French MacLean, Author at The Fifth Field

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The Best Military Theorist

Many students at the National War College – and even a few folks today – have asked me who my favorite military theorist is. Many scholars of military history, strategy and politics have heard of Carl Clausewitz and Sun Tzu and both were indeed influential thinkers.

Carl Clausewitz was a German officer and military theorist in the early 1800s, who stressed the moral and political aspects of war; we would say today that this included the psychological aspects of warfighting. His most notable work, Vom Kriege (On War), has been studied by thousands of military officers around the world; ironically, the book was unfinished at his death and may have been completed by his wife. He stressed the dialectical interaction of diverse factors, noting how unexpected developments unfolding under the “fog of war” (i.e., in the face of incomplete, dubious, and often completely erroneous information and high levels of fear, doubt, and excitement) call for rapid decisions by alert commanders. These special commanders were said to have a finger-tip feeling for war.

Clausewitz also discussed the relationship between three elements that later became known as “Clausewitz’s trinity.” These are “composed of primordial violence, hatred, and enmity, which are to be regarded as a blind natural force; of the play of chance and probability within which the creative spirit is free to roam; and of its element of subordination, as an instrument of policy, which makes it subject to reason.”

Clausewitz also wrote at length about the concept of center of gravity. This process was to identify the enemy’s hub of all strength, in other words, what characteristic or element led him to victory. It might be a strong alliance in support; it might be the enemy’s ground forces, etc. Very rarely was the enemy’s center of gravity a single person or leader, although many intelligence efforts in the past focused on eliminating that one “indispensable” person. The U.S. was caught in that trap when Seal Team Six killed Osama Bin Laden and many high-ranking leaders opined that this was the end of Al Qaeda; of course we know it was not. Whenever you see a politician, or a senior military leader for that matter, not address the center of gravity of the enemy, you know that you are listening to a rank strategic amateur, regardless of his pay grade.

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who lived in the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China, about 500 BC. He is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an extremely influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. Sun Tzu has had a significant impact on Chinese and Asian history and culture, both as the author of The Art of War and as a legendary historical figure. The Art of War presents a philosophy of war for managing conflicts and winning battles and is accepted as a masterpiece on strategy, frequently cited and referred to by generals and theorists.

The work very succinctly presents the tenets for developing and executing a strategy that will defeat the strategy of your opponent. It is presented in lists and recommendations such as: “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

Perhaps Sun Tzu’s most famous quotation has been: “It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.”

While both these theorists have been extremely influential in modern history (and for Sun Tzu much longer), and while I have re-read each numerous times, my absolute favorite military theorist is Colonel Ardant Du Picq, a French Army officer and military theorist of the mid-nineteenth century whose writings – as they were later interpreted by other theorists in the First World War period – had a great effect on French military theory and doctrine.

Ardant du Picq was born at Périgueux, France on October 19, 1821. On 1 October 1844, he graduated from the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, the French equivalent of the U.S. West Point and was commissioned a sub-lieutenant in the 67th Regiment of the Line. As a captain, having previously transferred to the 9th Battalion of Foot Chasseurs, he saw action in the French expedition to Varna during the Crimean War, but he fell ill with cholera and was evacuated to France. Upon recovery, he rejoined his unit in front of Sevastopol and was captured during the storming of the central bastion of the fortress in September 1855. Released in December 1855, he returned to active duty, first with the 100th Regiment of the Line and later as a major with the 16th Battalion of Foot Chasseurs. He later served in Syria from August 1860 to June 1861, during the French intervention to restore order following Maronite-Druze sectarian violence.

Du Picq saw extensive service in Algeria from 1864 – 1866, and in February 1869 was selected colonel of the 10th Regiment of the Line. At the outbreak of war with Prussia on July 15, 1870, he led his regiment to the front. Directing his men along an elevated road on August 15, 1870, an overhead burst by a Prussian artillery shell fatally wounded him in both thighs and his stomach near Longeville-les-Metz. He died four days later at the military hospital in Metz from his wounds. Ardant du Picq’s last words were, “My wife, my children, my regiment, adieu!”

Before his death in 1870, du Picq had already published Combat antique (Ancient Battle), which associates later expanded into the classic Etudes sur les combat: Combat antique et moderne, most often referred to by its common English title of Battle Studies, which was published in part ten years later, although the complete text did not appear until 1902.

