The gruesome story of the Borkum Island Massacre. On the 4th of August 1944 an American B17 bomber was shot down over the island. The crew of 7 was taken prisoner. The commander of the island ordered the prisoners to march into Borkum and face the rage of the villagers. 1/5 #WW2

The guards were ordered not to intervene. When they entered the village the pilots were kicked and beaten. One of the pilots broke down in front of the town hall. He was shot on the spot by corporal Langer, who had just lost his family in Hamburg after an allied bombardment. 2/5

The march continued and so did the tragedy. When they made a short break, Langer returned and shot the pilots one by one in the head. The guards were so shocked, that they did not intervene. The official report said the pilots were beaten to death by the local population. 3/5

After the war five German soldiers were sentenced to death because of the massacre. Langer escaped justice, since he was killed in 1945 on the Eastern front. In 2003 a memorial stone was unveiled in the village of Borkum. 4/5

The story of Borkum was not a solitary case. It is estimated 350 Allied crew members were lynched in Germany. The result of a general mobilisation of hatred towards the enemy caused by Nazi retaliation-propaganda. 5/5

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