7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.
_February 15th, 1915._
_Report._
1. On the events in Dinant I am able, as leader at that time of the
first platoon of the 5th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, to make
from personal observation the following statements:
The 5th Company, in conjunction with the 2nd Battalion, had halted in
the morning hours of August 23rd in a valley before Leffe. During this
halt I heard shots from sporting-rifles and revolvers (pistols) on
the wooded heights which stretch on both sides towards Leffe, without
being able to discern any of our assailants. No one in the company was
hit. This firing, intermingled with infantry fire, was audible during
the whole course of the day. Towards 8 o'clock the company marched
into Leffe, where, in consequence of the incessant firing, a frightful
tumult prevailed. Only a few civilians were to be seen in the streets.
These all showed signs of their peaceable intention by holding up their
hands. Almost all the windows of the houses were closed with blinds,
shutters, etc.; and the majority of these, as well as the doors, walls,
and roofs, were marked with apertures like loopholes.
Shortly after our entry Major Frenzel brought to the Company Chief
the order of the Brigade Commander to shoot all the men found with
arms. He pointed out a long row of houses which were to be searched
for men, and added in explanation that the inhabitants had shot at our
firing-line from the rear. Captain Gause gave me the order to take
over the searching of the houses with my detachment. I did this with
one party. We found the houses all shut up. Since our summons to open
was regularly ignored, we were everywhere obliged to gain entry by
force. Three men were shot; their wives and children I had taken to the
convent, which had previously been pointed out to me as intended for
that purpose. I also noticed during the course of the day that women
and children were taken there by our men quietly, some by persuasion.
In searching the houses it was seen that the apertures, everywhere
visible from the outside, were doubtless intended for firearms.
According to my observations, no women or children were fired upon
anywhere by us. That some incidentally came to grief in the mêlée was
not to be avoided. I saw one woman who had received a glancing bullet
in the foot. According to the statement of the men, she had been
wounded in a house which had been fired into because it would not open
voluntarily.
2. Further observations have been made by men of the 5th Company
and by the 7th Company, at that time led by myself, which seem to
be absolutely authentic. The men in question, previous to their
interrogation, had all been warned of the probability of having to
swear to their statement.
Thus, eight men of the 5th Company were witnesses to the fact that
six civilians, among them one of very youthful age, had fired on
the company. These were all shot. Reservist Kluge, with some other
comrades, in searching a house, found on the floor a German soldier
who had been shot, and close by him a civilian busy with his rifle and
ammunition, whom they shot. The observations of the non-commissioned
officers and men of the 7th Company are of a similar character to those
made by me. Here Privates Uhlmann and Neumann were wounded by small
shot fired from the houses. Acting-Sergeant-Major Schaefer and several
men noticed that civilians (men) had fired on German soldiers. German
cartridges were also found here on the civilians.
Signed: KIPPING, Lieutenant and Company Leader.
_Deposition._
Present:
Lieutenant THOMAS, Officer of the Court.
Acting-Sergeant-Major LANGE, Clerk of the Court.
There appeared as witness Lieutenant Kipping, who, after the reading of
his report of February 15th, 1915, stated:
As to Person: My name is Martin Friedrich Franz Kipping. I am 29 years
old; Protestant; Lieutenant of Reserve.
As to Case: I maintain my statements.
Witness was thereupon sworn.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: MARTIN KIPPING.
Signed: THOMAS. Signed: LANGE.