This was unprecedented and still causes confusion. These tortures and murders took place after the Nuremberg Trials so the General can't plead ignorance.

From Army basic training all the way through Air Force officer training, I was taught that I had a responsibility, both legal and moral, to disobey illegal laws such as torturing or murdering civilians. However, I was also warned that it can be difficult in a combat situation to know what is or isn't a legal order. It can be a fine line that can get you in serious trouble either way. Refusing to obey an order during wartime is an extremely serious offense. You'd damned well better have collaborating evidence that the law was unlawful.