Georg Elser: Difference between revisions
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== Career and social life == |
== Career and social life == |
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Elser was born as a child of a farmer and lumber dealer. He visited the elementary school in [[Königsbronn]] from [[1910]] to [[1917]] and proved to be able in drawing and the handicrafts. He began an apprenticeship as a lathe operator in a foundry which he had to cancel for health reasons 2 years later; so he began an apprenticeship as a carpenter. After the final verification as the best of year in [[1922]] he worked as a carpenter in several joineries in Königsbronn, [[Aalen]] and [[Heidenheim]]. From [[1925]] to [[1929]] he worked in a watch factory in [[Konstanz]] where he acquired knowledge making him able to build the ingenious time fuse of his bomb. From 1929 to [[1932] he worked as a carpenter in [[Switzerland]]. After his return to Konstanz he worked in his parents' company. From [[1936]] he worked in a fitting factory in Heidenheim. Through this job he |
Elser was born as a child of a farmer and lumber dealer. He visited the elementary school in [[Königsbronn]] from [[1910]] to [[1917]] and proved to be able in drawing and the handicrafts. He began an apprenticeship as a lathe operator in a foundry which he had to cancel for health reasons 2 years later; so he began an apprenticeship as a carpenter. After the final verification as the best of year in [[1922]] he worked as a carpenter in several joineries in Königsbronn, [[Aalen]] and [[Heidenheim]]. From [[1925]] to [[1929]] he worked in a watch factory in [[Konstanz]] where he acquired knowledge making him able to build the ingenious time fuse of his bomb. From 1929 to [[1932] he worked as a carpenter in [[Switzerland]]. After his return to Konstanz he worked in his parents' company. From [[1936]] he worked in a fitting factory in Heidenheim. Through this job he came into knowledge of the Nazis' rearmament program. |
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Elser was a quiet yet sociable man, joining in different cultural societies, e.g. a [[Tracht]] club. He played the [[cithara]] and also the [[double bass]] for the local choir and also on dancing occasions. He also loved to hike together with his friends. In [[1930]] his girlfriend Mathilde Niedermann gave birth to a son called Manfred |
Elser was a quiet yet sociable man, joining in different cultural societies, e.g. a [[Tracht]] club. He played the [[cithara]] and also the [[double bass]] for the local choir and also on dancing occasions. He also loved to hike together with his friends. In [[1930]] his girlfriend Mathilde Niedermann gave birth to a son called Manfred. |
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== Political and philosophical thinking == |
== Political and philosophical thinking == |
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Elser's |
Elser's political thinking was first stirred during his years as an apprentice. He became a member of the federation of wood workers and in [[1928]] joined the [[Roter Frontkämpferbund]], the Communists' paramilitary organisation, but without devoting much time to these memberships. Though he was not a [[Communist]], as other utterances show, he voted for the Communist Party until 1933, since he considered them to be the best defenders of workers' interests. |
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Elser was opposed to [[Nazism]] from the beginning and after 1933 refused to perform the [[Hitler salute]], or to join others in listening to [[Hitler]]'s speeches broadcast on radio. His opposition was initially motivated by his concern for working conditions. He also deplored the restrictions on civic rights and resisted the [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] claims of Nazi education and propaganda. His |
Elser was opposed to [[Nazism]] from the beginning and after 1933 refused to perform the [[Hitler salute]], or to join others in listening to [[Hitler]]'s speeches broadcast on radio. His opposition was initially motivated by his concern for working conditions. He also deplored the restrictions on civic rights and resisted the [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] claims of Nazi education and propaganda. His understanding of politics was influenced strongly by his longing for personal freedom. As a devout [[Protestant]] [[Christian]] he also deplored the growing restrictions on religious freedom. |
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== The assassination attempt == |
== The assassination attempt == |
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Due to his |
Due to his understanding of [[German]] [[Foreign Policy]], and after being appalled at [[Kristallnacht]], Elser realized that Hitler would plunge [[Germany]] into a major [[war]] and that only Hitler's death could stop this move into catastrophe. Since it was public knowledge that Hitler annually gave a speech in [[Munich]] in the [[Bürgerbräukeller]] on the evening before the anniversary of his failed [[Putsch]], [[November 9]]th, [[1923]], Elser decided to hide a time bomb in the pillar behind the speaker's desk. He succeeded in overcoming the difficulties in troublesome, clandestine, detailed work, enclosed in the premises each night for over 30 days. During these preparations, [[World War II]] started on [[1 September]], [[1939]], which proved his estimations correct. |
