtouch his heart, if he has a heart that feels.
My aim has been that these documents whose authenticity[Pg 6]is obvious should carry an equally obvious authority.It is easy to make accusations difficult to prove them! Nobelligerent has ever been at a loss to bring against hisenemy a heap of evidence, true or false. But though theevidence may be collected in accordance the most solemnforms of justice by the highest magistrates, it will unfortunatelylong remain useless, so long as the adversary hasnot had an opportunity of disputing it, everyone is entitledto consider statements as lies, or at least as open to refutation.That is why, I shall abstain here, from quotingFrench or Belgian testimony true though I know it to be.I have preferred that the evidence which I shall call shallbe of such a nature that no living man, not even in Germanyshall attempt to refute it. German atrocities shallbe proved by German documents.
I shall take the evidence chiefly from those war diaries,which Article 75 of the Rules for Field service of theGerman Army advises soldiers to keep on the march,which we have confiscated from prisoners[1], as beingmilitary papers. It goes without saying that their numberincreases daily. I should like some d