DEATH PREFERRED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21925, 21 January 1946, Page 5

DEATH PREFERRED

RUSSIAN RENEGADES SUICIDES & MUTILATIONS FORCED RETURN TO SOVIET (9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. Ten Russians at Dachau committed suicide and others inflicted minor injuries on themselves rather than face repatriation to Russia, says an announcement by tlie American • Third Army, which is quoted by the Associated Press. The party numbers 271 Russians who served with the German armed forces and who are being returned to Russia on the demand of the Russian Government. The whole party refused to board a train on January 17, but armed American troops yesterday morning induced a majority to board the train. Thirty-one refused, barricading themselves in the baracks. They set fire to the barracks, stripped themselves of clothing, linked arms and invited the American soldiers and Polish guards to shoot them. The Americans tossed in tear gas and stormed into the barracks, armed only with clubs. The Americans found 10 Russians had already fatally slashed themselves with razor blades, apparently concealed in the barracks or had hanged themselves. Twenty-one others who had either slit their throats or slashed themselves and were still living were immediately taken to hospital. Most of the Russians who are being repatriated were members of the notorious force of Flying Cossacks who fought for the Germans on the Eastern Front, raping and pillaging. They were not informed of their destination but they seemed to sense they were going to Russia. The Third Army announcement concluded that no shots were fired during the whole operation. General McNarney, Commander of the American Zone, after the incident, issued a statement that under the Yalta agreement all Russians who fought with or aided the Germans must be returned to Russia. Those still in the United States zone would be handed over to the Russians forcibly, if necessary.