Egbert Hayessen
Encyclopedia
Egbert Hayessen was a German resistance fighter in the struggle against Adolf Hitler
, and a major in the army.
Born in Eisleben
, Hayessen grew up on the Hessian
state domain of Mittelhof near Felsberg
-Gensungen. In 1924, he went to Roßleben
. There, in 1933 at the Roßleben Monastery School he did his Abitur
. After his Abitur, Hayessen completed military training at Artillery Regiment no. 12 in Schwerin
as a career officer and rose to major on the General Staff with General Friedrich Fromm
, Commander-in-chief of the Reserve Army. Hayessen first learnt of the plot against Hitler and Operation Valkyrie
on 15 July 1944 from Robert Bernardis
. He turned away from National Socialism and took part in the attempt to assassinate Hitler at the Wolf's Lair in East Prussia
on 20 July 1944, taking on the foreseen logistical connections between City Commandant Paul von Hase
and Police President Wolf-Heinrich Graf von Helldorf
. On the day of the attack, Egbert Hayessen brought Paul von Hase the news of General Fromm's arrest at headquarters on Bendlerstraße in Berlin. At the City Commandant's office, Hayessen then took part in the preparations to occupy the radio building in Berlin and to arrest Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels
.
On 15 August 1944, Hayessen was sentenced to death by hanging at the Volksgerichtshof, and the sentence was carried out the same day at Plötzensee Prison
in Berlin.
Egbert Hayessen is memorialized at the Plötzensee Memorial Centre. Furthermore, a plaque in memory of his act of conscience may be seen outside the Mittelhof near Gensungen.
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, and a major in the army.
Eisleben
Eisleben is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is famous as the hometown of Martin Luther, hence its official name is Lutherstadt Eisleben. As of 2005, Eisleben had a population of 24,552...
, Hayessen grew up on the Hessian
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
state domain of Mittelhof near Felsberg
Felsberg, Germany
- Geography :The landscape around Felsberg is marked by hills and small lakes, as well as the remains of gravel quarrying. As part of the West Hesse Basin, it lies in a sunken area formed by volcanic activity in the Tertiary subera. The change from partly basaltic hills to smooth river valleys is...
-Gensungen. In 1924, he went to Roßleben
Roßleben
Roßleben is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Unstrut, 22 km southeast of Sangerhausen....
. There, in 1933 at the Roßleben Monastery School he did his Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
. After his Abitur, Hayessen completed military training at Artillery Regiment no. 12 in Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
as a career officer and rose to major on the General Staff with General Friedrich Fromm
Friedrich Fromm
Friedrich Fromm was a German army officer. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.-Early life:Fromm was born in Charlottenburg...
, Commander-in-chief of the Reserve Army. Hayessen first learnt of the plot against Hitler and Operation Valkyrie
Operation Valkyrie
Operation Valkyrie was an emergency continuity of government operations plan developed in Nazi Germany for the Territorial Reserve Army of Germany to execute and implement in case of a general breakdown in civil order of the nation...
on 15 July 1944 from Robert Bernardis
Robert Bernardis
Robert Bernardis was an Austrian resistance fighter involved in the attempt to kill German dictator Adolf Hitler in the July 20 Plot in 1944....
. He turned away from National Socialism and took part in the attempt to assassinate Hitler at the Wolf's Lair 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...
on 20 July 1944, taking on the foreseen logistical connections between City Commandant Paul von Hase
Paul von Hase
Karl Paul Immanuel von Hase was a German career soldier and figured among the members of the resistance against Adolf Hitler's Nazi régime.-Biography:Hase was born in Hanover...
and Police President Wolf-Heinrich Graf von Helldorf
Wolf-Heinrich Graf von Helldorf
Wolf-Heinrich Graf von Helldorf was a leading figure in the Nazi regime.-Early life:Helldorf was born in Merseburg, a landowner's son, Helldorf served as a lieutenant from 1915 in the First World War, and from 1918 was a member of the Prussian state assembly.-Berlin chief of police:Already by...
. On the day of the attack, Egbert Hayessen brought Paul von Hase the news of General Fromm's arrest at headquarters on Bendlerstraße in Berlin. At the City Commandant's office, Hayessen then took part in the preparations to occupy the radio building in Berlin and to arrest Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism...
.
On 15 August 1944, Hayessen was sentenced to death by hanging at the Volksgerichtshof, and the sentence was carried out 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.
Egbert Hayessen is memorialized at the Plötzensee Memorial Centre. Furthermore, a plaque in memory of his act of conscience may be seen outside the Mittelhof near Gensungen.
Literature
- Plötzensee Memorial Centre Archive