Fritz Goerdeler

Who was Fritz Goerdeler?

Fritz Hermann Goerdeler was a German jurist and resistance fighter.

Goerdeler was born as the younger brother of Carl Friedrich Goerdeler in Schneidemühl and grew up in Marienwerder, where his father had taken office as a judge at the local court in 1890. Goerdeler studied law and worked as a lawyer. In 1920 he became the mayor of Marienwerder and was reelected in 1932, however he was forced to leave this position in 1933 after he refused to join the Nazi Party.

Goerdeler became the municipal chamberlain of Königsberg in 1934 until 1944 and joined the German resistance movement against the Nazis. He had close contact to the military resistance especially in East Prussia.

Goerdeler was imprisoned after the failed 20 July plot and sentenced to death by the Volksgerichtshof on 23 February 1945. He was hanged at Plötzensee Prison on 1 March 1945.

Goerdeler was married and had three daughters and a son.