His analyses stressed the vital importance, especially in contemporary warfare, of discipline and unit cohesion. Du Picq believed that the human element is more important than theories. War was still more of an art than a science. One popular quote demonstrating this conclusion drawn from numerous battle studies stated, “Nothing can wisely be prescribed in any army… without exact knowledge of the fundamental instrument, man, and his state of mind, his morale, at the instant of combat.”

Du Picq also thought that great strategists and leaders of men are marked by inspiration. “Generals of genius draw from the human heart ability to execute a surprising variety of movements which vary the routine; the mediocre ones, who have no eyes to read readily, are doomed to the worst errors.”

All of du Picq’s thinking, in my opinion, boils down to one of his fundamental truths:

“Four brave men who do not know each other will not dare attack a lion. Four less brave, but knowing each other well, sure of their reliability and consequently of mutual aid, will attack resolutely.”

Training, discipline, bravery, teamwork, independent action – everything a young leader needs to know to create a successful organization can be found by reading Ardant du Picq.

The Best Military TheoristFrench MacLean2015-12-04T11:52:26-06:00

Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment

This specific pistol, a Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM)-produced Model 1908 9mm Luger, has the serial number 2335 b. Given the contract between DWM (whose factory was at Berlin) and the German government (for 50,000 pistols) that required delivery of the first 3,000 pistols to the German Army by March 31, 1909, the requirement that DWM provide 2,000 pistols each month thereafter, and the serial number sequence system (9,999 with no subsequent letter, and then 9,999 followed by the letter a, 9,999 followed by the letter b, etc.), it would appear that this particular weapon arrived to the German Army in January 1910.

The weapon has a unit marking on the front grip strap of B. 8. R. 1. 3. This marking corresponds to the Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment, specifically the 1st Company. The last digit, 3, indicates that it was the third weapon in the company’s arms room. We do not know exactly when the unit received this pistol, but it was certainly no earlier than February 1910, and probably within that year.

The weapon has the word Germany stamped on the left side of the frame. This is an export mark stamped on the weapon, probably in the 1920s, when Germany – economically distressed due to the provisions of the Versailles Treaty – exported for sale surplus weapons from the reduced-size military. This would indicate that the weapon probably remained with the 1st Company for the duration of the war.

Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment

The Königliches Bayerisches 8. Infanterie-Regiment Grossherzog Friedrich II von Baden (the Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment, “Grand Duke Friedrich II of Baden”) was originally formed on October 10, 1753. In the First Schleswig War in 1849, the regiment fought at the Battle of Düppel on April 13, 1849. In the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, it fought against the Prussian Army in battles at Nüdlingen on July 10, and Helmstadt on July 25. During the 1870/71 Franco-Prussian War, the Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment participated in the Siege of Bitsch and the Siege of Paris.

Prior to World War I, the regiment was assigned to the 4th Royal Bavarian Division in the Second (II) Bavarian Army Corps, which was headquartered in Würzburg. After mobilization, the regiment was stationed at Metz; its parent formation was the 8th (Royal Bavarian) Infantry Brigade, in the 33rd Reserve Division.

At the beginning of World War I, the Bavarian Army had an effective strength of 4,089 officers, physicians, veterinarians and officials; 83,125 NCOs and other ranks, as well as 16,918 horses. With the beginning of mobilization on August 1, 1914, the supreme command of the Bavarian field army passed from the 4th Army Inspectorate to the German Emperor. Units that remained in Bavaria remained under the command of the Bavarian War Ministry. The Bavarian Army — consisting of the three Bavarian Army Corps, the Bavarian Cavalry Division — was joined by some additional Prussian units and transported to the Western Front, where it would become a crucial component of the German Army.

During World War I, the regiment was commanded by the following officers: Colonel Hannappel (until October 9, 1914); Colonel Ernst von Rücker (October 10, 1914 – April 22, 1917); Major Anton Ritter von Löhr (April 23, 1917 – May 1, 1918); Major Oskar Vogel (May 25, 1918 – August 26, 1918); and Major Bauer (August 27, 1918 – November 11, 1918.)

After the Armistice in November 1918, the regiment moved from the Western Front to Bad Kissingen, where it was demobilized on December 18, 1918. The former regimental staff became the nucleus for the 46th Infantry Regiment in the Reichswehr beginning in June 1919.