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On the [[8 November|8th of November]], 1939, the bomb exploded exactly at 21:20 as Elser had planned. However the [[assasination]] failed, as Hitler had already left. Bad weather had prevented Hitler from returning to [[Berlin]] by plane and so he had had to take a train. He had finished his speech earlier than planned and had left the room 13 minutes before the bomb exploded. Eight people died and 63 were injured, 16 of them seriously. Seven of the people killed were members of the [[NSDAP]] who had taken part in the meeting. |
On the [[8 November|8th of November]], 1939, the bomb exploded exactly at 21:20 as Elser had planned. However the [[assasination]] failed, as Hitler had already left. Bad weather had prevented Hitler from returning to [[Berlin]] by plane and so he had had to take a train. He had finished his speech earlier than planned and had left the room 13 minutes before the bomb exploded. Eight people died and 63 were injured, 16 of them seriously. Seven of the people killed were members of the [[NSDAP]] who had taken part in the meeting. |
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== Arrest and custody == |
== Arrest and custody == |
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Elser was arrested by accident at 20:45, about 35 minutes before the bomb exploded, when he tried to cross the border to Switzerland by the customs border police in Konstanz. He was then examined in Munich and Berlin by the [[Gestapo]]. The protocol from the Gestapo was recovered in the end of the [[1960s]]. These 203 pieces of paper are the most important source for information about Georg Elser. |
Elser was arrested by accident at 20:45, about 35 minutes before the bomb exploded, when he tried to cross the border to Switzerland by the customs border police in Konstanz. He was then examined in Munich and Berlin by the [[Gestapo]]. The protocol from the Gestapo was recovered in the end of the [[1960s]]. These 203 pieces of paper are the most important source for information about Georg Elser. During these examinations, neither his son nor the son's mother were molested. |
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Elser was imprisoned in the [[concentration camp]]s [[Sachsenhausen concentration camp|Sachsenhausen]] and [[Dachau concentration camp|Dachau]]. Though Elser consistently claimed to have been acting on his own, the Nazis, especially [[Joseph Goebbels|Goebbels]] persisted in suspecting a [[United Kingdom|British]]-led conspiracy and intended to stage a trial exposing this alleged plot after the war. Elser was kept in special custody. The mystery about the identity of this "special security prisoner" sometimes lead to malicious rumours among his fellow inmates. Even after the war, [[Martin Niemöller]], also in custody at Sachsenhausen, claimed that Elser had been a member of the [[SS]] and that the whole assassination attempt had been staged by the Nazis to portray Hitler as being protected by providence. |
Elser was imprisoned in the [[concentration camp]]s [[Sachsenhausen concentration camp|Sachsenhausen]] and [[Dachau concentration camp|Dachau]]. Though Elser consistently claimed to have been acting on his own, the Nazis, especially [[Joseph Goebbels|Goebbels]] persisted in suspecting a [[United Kingdom|British]]-led conspiracy and intended to stage a trial exposing this alleged plot after the war. Elser was kept in special custody. The mystery about the identity of this "special security prisoner" sometimes lead to malicious rumours among his fellow inmates. Even after the war, [[Martin Niemöller]], also in custody at Sachsenhausen, claimed that Elser had been a member of the [[SS]] and that the whole assassination attempt had been staged by the Nazis to portray Hitler as being protected by providence. |
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Revision as of 11:40, 2 November 2005
Johann Georg Elser (born 4 January 1903 in Hermaringen, Württemberg, Germany; died 9 April 1945 in Dachau concentration camp) was a German opponent of Nazism. He became famous for a failed assasination of Adolf Hitler.
Career and social life
Elser was born as a child of a farmer and lumber dealer. He visited the elementary school in Königsbronn from 1910 to 1917 and proved to be able in drawing and the handicrafts. He began an apprenticeship as a lathe operator in a foundry which he had to cancel for health reasons 2 years later; so he began an apprenticeship as a carpenter. After the final verification as the best of year in 1922 he worked as a carpenter in several joineries in Königsbronn, Aalen and Heidenheim. From 1925 to 1929 he worked in a watch factory in Konstanz where he acquired knowledge making him able to build the ingenious time fuse of his bomb. From 1929 to [[1932] he worked as a carpenter in Switzerland. After his return to Konstanz he worked in his parents' company. From 1936 he worked in a fitting factory in Heidenheim. Through this job he came into knowledge of the Nazis' rearmament program.
