This article recounts the story of Hilde Coppi – a member of the Red Orchestra resistance group – who was executed by the Nazis on the guillotine at Plötzensee Prison on August 5, 1943. The content is for educational and historical documentation only, based on archival records and historical sources. It does not aim to glorify violence or advocate for any political ideology.
The Guillotine Execution of Hilde Coppi – The “Red Rose” of the Resistance
During World War II, many women were executed on the guillotine for participating in resistance movements against Nazi Germany. Hilde Coppi was one of them. As a member of the Red Orchestra (Rote Kapelle) – a spy and resistance network operating against Hitler’s regime – she was sentenced to death and executed on the guillotine. Inside Plötzensee Prison, a horrific execution chamber witnessed the deaths of many women, including Hilde, within the space of a single hour.
1. Who Was Hilde Coppi?
Hilde Coppi (born Hilde Rake) was born on May 29, 1909, in Berlin. She was a simple woman, working as a seamstress and later as an office clerk. In 1941, she married Hans Coppi, an active member of the Red Orchestra.
The Red Orchestra was a resistance organization that included communists, anti-fascists, and political activists. They gathered intelligence about the Nazis and passed it to the Soviet Union, while also distributing leaflets urging the German people to resist Hitler’s regime.
Hilde was not a prominent political activist, but she supported her husband and other members of the organization. She lent her apartment as a secret meeting place, passed messages, and participated in underground activities.
2. Arrest and Trial
In September 1942, the Gestapo arrested many members of the Red Orchestra, including Hans and Hilde Coppi. Hilde was pregnant with their first child at the time. She was imprisoned for months and tortured to reveal the names of other members, but she refused to speak.
In December 1942, Hans Coppi was sentenced to death and executed on December 22, 1942.
In January 1943, Hilde gave birth to their son while in prison. The child was named Hans, after his father. Hilde was allowed to keep her baby for a few months, but she was later separated from him and brought to trial.
On May 13, 1943, the People’s Court (Volksgerichtshof), presided over by the infamous judge Roland Freisler, sentenced Hilde Coppi to death for “treason” and “incitement against the state.” She was sentenced to death by guillotine.
3. Plötzensee Prison and the Execution Chamber
Plötzensee Prison in Berlin was the site of thousands of executions of political prisoners during the Nazi era. The prison had a special execution chamber, where the guillotine was set up and used to execute condemned prisoners.
The execution chamber at Plötzensee was a small, cold room with brick walls and a concrete floor. The guillotine stood in the center of the room. Prisoners were led in, restrained, and placed on the guillotine. The blade fell, and death came instantly (in theory). During peak periods of executions, many prisoners were executed within just a few hours.
4. The Execution of August 5, 1943
On the morning of August 5, 1943, Hilde Coppi was led from her cell to the execution chamber at Plötzensee Prison. She was executed on the guillotine alongside several other women, including Martha Butte and Eva-Maria Buch – both also sentenced to death for their involvement with the Red Orchestra.
On that same morning, at least four women were executed within less than an hour. Hilde Coppi was one of them.
5. The Legacy of Hilde Coppi
Hilde Coppi died at the age of 34. Her son, Hans, was raised by Hilde’s mother and survived the war. He later told the story of his mother and father, Hans Coppi, so that future generations would not forget what they sacrificed.
Hilde Coppi was one of many courageous women who fought against the Nazi regime. They sacrificed their lives for freedom and justice. Their stories are a reminder of the brutality of dictatorship and the courage of those who dared to resist.
6. Conclusion
The execution of Hilde Coppi was one of many brutal executions carried out by the Nazi regime. She was killed simply for daring to stand up against injustice. Yet her spirit lives on. Her story is a reminder that even in the darkest times, there were people who dared to say “no” to evil.
Primary Sources:
People’s Court (Volksgerichtshof) records – Hilde Coppi trial (1943)
Plötzensee Prison archives – Execution records
Gestapo archives on Red Orchestra members
Historical documents on the Red Orchestra and their activities
Reports from survivors and family members of Hilde Coppi