On january 31, 1945, eddie slovik became the only american soldier since the civil war to be executed for desertion the only one of the. The execution of private slovik 1974 movie moviefone. I believe that those who upload 70s lowbudget films to youtube go to heaven. Once he realized he was actually going to be executed, slovik wrote a plea addressed to general eisenhower. The execution of private slovik 1974 rotten tomatoes. William bradford huies chronicle of this unfortunate wartime episode, the execution of private slovik, was published in 1954. He is the only person to have been so punished for that crime since the civil war. Slovik was taken into custody, tried by a court martial, found guilty of desertion and sentenced to execution. Jul 18, 2019 the execution of private slovik by william bradford huie is probably one of the best books i have read in recent times.
When the execution of private slovik aired 40 years ago last month, it became, according to some sources, the mostwatched madefortelevision movie in. The execution of private slovik by william bradford huie. Execution of private slovik 1974 full movie youtube. Nick gozik now age 90years old, spent the morning of his 25 th birthday as a witness to the execution of private eddie slovik. The execution of private slovik 1974 determined to put his criminal record behind him, eddie slovik martin sheen finds a wife, settles down and thinks himself fortunate not to be drafted. The book is a research book focused on the events that led up to and then. Slovik soldiers of the 28th infantry division parade down the champselysees in paris on august 29, 1944. Mar 22, 2017 i believe that those who upload 70s lowbudget films to youtube go to heaven. Dont thank me for this one guys, i know you love me for that. Mar 04, 2015 slovik was taken into custody, tried by a court martial, found guilty of desertion and sentenced to execution.
Today, january 31, marks the 60th anniversary of his execution by firing squad for desertion. In 1945, private eddie slovik, a born loser who made no secret of his desire to escape the army in any way possible, became the first. With martin sheen, mariclare costello, ned beatty, gary busey. In august 1944, a drab convoy of raw recruits destined to join the 28th division lumbered along a windy french road strewn with dead animals, shattered bodies, and. Journalist william bradford huie researched this book and it is written in the style of newspaper writing at this time. May 26, 2012 martin sheen in the execution of private slovik. Eddie slovik court martial and execution documents 1,776 pages of records from the war departmentdepartment of defense office of the judge advocate general, consisting of transcripts and other records of the courtmartial cm 290498 for desertion by and the execution of private edward donald slovik 19201945. The whole process took 15 minutes and eleven bullets. Sloviks execution was the basis for a 1954 book by william bradford huie. The execution of private eddie slovik realclearhistory. Apr 09, 2010 execution of private slovik 1974 full movie like, you can really watch it now. The execution of eddie slovik is authorized history. There were 21,049 soldiers sentenced for desertion during wwii, with 49 of them receiving death sentences.
Originally classified 4f because of a prison record grand theft auto, he was bumped up to a 1a classification when draft standards were lowered to meet. However, only sloviks death sentence was carried out. In addition, eisenhowers execution orders and slovik s death by firing squad are included in a scene in the 1963 film the victors. Army in order to find out what made eddie slovik an unlikely pacifist and why the affair was covered up. Army soldier since the civil war, and the only man so punished during world war ii. This is a non fiction account of the execution in january 1945 of private eddie slovik.
Sep 01, 20 the execution of private slovik nbc television broadcast mar. The resurrection of private slovik the new york times. From the civil war to this day, the execution of private slovik was the only time a death sentence was carried out for the crime of desertion. His desperate last attempt to preserve his life was rejected and on january 31, 1945, just a few months before the war ended in europe, edward donald slovik was executed by firing squad. Dwight eisenhower endorses the finding of a courtmartial in the case of eddie slovik, who was tried for desertion, and authorizes his execution. The film was written for the screen by richard levinson, william link and by lamont johnson who was the director, the film stars martin sheen, 2 and also features. The story of eddie slovik, who was executed by the army in 1945. Private eddie slovik, executed for desertion in 1945, has been memorialized in print and film as an unwitting sufferer of a cruel army. Slovik was the last american soldier shot for desertion in 1944. Eddie slovik becomes the first american soldier since the civil war to be executed for desertionand the only one who suffered such a fate. The execution of private slovik wikipedia republished wiki 2. The film was written for the screen by richard levinson, william link and by lamont johnson who was the director, the film stars martin sheen, and also features charlie. Through interviews with those who knew him and the hundreds of letters to his wife, the author reveals a hard luck depression era kid who when faced with the reality of war realized that he simply.
Buy a cheap copy of the execution of private slovik book by william bradford huie. Apr 20, 2017 private eddie slovik was the first american soldier since the civil war to be executed for desertion. In january 1945, private eddie slovik was executed in france, the only american soldier shot for desertion since the civil. I n january 1945, private eddie slovik was executed in france, the only american soldier shot for desertion since the civil war. When private eddie slovik was executed on january 31,1945, he became the only american put to death for desertion since lincoln was president. The execution of private slovik wwii military deserter is up before a firing squad in wartime france. In all theaters of wwii, the united states military executed 102 of its own, almost always for the unprovoked rape andor murder of civilians. On 31 january 1945, eddie slovik was executed by firing squad near the village of stemarie aux mines for the crime of desertion.