During the first year of World War I, the 33rd Reserve Division served on the Western Front, fighting in the Battle of the Frontiers against French forces in the early stages, as a part of the XVI Corps (General of Infantry Karl Bruno Julius von Mudra) in the Fifth Army (Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia), initially moving through Luxembourg and southern Belgium. In August 1914, the division took part in the battles of Nomèny and went to Verdun by way of Gondrecourt, Rouvres and Étain (halfway between the nearest German town and Verdun,) suffering heavy casualties in the latter on August 24 and 25. On August 26, the 10th Company of the Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment, for example, had only 75 men left.

At the beginning of September 1914, the division occupied both banks of the Moselle River south of Pont è Mousson and about September 15 moved to the vicinity of Thiaucourt. The division remained there until the end of September and the beginning of October it went back into the sector south of Étain at Riaville and Bracquis. On October 8, 1914, the 8th Bavarian Brigade attacked at Champlon and Fresnes. After these battles, the 33rd Reserve Division took up defensive positions on the Cótes de Meuse (Combres, Les Éparges), 20 miles southeast of Verdun, and remained there until July 1916.

The regiment distinguished itself at the Battle of Eparges (in German, the Combres-Höhe Schlacht) in March and April 1915. The hill, actually an elongated ridge about three-quarters of a mile in length, elevated 300 feet above the Woëvre Plain. On either side of the rise were the villages of Combres (on the German side of the front) and Les Eparges (on the French side.) The fighting began in January 1915, when the Germans fortified trenches on top of the hill, while the French 12th Infantry Division dug in on the northern and northwestern slopes. The French detonated a huge underground mine on February 17, 1915 that breached the German forward line. On March 18, 1915, traversing a sea of gelatinous brown mud, the French attacked up the Combres Heights, penetrating the German positions on the northwest slope. The 33rd Reserve Division, now under the V Corps (General of Infantry von Oven) launched a counterattack late on the morning of March 19 and regained much of the lost ground. The French finally captured the summit on April 9, but the 33rd Reserve Division immediately established a trench system to the east of the crest, which they named the Kamm-Stellung (Kamm Position) that the French were never able to seize.

In August 1916, the high command transferred the Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment to the newly-formed 14th Bavarian Infantry Division (commanded by Major General Otto Ritter von Rauchenberger), along with the 4th Bavarian Infantry Regiment and the 29th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. The division, part of the XVIII Reserve Corps (General of Infantry Kuno Arndt von Steuben) took up positions at Verdun, going into the line at the end of August, 1916, in the Vaux-Chapitre Wood, northeast of the city. It launched a violent attack (see red arrow on map) against French positions on September 3, one kilometer to the southwest of Fort Vaux on both sides of the Ravin des Fontaines, advancing to just one kilometer from Fort Souville, fighting heavily until September 9, and continued to hold this sector until October 10, as part of the Battle of Verdun.

Fort Souville dominated the heights from which the “Nez de Souville” (Souville Nose or Souville Nase in German) protruded. While the “Nose” was occupied by the French, the Germans were in position on the slopes to the west (in the direction of Fleury) and east (in the direction of Fort Vaux) to utilize the Ravin des Fontaines (Fontaines Ravine, known to the Germans as the Souville Schlucht) to advance south. Covering the “Nose” was the remains of the Chapitre-Woods, which bordered on the Fumin-Wood east of Fort Vaux. The Fontaines Ravine became known as the “Ravine of Death.” With German capture of Fort Vaux on June 7, 1916, the first of two lines of French permanent fortifications had been breached. If the Germans breached the second line on the heights overlooking the town, Verdun would fall. Fort Souville was the focus of German attacks on the second line, and its successful defense was the turning point in the battle. On July 12, German troops reached the fort, but were repulsed by an artillery and infantry counterattack. The attack by the Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment and other units was the last desperate gasp to break through. During the entire battle, the German Army at Verdun suffered 143,000 killed in action out of its 337,000 total casualties.

At the end of October, the division’s 29th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, whose losses around Vaux were considerable, was dissolved and replaced by the 25th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. After this reorganization, the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division went back into line on the Hauts de Meuse (“Calonne Trench,” a long road running for more than 25 kilometers through the wooded area south-east of Verdun into what became known as the Saint Mihiel Salient) on October 22. Relieved at the beginning of November 1916, and sent to rest, it was then sent to the Somme, where, about November 26, it took over the sector north of the Ancre River.

