The execution of Pvt. Slovik
On this day Pvt.Eddie Slovik becomes the first American soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion-and the only one who suffered such a fate during World War II.Pvt.Eddie Slovik was a draftee.
Originally classified 4-F because of a prison record (grand theft auto) he was reclassified 1-A when draft standards were lowered to meet growing personnel needs.In January 1944 he was trained to be a rifleman which was not to his liking as he hated guns.In August of the same year Slovik was shipped to France to fight with the 28th Infantry Division which had already suffered massive casualties in France and Germany.Slovik was a replacement a class of soldier not particular respected by officers.
As he and a companion were on the way to the front lines they became lost in the chaos of battle and stumbled upon a Canadian unit that took them in.Slovik stayed on with the Canadians until October 5 when they turned him and his buddy over to the American military police.They were reunited with the 28th Division which had been moved to Elsenborn Belgium.No charges were brought as replacements getting lost early on in their tours of duty were not unusual.
But exactly one day after Slovik returned to his unit he claimed he was too scared and too nervous to be a rifleman and threatened to run away if forced into combat.His confession was ignored-and Slovik took off.One day later he returned and signed a confession of desertion claiming he would run away again if forced to fight and submitted it to an officer of the 28th.
The officer advised Slovik to take the confession back as the consequences were serious.Slovik refused and was confined to the stockade.The 28th Division had many cases of soldiers wounding themselves or deserting in the hopes of a prison sentence that might protect them from the perils of combat.A legal officer of the 28th offered Slovik a deal dive into combat immediately and avoid the court-martial.
Slovik refused.He was tried on November 11 for desertion and was convicted in less than two hours.The nine-officer court-martial panel passed a unanimous sentence of execution to be shot to death with musketry.Sloviks appeal failed.
It was held that he directly challenged the authority of the United States and that future discipline depends upon a resolute reply to this challenge.Slovik had to pay for his recalcitrant attitude and the military made an example of him.One last appeal was made-to Gen.
Dwight D.Eisenhower the Supreme Allied Commander-but the timing was bad for mercy.The Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest was resulting in literally thousands of American casualties not to mention the second largest surrender of an U.S.
Army unit during the war.Eisenhower upheld the death sentence.Slovik was shot and killed by a 12-man firing squad in eastern France.None of the rifleman even flinched firmly believing Slovik had gotten what he deserved.
