should war deserters have been shot or was this murder?

Question

in japan during the war in new guinea deserters where promptly shot and cannibalised. for the higher ranking officers. not just the deserters also the locals.

Answer 1

Can anyone here say Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? A well recognised mental problem today, yet around WW1 not accepted, and explained as COWARDICE, in most cases, mainly the under age kids that joined and the other men in the army that simply got shell shock under all that bombing, it was plain and simple MURDER, not even understandable homicide, seeing as the lower soldiers got put up against the wall and shot and yet the Officer's that got the same malady got taken off the front line and sent to convalesce until they got better and got sent back to the front line. One rule for one class, one for another. That's not to say there were no cowards in the First World War there were, but really after what they witnessed would anyone of us be sure they would not crack. Certainly not be shot for their troubles...

My sympathy goes out to the relatives still fighting today to get their ancestor's war records purged. Maybe someday the government will see sense...

Answer 2

This is a tricky one as at the time there was no medical term for problems related to such action
.There where many that where scared for there lives and the fact they had no say in it cornered them into a place no one wants to go.
There where many forms a so called deserters in the second world war the Russians attack the Germans only to be hammered by them they were told not to retreat .The fighting was so intense that they pulled back only to be gun down by there on side for so called deserting there post and duty.
We have come along way since then.And now we Tues to fight we join the army not to play cards but in the knowledge that one day will have to fight.
The why the military was in those days with things like this was a no nonsense approach how ever with the right form of counselling and re training many could of over come such fears and still have a generation of children around today

Answer 3

Yes it was murder most of the so called deserters were suffering shell shock which in WW1 was rarely diagnosed as such.Here in the North West UK there were many insane hospitals full of such men,one hospital even had a railway line running into it they were brought in by the trainload and remained there till the 1980s when the hospitals were closed.My father was in both wars and rarely when coaxed tell of the horrors of war,battlefields were men drowned in the mud.no plants grew.and if a horse,cat or dog was killed men would fight just to get the meat of it.I suggest you go to Ypres in Belgium to the Menin gate a memorial to men such as these 40.000 Canadian troops killed in the first day.On another front there used to be a USAF base near were we live and accounts from there relate to a B17 returning from a raid on Germany it didn't make it and crashed on the perimeter track.The account tells of arms legs and human tissue in the trees and yet some ppl walked past without taking any notice they were so traumatised.So please consider your question,could you have stood up to the sights,sounds,and smell of these events.We honour and remember them RIP because of them you can ask your questions.

Answer 4

If you're talking about WWI, then most of the so called "deserters" who were shot were shell shocked 17 year old boys suffering from post traumatic stress. Half of them just wandered away from the trenches not even aware of what they were doing. The way they were treated was disgusting.

My great uncle lied about his age and joined up at 16. He was sent to France as a stretcher bearer on the Somme (can you imagine the sights he must have seen?). He came home to convalesce after being injured and apparently he broke down crying and begged his family not to send him back. Can you imagine what it must have been like for this boy and the terrible things he must have gone through. He had to go back of course (would have been shot for "desertion" otherwise). He made it through the war and then promptly emigrated to Australia. He couldn't bear to stay in Britain after what he'd been put through in the name of "King and Country".

Answer 5

If you are referring to the Great War (W.W.1), then I believe that the majority of the 300 plus, were not given a fair trial, were not told that they could have decent representation, and never had the time to build up a defence anyway. They were used "As an example to the men, that desertion would not be tolerated." It is interesting to note, that Officers were not thus accused, to my knowledge..
Some of those shot were deserters, but the vast majority were not. Therefore, they were illegally killed, in my opinion.

Answer 6

Understand that military law is not civilian law. You must be able to depend on your fellow soldiers. You canot apply liberal ethics and values that you use playing in the sandbox. The dead are at peace, the living bear the burden of their actions.

Answer 7

I think if a man deserted his post because of boozing, a woman (or man!) and left his comrades in danger then yes. Shoot the bugger! If it is because he had shell shock, no. Mental treatment and compassion!

Answer 8

It was murder.Anyone's nerve could break in a war,especially the horrors of ww1.We have no right to judge or condemn anyone,we were not there.It's easy for us 'armchair Generals' to say 'they deserved to be shot',but who among us can be sure our nerve would hold?

Answer 9

Murdered through sheer ignorance. The guy above me , Love to see you face the enemy!

Answer 10

Afraid they are Cowards..and had to be made an example of.. Unless they had without a doubt a medical problem - Its a shame for the relatives who find it difficult to believe that their loved one bottled it..