Fort Ransom Soldier Refused Unlawful WWII Order

Peter B. Granlund's quiet courage during wartime highlights the values of rural communities.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:07pm

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In 1943, 19-year-old Peter B. Granlund, a soldier from Fort Ransom, North Dakota, refused an order from his lieutenant to execute surrendered German prisoners during World War II. Granlund's decision, which prevented an unlawful killing, is now seen as an example of the military principle that soldiers must refuse unlawful orders. Though Granlund's story is not widely known, it serves as a reminder of the values instilled in small-town communities like Fort Ransom.

Why it matters

Granlund's actions during WWII highlight the importance of the principle that soldiers must refuse unlawful orders, which was established in the aftermath of the war through the Nuremberg Trials. His story also demonstrates how the values of character, humility, and respect for the law that are cultivated in small rural communities can have a lasting impact.

The details

While serving as an infantry sergeant in the European theater, Granlund was ordered by his lieutenant to execute surrendered German prisoners, which would have been a violation of the laws of war. Despite the pressure of combat and the order coming from a superior officer, the 19-year-old Granlund refused to carry out the unlawful command. His decision prevented the prisoners from being killed, and the lieutenant ultimately backed down from the order.

  • Granlund was born in 1925 and raised in the Norwegian Lutheran community around Fort Ransom, North Dakota.
  • Granlund graduated from Fort Ransom High School in 1943 before entering the United States Army during World War II.
  • The incident where Granlund refused the unlawful order to execute prisoners occurred at some point during the war's European campaigns, which included the Hürtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, and the advance into Germany.

The players

Peter B. Granlund

A soldier from Fort Ransom, North Dakota who refused an unlawful order to execute German prisoners of war during World War II, demonstrating the principle that soldiers must refuse unlawful commands.

Lieutenant

Granlund's superior officer who ordered him to execute the surrendered German prisoners, an unlawful act that Granlund refused to carry out.

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What they’re saying

“Granlund's story carries a powerful lesson.”

— Dakota S. Rudesill, Legal scholar

What’s next

The story of Peter B. Granlund's principled stand during WWII continues to be studied and discussed in military ethics and legal circles, serving as an example of the importance of refusing unlawful orders.

The takeaway

Granlund's actions during the war demonstrate how the values of character, humility, and respect for the law that are instilled in small rural communities like Fort Ransom can have a lasting impact, even in the most challenging of circumstances.