Even if the not being involved in torture part is true (we can just assume that, surely ), he bragged about finding a loophole in orders against using artillery (I believe) in a populated city so he could keep blasting. I’m pretty strongly inclined to call that a warcrime if even the US military found it inhumane. Also, the whole invasion was a crime, so these are 100% Clean Wehrmacht arguments . . .
Iirc the artillery thing was using rifle grenades as improvised mortars after they received orders to halt use of mortars due to excessive civilian casualties. Like, yeah, we can get past someone who served a tour IF they understand what that means and are appropriately repentant, people quite rightly point out that veterans can be a very important revolutionary group, but this man absolutely thirsted for civilian blood. I really don’t think there is any redemption for him without serious rehabilitation and reeducation. He is a monster and in a civilised society, he would absolutely be made to reckon with that, not be allowed to enjoy immense privilege and run for public office.
Iirc, Platner’s unit was ordered to stop using mortars in populated areas so instead they used automatic grenade launchers like mortars, rapidly firing multiple grenades in high arcs over the city to try and hit their target.
Even if the not being involved in torture part is true (we can just assume that, surely
), he bragged about finding a loophole in orders against using artillery (I believe) in a populated city so he could keep blasting. I’m pretty strongly inclined to call that a warcrime if even the US military found it inhumane. Also, the whole invasion was a crime, so these are 100% Clean Wehrmacht arguments . . .
Iirc the artillery thing was using rifle grenades as improvised mortars after they received orders to halt use of mortars due to excessive civilian casualties. Like, yeah, we can get past someone who served a tour IF they understand what that means and are appropriately repentant, people quite rightly point out that veterans can be a very important revolutionary group, but this man absolutely thirsted for civilian blood. I really don’t think there is any redemption for him without serious rehabilitation and reeducation. He is a monster and in a civilised society, he would absolutely be made to reckon with that, not be allowed to enjoy immense privilege and run for public office.
Also he wasn’t involved in the torture because he served there after it was publicly known and allegedly stopped which is fucking worse.
Iirc, Platner’s unit was ordered to stop using mortars in populated areas so instead they used automatic grenade launchers like mortars, rapidly firing multiple grenades in high arcs over the city to try and hit their target.