The 14th Bavarian Infantry Division left the Ancre front (east of Amiens) at the end of January 1917, passed the month of February at rest in the Denain area, and came back into line on the Somme northeast of Gueudecourt (south of Bapaume) on February 26. It was withdrawn on March 20 at the time of the German retirement from the area. At the beginning of April, under control of the Sixth Army (Colonel General Ludwig von Falkenhausen) it went into action against the British 1917 offensive (Battle of Arras.) Falkenhausen favored the “gruppe” system of flexible battlefield command, in which corps headquarters formed the nucleus of responsive formations organized and equipped as necessary. As a part of Gruppe Vimy (General of Infantry Karl von Fasbender) the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division took up defensive positions on the northern side of the Scarpe River and fought against the British 34th and 9th Infantry Divisions of the XVII Corps near Roclincourt (a village just east of the road from Arras to Lens), suffering heavily (about 2,800 prisoners on April 9, 1917.) The second and third battalions of the Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment were rendered combat ineffective.

Sent to rest in Belgium, the division remained for several days in the Ghent area, and then entrained for the Eastern Front on April 26. About May 14, it went into the line near Lipsk (south of Baranovichi); in June it took over the sector of Tsirin, where it remained until the end of the August, when it transferred to the Riga Front. At the Battle of Riga, as part of the German Eighth Army (General of Infantry Oskar Emil von Hutier) and German LI Corps, the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division, at 9:10 a.m. on September 1, 1917 crossed the 200-yard-wide Daugava River (also known as the Western Dvina River and in German the Düna) at Űxküll (Ikšķile in Latvian, 20 miles southeast of Riga) on assault boats, neutralizing a heavily-fortified island in the middle of the river, before continuing on to the north bank. To its left was the 2nd Guards Infantry Division; while to its right was the 19th Reserve Infantry Division. Once the three divisions were on the far bank, they quickly overran the forward defensive positions of the Russian Twelfth Army (General Vladislav N. Klembovsky) using new assault-troop (Stosstrupp) infiltration tactics to breach the forward defensive positions beginning in the dunes on the riverbank and continuing to the rear in three to four lines of trenches.

It marked the first time that such tactics were used on a large scale combined with new fire support tactics developed by Colonel Georg Bruchmüller – characterized by bypassing any strong points as they move forward, assault troops armed with light machine-guns, grenades and flame throwers focus on quickly infiltrating the rear areas to disrupt communications and take out artillery. German pioneers quickly constructed pontoon bridges and three additional infantry divisions reinforced the attack. By the end of the day, the German bridgehead was eight miles wide. Riga fell late on the afternoon of September 3 as the German Army marched into the city.

The advance gained 24 miles by September 21 and sent the Russian Army reeling. At the end of October 1917, the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division was sent south to Galicia, moving to Tarnopol.

The defeat at Riga boded ill for the Russian Kerensky government that had overthrown Tsar Nicholas II earlier in the year. On November 7, 1917, an armed uprising led by radical Bolsheviks toppled the provisional Kerensky government; Vladimir Lenin rose before the newly formed All-Russian Congress of Soviets the following day to call for an immediate armistice with the Central Powers. This occurred on December 2.

With an armistice secured, massive numbers of German divisions were free to move west and the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division left the Tarnopol area on December 19 for the Western Front. On January 12, 1918, it relieved the 7th Reserve Infantry Division in the Mont Haut sector. It was relieved by the 80th Reserve Infantry Division on April 22. On April 26, the division began moving to a new sector. On May 3, it relieved the 208th Infantry Division in the Hangard sector (southeast of Amiens.) It was subsequently relieved on May 21 by the 225th Infantry Division. The division remained in close support, and relieved the 15th Infantry Division one sector to the south two days later. On June 20, 1918, the high command withdrew the division from the front line and it rested in the rear of the front for the next month.

About July 23, the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division received the order to return to the front and relieved the 21st Infantry Division in the Castel-Bois Senecat sector. It was assigned to the Second Army (General Johannes Georg von der Marwitz.)

