Kurt Huber
Kurt Huber (
October 24,
1893–
July 13,
1943) was a member of the
White Rose group, which carried out
resistance against Nazi Germany.
Huber was born in
Chur,
Switzerland, to
German parents. He grew up in
Stuttgart and, later (after his father's death), in
Munich. He showed an aptitude for such subjects as music, philosophy and psychology, and became a professor in 1920.
Huber was appalled by reports of his country's atrocities in
World War II and decided that the
Nazis had to be removed from power. He came into contact with the White Rose movement through some students who attended his lectures:
Hans Scholl and
Alexander Schmorell. Huber actually wrote the White Rose's sixth and last leaflet calling for an end to National Socialism.
Huber was arrested on February 27, 1943, and was brought before the
People's Court on April 19, where
Roland Freisler, the Chief Justice, humiliated him with a blistering verbal attack as he so often did (see the exchange quoted in the
Josef Wirmer article, for instance). On July 13, Huber was executed by
guillotine at the prison in
Munich-Stadelheim, along with Alexander Schmorell. The university had stripped Huber of his position and his doctorate at the time of his arrest.
Attempts to take up a collection for Huber's widow Clara only brought about more trouble and eventually lead to
Hans Leipelt's arrest and execution.
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Kurt Huber at "The White Rose" (jlrweb)
