Their Crimes

This work presents a stark, documentary record of the violence inflicted on civilians in Belgium and northern France during the first months of the Great War. Compiled from French commission reports, Belgian inquiries, and captured German soldiers' notebooks, the translation offers a selection of testimonies, affidavits and official findings that detail robberies, arson, killings and other abuses. By grouping the material under clear headings, the editors aim to give listeners a concise yet unsettling glimpse of the early occupation.

The narration stays strictly factual, avoiding speculation and letting the grim details speak for themselves. Listeners are invited to form their own judgments about the moral and historical implications of the accounts, while remembering the human cost behind the statistics. Though concise, the book serves as a sober reminder of how quickly war can descend into brutality, making it a valuable, if uncomfortable, addition to anyone seeking to understand the early days of the conflict.