Elser was a quiet yet sociable man, joining in different cultural societies, e.g. a Tracht club. He played the cithara and also the double bass for the local choir and also on dancing occasions. He also loved to hike together with his friends. In 1930 his girlfriend Mathilde Niedermann gave birth to a son called Manfred.
Political and philosophical thinking
Elser's political thinking was first stirred during his years as an apprentice. He became a member of the federation of wood workers and in 1928 joined the Roter Frontkämpferbund, the Communists' paramilitary organisation, but without devoting much time to these memberships. Though he was not a Communist, as other utterances show, he voted for the Communist Party until 1933, since he considered them to be the best defenders of workers' interests.
Elser was opposed to Nazism from the beginning and after 1933 refused to perform the Hitler salute, or to join others in listening to Hitler's speeches broadcast on radio. His opposition was initially motivated by his concern for working conditions. He also deplored the restrictions on civic rights and resisted the totalitarian claims of Nazi education and propaganda. His understanding of politics was influenced strongly by his longing for personal freedom. As a devout Protestant Christian he also deplored the growing restrictions on religious freedom.
The assassination attempt
Due to his understanding of German Foreign Policy, and after being appalled at Kristallnacht, Elser realized that Hitler would plunge Germany into a major war and that only Hitler's death could stop this move into catastrophe. Since it was public knowledge that Hitler annually gave a speech in Munich in the Bürgerbräukeller on the evening before the anniversary of his failed Putsch, November 9th, 1923, Elser decided to hide a time bomb in the pillar behind the speaker's desk. He succeeded in overcoming the difficulties in troublesome, clandestine, detailed work, enclosed in the premises each night for over 30 days. During these preparations, World War II started on 1 September, 1939, which proved his estimations correct.
On the 8th of November, 1939, the bomb exploded exactly at 21:20 as Elser had planned. However the assasination failed, as Hitler had already left. Bad weather had prevented Hitler from returning to Berlin by plane and so he had had to take a train. He had finished his speech earlier than planned and had left the room 13 minutes before the bomb exploded. Eight people died and 63 were injured, 16 of them seriously. Seven of the people killed were members of the NSDAP who had taken part in the meeting.
Arrest and custody
Elser was arrested by accident at 20:45, about 35 minutes before the bomb exploded, when he tried to cross the border to Switzerland by the customs border police in Konstanz. He was then examined in Munich and Berlin by the Gestapo. The protocol from the Gestapo was recovered in the end of the 1960s. These 203 pieces of paper are the most important source for information about Georg Elser. During these examinations, neither his son nor the son's mother were molested.
Elser was imprisoned in the concentration camps Sachsenhausen and Dachau. Though Elser consistently claimed to have been acting on his own, the Nazis, especially Goebbels persisted in suspecting a British-led conspiracy and intended to stage a trial exposing this alleged plot after the war. Elser was kept in special custody. The mystery about the identity of this "special security prisoner" sometimes lead to malicious rumours among his fellow inmates. Even after the war, Martin Niemöller, also in custody at Sachsenhausen, claimed that Elser had been a member of the SS and that the whole assassination attempt had been staged by the Nazis to portray Hitler as being protected by providence.
Death
In April 1945, as German defeat was imminent and allied troops were drawing nearer to Dachau, Hitler ordered the killing of the "special security prisoner Eller", by which name Elser was called in Dachau. The head of the Gestapo, SS-Gruppenführer Heinrich Müller delivered the order for this killing to the Commandant of the Dachau concentration camp, Obersturmbannführer Eduard Weiter.
- Following order has arrived: At one of the next terrorist attacks on Munich/ area of Dachau, "Eller" has had a deadly accident. I ask you to kill "Eller" without attracting attention after such a situation appears. Also take special care that just some people, that are specially obliged, get knowledge of this. The message for me then shall be something like...
- On...caused by a terror attack on.... security prisoner "Eller" deadly injured"
Georg Elser was killed by shooting on 9 April 1945 in Dachau concentration camp, just a few weeks before the end of war.