§ Sir E. Spearsasked the Secretary of State for War whether any cases are known of the German order to shoot parachutists having been carried out.
Sir J. GriģģYes, Sir. Details of the following such crimes are available. Strong protests have, of course, been made to the German Government.
On or about 20th August, 1944, two men of the Special Air Service Regiment operating behind the enemy lines near Orleans were captured and executed at Chilleurs Aux Bois. On or about 3rd July, 1944, one officer and one trooper of the Special Air Service Regiment were wounded and captured near Poitiers. The officer was killed by repeated blows on 1684W the head with a rifle butt. The trooper was severely beaten but survived. On or about 6th June, 1944, seven British soldiers of the Parachute Regiment were taken prisoner and afterwards killed by German troops. On 5th July, 1944, two corporals and nine men of the Special Air Regiment were captured near Paris. On 9th August the two corporals and four of the men were taken by the Gestapo to a wood near Beauvais and were lined up to be shot. The two corporals escaped by running away, but the four men were shot.