Eddie Slovik Was the Only American Executed for Desertion During World War Two

Eddie Slovik was the only American executed for desertion during World War Two. This week in 1945, a firing squad assembled in the French village of Sainte-Marie- aux-Mines — sont MAH-ree oh MEEN-uh. The firing squad was made up of mem- bers from the U.S. Army during World War Two. But these soldiers were not there to kill anyone from Germany, Japan, or Italy. They were there to kill an American soldier named Edward Slovik. He was the only American to be executed for desertion during World War Two. Eddie Slovik grew up in Detroit, Michigan. His family was poor, and he was not very interested in school. As a kid, Slovik was often in trouble with the law for stealing, drinking, and ruining property. By the time he was 20 years old, he had already been in jail twice. He described himself as a “born loser.” After getting out of jail, Slovik got a job and got married. As an ex-convict, he was not supposed to be drafted into the military. But when the Army needed more people to fight, the rules changed. He was called up to basic training in 1944 and then Private Eddie Slovik was sent to France as part of an infantry unit. The infantry consists of troops that march on foot, rather than travel in vehicles. Slovik arrived during a fierce battle. He and another soldier became separated from their unit. They found a Canadian Military Police unit and stayed with them for several weeks. During this time, Eddie Slovik was reportedly very helpful and polite. Also, during this time, he decided that he hated all the noise and danger of war, and wanted to be out of it as soon as possible. When Private Slovik returned to his unit, he was told he would be on the front lines with a rifle, shooting at Germans. He told his commanding officer that he was too scared for that, and asked to do some other kind of duty. The officer refused, and ordered Slovik to the front lines. The next day, Eddie Slovik walked several miles and handed a letter to an Army cook. In this letter, he admitted to desertion of duty. Slovik knew that there were thousands of other soldiers who had also deserted. He thought he would have to serve time in military jail. Instead, he was court-martialed. This means he was put on trial by the military. At the end of the trial, he was sentenced to death. Forty-eight other soldiers received a death sentence for desertion during World War Two. But none of them was executed. Eddie Slovik was the only one to actually face a firing squad. Slovik thought the Army needed to make an example of someone, and they chose him because of his criminal background. On January 31, 1945, Eddie Slovik was shot to death — the first and only American to be executed for desertion since the Civil War. In the decades that followed, many people have come to see this as an example of terrible injustice and unequal treatment. A book called “The Execu- tion of Private Slovik” came out in 1954. And in 1974, a TV movie based on the book was aired, starring Martin Sheen. .

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