Oskar Niemeyer
In the decades since the First World War came to an end, far more attention and commemoration has been given to those who fought and died among Allied forces than has been bestowed on their enemies. But brave and courageous acts were performed by both sides, such as that performed by German soldier Oskar Niemeyer.
It’s not clear from surviving records exactly when Niemeyer was born, but he was originally from Hidesheim, Germany. He enlisted in the 84th Infantry Regiment of the German army in Autumn 1913, having previously worked as a gardener. With the First World War having broken out in early August 1914, on August 23, during the Battle of Mons (the offensive in which the British Expeditionary Force clashed with the German Army, before both sides later got bogged down into opposing networks of trenches), Niemeyer’s regiment encountered serious resistance and closed a swing-bridge across the Mons-Condé canal while trying to extend their position to the east of the canal.
In a considerable act of bravery, Niemeyer swam the canal with a small boat, paddled back across the canal with a team which positioned itself in a house and opened fire on the British forces from there. At the same time, Niemeyer opened the bridge and so allowed the German troops to cross in greater numbers. He was killed after opening the bridge and is buried in St Symphorien Military Cemetery.
For his actions on the bridge that day, Niemeyer was awarded the Iron Cross, one of Germany’s highest military decorations.