In the fighting that followed, known as the Battle of Amiens, the division (see red quadrangle on map) suffered heavy losses, especially in the French XXXI Corps (General Paul-Louis Toulorge) attack of August 8, 1918. It was withdrawn five days later in a badly shattered condition, having lost some 2,500 prisoners. Total German losses were estimated at 30,000 on August 8, while the Allies suffered about 6,500 killed, wounded and missing. The collapse in German morale led General Erich Ludendorff to call the day, “the Black Day of the German Army.”

The division was in the line again on August 29, 1918 northwest of Villers-Carbonnel (southwest of Albert-Péronne), but was withdrawn on September 2. Soon thereafter, the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division was disbanded on September 10, with the Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment going to the 16th Bavarian Infantry Division. With this division, the regiment was engaged north of Ypres and west of Roulers (Westroosebeke) from September 28 to October 5; losses were heavy. Pulled out of the line for ten days, it returned to combat on October 15 southwest of Thourout. Within four days, it was forced back to the southeast of Bruges. The Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry Regiment was located in Belgium when the Armistice went into effect.

If only that Luger could talk! Having said that, with the unit marking, it is talking.

Royal Bavarian 8th Infantry RegimentFrench MacLean2016-05-18T07:04:51-05:00

Stalingrad Article in “Desperta Ferro Magazine”

Desperta Ferro Edition Cover

Desperta Ferro Magazine out of Madrid, Spain has published an article by French in Spanish in their latest March-April 2014 issue. The issue is entitled on the front Cover “Stalingrado (I) El as alto de la Wehrmacht.” French’s six page article, beginning on page12, is titled, “El Sexto Ejército preparativos para la campaña.”

This excellent magazine can be ordered from:

Desperta Ferro Ediciones SLNE
C/Isabel Clara Eugenia 10, portal G, 4˚ B
28050 Madrid
CIF B-85964815
Tlf. 658 160824

An email address there is jesus_jimenez@despertaferro-ediciones.com

Their website is www.despertaferro-ediciones.com

The magazine, which is all in Spanish, has excellent maps and photographs. If you are a Spanish-speaker interested in history, this is the magazine for you.

Sexto Ejército, preparativos para la campaña por French MacLean. Ni el ejército alemán en su conjunto, ni el Sexto Ejército en particular, eran esos invencibles titanes que proclamaba determinada bibliografía de postguerra, aunque el Sexto Ejército fue con frecuencia el de mayores dimensiones de toda la Wehrmacht. Aquejado de una carencia de mandos experimentados, mientras operaba al final de una larga y precaria línea de suministros y con un equipo que fue rápidamente superado por el enemigo, el alemán fue en el fondo un ejército de la Primera Guerra Mundial en muchos aspectos –aunque llamado a cumplir con las expectativas de velocidad y profundidad de la Segunda Guerra Mundial– y, una vez más, condicionado por una guerra en dos frentes.

Stalingrad Article in “Desperta Ferro Magazine”French MacLean2015-08-02T11:29:21-05:00

New Book Distributor for Europe

(March 12, 2014) Schiffer Publishing has hired Gazelle Book Services to sell and distribute Schiffer publications in Europe. This will shorten delivery time and reduce postage costs. The information on this distributor is:

Gazelle Book Services White Cross Mills Hightown Lancaster Lancashire LA1 4XS UK Tel: +44 (0) 1524 68765 Fax: +44 (0) 1524 63232 E-mail: sales@gazellebooks.co.uk

For those readers in Germany or those travelers fortunate enough to be able to visit Munich, Germany, another bookstore can also assist you in finding the books found on this website. In my 40 years experience, the Christian Schmidt bookstore is one of the best military bookstores in the entire world. You can spend hours in there browsing! Ask for Gabi; they speak perfect English. You can take the U6 U-Bahn from the center of the city in the direction of the Klinikum Grosshadern and get off at Grosshadern, one stop before the end. It is marked in blue on U-Bahn maps.

