Adolf Maislinger
Encyclopedia
Adolf Maislinger was a member of the German Resistance
and was a survivor of Dachau concentration camp.
household. At the age of 14, he first joined the youth group of the Social Democratic Party, the Sozialistische Arbeiter-Jugend, and later, the SPD and as the conflicts with the National Socialists intensified in Munich during the 1920s, he joined the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold
. During this time, he helped defend the offices of the Münchener Post from attack by "brown shirts
".
In 1931, he joined the Communist Party of Germany
(KPD). At the end of 1932, when it looked like the Nazis were going to rise to power, the KPD warned its functionaries to identify as many homes as possible where they could go into hiding, should the need present itself. Two months later, in February 1933, he sought refuge by friends. He became a courier using the pseudonym “Bertl” and maintained contact with KPD members in Prague
and Zurich
. He also gave refuge to friends who needed to go into hiding. He met friends at night, riding on a bicycle, pistol under his jacket. After one of his friends was arrested and severely beaten, he betrayed the entire group.
, but in 1934, the KPD ordered him to back to Germany to carry out party work in the Ruhr area
. He was arrested on the border and sent to Munich to the police prison on Ettstraße. In 1935, using a 72-page document detailing the evidence, he and his friends were tried at the Volksgerichtshof. After three days, Maislinger was sentenced to eight years' hard labor in a Zuchthaus for "preparation for high treason
". Rather than being released when this time was up, however, the Gestapo
issued an order on September 8, 1942 to send him to Dachau in preventive detention
.
His old friends from Munich were already there. There, Communist comrades from Munich helped him get a job with the disinfection unit. The resulting freedom of action allowed him to become active in the Resistance again. Speaking of the liberation of Dachau, Maislinger said,
. On August 20, 1946, the Süddeutsche Zeitung
reported the release of the Communists in Landsberg, saying "It is still unclear why they were arrested."
Maisingler devoted himself to share his experiences as a prisoner in a concentration camp with young people, speaking at schools and other places. He was active with the Dachau Memorial and the Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP)
, reaching some 7,000 young people a year. He was also active with the Union of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime
.
German Resistance
The German resistance was the opposition by individuals and groups in Germany to Adolf Hitler or the National Socialist regime between 1933 and 1945. Some of these engaged in active plans to remove Adolf Hitler from power and overthrow his regime...
and was a survivor of Dachau concentration camp.
Early years
Maislinger, known as "Adi", came from a Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
household. At the age of 14, he first joined the youth group of the Social Democratic Party, the Sozialistische Arbeiter-Jugend, and later, the SPD and as the conflicts with the National Socialists intensified in Munich during the 1920s, he joined the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold
Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold
The Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold was a Social Democratic paramilitary force formed during the Weimar Republic in 1924....
. During this time, he helped defend the offices of the Münchener Post from attack by "brown shirts
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
".
In 1931, he joined the Communist Party of Germany
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
(KPD). At the end of 1932, when it looked like the Nazis were going to rise to power, the KPD warned its functionaries to identify as many homes as possible where they could go into hiding, should the need present itself. Two months later, in February 1933, he sought refuge by friends. He became a courier using the pseudonym “Bertl” and maintained contact with KPD members in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. He also gave refuge to friends who needed to go into hiding. He met friends at night, riding on a bicycle, pistol under his jacket. After one of his friends was arrested and severely beaten, he betrayed the entire group.
Betrayal and imprisonment
Maisingler was able to escape to SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, but in 1934, the KPD ordered him to back to Germany to carry out party work in the Ruhr area
Ruhr Area
The Ruhr, by German-speaking geographers and historians more accurately called Ruhr district or Ruhr region , is an urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With 4435 km² and a population of some 5.2 million , it is the largest urban agglomeration in Germany...
. He was arrested on the border and sent to Munich to the police prison on Ettstraße. In 1935, using a 72-page document detailing the evidence, he and his friends were tried at the Volksgerichtshof. After three days, Maislinger was sentenced to eight years' hard labor in a Zuchthaus for "preparation for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
". Rather than being released when this time was up, however, the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
issued an order on September 8, 1942 to send him to Dachau in preventive detention
Preventive detention
Preventive detention is an imprisonment that is not imposed as the punishment for a crime, but in order to prevent a person from committing a crime, if that person is deemed likely to commit a crime....
.
His old friends from Munich were already there. There, Communist comrades from Munich helped him get a job with the disinfection unit. The resulting freedom of action allowed him to become active in the Resistance again. Speaking of the liberation of Dachau, Maislinger said,
It was a miracle and at the same time, a shock. The other prisoners, my friends, came over to me. Some came runnng, others could only crawl. At some point, I began to walk, but didn't really walk anymore, I was floating.[...] I climbed up on a window ledge and watched everything from up there and cried.
After 1945
After his liberation, Adi Maislinger returned to Munich, where he was put on the city government established by the American occupying force. This didn't last long, however. On July 22, 1946, the Americans arrested all the prominent KPD members, including Maislinger and he was again imprisoned, this time in landsbergLandsberg
Landsberg may refer to:* Landsberg , Bavaria, Germany* Landsberg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany* the Margraviate of Landsberg, Holy Roman Empire* Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria, Germany* Landsberg an der Warthe, German name of Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland...
. On August 20, 1946, the Süddeutsche Zeitung
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
reported the release of the Communists in Landsberg, saying "It is still unclear why they were arrested."
Maisingler devoted himself to share his experiences as a prisoner in a concentration camp with young people, speaking at schools and other places. He was active with the Dachau Memorial and the Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP)
Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP)
The Action Reconciliation Service for Peace is a German peace organization founded to confront the legacy of Nazism.The Action Reconciliation Service for Peace was founded in 1958 by the synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany, driven by the efforts of Lothar Kreyssig...
, reaching some 7,000 young people a year. He was also active with the Union of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime
Union of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime
The Society of People Persecuted by the Nazi Regime – Federation of Anti-Fascists is a political organization founded in 1947....
.
Sources
- Martin Boszat and Hartmut Mehringer (Editors). Vorgeschichte, Verfolgung und Widerstand (Background, persecution and resistance)
- Bayern in der NS-Zeit – Die Parteien KPD, SPD, BVP in Verfolgung und Widerstand, Band V, München (1983). ("Bavaria during the Nazi era – The KPD, SPD, BVP (Bavarian People’s Party) in persecution and resistance") Vol. 5, Munich 1983