Ehrung von Albrecht Haushofer

On the 7th of January 2002, in the Spreebogen of Berlin, a memorial monument was unveiled for the scholar, poet, politician, and resistance member Albrecht Haushofer. On the same occasion, a remembrance publication was issued under the aegis of the Ernst-Freiberger-Stiftung. The foundation honors »Helden ohne Degen« (Heroes Without Daggers). Haushofer was one of those who freely joined the conspiracy against the NS-Regime, was arrested after 20 July 1944, and brought to the prison in Berlin-Moabit.

       In the night from 22 to 23 April 1945, Albrecht Haushofer and 15 other prisoners were taken from the prison at Moabit/Lehrter Strasse and around 1 am was shot. On his person was found a copy of his »Moabiter Sonette« composed while he was in prison. American officers were so impressed by the poems that they had them published privately. In 1946, the first official publication of the poems appeared, and thus a large public today has come to know and revere Albrecht Haushofer as the author of the »Moabiter Sonette« ­ as follows:

       Ich habe mein Gewissen lang betrogen
       Ich habe mich selbst and andere belogen ­
       Ich kannte früh des Jammers ganze Bahn
       Ich habe bewarnt ­ Nicht hart genug und klar!
       Und heute weiss ich, was ich schuldig war.

From »Albrecht Haushofer« in the Edition Ernst-Freiberger-Stiftung in Verlag Langewiesche-Brandt. Albrecht Haushofer is buried in the cemetery for war victims not far from the Spree river.

Dorothea Moritz