A court-martial sentencing Heinz Drossel to death on 4 May 1945 marked the end of his military service, following his refusal to lead his troops into a futile suicide attack. This act of defiance occurred just days before the conclusion of the European conflict, capping a six-year period defined by systemic resistance against the Nazi regime.
Early Obstacles and Conscription
Born in Berlin in 1916 to Paul and Elfriede Drossel, Heinz was raised in an environment that rejected the Nazi Party. Upon completing his legal education in 1939, his refusal to align with nationalist party ideology prevented him from entering private practice. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the German Army. His parents, who relocated to Senzig to avoid aerial bombardment in Berlin, actively collaborated with him in providing sanctuary to individuals targeted by the state.
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Drossel served on the Eastern Front and in the Battle of France, eventually earning a commission as a lieutenant in 1942. His military career was marked by efforts to subvert Nazi directives. In 1941, he facilitated the escape of Soviet prisoners and later released a Russian officer. While on leave in 1942, he encountered Marianne Hirschfeld, who was attempting to end her life to escape deportation. He provided her with shelter and funding. By 1945, he and his parents shielded Ernst Fontheim, Margot Hass, and her parents, Lucie and Jack, providing them with food and hiding spots in Berlin after they were denounced to authorities.
Postwar Judicial Career
Following the war, Drossel married Marianne Hirschfeld in 1946. Despite prevailing antisemitic sentiments that initially hindered his legal career, he eventually served as a judge and later as a director of the social court in Berlin. He moved to Freiburg in 1975 to direct the social court in Constance, retiring in 1981. He chronicled his wartime experiences in his 1988 book, Die Zeit der Fuechse.
Recognition and Legacy
In his later years, Drossel engaged with German youth to address the moral implications of the Holocaust. Yad Vashem recognized him and his parents as Righteous Among the Nations on 12 January 1999. In 2001, he received the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, followed by the Wallenberg Medal in 2004. He died in 2008 in Waldkirch.
Fast facts
- Born: 1916, Berlin
- Died: 2008, Waldkirch
- Righteous Among the Nations Award: 1999
- Federal Cross of Merit: 2001
- Wallenberg Medal: 2004
- Education: Law school, 1939
- Spouse: Marianne Hirschfeld
- Military Rank: Lieutenant
Questions readers ask
Why was Heinz Drossel court-martialed?
He was sentenced to death for disobeying orders from the Waffen-SS to lead his men in a suicide attack on 4 May 1945.
Who were the individuals Drossel helped during the war?
He provided shelter and assistance to Marianne Hirschfeld, Soviet soldiers, and a group of Jews including Ernst Fontheim, Margot Hass, and her parents.
Achievements
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1999
- Worked as judge, lawyer and resistance fighter
