“Never give in” is an attitude that resonates deeply here. It speaks to the spirit of Doktor Julius Leber.
Doktor Julius Leber was a prominent figure in Lubeck. He was a journalist and politician who stood against injustice. He embodies courage and conviction.
Leber arrived in Lubeck in 1921. He became the editor of the “Lubecker Volksboten”. This was a Social Democratic Party newspaper. Within a short time, he became a leading voice for social democracy in Lubeck. Leber championed the rights of ordinary people. He fiercely opposed the growing Nazi movement. His unwavering stance earned him respect. People respected him even beyond the working class.
As a journalist, Doktor Julius Leber used his pen as a sword. He defended the Weimar Republic. He criticized its shortcomings. Leber fearlessly confronted the National Socialists. He exposed their dangerous ideology in his articles. In 1929, he called them a “gang of robbers of big capital.” He decried their violence and their trampling of workers.
His newspaper office was located not far from here. It had over 20,000 subscribers. The “Lubecker Volksboten” became a powerful voice. It was a voice for democracy and social justice. Willy Brandt, the future Chancellor, even wrote his first articles for the paper. Leber mentored the young Brandt.
After the Nazis took power in 1933, Leber’s life was in danger. Nazi thugs attacked him in the streets. He was arrested. Despite the risks, he refused to flee Germany. He felt a duty to the workers of Lubeck who trusted him. In March 1933, he was arrested again. This time it was to prevent him from voting against the Enabling Act. He endured imprisonment and brutal treatment in concentration camps.
Even in the face of persecution, Doktor Julius Leber never wavered. He became involved in the resistance movement. He sought to unite various groups against the Nazi regime. He envisioned a radical new beginning for Germany. He paid the ultimate price for his beliefs. In 1945, he was executed in Berlin.
Doktor Julius Leber’s legacy lives on in Lubeck. A street bears his name. A school is named in his honor. The SPD headquarters is named after him as well. This memorial stone reminds us of his courage and sacrifice. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, one person can make a difference. Leber’s life serves as an inspiration. We must stand up for what is right. We must fight for a just and equitable world. His words “If it is necessary to fight for freedom, one does not ask what will come tomorrow” still echo.