cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/36000866

Mildred Fish-Harnack (1902 - 1943)

Tue Sep 16, 1902

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Mildred Elizabeth Fish-Harnack, born on this day in 1902, was an American literary historian, translator, and anti-fascist organizer in Nazi Germany. She was the only American woman executed on direct orders from Adolf Hitler.

Born in the United States, Fish-Harnack moved with her husband Arvid to Germany to continue her studies, eventually ended up at the University of Berlin. During her time there, Fish-Harnack became interested in the Soviet Union and communist thought.

In her lectures, Fish-Harnack encouraged her students to use Karl Marx as a “practical solution to the evils of the present”. Amid financial difficulties at Berlin University and the rising Nazi movement, Mildred was let go from her teaching position in 1932.

Together with her husband, in 1932 Fish-Harnack formed a left-wing group that regularly met to discuss and debate contemporary political ideas. From these meetings arose a key part of the “Red Orchestra”, a loose collective of anti-fascists committed to resisting the Nazi government during World War II.

Beginning in 1940, the group was in contact with Soviet agents in an attempt to thwart the forthcoming German attack upon the Soviet Union. Mildred herself even sent the Soviets information about the planned invasion, codenamed Operation Barbarossa.

Following the capture of German communist and Soviet collaborator Johann Wenzel, Nazi police were able to decipher Red Orchestra messages. On September 7th, Arvid and Mildred Fish-Harnack were arrested while on a weekend outing. Both were executed in custody.

Mildred’s last words were purported to have been: “Ich habe Deutschland auch so geliebt” (“I loved Germany so much as well”). She was the only American woman executed on the orders of Adolf Hitler.

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    Mildred Fish-Harnack (1902 - 1943)

    Tue Sep 16, 1902

    Image

    Mildred Elizabeth Fish-Harnack, born on this day in 1902, was an American literary historian, translator, and anti-fascist organizer in Nazi Germany. She was the only American woman executed on direct orders from Adolf Hitler.

    Born in the United States, Fish-Harnack moved with her husband Arvid to Germany to continue her studies, eventually ended up at the University of Berlin. During her time there, Fish-Harnack became interested in the Soviet Union and communist thought.

    In her lectures, Fish-Harnack encouraged her students to use Karl Marx as a “practical solution to the evils of the present”. Amid financial difficulties at Berlin University and the rising Nazi movement, Mildred was let go from her teaching position in 1932.

    Together with her husband, in 1932 Fish-Harnack formed a left-wing group that regularly met to discuss and debate contemporary political ideas. From these meetings arose a key part of the “Red Orchestra”, a loose collective of anti-fascists committed to resisting the Nazi government during World War II.

    Beginning in 1940, the group was in contact with Soviet agents in an attempt to thwart the forthcoming German attack upon the Soviet Union. Mildred herself even sent the Soviets information about the planned invasion, codenamed Operation Barbarossa.

    Following the capture of German communist and Soviet collaborator Johann Wenzel, Nazi police were able to decipher Red Orchestra messages. On September 7th, Arvid and Mildred Fish-Harnack were arrested while on a weekend outing. Both were executed in custody.

    Mildred’s last words were purported to have been: “Ich habe Deutschland auch so geliebt” (“I loved Germany so much as well”). She was the only American woman executed on the orders of Adolf Hitler.