08/29/2026
Before the Nuremburg Trials, there was the Russelsheim Massacre Trial on July 25, 1945. Eleven citizens of Russelsheim, Germany stood trial for "Violation of the laws of war" for "willfully, deliberately and wrongfully encourage, aid, abet and participate in the killing of" SIX airmen, "each of whom was then unarmed and a prisoner of war in the custody of the then German Reich." The public trial lasted six days, and forty eyewitnesses were called for the prosecution. (Quoted from the official trial record: United States v. Josef Hartgen, et al, Case 12-1497. Darmstadt, Germany, July 25-31, 1945) Three weeks after the trial, the War Crimes Investigation received a surprising letter- unbeknownst to them, two crewmembers survived the brutal assaults, Sgt Sidney Brown and Sgt William Adams.
Sgt Sidney "Brownie" Brown recounts the Russelsheim Massacre on August 26, 1944. In this edition of Target for Today, "Brownie" discusses the tragedy that befell his "Wham Bam" Crew.
All nine crew members bailed out of B-24J-CO 42-110107 "Wham! Bam! Thank you, Ma'm" on August 24, 1944 after being downed by FLAK but unfortunately, their situation only intensified once they were on the ground. This tragedy lead to the Russelsheim Massacre Trial.
Sidney Brown Oral History Collection
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force