German spies shot in Belgium.

German spies shot in Belgium. An American firing squad fires against three Germans who were captured in American uniforsm, armed with American weapons and driving an American jeep during the Ardennes breakthrough launched by the enemy December 16, 1944. The Germans were executed after a court-martial by American authorities in Belgium. 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, Officer-Cadet Guenther Billing, 21; Sergeant Manfred Pernass, 23; and Corporal Wilhelm Schmidt, 24, were especially trained for the mission. To familiarize themselves with American habits and accent they mingled with American prisoners-of-war in 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.'