Albrecht von Hagen
Encyclopedia
Albrecht von Hagen was a German
jurist
and a resistance fighter in the time of the Third Reich.
, Pomerania (today Łęgi), on the manor of the original East Brandenburg-Pomeranian noble family in which he was rooted. After studying law
in Heidelberg
, where he joined the Corps Saxo-Borussia Heidelberg (a Studentenverbindung
), and in Königsberg
, where he did his articling, he worked for the Osthilfe (a Weimar Republic
programme for developing the agrarian economy in eastern Germany) and a private bank
. In 1935, he willingly took part in Wehrmacht
officer training courses, so that at the outbreak of the Second World War, he entered the military as a lieutenant
in the reserves. During an assignment in the Africa campaign, he got to know Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, under whose influence he joined the resistance movement against the Nazis. The plotters got von Hagen his post at the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
, where he was responsible for the courier service between military posts in Berlin and the so-called Führerhauptquartier "Wolfsschanze
" (the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's secret military headquarters near Rastenburg
in East Prussia
). In May 1944, Hagen, together with Joachim Kuhn
, arranged for the explosive that was to be used in the attempt on Hitler's life. It was delivered through Hellmuth Stieff to Claus von Stauffenberg, who used it in the attack on the Wolf's Lair
on 20 July 1944.
Hagen was arrested straightaway after the failed attempt to assassinate
the Führer. A few days later, his family was also taken into custody. On 8 August 1944, the Volksgerichtshof sentenced him to death in a show trial, and Hagen was hanged
later the same day at Plötzensee Prison
in Berlin. In his farewell letter to his wife is the line:
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and a resistance fighter in the time of the Third Reich.
Life
Hagen was born in LangenŁęgi, Świdwin County
Łęgi is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Połczyn-Zdrój, within Świdwin County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-western Poland. It lies approximately west of Połczyn-Zdrój, east of Świdwin, and north-east of the regional capital Szczecin.Before 1945 the area was part of...
, Pomerania (today Łęgi), on the manor of the original East Brandenburg-Pomeranian noble family in which he was rooted. After studying law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, where he joined the Corps Saxo-Borussia Heidelberg (a Studentenverbindung
Studentenverbindung
A Studentenverbindung is a student corporation in a German-speaking country somewhat comparable to fraternities in the US or Canada, but mostly older and going back to other kinds of...
), and in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, where he did his articling, he worked for the Osthilfe (a Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
programme for developing the agrarian economy in eastern Germany) and a private bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
. In 1935, he willingly took part in Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
officer training courses, so that at the outbreak of the Second World War, he entered the military as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the reserves. During an assignment in the Africa campaign, he got to know Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, under whose influence he joined the resistance movement against the Nazis. The plotters got von Hagen his post at the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was part of the command structure of the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.- Genesis :...
, where he was responsible for the courier service between military posts in Berlin and the so-called Führerhauptquartier "Wolfsschanze
Wolfsschanze
Wolf's Lair is the standard English name for Wolfsschanze, Adolf Hitler's first World War II Eastern Front military headquarters, one of several Führerhauptquartier or FHQs located in various parts of Europe...
" (the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's secret military headquarters near Rastenburg
Ketrzyn
Kętrzyn , is a town in northeastern Poland with 28,351 inhabitants . Situated in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship , Kętrzyn was previously in Olsztyn Voivodeship . It is the capital of Kętrzyn County...
in East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
). In May 1944, Hagen, together with Joachim Kuhn
Joachim Kühn
-Biography:Kühn was a musical prodigy and made his debut as a concert pianist, having studied classical piano and composition with Arthur Schmidt-Elsey. Influenced by his elder brother, clarinetist Rolf Kühn, he simultaneously got interested in jazz. In 1961 he became a professional jazz musician....
, arranged for the explosive that was to be used in the attempt on Hitler's life. It was delivered through Hellmuth Stieff to Claus von Stauffenberg, who used it in the attack on the Wolf's Lair
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
on 20 July 1944.
Hagen was arrested straightaway after the failed attempt to assassinate
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
the Führer. A few days later, his family was also taken into custody. On 8 August 1944, the Volksgerichtshof sentenced him to death in a show trial, and Hagen was hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
later the same day at Plötzensee Prison
Plötzensee Prison
Plötzensee Prison was a Prussian institution built in Berlin between 1869 and 1879 near the lake Plötzensee, but in the neighbouring borough of Charlottenburg, on Hüttigpfad off Saatwinkler Damm. During Adolf Hitler's time in power from 1933 to 1945, more than 2,500 people were executed at...
in Berlin. In his farewell letter to his wife is the line:
- ... mit meinem Schicksal kann ich nicht hadern.
Literature
- Dagmar Albrecht, Mit meinem Schicksal kann ich nicht hadern. Sippenhaft in der Familie Albrecht von Hagen; Berlin (Dietz) 2001 (ISBN 3-320-02018-8)
See also
- List of members of the July 20 plot
- Widerstand