Eddie Slovik: Shot at Dawn

Eddie Slovik, the proud soldier

Eddie’s first experience of coming under artillery fire terrified him. Along with a friend he became separated from his Unit and did not reappear again for six weeks. It transpired that he had been picked up by a Canadian Military Police Unit and had been spending his time cooking and doing odd-jobs for them. He was by all accounts popular with the Canadians, who were particularly keen on his potato pancakes, and they were sorry to see him go. Eddie returned to his own Unit in October. His friend had earlier written a letter explaining their absence and no charges were brought. By this time,however, Eddie had ceased to carry ammunition in his cartridge belt and only retained his rifle because it was expected of him. It was apparent to everyone who knew him that he never had any intention of using it.

However, on 8 October, Eddie presented his own letter to his Commanding Officer stating that he “was too scared to serve in the front-line”, and requesting that he be reassigned to a rear unit. He was quite explicit. If he was forced to serve in the front-line he would run away. When he asked if this would constitute desertion? He was told it would.

Eddie’s request for reassignment was turned down. So the following day Eddie handed a note to a Military Policeman stating his aim to run away if he was sent back into combat. He was questioned about this by Colonel Ross Henbest, who offered him the opportunity to tear up the note there and then. If he did so nothing further would be said about it. Eddie refused; instead he wrote another note confirming that he understood the consequences of his actions.

His case now went to the Judge Advocate of his Division who again offered Eddie the opportunity to tear up the note. He even said that he was willing to transfer Eddie to another Unit if he would tear up the note. If he did so all charges would be dropped. But Eddie refused and remained adamant that he would not fight. He would, he said, take his court-martial.

Eddie Slovik was charged with “desertion to avoid hazardous duty”. At his court-martial on 11 November, 1944, the prosecution produced any number of witnesses who were willing to testify to Eddie’s willingness to run away. After all, Eddie had hardly kept it a secret. After refusing to take the stand and testify in his own defence, the nine Officers on the jury voted unanimously to find Eddie guilty of desertion and sentenced him to death by firing squad. It has been suggested that Eddie was influenced in his actions by others in the stockade who had told him that no one had been shot for desertion; which was true.

On 9 December, Eddie wrote to Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D Eisenhower, pleading for clemency. Eisenhower refused to consider it and wrote back confirming the execution order. At 10.04 am on 31 January, 1945, Edward Donald Slovik, was executed by firing squad. He was aged just 24.

It is clear that Eddie’s mistake wasn’t in deserting but in clearly stating his intentions to do so and thereby

openly flouting the Army’s authority. Eddie was no paragon of virtue and many no doubt would castigate him as a coward, but it would appear that he was neither an evil or ill-intentioned man. During his 372 days of military service he wrote to his wife on no less than 376 occasions.

In his final letter he wrote:

“Everything happens to me. I’ve never had a streak of luck in my life. The only luck I had in my life was when I married you. I knew it wouldn’t last because I was too happy. I knew they would not let me be happy.”

Eddie Slovik was buried in the Cise-Aisne Cemetery in France along with 94 other American soldiers who were executed for the crimes of rape and murder. His remains were returned to Michigan in 1987. His wife campaigned for a pardon for her husband for the rest of her life. She was unsucessful.