Eva Rittmeister
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eva Rittmeister (born 5 July 1913 in Zeitz, died 19 July 2004 in Remchingen) was a German paediatric nurse, later office worker who became a resistance fighter against the Nazis.[1] During World War II, Rittmeister became involved a Berlin-based resistance group that later became known as the Red Orchestra ("Rote Kapelle").[2]
Eve Rittmeister née Knieper was the daughter of a merchant.[1] After school, Rittmeister initially trained as a paediatric nurse, then worked as an office worker.[1] Several sources indicate, however, that she was an actress.[3][4]
In 1939, Rittmeister married John Rittmeister who was a neurologist and psychoanalyst[1] and fifteen years older than her, aged 40. John Rittmeister considered her "life-affirming", who often enriched his life by relieving his chronic depression.[5]
Education
To prepare for her Abitur in 1940, Rittmeister attended the Heil'schen Abendschule Abendgymnasium ("Berliner Städtische Abendgymnasium für Erwachsene") (BAG) at Berlin W 50, Augsburger Straße 60 in Schöneberg. While there she met a number of people that would eventually become close friends including Ursula Goetze, Liane Berkowitz, Fritz Thiel and Friedrich Rehmer.[6] They gradually formed a group of young people that met to discuss ideological, humanist and political views that gradually led to their opposition to Nazis.[1][7][6]
Rote Kapelle
In December 1941, Eva and her husband met Harro Schulze-Boysen and his wife, the aristocrat Libertas Schulze-Boysen.[8]
Arrest
On 26 September 1942, Eva and her husband were arrested by the Gestapo while at home.[9] Eva was temporarily released but re-arrested on 5 January 1943. Her husband was sentenced to the death penalty by the 2nd Senate of the Reichskriegsgericht "for preparation for high treason and enemy favouritism".[10] During the same trial Eva was sentenced to three years in prison "for listening to enemy transmitters".[9] On 13 May 1943, John Rittmeister was executed by the guillotine in Plötzensee Prison.[9] Eva was released in April 1945 by the Red Army[1] and survived the end of the war.[9]