Christian Schmidt Buchhandlung
Sauerbruchstrasse 10
D-81377 Muenchen
Germany

Email: info@christian-schmidt.com
Web Page: www.christian-schmidt.com
Phone: (49) 89 703227

New Book Distributor for EuropeFrench MacLean2023-08-19T08:17:07-05:00

US Army Executions World War II in Europe and Africa Data

(March 9, 2014) Due to numerous requests by readers, we have added a table showing the names, dates of execution and places of execution for all 96 American soldiers executed in World War II in Europe and North Africa, the subject of The Fifth Field. Included at the top of the table, which is found in the published work section for The Fifth Field, is a photograph of the last face that probably 34 American soldiers ever saw before they were hanged — that of US Army hangman, Master Sergeant John Woods. Previously published biographical information on Woods has been mostly incorrect, as until two years ago, Woods’ official personnel records had never been released to the public. The Fifth Field is the first work to incorporate those files and shows that Woods had been in the US Navy in 1930 but had been discharged for psychological reasons. He also had never been an assistant hangman in Texas and Oklahoma — as he had claimed in 1944 to help secure the position as hangman, which took him out of a combat engineer unit slated for frontline duty, and also elevated him from the rank of private to master sergeant in just one day!

US Army Executions World War II in Europe and Africa DataFrench MacLean2023-08-19T08:17:55-05:00

