In 1945, the US Army executed a soldier for desertion for the first time since 1864
The execution of Private Eddie Slovik in 1945 marked a somber turning point in military law, as he became the only American soldier executed for desertion during the entirety of World War II.
On January 31, 1945, the US Army executed Private Eddie Slovik by firing squad in France. While thousands of soldiers were tried for desertion during the war, Slovik was the only one to face the death penalty. His execution was intended to serve as a deterrent to others during the brutal final months of the conflict, following the bloody Battle of the Bulge.
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