Roland Freisler - Revision history

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	'''Karl Roland Freisler''' (30 October 1893 – 3 February 1945) was a German officer of the [[Imperial German Army]] as well as jurist and judge who served as the State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice from 1934 to 1942 and President of the People's Court from 1942 to 1945. He was also was Major of the Reserves of the [[Wehrmacht]] (honorary rank) and, as of 1942, NSKK-Brigadeführer (brigadier general) of the National Socialist Motor Corps.		'''[[Karl]] Roland Freisler''' (30 October 1893 – 3 February 1945) was a [[German]] officer of the [[Imperial German Army]] as well as jurist and judge who served as the State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of [[Justice]] from 1934 to 1942 and President of the [[People]]'s Court from 1942 to 1945. He was also was Major of the Reserves of the [[Wehrmacht]] (honorary rank) and, as of 1942, NSKK-Brigadeführer (brigadier general) of the National [[Socialist]] Motor Corps.
	==Life==		==Life==
	[[File:Der Präsident des Volksgerichtshofes Roland Freisler (rechts) und Reichsjustzminister Otto Thierack im August 1942.jpg\|thumb\|305px\|[[Otto Georg Thierack\|Reich Minister of Justice Thierack]] accompanies Dr. Roland Freisler to his inauguration celebrations in August 1942]]		[[File:Der Präsident des Volksgerichtshofes Roland Freisler (rechts) und Reichsjustzminister Otto Thierack im August 1942.jpg\|thumb\|305px\|[[Otto Georg Thierack\|Reich Minister of Justice Thierack]] accompanies Dr. Roland Freisler to his inauguration celebrations in August 1942]]
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	Roland Freisler was born on 30 October 1893 in Celle, Lower Saxony, the son of Julius Freisler (1862–1937) from Klantendorf, diplom engineer (as of 19 December 1891<ref>[http://karlrobertkreiten.de/roland-freisler/biographie.php Roland Freisler]</ref>), teacher (''Studienrat'') in Celle, then Hameln, in 1896 at the port authority in Duisburg, later professor at the Royal Building Trade School in Kassel, and his wife Charlotte Auguste Florentine Schwerdtfeger (1863–1932). Roland was baptized a [[Protestant]] on 13 December 1893. He had a younger brother, Oswald (1895–1939), Dr. jur., lawyer and notary in Kassel, and another brother who was a doctor.		Roland Freisler was born on 30 October 1893 in Celle, Lower Saxony, the son of Julius Freisler (1862–1937) from Klantendorf, diplom engineer (as of 19 December 1891<ref>[http://karlrobertkreiten.de/roland-freisler/biographie.php Roland Freisler]</ref>), teacher (''Studienrat'') in Celle, then Hameln, in 1896 at the port authority in Duisburg, later professor at the Royal Building Trade School in Kassel, and his wife Charlotte Auguste Florentine Schwerdtfeger (1863–1932). Roland was baptized a [[Protestant]] on 13 December 1893. He had a younger brother, Oswald (1895–1939), Dr. jur., lawyer and notary in Kassel, and another brother who was a doctor.

	In 1932, long-time [[NSDAP]] member Roland Freisler ran for the [[Prussia]]n House of Representatives. This marked the beginning of his political career in Berlin, which culminated in his Presidency of the People's Court (''Volksgerichtshof'') in 1942. Freisler lived in his villa in Dahlem, Berlin, with his wife, who was almost 17 years his junior, and his two sons Harald and Roland. Little is known about the family's private life. His wife Marion (b. 10 February 1910 in [[Hamburg]]) did not appear in public. Despite her husband's early involvement in the party, she did not become a member of the NSDAP.		In 1932, long-[[time]] [[NSDAP]] member Roland Freisler ran for the [[Prussia]]n House of Representatives. This marked the beginning of his [[political]] career in Berlin, which culminated in his Presidency of the People's Court (''Volksgerichtshof'') in 1942. Freisler lived in his villa in Dahlem, Berlin, with his wife, who was almost 17 years his junior, and his two sons Harald and Roland. Little is known about the family's private life. His wife Marion (b. 10 February 1910 in [[Hamburg]]) did not appear in public. Despite her husband's early involvement in the party, she did not become a member of the NSDAP.

