urban legends ✓

the crucified soldier ☹

Sadly, horrific atrocities are the norm when it comes to war. Yet sometimes we hear of a story so vile and gruesome that we question its accuracy. The "Crucified Soldier" is one such story.

According to this troubling legend, soldiers from both sides of the First World War crucified their captured opponents in a spot visible to the prisoners' comrades. The Germans allegedly started this practice when they crucified a Canadian soldier with bayonets to a barn door. When the Canadians learned of this, they reportedly retaliated by crucifying a captured German officer. Pretty soon the Germans also accused the Belgians with crucifying their captured prisoners.

Although no evidence ever supported this atrocity, the story became deeply embedded in the Canadian national consciousness. After the war, Canadian artist Dentwood made a bronze statue called Canada's Golgotha—it showed a Canadian soldier being crucified and mocked by German soldiers.