Eddie Slovik

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/eddie-slovik

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Eddie Slovik born?February 18, 1920
2. Where was Eddie Slovik born?Detroit, Michigan, USA
3. What is the date of execution?January 31, 1945
4. What is the related topics?Military justice, wartime psychology, capital punishment, World War II history
5. Who was Eddie Slovik?Eddie Slovik was a U.S. Army soldier who served in Europe during World War II and was the only American soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War.
6. Why was he executed?He was found guilty of desertion after leaving his unit without permission, and the military judge decided the death penalty was needed to keep order during the war.

Desertion: The unlawful absence of a soldier from their military duty without intent to return.
Court-martial: A military tribunal convened to try members of the armed forces for offenses.
Wartime Psychology: The study of the mental and emotional effects of warfare on individuals and groups.