US Army Executions World War II in Europe and Africa

Master Sergeant John C Woods, US Army Hangman

The 96
Last Name	First Name	Date of Death	Location of Execution
Cobb	David	Friday, March 12, 1943	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Smith	Harold A.	Friday, June 25, 1943	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Kendrick	James E.	Saturday, July 17, 1943	Oran, Algeria
Pittman	Willie Aron	Monday, August 30, 1943	Termini, Sicily
Stroud	Harvey L.	Monday, August 30, 1943	Termini, Sicily
White	Armstead	Monday, August 30, 1943	Termini, Sicily
White	David	Monday, August 30, 1943	Termini, Sicily
Smith	Charles H.	Monday, September 06, 1943	Oran, Algeria
Davis	Lee A.	Tuesday, December 14, 1943	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Jones	Edwin P.	Wednesday, January 05, 1944	Oran, Algeria
Waters	John H.	Thursday, February 10, 1944	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Spears	Charles E.	Wednesday, April 19, 1944	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Leatherberry	J.C.	Tuesday, May 16, 1944	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Harris	Wiley Jr.	Friday, May 26, 1944	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Miranda	Alex F.	Tuesday, May 30, 1944	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Donnelly	Robert L.	Wednesday, May 31, 1944	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Brinson	Eliga	Friday, August 11, 1944	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Smith	Willie	Friday, August 11, 1944	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Whitfield	Clarence	Monday, August 14, 1944	Canisy, France
Watson	Ray	Tuesday, August 29, 1944	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Thomas	Madison	Thursday, October 12, 1944	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Anderson	Roy W.	Wednesday, October 25, 1944	Seine Disciplinary Training Center, Paris, France
Sanders	James B.	Wednesday, October 25, 1944	Seine Disciplinary Training Center, Paris, France
Kluxdal	Paul M.	Tuesday, October 31, 1944	Seine Disciplinary Training Center, Paris, France
Watson	Joseph	Wednesday, November 08, 1944	Seine Disciplinary Training Center, Paris, France
Wimberly	Willie Jr.	Wednesday, November 08, 1944	Seine Disciplinary Training Center, Paris, France
Maxey	Curtis L.	Saturday, November 18, 1944	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Pennyfeather	William D.	Saturday, November 18, 1944	Fort Du Roule, Cherbourg, France
Scott	Richard B.	Saturday, November 18, 1944	Fort Du Roule, Cherbourg, France
McGann	Theron W.	Monday, November 20, 1944	St. Lo, Manche, France
Davis	Arthur E.	Wednesday, November 22, 1944	Montours, Ille-et-Vilaine, France
Jordan	Charles H.	Wednesday, November 22, 1944	Montours, Ille-et-Vilaine, France
Hendricks	James E.	Friday, November 24, 1944	Chateau La Vallee, Plumaudan, Cotes-du-Nord, France
Pygate	Benjamin	Tuesday, November 28, 1944	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Newman	Oscar N.	Wednesday, November 29, 1944	Beaunay, Marne, France
Valentine	Leo Sr.	Wednesday, November 29, 1944	Beaunay, Marne, France
Davis	William E.	Wednesday, December 27, 1944	Guiclan, Finistere, France
Clark	Ernest Lee	Monday, January 08, 1945	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Guerra	Augustine M.	Monday, January 08, 1945	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Cooper	John David	Tuesday, January 09, 1945	Lerouville, Meuse, France
Baldwin	Walter J.	Wednesday, January 17, 1945	Beaufay, Sarthe, France
Farrell	Arthur J.	Friday, January 19, 1945	St. Sulpice de, Ille-et-Vilaine, France
Twiggs	James W.	Monday, January 22, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Holden	Mervin	Tuesday, January 30, 1945	Fort d’Orange, Citadel, Namur, Belgium
Spencer	Elwood J.	Tuesday, January 30, 1945	Fort d’Orange, Citadel, Namur, Belgium
Slovik	Eddie	Wednesday, January 31, 1945	Ste. Marie-Aux-Mines, France
Wilson	J. P.	Friday, February 02, 1945	Lerouville, Meuse, France
Skinner	Robert L.	Saturday, February 10, 1945	Bricquebec, Manche, France
Yancy	Waiters	Saturday, February 10, 1945	Bricquebec, Manche, France
Mack	William	Thursday, February 15, 1945	Plabennec, Finisterre, France
Crews	Otis B.	Wednesday, February 21, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Downes	William C.	Wednesday, February 28, 1945	Etienville, Manche, France
Agee	Amos	Saturday, March 03, 1945	La Saussaye, Commune de Bure, Orne, France
Smith	John C.	Saturday, March 03, 1945	La Saussaye, Commune de Bure, Orne, France
Watson	Frank	Saturday, March 03, 1945	La Saussaye, Commune de Bure, Orne, France
Jones	Cubia	Saturday, March 17, 1945	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Pearson	Robert L.	Saturday, March 17, 1945	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Jones	Kinney	Tuesday, March 20, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Mack	John H.	Tuesday, March 20, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Taylor	John W.	Tuesday, March 20, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Burns	Lee A.	Tuesday, March 27, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Grant	General L.	Tuesday, March 27, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Smalls	Abraham	Tuesday, March 27, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Davison	Tommie	Thursday, March 29, 1945	Prise Guinment, Manche, France
Williams	Olin W.	Thursday, March 29, 1945	Le Chene Daniel, Manche, France
Harrison	William Jr.	Saturday, April 07, 1945	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Hopper	Benjamin F.	Wednesday, April 11, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Bailey	Milbert	Thursday, April 19, 1945	La Pernelle, Hameau Scipion, Normandy, France
Jones	James L.	Thursday, April 19, 1945	La Pernelle, Hameau Scipion, Normandy, France
Williams	John	Thursday, April 19, 1945	La Pernelle, Hameau Scipion, Normandy, France
McGhee	Shelton Sr.	Friday, May 04, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Smith	George E. Jr.	Tuesday, May 08, 1945	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Green	George Jr.	Tuesday, May 15, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Heard	Haze	Monday, May 21, 1945	Mesnil-Clinchamps, Calvados, France
McCarter	William J.	Monday, May 28, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Norris	Clete O.	Thursday, May 31, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Rollins	Alvin R.	Thursday, May 31, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Clay	Matthew Jr.	Monday, June 04, 1945	Fontenay-sur-Mer, Manche, France
Schmiedel	Werner	Monday, June 11, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Martinez	Aniceto	Friday, June 15, 1945	Shepton Mallet Prison, England
Ortiz	Victor	Thursday, June 21, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Johnson	Willie	Tuesday, June 26, 1945	La Heye Peshnel, France
McMurray	Fred A.	Monday, July 02, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Till	Louis	Monday, July 02, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Jefferies	Charles H.	Thursday, July 05, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Jones	John T.	Thursday, July 05, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Nelson	Henry W.	Thursday, July 05, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Gordon	Tom E.	Tuesday, July 10, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Wray	Robert	Monday, August 20, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Philpot	Henry C.	Monday, September 10, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Robinson	Charles M.	Friday, September 28, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Mariano	Blake W.	Wednesday, October 10, 1945	Loire Disciplinary Training Center, Le Mans, France
Bennerman	Sydney	Monday, October 15, 1945	Les Milles, France (Delta DTC)
Parker	Woodrow	Monday, October 15, 1945	Les Milles, France (Delta DTC)
Ervin	Charlie Jr.	Friday, October 19, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy
Spinks	Mansfield	Friday, October 19, 1945	PBS Stockade Number 1, Aversa, Italy

US Army Executions World War II in Europe and AfricaFrench MacLean2015-09-08T19:49:44-05:00

