Julius Leber in Breisach
The Julius-Leber-Schule in Breisach is a primary and secondary school located in the border town of Breisach. Reflecting on the life and legacy of Julius Leber is an integral part of the school’s ethos. Each year, on 16 November, the anniversary of Leber’s birth, the school community gathers in the auditorium to honour his memory and commemorate his life’s work. It is therefore fitting that the students of a Year 10 class, guided by their teacher Nadine Kohler, chose Julius Leber as the subject for their Storyboard-Telling Workshop.
Julius Leber was born in 1891 in Biesheim, Alsace. He became a prominent German SPD politician, a Reichstag member, and, ultimately, a key figure in the 20 July 1944 resistance group led by Claus von Stauffenberg, which sought to overthrow the Nazi regime. Leber gave his life in the pursuit of a free Germany. In the group’s plans for a post-Nazi government, Leber was designated to serve as Interior Minister. He is remembered for his profound statement: “For such a good and just cause, the sacrifice of one’s own life is the fitting price. We have done all that was within our power. It is not our fault that events unfolded as they did.”
Leber initially displayed a keen interest in military service. In 1914, he volunteered for the army and served as a soldier during the First World War, where he was wounded and suffered a gas injury. After the war, Leber continued serving in the Reichswehr but was discharged following his opposition to the Kapp Putsch, during which he stood firmly on the side of the Republic.
After his military career ended, Leber resumed his studies, eventually earning a doctorate in political science from the University of Freiburg. He later became the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Lübecker Volksbote in Lübeck. As an SPD Reichstag member from 1924 to 1933, Leber focused primarily on military policy.
A staunch opponent of National Socialism, Leber was first arrested in 1933, despite his parliamentary immunity. This marked the beginning of a series of arrests and imprisonments. In 1935, he was placed in protective custody, first at the Esterwegen concentration camp and later at Sachsenhausen. After his release in 1937, Leber joined his wife in Berlin and, in 1940, met Claus von Stauffenberg. He subsequently became an active member of the resistance.
Leber wurde am 05. Juli 1944 von der Gestapo verhaftet. Am 20. Oktober fand vor dem Volksgerichtshof ein Schauprozess statt. Leber wurde zum Tode verurteilt. Das Urteil wurde am 05. Januar 1945 im damaligen Strafgefängnis Berlin-Plötzensee vollstreckt.
In 1969, the German Chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Willy Brandt, a contemporary and ally of Julius Leber, addressed the school community at its inauguration: “The name of your school is both an obligation and a mission. Julius Leber fought for democracy in Germany and gave his life for it in Germany’s darkest hour. The name Julius Leber commits us to working and fighting to ensure that totalitarian ideologies never again gain influence in Germany’s political life.”
The students are particularly drawn to Julius Leber’s story as a resistance fighter. One student remarked that he too feels a sense of resistance and finds values important, prompting another to ask what the “right” values might be. This sparked a lively and thought-provoking discussion.
During their research, one student discovered that a military base in Berlin is also named after Julius Leber. Today, the Julius-Leber-Kaserne is the largest Bundeswehr barracks in Germany. In a historical twist, the barracks were previously named after Hermann Göring during the Nazi era and later served as the French military headquarters. Reflecting on this, the student wondered whether Julius Leber would have approved of a barracks bearing his name. However, he himself expressed satisfaction with studying at the Julius-Leber-Schule, where his own values resonate deeply.