Germans accused of cowardice

smh.com.au ^ | May 10, 2004 | The Telegraph, London

[Destro]

Germans accused of cowardice

May 10, 2004

Berlin: German troops serving with an international peacekeeping contingent in Kosovo have been accused of hiding in barracks "like frightened rabbits" during the inter-ethnic rioting that erupted in the province in March.

A German police report sent to the government last week criticises the troops for cowardice and for their failure to quell the rioting, in which 19 people died and about 900 others were injured.

The charges, the most serious made against the German Army since World War II, have been levelled by police officers serving with Unmik, the United Nations civil administration in Kosovo.

During the two-day riots between ethnic Albanians and Serbs an Albanian mob burnt and looted 29 Serb churches and monasteries in the southern city of Prizren and caused several thousand Serbs to flee.

Leaked excerpts from the report on the conduct of the 3600-strong German contingent based in Prizren disclose that Unmik police were left to fend for themselves.

Further damning evidence, based on interviews with Unmik officers, Serb church leaders and UN officials in Prizren, was published in the news magazine Der Spiegel. It concluded: "The German soldiers ran away and hid like frightened rabbits in their barracks. They only reappeared in armoured vehicles after the Albanian mob had wreaked its havoc and left a trail of destruction."

The head of the contingent, Colonel Dieter Hintelmann, insisted that his men had simply obeyed rules of engagement.

The Telegraph, London

[Destro]

The head of the contingent, Colonel Dieter Hintelmann, insisted that his men had simply obeyed rules of engagement.

Those have been the rules of engagement since Clinton's NATO took over Kosovo for the Muslims. Get out of the way and let the Albanian Muslims kill the Christian Serbs and burn down their churches at will.

The problem this time is people paid attention to it and were no longer willing to buy the same excuse - "it was simple revenge against the evil wrong doing Serbs - they deserved it". I guess the occupation in Iraq woke some people up.

[Destro]

German troops 'hid like rabbits' in Kosovo riots

[keithtoo]

This could be the result of 50 years of not having to defend yourself and the self-abasement of being German and having to live with the guilt of WWII.

This is what the American military would look like if Leftist self-loathing ran its course.

[Destro]

The American military is a coconspirator with the Germans in Kosovo.

[BurgessLau]

How well are German soldiers performing against Afghans?

[zip]

ping

[Lunatic Fringe]

French influence on Germany bump.

[Porterville]

One thing about the Germans- they are not cowards.... long history of bravery.

[Destro]

I agree-the Germans are not cowards just allies to Muslim Albanians who served with their granfathers in the SS to kill Jews and Serbs.

[TexasTransplant]

Wannabe Spaniards?

[John Lenin]

Did you read the article ?

[Ramonan]

The result of a Liberalism infection into military matters.

[Destro]

I blame KFOR's anti-Serb policies - I guess those are of Liberal origin.

[Askel5]

Interesting "Victory Day" feed ...

[RobbyS]

Let someone burn a synagogue or mosque, and everyone gets bent out of shape. Let someone burn 29 churches and nothing is said.

[Destro]

The Christians deserved it is what was said.

[Porterville]

These Germans may have stepped back, but you are seriously going to make the leap, underestimating the fervor and importance for detail that embodies the culture of the German? Germans are tough. Green on the outside, sure, but it is a patina until they can centralize power.

[millefleur]

Green on the outside, sure, but it is a patina until they can centralize power.

Can you supply a link to back that up ?

[Porterville]

Yeah, check your local community college and take World History 101.

[McGavin999]

The German soldiers are NOT cowards, they have cowardly leadership in Berlin. This must be shameful for them and I really do feel sorry for their military. Nothing worse than a population who does not honor their troops.