	As a [[National Socialist]] ideologist, Freisler is said to have influenced [[Germany]]'s legal system in that respect, and he was said to have attended the so-called [[Wannsee Conference]]. As President of the People's Court in 1942, he oversaw the prosecution of political crimes, becoming known for his aggressive personality, the humiliation of defendants, and frequent sentencing with the death penalty for crimes against the State, such as treason.		As a [[National Socialist]] ideologist, Freisler is said to have influenced [[Germany]]'s legal system in that respect, and he was said to have attended the so-called [[Wannsee Conference]]. As President of the People's Court in 1942, he oversaw the prosecution of political crimes, becoming known for his aggressive personality, the humiliation of defendants, and frequent sentencing with the death penalty for crimes against the State, such as [[treason]].

	Although the death penalty was abolished with the creation of the Federal Republic of [[West Germany]] on 23 May 1949, Freisler had defined murder in German law in 1941, which survives today in the ''Strafgesetzbuch'' § 211.		Although the death penalty was abolished with the creation of the Federal [[Republic]] of [[West Germany]] on 23 May 1949, Freisler had defined murder in German law in 1941, which survives today in the ''Strafgesetzbuch'' § 211.

	===Chronology===		===Chronology===
	* 1897 Elementary school in Kassel		* 1897 Elementary school in Kassel
	* 1901 Wilhelms-[[Gymnasium]] in Kassel		* 1901 Wilhelms-[[Gymnasium]] in Kassel
	* 1903 Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gymnasium in Aachen		* 1903 Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gymnasium in [[Aachen]]
	** 1912 [[Abitur]] as best of his class		** 1912 [[Abitur]] as best of his class
	* 1912 to 1914 Studied at the University of Kiel		* 1912 to 1914 Studied at the University of Kiel
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	** promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of the reserves (''Leutnant der Reserve'') during his time as POW		** promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of the reserves (''Leutnant der Reserve'') during his time as POW
	* 1917 to 1920 Camp commissar (''Lagerkommissar'') responsible for the food supply of his camp near Moscow		* 1917 to 1920 Camp commissar (''Lagerkommissar'') responsible for the food supply of his camp near Moscow
	** After the October Revolution and the Peace of Brest-Litovsk, the camps were handed over to German self-government.		** After the October [[Revolution]] and the [[Peace]] of Brest-Litovsk, the camps were handed over to German [[self]]-[[government]].
	* 1920 Return to Germany, continuing his studies at the University of Jena		* 1920 Return to Germany, continuing his studies at the University of Jena
	* 1921 Doctorate ("Summa cum laude") with the [[dissertation]] ''"Grundsätzliches über die Betriebsorganisation"'' (“Fundamentals of business organization”)		* 1921 Doctorate ("Summa cum laude") with the [[dissertation]] ''"Grundsätzliches über die Betriebsorganisation"'' (“Fundamentals of business organization”)
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	* November 1923 Lawyer in Karlsbad		* November 1923 Lawyer in Karlsbad
	* 1924 court assessor<ref>In the German legal system, the obsolete designation ''Gerichtsassessor'' was held by judges or federal prosecutors, whose employment status today would be "on probation". Attainment of the second state legal qualification (the so-called "Competence to the Justiceship") was always a pre-requisite. The appointment took place with the intention that the ''Gerichtsassessor'' would be employed later in his lifetime as a judge. The ''Gerichtsassessor'' usually held this designation for one year after receiving his Certificate of Appointment, before being appointed as a judge.</ref> at the Homberg district court for six months		* 1924 court assessor<ref>In the German legal system, the obsolete designation ''Gerichtsassessor'' was held by judges or federal prosecutors, whose employment status today would be "on probation". Attainment of the second state legal qualification (the so-called "Competence to the Justiceship") was always a pre-requisite. The appointment took place with the intention that the ''Gerichtsassessor'' would be employed later in his lifetime as a judge. The ''Gerichtsassessor'' usually held this designation for one year after receiving his Certificate of Appointment, before being appointed as a judge.</ref> at the Homberg district court for six months
	* Spring 1924 [[Reichstag]] candidate for the [[völkisch]]-social bloc		* Spring 1924 [[Reichstag]] candidate for the [[völkisch]]-[[social]] bloc
	* 1924 Freisler opened a law firm in Kassel with his brother Oswald. The brothers divided their cases in such a way that Oswald handled civil law and Roland handled criminal law and also defended National Socialists who were accused of criminal offenses. During this time he also became friends with Hitler's lawyer, [[Hans Frank]].		* 1924 Freisler opened a law firm in Kassel with his brother Oswald. The brothers divided their cases in such a way that Oswald handled civil law and Roland handled criminal law and also defended National [[Socialists]] who were accused of criminal offenses. During this time he also became friends with [[Hitler]]'s lawyer, [[Hans Frank]].
	* 9 July 1925 Member of the [[NSDAP]] (No. 9,679)		* 9 July 1925 Member of the [[NSDAP]] (No. 9,679)
	** 1924 until 1933 city councilor in Kassel (as of 1925 for the NSDAP)		** 1924 until 1933 city councilor in Kassel (as of 1925 for the NSDAP)
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	On the morning of 3 February 1945, Freisler was conducting a Saturday session of the People's Court when [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Bombing of Germany during World War II\|bombers attacked Berlin]]. The Court was hit while Freisler was still collecting up his files and papers before making his way to the air raid shelter. He was killed under falling masonry. Deutsche Justiz Rechtsplege und Rechtspolitik wrote on 16 February 1945 (issue no. 3) on the complete cover:		On the morning of 3 February 1945, Freisler was conducting a Saturday session of the People's Court when [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Bombing of Germany during World War II\|bombers attacked Berlin]]. The Court was hit while Freisler was still collecting up his files and papers before making his way to the air raid shelter. He was killed under falling masonry. Deutsche Justiz Rechtsplege und Rechtspolitik wrote on 16 February 1945 (issue no. 3) on the complete cover:

