Roland Freisler

[Veteran]

Roland FREISLER

Prisoner of war in Russia during World War I. After the war returns to Germany as a Bolshevik.

Later becomes a lawyer. Joins the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1925 and the Ministry of Justice in 1934.

Appointed president of the People's Court [Hitler's supreme kangaroo court] in August 1942.

In February 1943, Freisler presides over the political trial of the Munich students who belong to the dissident anti-nazi White Rose movement. Barely in their twenties, he sentences all of them to death by the guillotine.

Freisler's brief moment of fame in history comes in the wake of the failed July 20, 1944 coup attempt against the Nazi regime. Throughout the second half of 1944 he presides over the show trials of many of the July 20th conspirators including those of Witzleben, Hoepner, Hofacker, Goerdeler, Leber, Leuschner, Trott, Moltke, Schwanenfeld, and Bonhoeffer.

The obscene manner in which Freisler humiliates the unfortunate July 20th conspirators in his court room - bellowing at them non-stop and denying them the right to wear belts or suspenders so that their trousers fall - prompts even members of Hitler's entourage to recommend that he be reigned in.

In 90% of all cases the verdict of the "Volksgerichtshof" was the deathpenalty or sentence to life in prison .
As though by divine justice, the malevolent judge Roland Freisler is killed in February 1945 when a bomb from an Allied air-raid scores a direct hit on the court house. At that exact moment, conspirator Lieutenant Fabian von Schlabrendorff is inside the court room waiting for his turn to be convicted and sentenced to death. Freisler is discovered crushed to death by a massive column that has fallen on top of him, his hands still clutching a folder that contains Schlabrendorff's file. Freisler's successor quickly acquits Schlabrendorff after determining lack of sufficient evidence.

[Veteran]

Some picts of Freisler.

[Helly Angel]

Hello,

Roland Freisler participated like the representive of Justice Ministery in the famous Conference in Wannse in january 20, 1942 with Reinhard Heydrich and others.

Saludos,

[Helly Angel]

Curious:

"Roland Freisler was on the bench 3 February 1945 when air raid sirens sounded. The courtroom emptied as people scurried to nearby bomb shelters. Noticing that he'd left some important files behind, Freisler returned to the courthouse. An Allied bomb destroyed the courthouse and killed Roland Freisler, Hitler's "hanging judge", instantly.
*
Freisler was denied an honorable state funeral by Hitler himself. Instead, Freisler was buried anonymously in his wife's family plot - and his sons live without his name today. His widow continued to collect his pension benefits from the German government for years after his death."

Look here in the White Rose Website:

http://www.jlrweb.com/whiterose/freisler.html

Saludos,

[Veteran]

Noticing that he'd left some important files behind, Freisler returned to the courthouse.

As though by divine justice, the malevolent judge Roland Freisler is killed in February 1945 when a bomb from an Allied air-raid scores a direct hit on the court house. At that exact moment, conspirator Lieutenant Fabian von Schlabrendorff is inside the court room waiting for his turn to be convicted and sentenced to death. Freisler is discovered crushed to death by a massive column that has fallen on top of him, his hands still clutching a folder that contains Schlabrendorff's file. Freisler's successor quickly acquits Schlabrendorff after determining lack of sufficient evidence.

[Acolyte]

Two quotes from Roland Freisler that I know of:

#1

To be fair, the legal principle of nulla poena sine lege is indeed protecting freedom - the freedom of dishonourable action; protecting citizens who aim to lead their lives in the morass stretching between the that which is legal and that which is illegal. That is, in the realm of unscrupulous wangling, the realm of thorough-paced rascals endowed with a wide knowledge of criminal law.

Quoted in Das Reich des Führers (1940) by Johannes Öhquist (my translation)

In short, Freisler asserted that 'thorough-paced rascals' who commit crimes and yet would escape punishment in a democratic state due to their ability to find loopholes in criminal law are punished anyway in Nazi Germany. This was perfectly in line with national socialist legal theory. In fact, a law passed by the Reichstag on 28 June 1935 proclaimed that dishonourable acts are punishable even if there is no specific law against them.

#2

We, national socialists and the Christians have one thing in common: we lay claim to the human being in his fullness.

Freisler to one of the (Christian) defendants during the 20 July 1944 plot court hearings (from A History of Christianity (1976) by Paul Johnson)

[R.M. Schultz]

Roland FREISLER ... After the war returns to Germany as a Bolshevik.

When did Freisler convert to National Socialism? After he became a NAZI, was he still socialistic? That is, was he part of the left wing of the party (like Strasser, Goebbels, or Reventlow) or did he become a reactionary (like Himmler, Goering, and Buch)?

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=37334

[jv]

Roland FREISLER ... After the war returns to Germany as a Bolshevik.

When did Freisler convert to National Socialism? After he became a NAZI, was he still socialistic? That is, was he part of the left wing of the party (like Strasser, Goebbels, or Reventlow) or did he become a reactionary (like Himmler, Goering, and Buch)?

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=37334

1925
Eintritt in die Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP). Freisler übernimmt fortan die Verteidigung straffällig gewordener Nationalsozialisten. Er wird Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP von Hessen-Nassau.
(from: http://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/biografien/FreislerRoland/)

Roland Freisler was a left wing nazi (there is a well-known photo of Freisler together with Strasser as his lawyer).

jv

[jv]

There is an excellent online article on who Roland Freisler was. See http://www.zeit.de/2005/06/A-Freisler
jv

[Jan-Hendrik]

Freisler was born in Celle , his house does still exist . Ironically there is a pub in it now

Jan-Hendrik

[coburg22]

Hello,

In the third reich footage that I am sure most have seen by now, there is a Heer
General standing next to Freisler on his left during the court proceedings of the
July 20. 1944 defendants. Does anyone know who this General Officer was? I
believe he is wearing the Golden Party Badge and Golden HJ Honor Badge as
well. Thanks in advance.

Coburg22

[Michael Miller]

The General in question- who appears, to me anyway, to be less than enthusiastic about the hysterics of Freisler- was General der Infanterie Hermann Reinecke (born 14.02.1888 in Wittenberg / died 10.10.1973); Gen.Lt.: 01.08.1940; Gen.d.Inf.: 01.06.1942- Chef of the Allgemeine Wehrmachtsamt (AWA) and Chef der NS-Führungsstab in OKW. The so-called "Parteigeneral" became an "NSDAP-Mitglied ehrenhalber" (honorary Party member) on 01.01.1943, and became a full-member (membership Nr. unknown) on 2.10.1943. He was decorated with the Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP on 30.01.1943, and as you point out, he was also a holder of the Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenzeichen.

Sentenced to life imprisonment by the U.S. Military Tribunal, Nürnberg ("OKW Case"), 27.10.1948, he was released from U.S. War Criminals Prison No. 1 at Landsberg am Lech on 01.10.1954 (thanks to Dieter Zinke for most of this information).

Best wishes,
~ Mike

[coburg22]

Mike,

Thank you very much for your reply. I have been wondering for years who this fellow was.

Coburg22

[Dieter Zinke]

Mike,

Thank you very much for your reply. I have been wondering for years who this fellow was.

Coburg22

Concerning Reinecke you will find a lot of information and pics here:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... t=reinecke

D. Zinke

[coburg22]

Dieter,

Thank you for directing me to the thread concerning Reinecke. The extra info
and studio photo really helps. Was he ever awarded the Golden HJ Honor Bad-
ge with Oakleaves? It looks like he was wearing it in the film clip I mentioned
above.

Coburg22