Richard Shepherd

Richard Schäfer (* August 24, 1884 ; † March 1945 in Sachsenhausen concentration camp ) was a German local politician ( SPD ) and resistance fighter against National Socialism .

Life

Schäfer learned the trade of a seaman and was initially a seaman in merchant shipping . Later he worked in various professions. In December 1919 he joined the SPD and later became head of the Reich Banner in the Bad Gottleuba area . From 1920 he was a city councilor and later a city councilor. He carried out this office until the " seizure of power " by the National Socialists.

In 1933 Schäfer was arrested and taken to the Hohnstein concentration camp , where he was severely mistreated. After his return he tried to convince many people of the dangerousness of the Nazi regime. In 1941 he was again arrested and a half years prison sentenced. After serving his sentence, he returned to Bad Gottleuba and earned his living as a casual worker. On July 20, 1944, the Gestapo arrested him and took him to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. His last sign of life was a letter dated January 28, 1945. Fellow prisoners reported that Richard Schäfer was shot in Sachsenhausen concentration camp in March 1945.

Honors

• A street in Bad Gottleuba was named after him. A plaque commemorates him on his former home at Richard-Schäfer-Strasse 33.

literature

• District leadership of the SED Pirna, Commission for the Investigation of the history of the local labor movement (ed.): Memorials, monuments, memorials and Mahnstätten the labor movement and the anti-fascist resistance movement in the circle Pirna . 2nd revised edition, Pirna 1984, p. 43f.
• Ulrike Puvogel, Martin Stankowski: Memorials for the Victims of National Socialism. Documentation II: Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia . Federal Agency for Civic Education, Bonn 2000, p. 622.

Web links

• Bad Gottleuba: Former home of Richard Schäfer on the “Memorial Places” page.