The fate of a german commando

**António Fragoeiro** · 04-13-2012, 08:59 PM

Hi, found this photo online, appear to have been taken, after the shooting of a english speaking german commando.
He had been caught infiltrating Us units.

A very powerful photo.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 04-13-2012 08:59 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**SteveR** · 04-13-2012, 09:02 PM

His just reward.

**cricketchris1944** · 04-13-2012, 09:05 PM

If I remenber correctly this was in the Bastogne area.
chris

**Woolgar** · 04-13-2012, 09:08 PM

He made his bed....

Nick

**davejb** · 04-13-2012, 09:26 PM

If I remember correctly theres a After The Battle article that shows the location today, i think its now on an industrial estate and that wall is behind a chain link fence , totally overgrown and tyres piled up against it

**robin morley** · 04-13-2012, 09:28 PM

Some mothers son, RIP

**aj4010** · 04-13-2012, 09:34 PM

Easy, guys. If that bloke had been SOE, you would be calling him a hero.
Just sayin'.

Best Regards,

Andy

**HPL2008** · 04-13-2012, 09:41 PM

This was one of three men executed together one day before Christmas Eve, on 23 December 1944. They were Unteroffizier Manfred Pernass, aged 23, Oberfähnrich Günther Billing, aged 20 and Gefreiter Wilhelm Schmidt, aged 24. As far as I know, the man in the photograph is Schmidt.

**Woolgar** · 04-13-2012, 09:50 PM

Didn't they ask for a choir of captured German nurses to sing for them before their execution?

Nick

**spandau** · 04-13-2012, 09:53 PM

HPL2008, you are correct in your statement of the identity of the soldier in question.

Should anyone wish to get a very objective and factual account of the operations of this unit then i would recommend the after the battle publication by Jean Paul Pallud. It is called The battle of the Bulge then and now.

cheers

tony