Horst Wessel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horst Wessel
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Wessel in 1929
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| Born |
Horst Ludwig Georg Erich Wessel
9 October 1907 |
| Died | 23 February 1930 (aged 22) |
| Cause of death | Blood poisoning contracted during treatment for a gunshot wound |
| Occupation | Nazi streetfighter |
| Organization | Sturmabteilung (SA) |
| Political party | Nazi Party (1926–30) |
Horst Ludwig Georg Erich Wessel (born October 9, 1907 – died February 23, 1930) was a young man from Germany. He was part of a group called the Sturmabteilung (SA), which was a large group connected to the Nazi Party. After he died in 1930, the Nazi Party used his story to spread their ideas. They made him a martyr, which means someone who dies for a cause.
Contents
Horst Wessel's Early Life
Horst Wessel was born in Bielefeld, Germany. As a young man, he joined several youth groups. He also became involved with some extreme right-wing groups. Later, he left these groups and joined the SA. The SA members were known as "brownshirts" and were involved in street fights.
Joining the SA
Wessel quickly became a leader in the SA. He was in charge of several SA groups and areas. On January 14, 1930, he was killed by two members of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). A man named Albrecht "Ali" Höhler was arrested for his death. Höhler was sent to prison. However, after the Nazis came to power, Höhler was killed by the SA.
The Horst Wessel Song
Horst Wessel's funeral was a very public event in Berlin. Many important Nazi leaders attended. After his death, he became a very important symbol for Nazi propaganda in Nazi Germany.
Becoming an Anthem
Horst Wessel had written the words for a march. After he died, this march was renamed the "Horst-Wessel-Lied" (which means "Horst Wessel Song"). This song became the official song of the Nazi Party. When Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany in 1933, the "Horst Wessel Song" became one of Germany's national anthems. It was sung along with the first part of the older "Deutschlandlied" (also known as "Deutschland über alles").
What Happened After World War II
After World War II ended, Horst Wessel's memorial was damaged. His remains were also destroyed.
See also
In Spanish: Horst Wessel para niños
