Chapter 13: The Horrors of War Part II
Bruno was quick to send a runner back to his company commander, informing him that the Russians had already assaulted the village. In response, he was given the order to regroup with the company in the town and help reinforce the Russian position.
By the time he and his men managed to do this, the Russians had gathered a group of civilians, both men and women, and of all ages. Where they had tied their hands behind their backs, while lining them up against a wall to be executed.
The situation in the town was a disaster zone. It was one thing to shell an enemy position that was entrenched among civilians, and disregard those civilians and the casualties that would result in pursuit of destroying the enemy. But it was another thing entirely to loot, rape, burn, and pillage a village after victory had already been achieved.
From Bruno's perspective, callous as it was, these things were simply unacceptable and truly met the definition of the term "war crimes." Because of this he did not immediately approach his company commander when he regrouped with his units, rather he walked up to the Russian officer in charge, restraining the urge to deck the man across the face, and instead shouted at him in Russian as if he were a Moscow native.
"What the hell do you and your men think you are doing!?!"
The Russian Captain was surprised to see that a German officer spoke Russian so perfectly, and after snapping out of his daze was quick to respond to Bruno's question with a conceited smirk on his face.
"These savages attacked my men as we peacefully entered the area with the intent to
establish security in this war-torn region. We are only executing those responsible for crimes against the Tsar and his Royal Army!"
Bruno could not believe the audacity of these words. The people who were lined up to be executed were very clearly civilians who had been affected by this vicious retaliation.
At the same time, women and girls were lying in the streets, whether lifeless, or in shock by the horrific crimes they had endured. Bruno did not know. All the while children appeared to be lying on the ground in pools of their own blood.
The town itself had been set ablaze, and anything remotely of value was gathered in the center, where Russian soldiers carefully inspected it all to make sure it was something they could sell for profit. This wasn't retaliation, this was a complete and total massacre.
Because of this, Bruno was completely and utterly disgusted by such reprehensible behavior. This was not how an officer in the service of a Monarch was supposed to behave, let alone a nobleman, which, judging by the fact that Russia had just abolished serfdom a few decades prior, these officers most likely were of such status.