A Family’s Resistance and Suffering

In Dresden, Germany, a family’s story of courage and persecution during the Nazi regime is being honored with the placement of “stumbling stones.” These small, brass memorials embedded in the pavement serve as a constant reminder of individuals who suffered under Nazi oppression. The focus is on the Weigoldt and Hempel families,Jehovah’s Witnesses who faced imprisonment,torture,and even death for their unwavering faith and resistance.

The story begins with Hans Weigoldt, born in 1936, amidst the rising tide of Nazi power. His father, Fritz Weigoldt, a carpenter, actively participated in a resistance effort just months later.This involved the clandestine distribution of 100,000 leaflets by 3,500 Jehovah’s Witnesses across Germany, a bold act of defiance against the totalitarian regime.

“The courage of these individuals, facing immense personal risk, highlights the strength of their convictions and their refusal to be silenced.”

The Price of Resistance: Imprisonment, Torture, and Death

Fritz Weigoldt’s involvement in the leaflet campaign led to his arrest and subsequent torture, ultimately resulting in his death in June 1937. Hans, not even a year old, was left fatherless.Walter Schäfer, a painter and fellow resistor, faced imprisonment for his role. Upon his release, he married Hans’s widowed mother, Hildegard. However,their respite was short-lived.

Schäfer,a man of deep conviction,refused military service,leading to his execution in September 1942. Hans, at the tender age of six, tragically lost his second father. the persecution extended to Hildegard, who was imprisoned for allegedly insulting civil servants.

These acts of resistance,while seemingly small,were considered acts of treason by the Nazi regime.According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Jehovah’s Witnesses were systematically persecuted for their refusal to swear allegiance to the Nazi state, salute Hitler, or participate in military service. Their unwavering faith made them targets of the regime’s brutality.

Separation and Accusation: the Family Torn Apart

in 1943, the state further fractured the family when authorities separated Hildegard from her children, imprisoning her in solitary confinement. She was later transported to Munich-Stadelheim, where she faced charges before the People’s Court alongside over 200 other jehovah’s Witnesses. The accusations ranged from possessing “Bible Restranzes” to reproducing and distributing banned religious writings.

The People’s Court, a notorious instrument of Nazi injustice, deemed these actions as undermining military strength and sentenced Hildegard to seven years in prison. Her parents, Walter and Helene Hempel, were also implicated in the mass trial. Helene had previously served four years for her involvement in the leaflet campaign, while Walter had faced multiple detentions for his faith.

“The People’s Court was a symbol of the Nazi regime’s perversion of justice,used to silence dissent and eliminate perceived enemies of the state.”

From Persecution to remembrance: Stumbling Stones as Memorials

Walter Hempel’s unwavering commitment to his faith led to a death sentence in December 1944. Though, the chaos of the war delayed the execution, and he was eventually liberated by American troops while being transported to Dachau concentration camp. His wife, Helene, also received a prison sentence just before the war’s end.

After the war, Hildegard Schäfer and her parents were initially recognized as “victims of fascism.” However, this status was revoked in 1950 when the GDR (German Democratic Republic) again banned Jehovah’s Witnesses.Walter Hempel faced further persecution, receiving a ten-year prison sentence in a staged trial.

In 1955, facing imminent arrest, Hans Weigoldt and his mother fled to Munich, followed later by his grandparents. Their story, like countless others, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of intolerance and the importance of defending freedom of conscience.

Today, the placement of stumbling stones in Dresden honors the memory of Walter and Helene Hempel, Hildegard and Walter schäfer, and Fritz and Hans Weigoldt. These small memorials serve as a powerful testament to their courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. The descendants of these families, traveling from Munich, will be present at the ceremony initiated by author T. Martin Krüger.

In total, 28 new stumbling stones will be laid in Dresden on May 6th and 7th, commemorating the victims of the Nazi dictatorship. A ceremony will be held on the evening of May 7th at the Dresden-striesen reconciliation Church.

The Enduring Legacy of Resistance

The story of the weigoldt and Hempel families is a poignant reminder of the human cost of intolerance and the enduring power of faith and resistance. The stumbling stones serve not only as memorials to individual lives but also as a call to vigilance against all forms of oppression and discrimination. As we remember these victims of Nazi persecution, we must reaffirm our commitment to building a world where such atrocities never happen again.