Some dramatic license occurs, including during the execution. Jun 30, 1977 private slovik s case first gained wide attention in 1954, when william bradford rifle wrote a book about it. The execution of private slovik is a nonfiction book by william bradford huie, published in 1954, and an american madefortelevision movie that aired on nbc. Jan 31, 2020 in all theaters of wwii, the united states military executed 102 of its own, almost always for the unprovoked rape andor murder of civilians.
The execution of private slovik 1974 dvd region 1 playable in north america the us, canada, mexico, etc. A draftee, slovik was originally classified 4f because of a prison record grand theft auto, but later reclassified 1a when draft standards were lowered to meet growing army needs. The story of eddie slovik, who was executed by the army in 1945, the only american soldier to be executed for desertion since the civil war. E cohn article on nbc 2 12hr tv film, the execution of private slovik, based on book of same name written by william bradford huie. Eisenhower might have interceded to commute private edward sloviks death sentencein fact, slovik, wrote ike directly on december 9, 1944, requesting just that. In 1974, the book was adapted for a tv movie starring martin sheen and also called the execution of private slovik. I saw it again on televion in 1984, then more recently obtained vhs.
The execution of private slovik tv movie 1974 imdb. The execution of private slovik was an excellent effort to get beyond the myth of the good war and demonstrate that war inevitably degrades and damages all who are involved. In august 1944, trained as a rifleman, slovik was sent to france with the 28th infantry division, a unit which. The military service record of slovik, which is now a public archival record available from the military personnel records center, provides a detailed account of the actual execution of slovik which took place in 1945 and it was upon this that most of the film was based. Private sloviks case first gained wide attention in 1954, when william bradford rifle wrote a book about it. Death and burial ground of slovik, edward donald eddi. Dwight eisenhower endorses the finding of a courtmartial in the case of eddie slovik, who was tried for desertion, and authorizes his execution, the first such sentence against a u. The execution of private slovik 1974 lamont johnson. When the execution of private slovik aired 40 years ago last month, it became, according to some sources, the mostwatched madefortelevision movie in american history. The execution of private slovik book by william bradford huie. Edward donald slovik february 18, 1920 january 31, 1945 was a united states army soldier during world war ii and the only.
The film was written for the screen by richard levinson, william link and by lamont johnson who was the director, the film stars martin sheen, and also features charlie sheen in his second film in a small role. In 1945, private eddie slovik, a born loser who made no secret of his desire to escape the army in any way possible, became the first american to be executed for desertion since the civil war. He is the only person to have been so punished for that crime since the. The division was the first american division to enter the capital after its liberation. Eisenhower, supreme allied commander, personally ordered the execution during the closing days of world war ii in order to deter other potential deserters. Slovik s execution was the basis for a 1954 book by william bradford huie. Eisenhower, supreme allied commander, ordered the execution during the closing days of the battle of the bulge, in order to deter other potential deserters. Private eddie slovik was the first american soldier since the civil war to be executed for desertion. On january 31, 1945, private edward donald eddie slovik became a curious outlier of world war ii. In the execution of private slovik, considered to be among the best investigative books ever written, journalist and author william bradford huie reconstructs this entire story with the full cooperation of the u.
The execution of private slovik 1974 video detective. This day in history the execution of eddie slovik is. However, slovik s execution was the basis for a 1954 book by william bradford huie. The execution of private eddie slovik theatrical dramatization of the execution of u. The execution of private slovik by william bradford huie is probably one of the best books i have read in recent times. Private eddie slovik, the last american shot for desertion. This is a non fiction account of the executionin january 1945of private eddie slovik. During wwii over 21,000 american soldiers were found guilty of desertion and 49 of. Execution of private slovik 1974 full movie like, you can really. From the end of the american civil war until world war ii, no american soldier was executed for cowardice or desertion, even during wartime. The execution of private slovik is a nonfiction book by william bradford huie, published in 1954, and an american madefortelevision movie that aired on nbc on march, 1974. In january 1945, private eddie slovik was executed in france, the.
In the execution of private slovik, considered to be among the best investigative books ever written, william bradford huie reconstructs this entire story with the full cooperation of the u. Eddie slovik becomes the first american soldier since the civil war to be executed for desertionand the only one who suffered such a fate during. The execution of private slovik roger bender book reports. According to william bradford huie, author of the execution of private slovik, his death by firing squad in france was the only execution of an american for a purely military offense since the civil war. However, only slovik s death sentence was carried out.
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