Liane Berkowitz
Encyclopedia
Liane Berkowitz was a German
involved in the German resistance movement during World War II
.
Berkowitz was born to concertmaster
and conductor
Victor Wassiljew and his wife, a singing teacher. The family had emigrated in 1923 from the Soviet Union
to Berlin
. Shortly after her husband's death, Liane's mother married Henry Berkowitz, who adopted Liane. Berkowitz saw to it that Liane could prepare herself for her Abitur
by going to a private Gymnasium
as of 1941.
At the Heil'sches Gymnasium in Berlin
, she met Dr. John Rittmeister's wife Eva Knieper, Fritz Thiel and Friedrich Rehmer. She became engaged to Rehmer late in 1941 while they were working together in the "Rittmeister Group" with the Red Orchestra resistance group against the Nazi régime.
On the evening of 17 May 1942, Berkowitz, along with Otto Gollnow, was given the task of putting up about 100 posters in the Kurfürstendamm
-Uhlandstraße section of west-central Berlin which protested against the Nazi "Soviet Paradise" propaganda exhibition being held in the city. They were carefully and unobtrusively guided and protected throughout this exercise by Harro Schulze-Boysen
.
For this act, Liane Berkowitz was arrested on 26 September 1942 and charged. Friedrich Rehmer, who was in the Brietz military hospital recovering from a severe war wound sustained on the Eastern Front
was arrested on 29 November 1942 and taken from the hospital. The Second Senate of the Reich Military Tribunal sentenced Berkowitz and Rehmer, along with 16 other people from the Red Orchestra, to death on 18 January 1943 for abetting a conspiracy to commit high treason
and furthering the enemy's cause.
It was, however, the Tribunal's recommendation that Berkowitz be released from custody because she was pregnant, but Adolf Hitler
expressly forbade this, having Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
uphold and countersign the death sentence.
Along with 11 other women, Berkowitz was executed at Plötzensee
Prison
on 5 August 1943. Her daughter Irene, born while she was in custody at the Barnimstraße Women's Prison, died at Eberswalde Hospital two months later under unclear circumstances.
Liane Berkowitz lived at Viktoria-Luise-Platz 1 in Berlin-Schöneberg
, where a memorial plaque to her may now be found. In the year 2000 a plaza in Berlin was named after her (Liane-Berkowitz-Platz).
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
involved in the German resistance movement during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Berkowitz was born to concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
Victor Wassiljew and his wife, a singing teacher. The family had emigrated in 1923 from 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....
to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Shortly after her husband's death, Liane's mother married Henry Berkowitz, who adopted Liane. Berkowitz saw to it that Liane could prepare herself for her 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...
by going to a private Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
as of 1941.
At the Heil'sches Gymnasium in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, she met Dr. John Rittmeister's wife Eva Knieper, Fritz Thiel and Friedrich Rehmer. She became engaged to Rehmer late in 1941 while they were working together in the "Rittmeister Group" with the Red Orchestra resistance group against the Nazi régime.
On the evening of 17 May 1942, Berkowitz, along with Otto Gollnow, was given the task of putting up about 100 posters in the Kurfürstendamm
Kurfürstendamm
The Kurfürstendamm, known locally as the Ku'damm, is one of the most famous avenues in Berlin. The street takes its name from the former Kurfürsten of Brandenburg. This very broad, long boulevard can be considered the Champs-Élysées of Berlin — full of shops, houses, hotels and restaurants...
-Uhlandstraße section of west-central Berlin which protested against the Nazi "Soviet Paradise" propaganda exhibition being held in the city. They were carefully and unobtrusively guided and protected throughout this exercise by Harro Schulze-Boysen
Harro Schulze-Boysen
Heinz Harro Max Wilhelm Georg Schulze-Boysen was a German officer, commentator, and German Resistance fighter against German dictator Adolf Hitler's Nazi régime.- Early life :...
.
For this act, Liane Berkowitz was arrested on 26 September 1942 and charged. Friedrich Rehmer, who was in the Brietz military hospital recovering from a severe war wound sustained on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
was arrested on 29 November 1942 and taken from the hospital. The Second Senate of the Reich Military Tribunal sentenced Berkowitz and Rehmer, along with 16 other people from the Red Orchestra, to death on 18 January 1943 for abetting a conspiracy to commit high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
and furthering the enemy's cause.
It was, however, the Tribunal's recommendation that Berkowitz be released from custody because she was pregnant, but Adolf 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...
expressly forbade this, having Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Keitel
Wilhelm Bodewin Gustav Keitel was a German field marshal . As head of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and de facto war minister, he was one of Germany's most senior military leaders during World War II...
uphold and countersign the death sentence.
Along with 11 other women, Berkowitz was executed at Plötzensee
Plötzensee
Plötzensee is a small glacial lake in Berlin. It is situated near the Rehberge public park in the former borough of Wedding, now a part of Mitte. The name stems from Plötze, one name for the roach in German, as the lake formerly teemed with it....
Prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
on 5 August 1943. Her daughter Irene, born while she was in custody at the Barnimstraße Women's Prison, died at Eberswalde Hospital two months later under unclear circumstances.
Liane Berkowitz lived at Viktoria-Luise-Platz 1 in Berlin-Schöneberg
Schöneberg
Schöneberg is a locality of Berlin, Germany. Until Berlin's 2001 administrative reform it was a separate borough including the locality of Friedenau. Together with the former borough of Tempelhof it is now part of the new borough of Tempelhof-Schöneberg....
, where a memorial plaque to her may now be found. In the year 2000 a plaza in Berlin was named after her (Liane-Berkowitz-Platz).