	: ''“In the terrorist attack of 3 February on the Reich capital, the President of the People's Court, NSKK-Brigadeführer Dr. jur. Roland Freisler, has [[fallen]]. Dr. Freisler, who was 52 years old, had been a member of the NSDAP since 1925 and was a recipient of the Golden Party Badge. He was a member of the German Reichstag and a Prussian State Councilor. Dr. Freisler was known as a tireless champion of National Socialist German law in the widest circles of the German people. [...] With Roland Freisler, the German legal system has lost one of its most outstanding pioneers [...]"''<ref>[http://karlrobertkreiten.de/roland-freisler/freislers-tod.php Der Tod Freislers]</ref>		: ''“In the [[terrorist]] [[attack]] of 3 February on the Reich capital, the President of the People's Court, NSKK-Brigadeführer Dr. jur. Roland Freisler, has [[fallen]]. Dr. Freisler, who was 52 years old, had been a member of the NSDAP since 1925 and was a recipient of the Golden Party Badge. He was a member of the German Reichstag and a Prussian State Councilor. Dr. Freisler was known as a tireless champion of National Socialist German law in the widest circles of the German people. [...] With Roland Freisler, the German legal system has lost one of its most outstanding pioneers [...]"''<ref>[http://karlrobertkreiten.de/roland-freisler/freislers-tod.php Der Tod Freislers]</ref>

	==Marriage==		==Marriage==
	On 24 March 1928, Dr. Freisler married his finacée Marion Edith Virginia Russegger (1910–1997), daughter of Bernhard Adolf Cajetan Russegger from Pleiske, Merchant in Hamburg and Bremen, and his wife Cornelia, née Pirscher. They had two sons:		On 24 March 1928, Dr. Freisler married his finacée Marion Edith Virginia Russegger (1910–1997), daughter of Bernhard [[Adolf]] Cajetan Russegger from Pleiske, Merchant in Hamburg and Bremen, and his wife Cornelia, née Pirscher. They had two sons:

	* '''Harald''' (b. 1 November 1937)		* '''Harald''' (b. 1 November 1937)
	* '''Roland''' (b. 12 October 1939)		* '''Roland''' (b. 12 October 1939)

	After the war, Marion Freisler returned to her birth name, Russegger, and moved to [[Munich]]. She not only received the usual widow's basic pension from the war victims' pensionas of 1950, but since 1974 the Free State of Bavaria has granted her an additional "damage compensation" of 400 marks more per month. Marion died on 21 January 1997 and was buried in her parents' grave in the Dahlem forest cemetery on Hüttenweg in Berlin, where Roland Freisler was also buried anonymously.		After the war, Marion Freisler returned to her birth [[name]], Russegger, and moved to [[Munich]]. She not only received the usual widow's basic pension from the war victims' pensionas of 1950, but since 1974 the Free State of Bavaria has granted her an additional "damage compensation" of 400 marks more per month. Marion died on 21 January 1997 and was buried in her parents' grave in the Dahlem forest cemetery on Hüttenweg in Berlin, where Roland Freisler was also buried anonymously.

	==Awards, decorations and honours==		==Awards, decorations and honours==
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