Account of the death of Rudolf Ferdinand Haase, born 07/02/1906
Shot by Polish insurgents 05/05/1921
(Member of the Leipzig Boy Scout Corps, in Feldmeister Tournier's unit)
An account by his father, translated from German and annotated by Caecilie Dance Our only comfort is that according to Wasner's evidence and the doctor's findings, Rudolf had suffered no physical abuse [before his death]. The bodies of Rudolf and Niemitz had to be brought back in a convoy under the protection of armed Poles. Initially, they refused to give the body to us and they said mockingly, "You will no doubt make propaganda posters of this in Germany?".It was particularly emphasised that the deed was not done in the heat of the moment; the shooting did not take place until 24 hours after the capture, on Whitsun at half past seven in the morning. Only a few boys were murdered like our Rudolf and hardly any other child was buried like he was.
Because of the formidable pressure under which the town lay, we were advised that the burial should only take place at the mortuary. The coffin was laid with wreaths and palm leaves. The school staff (with the exception of the Polish teachers), the district administrator and the discharged German town mayor all attended the funeral service. He [Rudolf] rests in the Jewish cemetery at Rybnik, though his body will be taken to Germany if Rybnik should be lost.
On his journey, this fifteen year old boy had become a pathfinder on the way which must lead to the construction of a new Germany.
Dr. Felix Haase.