Ritter Wilhelm von Hebra

IN MEMORY OF WILHELM von HEBRA (On the 50th Anniversary of His Tragic Death) Karl Holubar (Vienna, Austria)

From the Editor. We have received materials of the annual meeting of the Society of Dermatologists and Venerologists in Vienna of 2—4.XII.94, dedicated to the participants of Austrian Resistance movement during the World War II. The speech of Professor Karl Holubar about the death of Wilhelm von Herbra (1885—1944) is given below (abridged).

Fifty years have passed since the day when Wilhelm Hebra, the grandson of dermatologist Ferdinand Hebra was beheaded. He was one of many who died a violent death for their convictions in those days. The descendants make wreaths to his comrades-in-arms, for example, Augustiner Horhern from Klosterna burg or Roman Karl Scholtz (the 50th anniversary of his death was marked on the 10th of May). Wilhelm Hebra is forgotten. Nobody mentions his name, since they do not know the details of the Austrian Resistance. But his name is well known among dermatologists. So, let me say some words about him. Wilhelm Peter August Hebra, who lived on 10, Mariannenhasse in Vienna IX, was born on October 31, 1885. He was a grandson of outstanding dermatologist Ferdinand Hebra (1816—1880) and a son of Hanse Hebra, also a dermatologist who was born in 1847 and died in one year with his uncle Moritz Capoci (1902). Hanse Hebra was married to Adelaide Edle, nee Mautner Markhoff, from Raininghause. Wilhelm Hebra became a writer; as to his brothers: Edward was a conductor and Ferdinand — a military man. During the World War I Wilhelm was twice awarded with signum landis. That was the fifth family generation that served to Keiser, they were related to Konrad Hetzendorf, the Head of the General Staff of the Keiser's army. Wilhelm grandfather's brother, Karl Hebra, perished during the coalition war with France, his grandson Germann stayed in Koniggretz, his cousin Victor perished in the Carpathians in 1915. No wonder that Wilhelm was a monarchist. God, Keiser and Fatherland too long were the categories for which people lived and died. Wilhelm was true to his convictions even during the Anschluss of 1938 and gathered the like-minded people to restore independence of Austria. He was arrested in February, 1939, together with the members of the group; Gabriella Marie Wawdrei (Jeunifer) Church, Elliott by husband, and John Robert Lennox from Kenth or London also were this group members. Karl Alfons from Portel, forgotten with time, also was in Wilhelm's circle and served a term with him. The so-called proceeding on legitimists was instituted in the first years of the war by Hitler's order. But the accusation was brought by the People Arbitration Chamber in Berlin only in 1943. Hebra and Lennox were sentenced to death (sentence of November 19). Hebra took the sentence calmly, as Church—Elliott wrote later in her memoire. Lennox was not executed, but Hebra was beheaded on October 1844, in Munich. The fact that Wilhelm Hebra's grandmother — Teresia Friederike Reininghause was a “full Jew” was underlined in red in the original of the bill of indictment. I should like to note two details of the long legal act, which I could see only after the reunification on Germany. There is the report of the Munich overprocurator to Reich-Minister of Justice in Berlin, dated from November 2, 1944: “A sentence of the above persons was executed on 27.10.44 in Munich—Stadelheim prison. The capital punishment was proceeding for 1 minute 4 seconds, from the moment of leaving the cell and 9 seconds from the moment of transfer to executioner and till the axe fall. There was nothing to report worth any concern”. Resolution of Reichsminister of Justice of September 1944 (not word in word): “Visit permit is given to father, sons or wife only if they have come from the front or go there”. How perverted should be the thought and feelings of those who stood with a stop-watch near a sentenced, those who made such reports, who issued such orders. How mean should be the state that has such institutions. Since I belong to those who were born in the first half of this century and we are bounded by the events that proceeded in 1944—1945, we all must be responsible for everything that took place in those years. We still hear the explosions of bombs and shouts of victims. And now I shall ask the young: “Have we got rid of this violence and abomination now? No, we haven't and we can't: We have not changed genetically”. In conclusion, let me try to tone down the horror from the abyss we have come to this century and where we are still remain:

As if you come to me from ancient picture, As if the fog is coming to the valleys, To children dreams, to women loved before, You vanish, go to nothing with all people, And I feel lost as living in the clouds. (from poem “Time” by Edward Hebra, Wilhelm's brother).

http://www.histomed.kiev.ua/agapit/ag2/ag02-31e.html

Wilhelm Hebra, Wien Geboren am 11. Oktober 1885

Der Schriftsteller Wilhelm Hebra baute im Sommer 1938 eine legitimistische Gruppe auf. Er wurde Ende März 1939 festgenommen und 1943 wegen "Vorbereitung zum Hochverrat und Feindbegünstigung" zum Tode verurteilt. Wilhelm Hebra wurde am 18. 2. 1944 in München-Stadelheim hingerichtet.

Aus einem von Hebra verfassten, mit "Östfrei" (Österreich frei) unterzeichneten Flugblatt: "Österreich ist nicht ein Teil des Deutschen Reichs, sondern ein durch Lüge und Gewalt erobertes, durch Tyrannei festgehaltenes, jedes Rechts beraubtes, gequältes und gepeinigtes Land. Wir Österreicher sind durch Geschichte und Kultur, in Geist und Gesinnung, in Charakter und Lebensform von den anderen Deutschen unterschieden, den Preußen gegensätzlich. Wir sind eine eigene Nation: die österreichische Nation." http://www.doew.at/php/gestapo/index.php?c=detail&l=de&id=969