Georg Kresse
Georg Kresse (* 1604 probably in Dörtendorf ; † November 1, 1641 in Auma ) is a legendary person from the Thuringian Vogtland , who is known today as the farmer general of the Thirty Years War .
Life
The exact date of birth of Georg Kresses is not known, but according to the custom of the time, it could have been around St. George's Day (April 23). An entry in the baptismal register of the Döhlen church documents at least the year of birth. Dörtendorf is also not known to be the place of birth; Staitz , Hirschbach and Wöhlsdorf are also mentioned in various sources.
With the Thirty Years' War, the situation of the rural population in Vogtland deteriorated dramatically. In 1622 imperial troops from Bohemia crossed the area for the first time , contributions and attacks by soldiers burdened the population. The farmer's son Georg Kresse successfully resisted in the Vogtland. Together with his comrades-in- arms , he protected the peasants from plundering soldiers and marauders ; if this did not succeed, he chased away the looted property from them. He made no distinction between Imperial, League and Swedish troops, just as they made no distinction in harassing the peasants. His headquarters was the legendary Kressenhöhle in Triebestal in the immediate vicinity of Reichenfels Castle and not far from Dörtendorf. On November 26th, 1638 Kresse married Anna Pissel from Piesigitz .
Legends about his life quickly arose: he was said to be bulletproof and that he knew how to pour free balls that never miss their target. He fought off bullets with a hazel whip. Land-destructive soldiers and snap-cocks were already frightened at the invocation of his name, because an ambushed farmer only had to shout: "Cress, help!", So she overtook her in the act, at most an hour later her doom.
On November 1, 1641, Georg Kresse was shot by Hatzfeld riders in Auma in what was then the upper inn . According to legend, the bullets ricocheted off him ineffectively and only a shot from his own rifle, the "poodle", could have killed him. His grave was in the Auma cemetery. The term “peasant general” used today was only coined at the end of the 19th century .
literature
- Otto Behr: Georg Kresse, the peasant general. A story from the Thirty Years War. Museum Reichenfels, Hohenleuben 1996.
- Herbert Schauer , Otto Bonhoff: Avengers, Saviors and Rapiers. Adventure novel about the farmer general Georg Kresse. Military publishing house of the GDR, Berlin 1989, ISBN 3-327-00755-1 .
- Richard Uhlenrod: Farmer General Kresse. Novel. Possible, Berlin 1941.
performing Arts
- October 29, 1922: Performance of the play Georg Kresse - six scenes from the life of a folk hero by Bernhard Klein
- On July 7, 1928, Louis Lämmerhirt gave Aus Tripis' gloomy days as part of the 600th anniversary of the city of Triptis
- On January 30, 1960, the play Georg Kresse, the peasant general of the Justice Secretary Karl Mahrenholz, was shown in Auma, later also in Auma and Triebes
- In 1981/1982, the story of Georg Kresse was filmed on GDR television in the seven- parter Avengers, Saviors and Rapiers based on the book of the same name with Walter Plathe in the lead role
- In 2005/2008/2013/2016/2019 the Hohenleubener Carnevalsverein staged a play about Georg Kresse in a carnival style
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cress, Georg |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Peasant General of the Thirty Years' War |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1604 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Dörtendorf |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 1, 1641 |
| Place of death | Auma |