This Date in History: March 4

 

Otto-Friedrich “Fritz” Bernotat, SS-Standartenführer, born April 10, 1890 in East Prussia, Nazi state administrator in the district of Hessen-Nassau in Wiesbaden, winner of the Iron Cross 2nd Class in World War I, winner Nazi Golden Party Badge, on staff of SS-Oberabschnitt Rhein-Westmark, died March 4, 1951 in Neuhof near Fulda under the alias Otto Kallweit, made the following comment on patient load in hospitals: “If you have too many patients in your institution, just beat them to death, and then you will have space.”  (2,000 Quotes From Hitler’s 1,000-Year Reich)

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On Wednesday, March 4, 1874, north of the Yellowstone River, sunrise occurred at 6:48 a.m.  The 1874 Yellowstone Wagon Road and Prospecting Expedition traveled about eight miles to the east, before halting in the afternoon and establishing a laager for the night.  Frank Grounds issued the expedition’s Third General Order.  It stated that unless a man was appointed as a hunter, he would not shoot at game from the wagon train or leave the formation in search of food.  Failure to abide by this order would result in the offender standing extra guard duty at night.  Prior to this ruling, many men went hunting, but returned with little game – a waste of ammunition, and putting these individuals at risk of ambush should unfriendly warriors be lurking.  After issuing the order, Grounds divided the expedition into twelve-man groups.  Each group would appoint its own hunter by vote.  Sunset was at 6:05 p.m.  (Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Gold and Guns: The 1874 Yellowstone Wagon Road and Prospecting Expedition and the Battle of Lodge Grass Creek)