Kudos for Stalingrad

(November 8, 2013) Distinguished Stalingrad author Jason Mark, who has written such classics as Island of Fire: The Battle for the Barrikady Gun Factory in Stalingrad, Death of the Leaping Horseman: 24. Panzer-Division in Stalingrad, Into Oblivion: The Story of Pionier-Battalion 305, Angriff: The German Attack on Stalingrad in Photos, and An Artilleryman in Stalingrad, now offers Stalingrad: The Death of the German Sixth Army on the Volga, 1942-1943 for purchase on his website (www.leapinghorseman.com). Jason writes on his site:

“Leaping Horseman Books gives this two-volume set its highest recommendation. The level of detail is astounding. For every day of the battle there is map and an account of the actions and casualties of every corps and division in 6. Armee, followed by a closer look at an individual soldier who died on that day.”

Check out his website for this book and for many of Jason’s excellent offerings.

Kudos for StalingradFrench MacLean2024-07-21T10:33:45-05:00

Grave of Louis Till

Louis Till was hanged at the stockade at Aversa, Italy on Monday, July 2, 1945. His body was transferred to the American Military Cemetery at Oise-Aisne in 1949, where he was buried in grave # 73 in the fourth row of the plot known as “the fifth field.” Till had murdered an Italian woman, raped two other Italian women, assaulted an Italian man and assaulted a U. S. Navy sailor to earn the death sentence. The Army sent his personal effects home to his estranged wife. Ten years later, Till’s 14-year-old son Emmett wore his father’s ring, bearing the initials “LT” on a visit from to Chicago to Mississippi. Three men kidnapped Emmett, tortured and killed him. His body was so disfigured in the incident that it was difficult for authorities to identify him. Positive identification was finally made, in part, because of the initials on the ring. The shocking incident of Emmett Till’s death sparked the Civil Rights movement of the late 1950s.

Grave of Louis TillFrench MacLean2015-09-08T19:18:16-05:00

Fifth Field Responses Arriving

(November 6, 2013) Responses to the publishing of The Fifth Field are starting to arrive. A Supreme Court Associate Justice, an Army 4-star and Deans of two east coast “Ivy League” Law Schools and one California Law School have written that they each have a copy of the book and look forward to reading it.

Fifth Field Responses ArrivingFrench MacLean2024-07-21T10:35:31-05:00

The Fifth Field Published

(September 17, 2013) Schiffer Publishing has sent out the author advance copy, which indicates that The Fifth Field has been published and should be available for shipment next month. The book is fabulous; it came out at 370 pages, with 42 photographs, almost all of which have never been published before.

Five special photographs show moments from the executions of Louis Till, Fred McMurray, Charlie Ervin and Mansfield Spinks at the Peninsular Stockade at Aversa, Italy in 1945. These unique photographs, which had remained hidden in private hands for 67 years after the war, and unknown to be in existence by the Army, are believed to be the first photos of U.S. Army executions of U.S. personnel since the hanging of the Lincoln Assassination Conspirators in 1865. The book additionally has five photographs of Army hangman Master Sergeant John C. Woods; we feel certain that you have not seen at least three of them before.

Each of the cases is covered in great detail through trial records, witness statements, investigator notes, review findings and execution reports. For those historians and legal scholars wishing to do additional research you will find 56 pages of endnotes with specific document citations and the archives in which these documents can be found. There is an additional appendix that provides over 100 short biographies of detention center personnel, hangmen (such as Thomas and Albert Pierrepoint,) key Judge Advocate General — JAG — officers and commanders from Dwight Eisenhower on down who approved General Court-Martial results.

This is a book about the death penalty. No matter what you believe your opinion to be on this important subject, you need to read this book before making up your mind for the final time. The information within these pages has never truly been considered before as we address this significant national issue. But do not worry. This is not a legal text; it is written by a regular Army officer, using standard English, not “legalese.” Having said that, there is a section where a trained lawyer, with over 50 years experience and who has participated in death penalty cases, examines several of these courts-martial and analyzes them from his own perspective.

For historians of the Second World War, this is the first definitive account of every capital case ending in death for an American soldier in Europe and North Africa during the conflict. For past, present and future Judge Advocate General officers, non-commissioned officers and civilian personnel, this is a history of your Corps during its most significant hour.

The Fifth Field PublishedFrench MacLean2024-07-21T10:36:31-05:00