Johann Maier
Encyclopedia
Johann Maier was from 1939 until his death a preacher at Regensburg Cathedral
.
On 22 April 1945, Reich Defence Commissar Ludwig Ruckdeschel took city defence to the extreme in Regensburg when United States Army
tank
s had already reached the Danube
.
The next day, an excited crowd of people gathered at the Moltkeplatz – nowadays known as Dachauplatz. Johann Maier was there and bade the crowd be quiet as he had something to say. He called for the town's peaceful handover. Even before he had finished his speech, he was seized by plainclothes police
. Likewise, several other demonstrators were arrested. That evening, Maier was brought before a drumhead
court and sentenced to death by hanging
. Michael Buchberger
, the Bishop of Regensburg, was frightened into silence and hid himself in a cellar.
On the morning of 24 April 1945 at 3:25, Maier was hanged at Moltkeplatz. About his neck, he wore a sign that said "I am a saboteur
". Later the Wehrmacht
and the SS
both fled southwards out of town; Regensburg fell without a fight.
Maier's grave can be found in the Cathedral among the bishops' graves. There is also a memorial plaque at the Cathedral.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
.
On 22 April 1945, Reich Defence Commissar Ludwig Ruckdeschel took city defence to the extreme in Regensburg when United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s had already reached the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
.
The next day, an excited crowd of people gathered at the Moltkeplatz – nowadays known as Dachauplatz. Johann Maier was there and bade the crowd be quiet as he had something to say. He called for the town's peaceful handover. Even before he had finished his speech, he was seized by plainclothes police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
. Likewise, several other demonstrators were arrested. That evening, Maier was brought before a drumhead
Drumhead
A drumhead is a membrane stretched over one or both of the open ends of a drum. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands so that it vibrates and the sound resonates through the drum.-History:...
court and sentenced to death by hanging
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...
. Michael Buchberger
Michael Buchberger
Michael Buchberger was a Roman Catholic priest, notable as the seventy-fourth bishop of Regensburg since the diocese's foundation in 739.- Life :...
, the Bishop of Regensburg, was frightened into silence and hid himself in a cellar.
On the morning of 24 April 1945 at 3:25, Maier was hanged at Moltkeplatz. About his neck, he wore a sign that said "I am a saboteur
Saboteur
A saboteur is someone who commits sabotage.It may also refer to:*Morituri , a 1965 film also known as The Saboteur*Saboteur , a card game by Frederic Moyersoen, published in 2004...
". Later the 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:...
and the SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
both fled southwards out of town; Regensburg fell without a fight.
Maier's grave can be found in the Cathedral among the bishops' graves. There is also a memorial plaque at the Cathedral.
Literature
- Werner Chrobak, Paul Mai, Barbara Möckershoff: 50 Jahre danach. Domprediger Dr. Johann Maier und seine Zeit. Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg 1995, ISBN 3-7954-1083-5
- Karl Hausberger: Sterben, damit andere leben können. Der Regensburger Domprediger Dr. Johann Maier (1906-1945). Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg 2005, ISBN 3-7954-1758-9
- Anton M. Kormann: Domprediger Dr. Johann Maier. Erinnerungen an einen Blutzeugen. 1995, ISBN 3-9804016-2-6