News reel about the execution of three members of Einheit Stielau. US troops detained the three members of Einheit Stielau in Awaille, Belgium, on December 18th, 1944: Oberfähnrich (Acting Lieutenant) Günther Billing; Obergefreiter (Corporal) Wilhelm Schmidt; and Unteroffizier (Sergeant) Manfred Pernass. A military commission met on December 21st, 1944 at First US Army’s Master Interrogation Center in Belgium. The commission arraigned and tried the accused, finding them guilty of two charges: violation of the laws of war (by appearing in American uniforms in the zone of operations); and acting as spies (by gathering intelligence for the enemy while so disguised). The commission recommended the death penalty for all three commandos.
Colonel E. M. Brannon of the Staff Judge Advocate performed the required review of proceedings the next day, upholding the findings of the court-martial. Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges, commander of First US Army, approved and confirmed the sentences that afternoon. The provost marshal carried out the executions the next morning, December 23rd, 1944.
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