Rudolf Claus

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Rudolf Claus (born September 29, 1893 in Gliesmarode near Braunschweig , † December 17, 1935 in Berlin-Plötzensee ) was a German resistance fighter against National Socialism .

Life

Rudolf Claus comes from a social democratic family. In 1909 he organized himself in the socialist workers' youth movement . He learned the metalworking trade lathe. In 1914 he volunteered for military service, but became an enemy during the First World War . He was involved in the November Revolution in Braunschweig and in 1919 in Spartacist uprising attempts to establish a soviet republic. In 1920 he became a member of the KPD , shortly afterwards he joined the KAPD . In April 1921 a special court in Naumburg sentenced him to life imprisonment for participating in the Central German uprising . As a result of the mass protest movement against this verdict, he was released in 1922. For political reasons he was sentenced again in 1924, this time to 8 years in prison. In 1928 he was given another amnesty. He then worked as a functionary for Red Aid Germany (RHD) in Berlin, Halle and Hanover.

During the establishment of the National Socialist tyranny, he was arrested again in February 1933 and repeatedly beaten and tortured in other ways for weeks. When he was released in October 1933, he immediately rejoined the anti-fascist resistance movement and became a member of the Reich leadership of the RHD. In June 1934 he was arrested by the Gestapo and sentenced on July 25, 1935 in a staged judicial process. International protests rose against this “judgment” and the Lutetia Circle was formed . Nevertheless, it was carried out in the Plötzensee execution site before Christmas 1935 .

With the judgment of the People's Court against “Rudolf Claus and others” Eva Lippold was sentenced to 9 years in prison and Arthur Weisbrodt to 7 years in prison.

Honors

  • Rudolf-Claus-Strasse was named after him in Halle / Saale .
  • A POS was named after him in Blankenburg / Saxony-Anhalt .

literature

  • Luise Kraushaar among others: German resistance fighters. Volume 1, Dietz-Verlag, Berlin 1970, p. 175 ff.
personal data
SURNAME Claus, Rudolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German resistance fighter
DATE OF BIRTH September 29, 1893
PLACE OF BIRTH Gliesmarode near Braunschweig
DATE OF DEATH December 17, 1935
Place of death Berlin-Plötzensee