A stark reminder etched in metal this Kurt Ritter Plaque stands as a testament. It commemorates a life of courage and sacrifice. We are standing before the Kurt Ritter Plaque on Matternstraße 16. This plaque marks the residence of a remarkable man. Kurt Ritter was not just any resident. He was a beacon of resistance during one of history’s darkest chapters.
Kurt Ritter was born on December 31, 1909, in Ostramondra. He was a German communist and a determined resistance fighter against the Nazi regime. Imagine the challenges he faced. He was the son of a bricklayer. He trained as a shoemaker. After World War I, he moved to Hohenstein-Ernstthal. Here, he worked as a weaving apprentice.
Ritter became deeply involved in the workers’ sports movement. He joined the German Communist Youth Association. He was an active member of the Arbeiter-Turn- und Sportbund. During the global economic crisis, Ritter lost his job and moved to Berlin. Following the Nazi’s rise to power, he joined the resistance group led by Robert Uhrig.
During World War II, Kurt Ritter worked at the Knorr-Bremsen factory in Berlin. This factory produced materials for the war. Simultaneously, he worked underground. Together with Werner Seelenbinder, Ernst Knaack, and others, he resisted the Nazi regime.
In 1942, the Gestapo arrested Kurt Ritter in Berlin-Mariendorf. After two years in custody, the People’s Court sentenced him to death on July 6, 1944. On August 28, 1944, he was executed by beheading in Brandenburg prison.
This Kurt Ritter Plaque serves as more than a historical marker. It reminds us of his unwavering commitment. Ritter stood against tyranny. The plaque honors his dedication as a worker-sportsman. It also acknowledges his role as an anti-fascist resistance fighter. The inscription urges the youth to see him as an example and a reminder.
Earlier, there was another plaque before 1970. Its contents and whereabouts are unknown. On November 19, 2007, residents of Friedrichshain installed a replacement plaque. This was to replace a temporarily removed plaque.
Now, the original plaque is back at the corner of the building near the entrance. It stands as a reminder. It is a tribute to Kurt Ritter’s enduring legacy.
Other tributes to Kurt Ritter existed. A sports stadium once bore his name. It was later renamed Kurt-Ritter-Sportplatz. Schools in Friedrichshain and Langenchursdorf that were named after him were renamed after the end of the GDR. A memorial stone in Gamengrund commemorates Ritter. It honors him alongside Josef Römer, Willy Sachse, and Fritz Riedel.
Standing here, we reflect on Kurt Ritter’s life. He was a man of courage and conviction. This Kurt Ritter Plaque ensures that his story continues to inspire future generations. Let us remember his sacrifice. Let us strive for a world free from oppression.