Death by Firing Squad: Eddie Slovik Became the Only U.S. Soldier Executed for Desertion in WWII

[Talyn]

Eddie Slovik made a series of decisions that turned him into the only American soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War. He wrote and signed a confession admitting his crime. He refused five offers to escape punishment. He told his judge advocate he would desert again. And his case reached General Dwight Eisenhower's desk at the worst possible moment during the Battle of the Bulge.

Death by Firing Squad: Eddie Slovik Became the Only U.S. Soldier Executed for Desertion in WWII | Military.com

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Martin Sheen in the NBC movie, the Execution of Private Slovik (1974). (IMDB)

 

[Pitdogg2]

We need to start doing that to those who sell to our enemies.
No more sitting in prison for 30-40 yrs.

 

[The Night Rider]

We just had this discussion about 3 weeks ago.

This is a repost.

I actually did a thesis on this in college.

48,000 US soldiers were convicted of desertion in the face of the enemy during World War II. Many much more grievous than what Slovik did.

Slovik was the only soldier executed only for desertion.

By the time he deserted the general consensus was that if you deserted you'd be sentenced to a military prison and you would very likely be released shortly after the end of the war.

Slovik already had a record. One more charge wasn't going to change that.

My thesis statement was that by routinely commuting death sentences for desertion to life in prison the Army itself created the atmosphere in which Slovik didn't think he was in danger of actually being executed.

I also contended that if they had actually shot the first few guys that deserted they wouldn't have had 48,000 desertions over the course of the war.

 

[The Night Rider]

FWIW Camp Wolters Texas produced both the most highly decorated American soldier of World War II

And the only American soldier to be executed for a purely military offense since 1864.

 

[Talyn]

A side discussion to the main post, yes, but not really a repost but a supplement.

A book cover was posted but no link to an article describing the Pvt. Slovik incident in detail, as per the one above.

IMO, best to have a stand-alone thread on the Pvt. Slovik incident.

 

[The Night Rider]

A side discussion to the main post, yes, but not really a repost but a supplement.

I'm sorry I didn't communicate more clearly.

When I said "This is a repost"

I meant What I wrote after this is a repost

This is a repost.

I actually did a thesis on this in college.

48,000 US soldiers were convicted of desertion in the face of the enemy during World War II. Many much more grievous than what Slovik did.

Slovik was the only soldier executed only for desertion.

By the time he deserted the general consensus was that if you deserted you'd be sentenced to a military prison and you would very likely be released shortly after the end of the war.

Slovik already had a record. One more charge wasn't going to change that.

My thesis statement was that by routinely commuting death sentences for desertion to life in prison the Army itself created the atmosphere in which Slovik didn't think he was in danger of actually being executed.

I also contended that if they had actually shot the first few guys that deserted they wouldn't have had 48,000 desertions over the course of the war.