Elli Hatschek
Encyclopedia
Elli Hatschek was a member of the German Resistance
against Nazism
. She was married to Paul Hatschek
, a leading member of the resistance group, the European Union
and who was arrested by the Gestapo
in 1943. Under heavy interrogation, he gave up the names of others in his group, who were then arrested. His wife was also arrested. Though she was not heavily involved, she was charged with "undermining the morale of the military" and was sentenced to death. She was executed by the Nazis at Plötzensee Prison
.
, Germany. She was the second wife of Paul Hatschek, a Ph.D and engineer of optical
and film technology. They lived in Berlin, where he was one of the leading members of the German Resistance group, the European Union
and worked to bring about the downfall of the Third Reich. He was recruited by the Soviet Union
's military intelligence and tried to provide important information to the Soviets to assist them in expelling their Nazi invaders. He was arrested in 1942 as a member of the Robert Uhrig
Group and according to Robert Havemann
, had been under Gestapo surveillance for years.
Hatschek was told of her husband's activities and she was supportive. In 1943, the Gestapo observed Paul Hatschek meeting two parachutists. After investigating, the Gestapo arrested Hatschek on September 3, 1943, subjecting him to intensive interrogation that same day. He named fellow Resistance fighters and two days later, the Gestapo arrested every person Hatschek had named. After weeks of interrogation, sometimes brutal, they had over 40 members of the European Union.
Elli Hatschek was arrested with her husband. Her husband's daughter, Krista Lavíčková
was also arrested. All three were brought before the Nazi court, her husband and his daughter together; Elli Hatschek, some months later. All three were sentenced to death and executed by guillotine,The Nazis executed people by firing squad, gallows and guillotine. Death by firing squad was considered to be the most honorable and was used for military personnel. Hanging was the most preferred for its value as a public spectacle, but beheading was used for crimes of treason and related crimes. (See "The execution of women by the Nazis during World War II".) her husband on in May 15, 1944 at Brandenburg-Görden Prison
, his daughter at Plötzensee on August 11, 1944.
In November 1944, Elli Hatschek was charged with being connected with the European Union and with Wehrkraftzersetzung
, a term that means "subversion of the military" and under the Nazis, was a crime that included undermining the war effort.The term "Wehrkraftzersetzung" is also translated as "undermining military morale" and as "sedition and defeatism", as in the 1944 conviction of Oskar Kusch, one of two U-boat
commanders to be condemned to death. According to the Oxford Companion to World War II, the term was also used with deserters. She was convicted and sentenced to death. She stayed at the women's prison on Barnimstraße, where she was one of the 300 prisoners who were executed. She was guillotined on December 8, 1944 at the Plötzensee Prison in Berlin.
Her name is listed in the memorial book of Plötzensee victims.
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...
against Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. She was married to Paul Hatschek
Paul Hatschek
Paul Hatschek was a Czech engineer of optical and film technology and a member of the German Resistance against Nazism during the Third Reich. He was involved with Robert Uhrig and then became a leading member of the resistance group, the European Union. According to Robert Havemann, Hatschek was...
, a leading member of the resistance group, the European Union
European Union (resistance group)
The original European Union was an antifascist resistance group during Germany's Nazi era, which formed around Anneliese and Georg Groscurth and Robert Havemann. Other important members were Herbert Richter and Paul Rentsch....
and who was arrested by 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...
in 1943. Under heavy interrogation, he gave up the names of others in his group, who were then arrested. His wife was also arrested. Though she was not heavily involved, she was charged with "undermining the morale of the military" and was sentenced to death. She was executed by the Nazis 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...
.
Biography
Elli Hatschek, née Lotz, was born in WetzlarWetzlar
Wetzlar is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. Located at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Framework Road which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of...
, Germany. She was the second wife of Paul Hatschek, a Ph.D and engineer of optical
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and film technology. They lived in Berlin, where he was one of the leading members of the German Resistance group, the European Union
European Union (resistance group)
The original European Union was an antifascist resistance group during Germany's Nazi era, which formed around Anneliese and Georg Groscurth and Robert Havemann. Other important members were Herbert Richter and Paul Rentsch....
and worked to bring about the downfall of the Third Reich. He was recruited by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's military intelligence and tried to provide important information to the Soviets to assist them in expelling their Nazi invaders. He was arrested in 1942 as a member of the Robert Uhrig
Robert Uhrig
Robert Uhrig was a German communist and resistance fighter against National Socialism.- Background :Born in Leipzig, the son of a metalworker, Uhrig grew up to become a journeyman toolmaker. He joined the Communist Party of Germany in 1920 and took several courses at the Marxist Workers' School...
Group and according to Robert Havemann
Robert Havemann
Robert Havemann was a chemist, and an East German dissident.He studied chemistry in Berlin and Munich from 1929 to 1933, and then later received a doctorate in physical chemistry from the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute....
, had been under Gestapo surveillance for years.
Hatschek was told of her husband's activities and she was supportive. In 1943, the Gestapo observed Paul Hatschek meeting two parachutists. After investigating, the Gestapo arrested Hatschek on September 3, 1943, subjecting him to intensive interrogation that same day. He named fellow Resistance fighters and two days later, the Gestapo arrested every person Hatschek had named. After weeks of interrogation, sometimes brutal, they had over 40 members of the European Union.
Elli Hatschek was arrested with her husband. Her husband's daughter, Krista Lavíčková
Krista Lavíčková
Krista Lavíčková was a Czech secretary who fought against Nazism with the German Resistance group, the European Union. She was arrested on September 3, 1943 and was tried along with her father, Paul Hatschek, at the Volksgerichtshof . Her father's second wife, Elli Hatschek, was arrested with her...
was also arrested. All three were brought before the Nazi court, her husband and his daughter together; Elli Hatschek, some months later. All three were sentenced to death and executed by guillotine,The Nazis executed people by firing squad, gallows and guillotine. Death by firing squad was considered to be the most honorable and was used for military personnel. Hanging was the most preferred for its value as a public spectacle, but beheading was used for crimes of treason and related crimes. (See "The execution of women by the Nazis during World War II".) her husband on in May 15, 1944 at Brandenburg-Görden Prison
Brandenburg-Görden Prison
Brandenburg-Görden Prison is located on Anton-Saefkow-Allee in the Görden section of Brandenburg an der Havel. Erected between 1927 and 1935, it was built to be the most secure and modern prison in Europe. It was a Zuchthaus for inmates with lengthy or life sentences at hard labor, as well as...
, his daughter at Plötzensee on August 11, 1944.
In November 1944, Elli Hatschek was charged with being connected with the European Union and with Wehrkraftzersetzung
Wehrkraftzersetzung
Wehrkraftzersetzung is a term from German military law during the Third Reich. In 1938, with Adolf Hitler moving Germany closer to war, the Nazi government issued a decree for the purpose of suppressing any expression or activity opposed to the Nazi regime or the Wehrmacht...
, a term that means "subversion of the military" and under the Nazis, was a crime that included undermining the war effort.The term "Wehrkraftzersetzung" is also translated as "undermining military morale" and as "sedition and defeatism", as in the 1944 conviction of Oskar Kusch, one of two U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
commanders to be condemned to death. According to the Oxford Companion to World War II, the term was also used with deserters. She was convicted and sentenced to death. She stayed at the women's prison on Barnimstraße, where she was one of the 300 prisoners who were executed. She was guillotined on December 8, 1944 at the Plötzensee Prison in Berlin.
Her name is listed in the memorial book of Plötzensee victims.
See also
- Glossary of Nazi Germany: W – explanation of the crime of Wehrkraftzersetzung