German spies shot in Belgium.

German spies shot in Belgium. Corporal Wilhelm Schmidt, 24, one of three German spies to be executed by an American firing squad after a court-martial by U.S. authorities in Belgium, is shown being tied to a stake. In the background other U.S. military policemen may be seen fixing his companions, Officer-Cadet Guenther Billing, 21, and Sergeant Manfred Pernass, 23. Dressed in American uniforms, armed with American weapons and driving an American jeep, the three spies were captured during the ill-fated enemy breakthrough into the Ardennes in December, 1944. They were driving in an American convoy but failed to give the password when stopped. They admitted that their mission was to locate and sabotage communications and reconnoitre bridges and roads over the Meuse. All three men were especially trained for the job and had familiarized themselves with American habits and accent, by mingling with American prisoners-of-war inside Germany. Een bezoeker van de beeldbank schrijft: 'De afgebeelde Duitse soldaat is niet Wilhelm Schmidt maar Manfred Pernass. Vanaf het executiepeloton gezien staat Schmidt helemaal links, Günther Billing in het midden en Pernass staat helemaal rechts (kijk tussen Pernass en de Amerikaan die de schietmarkering aanbrengt, Billing en Schmidt zijn nog te zien). Toch vreemd dat deze bekende leden van Greif nog steeds verkeerd op naam gezet worden.'