French men and boys shot by French
firing squads.
Expert opinion has it that some 600 French soldiers were put to
death by their own military. It appears they were selected for execution by a process known as " decimation". This
involved the shooting of every tenth man or boy in a military unit. In this case the unit was part of
the 10e Compagnie of 8 Battalion of the Regiment Mixte de Tirailleurs Algeriens.
During the retreat at the beginning of the Great War
this unit of French-African soldiers refused to obey an order to attack.
These men and boys were executed on the 15th. of
December 1914, not far from Zillebeeke in Belgium.
German men and boys shot by German firing squads.
Again: Expert opinion states that about 150,000 men and
boys deserted from the Imperial German Army. Sensibly, many of these men and boys fled to neutral countries such as Denmark,
the Netherlands and (of course) Switzerland.
Apparently only 18 of those caught were put to death.
On a more tragic note: In the Second World War the number
of men and boys executed for deserting the German Army was 10,000.
Regardless of nationality: They were ALL victims of WAR. This being so, may they ALL Rest In Peace.
I believe this statue symbolises ALL those men and boys who were shot at dawn
