Desertion posed a significant challenge for both Allied and Axis militaries during World War II. Within the U.S. Army, most incidents took place in the European Theater, with an estimated 50,000 cases. Punishments varied widely, from relatively light sentences to extreme measures—49 men initially received death sentences, though nearly all were later commuted. The sole exception was Pvt. Eddie Slovik, the only American service member executed for desertion throughout the war.
Eddie Slovik joins the war effort
Eddie Slovik was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1920 and had a troubled childhood that quickly put him on the wrong side of the law. His first arrest came at just 12 years old, and over the following years he racked up multiple offenses, including disturbing the peace, burglary, and petty theft.
In October 1937, Slovik was sentenced to nearly a year in prison, but after being released on parole, he soon returned behind bars for stealing a car while intoxicated and crashing it. He was paroled once more in April 1942 and found steady work in plumbing and heating.
Although World War II was well underway by this point, Slovik was initially exempt from service because his criminal record labeled him “morally unfit for duty.” However, after marrying, the rules were changed, and on January 3, 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Following his basic training in the United States, he was shipped overseas to join the 3rd Replacement Depot.
Deserting his post
Eddie Slovik was assigned to the 28th Infantry Division, despite his vocal hatred of guns, and placed in Company G of the 109th Infantry Regiment.
While traveling near Elbeuf, France, he and Pvt. John Tankey were forced to seek cover during an artillery attack, which caused them to become separated from their unit. Left behind, the two joined a Canadian military police unit for six weeks, where they cooked, drove trucks, and guarded enemy prisoners of war (POWs). Eventually, Slovik’s company was notified of his and Tankey’s location and arranged for their return to their comrades on October 7, 1944.
The artillery attack had clearly left a lasting impact on Slovik, who told Capt. Ralph Grotte that he was too afraid to serve on the frontlines and requested a transfer. He made it explicit that if he were assigned to the rifle platoon at the front, he would flee, to which Grotte firmly replied that such an act would be considered desertion.
Grotte refused Slovik’s request for reassignment, and, as he had warned, the private deserted his post the next day. Tankey attempted to stop him but was unable to do so.
Eddie Slovik is taken into custody
Unlike many soldiers who went absent without leave, Eddie Slovik openly admitted his actions—both at the time and afterward. After leaving his unit, he sought out a cook at a military government post associated with the 112th Infantry Regiment and handed over a handwritten note. In it, Slovik candidly stated that he had deserted and insisted he would do so again if returned to combat. The cook alerted the military police, who then escorted Slovik to his commanding officer.
Instead of ordering an immediate arrest, the commander urged Slovik to destroy the note and reconsider his stance, but he refused. Later, Lt. Col. Ross Henbest offered him another chance: resume duty and avoid punishment. Slovik again declined.
With no alternative, military authorities took him into custody and required him to write a second statement acknowledging that he understood the legal consequences of his desertion.
Eddie Slovik is court-martialed
Eddie Slovik appeared in front of divisional judge advocate Lt. Col. Henry Sommer, who also offered him the chance to rejoin his unit. Sommer also presented him with the option to move to an entirely different infantry regiment, with the understanding that the reason for the transfer not be disclosed. Slovik was skeptical, and said, “I’ve made up my mind. I’ll take my court martial.”
As expected, he was charged with desertion to avoid hazardous duty and court-martialed on November 11, 1944. During the trial, many servicemen were called forward to attest that Slovik had intended to run away. To make matters worse, he refused to testify and defend himself.
When the trial concluded, Slovik was sentenced to death. He was shocked by the verdict, as he’d been expecting to receive 20 years of hard labor. As a last ditch effort to save himself, he reached out to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, in the hope he would commute the sentence. The Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force refused, noting that the US Army needed to discourage further desertions.
Execution at the hands of the US Army
At only 24 years old, Eddie Slovik was executed by firing squad at 10:04 AM on January 31, 1945. It’s believed his last words were to Father Carl Patrick Cummings, who was in attendance. Shortly before the execution, the chaplain said to him, “Eddie, when you get up there, say a little prayer for me,” to which Slovik responded, “Okay, Father. I’ll pray that you don’t follow me too soon.”
It’s believed Slovik was executed, rather than his sentence commuted, for a number of reasons. Some have pointed out that it was a matter of being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The US Army was experiencing a higher than normal level of desertion, so wanted to make a statement.
According to Slovik himself, “They’re not shooting me for deserting the United States Army, thousands of guys have done that. They just need to make an example out of somebody and I’m it because I’m an ex-con. I used to steal things when I was a kid, and that’s what they are shooting me for. They’re shooting me for the bread and chewing gum I stole when I was 12 years old.”
The Execution of Private Slovik (1974)
The death of Eddie Slovik was depicted in William Bradford Huie’s 1954 book, The Execution of Private Slovik, as well as the 1974 movie of the same name.
Huie’s work came together after he was shown a European graveyard that contained the remains of unidentified US soldiers. He set to work investigating the site and identified Slovik as one of the bodies. Although Eisenhower made an effort to stop the book from being published, the then-US president was unsuccessful.
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Interestingly, it was Frank Sinatra who first acquired the rights to turn the book into a film. There was significant public backlash to this, with many accusing the musician of being a Communist sympathizer. Ultimately, he sold the rights to filmmaker Richard Dubelman, who produced it and cast Martin Sheen in the lead role.
Overall, the movie was well-received and, for the most part, historically accurate, as the film crew referenced Slovik’s declassified military records when outlining the series of events.