3. Putting Canadian Brutality in Perspective
To be fair, stories of executed prisoners were common in all WWI armies, and Canadian soldiers were not the only ones who brutalized surrendering foes. Moreover, the Canadians, unlike the Germans, had a near spotless record when it came to the treatment of civilians. Also, the reputation earned by Canadians for slaying prisoners had much to do with the fact that Canadians often served as shock troops, in the first wave of attacks. The most dangerous time for surrendering soldiers is the first few moments of surrender, when captured by enemies whose blood is up, passions are high, and who might have just lost comrades in the assault. Canadians were disproportionately placed in first wave attacks, which placed them in disproportionate contact with surrendering Germans in such volatile circumstances.
