Penal legion question.

[Paradill]

So I realise that penal legions are made up of imperial citizens, and that military law is different to civilian law but I have a question (I'm rewriting my guard fluff) and I can't figure it out.

If a regiment turned on other elements of its army group, because the regiment hierarchy had deceived its men into believing they were the only loyalists, but the rank and file had discovered the truth and turned their officers over to the general staff as well as surrendered, what would happen?

Is it feasible that the regiment would be considered criminals (albeit unwitting and apologetic ones) and become an element if a penal legion?

[RedsandRoyals]

I want to be clear on what you're asking before I try to answer. The officers of the regiment in question convince their men to attack allied troops, under the story that the allied troops are actually traitors. The regiment in question figures this out sooner or later, and surrenders to loyalist forces, handing over their officers. Right?

Reds

[Paradill]

Yep, that's it. Much more clear and concise than what I put.

[RedsandRoyals]

In that case, the answer is easy.

Ignorance is no excuse, so yes, it's quite possible, probably likely.

But because I'm me, here's a long answer too. Assuming the regiment was not crushed under the guns of it's own battlegroup, then converting it into a penal unit seems likely if the regiment is so large that just shooting everyone is impractical. Most likely it would undergo Decimation of some kind, or similar draconian punishments (Hanging every officer or NCO, even those not directly involved in the plot, etc). Remember, the punishment needs to do more than punish the offenders. It needs to be horrific enough to dissuade others from trying the same thing. It needs to be an example.

From there, the survivors would either be sent to a penal unit in existence, form the core of a new one, or be disbanded and scattered to the four proverbial winds for a variety of punishments. Another option would be that, while the regiment is not "officially" rebranded as a penal unit, it's given a suicidal objective, and if it succeeds, they're considered forgiven, even if the forgiveness is posthumous. That's a quicker and easier solution than re-designating the whole unit as a penal formation, which would entail restructuring and re-equipping, and probably a lot of paperwork.

Reds

[Paradill]

Thanks Reds, that's given me a few ideas as well. Here's the second part of my question:

Commissars. They would have thought the same, ensured the men were following orders (even though those orders were traitorous) and been oblivious to the plot themselves. What would happen to them? Would they suffer whatever fate the rest of the regiment were given or would they receive a different commissarial punishment? My instinct is to go with all out commissar cull and replacement with new untainted ones, but I'm not sure.

[RedsandRoyals]

They'd be shot.

Reds

[Ymmot (M.I.A)]

And they'd pull the trigger themselves if they were good at their jobs!


Wait, disregard that...if they were really good at their jobs they never would have surrendered.

[Boobs McGee, Esquire]

Not before shooting every squadie in the vicinity or running out of bullets