Kurt Huber
Encyclopedia
Kurt Huber was a member of the White Rose
group, which carried out resistance against Nazi Germany
.
Huber was born in Chur
, Switzerland
, to German parents. He grew up in Stuttgart
and later, after his father's death, in Munich
. He showed an aptitude for such subjects as music, philosophy and psychology. Huber became a professor in 1920 at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
. Huber decided that Hitler
and his government had to be removed from power. He came into contact with the White Rose movement through some students who attended his lectures: Hans Scholl
and Alexander Schmorell
.
Huber wrote the White Rose's sixth and final leaflet calling for an end to National Socialism.
and he was arrested on February 27, 1943. By happenstance
composer Carl Orff
called at Huber’s house the day after he was taken. Huber’s wife begged him to use his influence to help her husband. But Orff told her that if his friendship with Huber was ever discovered he would be “ruined”. Orff left, Huber’s wife never saw him again. Later, wracked by guilt, Orff would write a letter to his late friend Huber imploring him for forgiveness.
Huber was brought before the People's Court
on April 19. In a brief show trial
, Chief Justice Roland Freisler
subjected Huber to a humiliating verbal attack (see the exchange quoted in the Josef Wirmer
article, for instance). He was sentenced to death for insurrection.
On July 13, Huber was executed by guillotine
at the prison in Munich-Stadelheim Prison
, along with Alexander Schmorell
. The university had stripped Huber of his position and his doctorate at the time of his arrest.
Attempts to take up a collection for Huber's widow Clara only brought about more trouble and eventually led to Hans Leipelt
's arrest and execution.
was named "Professor Huber Platz" in his remembrance.
Huber is also known for a biography of Gottfried Leibniz
which he completed while in prison.
White Rose
The White Rose was a non-violent/intellectual resistance group in Nazi Germany, consisting of students from the University of Munich and their philosophy professor...
group, which carried out resistance against Nazi Germany
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...
.
Early life
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
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....
, to German parents. He grew up in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
and later, after his father's death, in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. He showed an aptitude for such subjects as music, philosophy and psychology. Huber became a professor in 1920 at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
Resistance
Huber was appalled by the rise of the NazisNational Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
. Huber decided that Hitler
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 his government had to be removed from power. He came into contact with the White Rose movement through some students who attended his lectures: Hans Scholl
Hans Scholl
Hans Fritz Scholl was a founding member of the White Rose resistance movement in Nazi Germany.-Biography:...
and Alexander Schmorell
Alexander Schmorell
Alexander Schmorell was one of five Munich University students who formed a resistance group known as White Rose which was active against Germany's Nazi regime from June 1942 to February 1943.-Early life:Schmorell's father, a medical doctor, was a German born and raised in Russia...
.
Huber wrote the White Rose's sixth and final leaflet calling for an end to National Socialism.
Trial and execution
Huber's political activities came to the attention of the GestapoGestapo
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...
and he was arrested on February 27, 1943. By happenstance
Coincidence
A coincidence is an event notable for its occurring in conjunction with other conditions, e.g. another event. As such, a coincidence occurs when something uncanny, accidental and unexpected happens under conditions named, but not under a defined relationship...
composer Carl Orff
Carl Orff
Carl Orff was a 20th-century German composer, best known for his cantata Carmina Burana . In addition to his career as a composer, Orff developed an influential method of music education for children.-Early life:...
called at Huber’s house the day after he was taken. Huber’s wife begged him to use his influence to help her husband. But Orff told her that if his friendship with Huber was ever discovered he would be “ruined”. Orff left, Huber’s wife never saw him again. Later, wracked by guilt, Orff would write a letter to his late friend Huber imploring him for forgiveness.
Huber was brought before the People's Court
People's Court (German)
The People's Court was a court established in 1934 by German Chancellor Adolf Hitler, who had been dissatisfied with the outcome of the Reichstag Fire Trial . The "People's Court" was set up outside the operations of the constitutional frame of law...
on April 19. In a brief show trial
Show trial
The term show trial is a pejorative description of a type of highly public trial in which there is a strong connotation that the judicial authorities have already determined the guilt of the defendant. The actual trial has as its only goal to present the accusation and the verdict to the public as...
, Chief Justice Roland Freisler
Roland Freisler
Roland Freisler was a prominent and notorious Nazi lawyer and judge. He was State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice and President of the People's Court , which was set up outside constitutional authority...
subjected Huber to a humiliating verbal attack (see the exchange quoted in the Josef Wirmer
Josef Wirmer
Josef Wirmer was a German jurist and resistance fighter against the Nazi régime.- Life :Born in Paderborn, Josef Wirmer was from a Catholic family of teachers. His father was a Gymnasium headmaster. After his Abitur in Warburg he studied law in Freiburg and Berlin...
article, for instance). He was sentenced to death for insurrection.
On July 13, Huber was executed by guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
at the prison in Munich-Stadelheim Prison
Stadelheim Prison
Stadelheim Prison, in Munich's Giesing district, is one of the largest prisons in Germany.Founded in 1894 it was the site of many executions, particularly by guillotine during the Nazi period.-Notable inmates:...
, along with Alexander Schmorell
Alexander Schmorell
Alexander Schmorell was one of five Munich University students who formed a resistance group known as White Rose which was active against Germany's Nazi regime from June 1942 to February 1943.-Early life:Schmorell's father, a medical doctor, was a German born and raised in Russia...
. The university had stripped Huber of his position and his doctorate at the time of his arrest.
Attempts to take up a collection for Huber's widow Clara only brought about more trouble and eventually led to Hans Leipelt
Hans Conrad Leipelt
Hans Conrad Leipelt was a member of the White Rose resistance group in Nazi Germany.Leipelt was born in Vienna. His father was a graduate in civil engineering, and his mother a chemist from a Christian family with Jewish roots...
's arrest and execution.
Legacy
The square opposite from the main building of the Ludwig Maximilians University of MunichLudwig Maximilians University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich , commonly known as the University of Munich or LMU, is a university in Munich, Germany...
was named "Professor Huber Platz" in his remembrance.
Huber is also known for a biography of Gottfried Leibniz
Gottfried Leibniz
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a German philosopher and mathematician. He wrote in different languages, primarily in Latin , French and German ....
which he completed while in prison.
External links
- Kurt Huber at "The White Rose" (jlrweb)
- http://www.spiritone.com/~gdy52150/front-huber.gif