Carl Goerdeler
Carl Friedrich Goerdeler (July 31, 1884 - February 2, 1945) was a conservative German politician and opponent of the Nazi regime.
Goerdeler was born in Piła (German Schneidemühl) to a family of Prussian officials. He studied law, and after World War I he joined the conservative German National People's Party (DNVP). He was elected mayor of Leipzig in 1930.
Goerdeler opposed the national socialist racial ideology. He left the DNVP in 1931 when this party began to cooperate with the Nazi party. After 1933, Goerdeler was one of very few politicians in opposition to the ruling NSDAP. When the Nazis in 1936 ordered the demolition of a monument to the Jewish composer Felix Mendelssohn, Goerdeler tried to achieve its re-erection. After failing he declined to accept his reelection and resigned from office.
Afterwards Goerdeler assembled conservative politicians in opposition to Hitler. They developed a future constitution for Germany and even a list of potential ministers. However, Goerdeler was heavily criticised by other members of the German resistance (for example by some members the Kreisau Circle) for objecting to killing Hitler, for his sympathy for reintroducing monarchy, and for his extremely anti-communist ideology.
On July 17, 1944, a warrant for Goerdeler's arrest was issued. Goerdeler managed to escape but he was apprehended on August 12 of the same year after being denunciated by an innkeeper. On September 9 he was sentenced to death. He was tortured for months by the Gestapo which hoped to find out names of other conspirators. Finally he was executed on February 2, 1945 by decapitation.
