Michael Graf von Matuschka
Encyclopedia
Michael Graf von Matuschka (29 September 1888–14 September 1944) was a German
politician who took part in the July 20 plot
.
(today Świdnica, Poland) and studied law at the Universities of Lausanne
, Munich, Berlinand at the University of Breslau, where he passed his doctorate in 1910. He joined the Prussian Army
as a one year-volunteer at the 4th Silesian Hussars Regiment. Matuschka worked as a junior civil servant in the provincial government administration of Westfalia
until 1914. In World War I
he was wounded on the Eastern Front
in 1915 and became a Prisoner of War
in Russia
n captivity. In 1918 he managed to escape and returned to Germany.
After the end of World War I he worked in several administrative positions and became the county commissioner (Landrat) of Oppeln in May 1923. He was elected for the Center Party as a member of the Prussian Landtag in 1932 but was forced to resign in 1933 as member of the Landtag and as Landrat of Oppeln. Matuschka worked in the Prussian Ministry of Interior in Berlin
and at the administration of the Province of Silesia
, where he met Fritz-Dietlof von der Schulenburg
.
In 1942 Matuschka became an administrative economic adviser in annexed
Regierungsbezirk Kattowitz. He was supposed to become the head of administration of Silesia by the plotters of 20 July 1944 and was arrested by the Gestapo
after the plot failed. Matuschka was sentenced to death by the Volksgerichtshof on 14 September 1944 and killed the same day in Plötzensee prison
next to Heinrich Graf zu Dohna-Schlobitten, Hermann Josef Wehrle
and Nikolaus von Üxküll-Gyllenband
.
Matuschka was married to Pia née Gräfin von Stillfried und Rattonitz, with whom he had three sons and a daughter.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
politician who took part in the July 20 plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
.
Biography
Matuschka was born in Schweidnitz, SilesiaSilesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
(today Świdnica, Poland) and studied law at the Universities of Lausanne
University of Lausanne
The University of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland was founded in 1537 as a school of theology, before being made a university in 1890. Today about 12,000 students and 2200 researchers study and work at the university...
, Munich, Berlinand at the University of Breslau, where he passed his doctorate in 1910. He joined the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
as a one year-volunteer at the 4th Silesian Hussars Regiment. Matuschka worked as a junior civil servant in the provincial government administration of Westfalia
Westfalia
Westfalia is the designation of various specially converted Volkswagen camper vans. It is named after Westfalia-Werke, the contractor that built the vans, which is headquartered in the town of Rheda-Wiedenbrück located in the Westphalia region of Germany....
until 1914. In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was wounded on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
in 1915 and became a Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n captivity. In 1918 he managed to escape and returned to Germany.
After the end of World War I he worked in several administrative positions and became the county commissioner (Landrat) of Oppeln in May 1923. He was elected for the Center Party as a member of the Prussian Landtag in 1932 but was forced to resign in 1933 as member of the Landtag and as Landrat of Oppeln. Matuschka worked in the Prussian Ministry of Interior 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...
and at the administration of the Province of Silesia
Province of Silesia
The Province of Silesia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919.-Geography:The territory comprised the bulk of the former Bohemian crown land of Silesia and the County of Kladsko, which King Frederick the Great had conquered from the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th...
, where he met Fritz-Dietlof von der Schulenburg
Fritz-Dietlof von der Schulenburg
Fritz-Dietlof Graf von der Schulenburg-Tressow was a German government official and a member of the German Resistance in the July 20 Plot against Adolf Hitler.-Personal development:...
.
In 1942 Matuschka became an administrative economic adviser in annexed
Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany
At the beginning of World War II, nearly a quarter of the pre-war Polish areas were annexed by Nazi Germany and placed directly under German civil administration, while the rest of Nazi occupied Poland was named as General Government...
Regierungsbezirk Kattowitz. He was supposed to become the head of administration of Silesia by the plotters of 20 July 1944 and 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...
after the plot failed. Matuschka was sentenced to death by the Volksgerichtshof on 14 September 1944 and killed the same day in 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...
next to Heinrich Graf zu Dohna-Schlobitten, Hermann Josef Wehrle
Hermann Josef Wehrle
Hermann Josef Wehrle was a German Catholic priest who was killed after the July 20 plot.Wehrle was born in Nuremberg and was drafted into the German Army in World War I. On 10 December 1918 he joined the Catholic Priest seminary at Fulda but quit soon and began to study Philosophy and catholic...
and Nikolaus von Üxküll-Gyllenband
Nikolaus von Üxküll-Gyllenband
Nikolaus Graf von Üxküll-Gyllenband was a German businessman who took part in the July 20 plot.Nikolaus von Üxküll-Gyllenband was born in Güns , Austria-Hungary and joined the Austro–Hungarian Army prior to the First World War. After the war Üxküll worked as a businessman in Germany.He was an...
.
Matuschka was married to Pia née Gräfin von Stillfried und Rattonitz, with whom he had three sons and a daughter.