Meet “The People’s Court”

Berlin's Sony Center

Berlin, Germany-Just outside the beautiful and spectacular Sony Center Shopping mall here there is a simple sidewalk brass marker.  It is a reminder of terrible time in history when total judicial tyranny was practiced under National Socialism 1933-1945.  Murder under color of law was the mission of the Chief Justice, Roland Freisler.  

Freisler served in the WWI German Military where he was wounded and captured by Russians.  While in captivity, Freisler embraced Marxism turning his back on his homeland.  He joined the Communist party upon release but once again switched his allegiance joining the burgeoning Nazi Party.  Frisler proved to be quite a social climber.

Dr. Roland  Freisler

Freisler was a lawyer and was later appointed by Adolph Hitler as the People’s Court President.  It has been said that he Freisler constantly proving himself as a super Nazi to counter those who questioned his changing loyalties.

Freisler was ruthless and merciless as he sent over 5,000 German men, women and teenagers to the guillotine or gallows for even the most minor acts of resistance.  Evidence presented before the court was often simple hearsay.   The People’s Court court acquitted only a scant few before it.

Freisler was also one of Hitler’s Judges that made sure everything done by the Nazi government was legal. He was also chosen as one of 15 high ranking Nazis that promulgated the Holocaust at the Wansee Conference during a two-hour luncheon.

Freisler escaped the hangman when he was killed during an Allied bombing raid on February 3, 1945 successfully targeted the People’s Court building.  Rather than take refuge in a bomb shelter Freisler was busy safeguarding case files of those he was trying to murder.

Americans have a strong Constitution that contains a Bill of Rights.  Freisler's spirit is alive today and exists in every courtroom of the world where judges refuse or fail to protect the rights of those unfortunate enough to appear before them. We must make doubly sure that as our judges that lose sight of their duty to protect citizen’s rights are brought to book and harshly punished for any and all tyrannical acts. 

This Brass Marker translated into English reads:

“On this site 1935-1945 was the entrance to the People’s Court.

In violation of fundamental principles of constitutional justice, they condemned more than five thousand people to death.  Freedom was taken from even a higher number that were targeted for persecution and extermination of all opposed to the Nazi regime.”

Learn more about Roland Freisler in this video:

Singer & McQuarie , You’re Filmmaking Talents are Needed!

Sophie Scholl, 21 a German Citizen Murdered Under color of law by The Nazis

Los, Angeles, CA—One of my favorite films is Valkyrie with Tom Cruise playing would be Hitler assassin, Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg.  It was filmed in many authentic locations with a terrific cast and crew.  The finished product film told the exciting and heroic story very well.  It was made by boyhood pals, Director Brian Singer and Co-Writer and Producer Christopher McQuarie.  

When the Blu-Ray disk came out the extras were really exceptional.  It contained a compelling documentary where actual resistance members and their families told the history of brave Germans trying to bring down the Nazi regime.   It’s a part of World War Two history that has been largely ignored especially here in America.  

At Berlin’s Bendlerblock Resistance Museum there is a never-ending well-documented supply of stories fit for many riveting films. That Bendlerblock location happens to be where the Valkyrie conspirators actually worked and where they were executed on July 20. 1944.  One such story that stands out the most to me is that of 21 year-old Sophie Scholl and the White Rose.

Several young men and women associated with the University in Munich belonged to a peaceful resistance group, The White Rose.  They mailed and passed out newsletter leaflets that exposed the agenda and atrocities of the Nazi government.

One day, Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans Scholl and a friend Christoph Probst were caught distributing leaflets at the University.  They were arrested and a Gestapo investigation was launched.   A very high profile Nazi show trial was held and the trio were convicted and beheaded at the Stadlehiem Prison within four days of their arrest.

A terrific German language film was made but unfortunately subtitled foreign films are usually never well received in America.  I guess people don’t like reading films.

The leading roles are that of Sophie Scholl, Gestapo Inspector Mohr and People’s Court President, Judge Roland Frisler.  I’d love to see this staring English speaking German actors like Christian Berkel, Sebastian Koch and a yet to be discovered 21 year-old leading lady.

Yes, I’m a SAG-AFTRA member and want a small part in the film however I also want to help produce it on location in Munich.  I know Germany very well. 

As Valkyrie was being negotiated in Germany as a project there was a very unfortunate flap over lead actor Tom Cruise’s Scientology faith.  It nearly derailed the entire film.  That left some wounds with the people that worked so hard in bringing that great story to light.  The question I must ask is their skin thick enough to make yet another excellent film there.  I really hope so. 

On a side note, my having spent my adult life in courtrooms I have particular disdain for despot judges like Roland Frisler. Yes they are everywhere and only restrained by our form of government. 

When Adolph Hitler sought to plan the Holocaust he entrusted 15 high Ranking Nazis to work out the details at a lakeside Villa in Wannsee just outside of Berlin over a two-hour luncheon meeting.  Frisler was one of the several lawyers there making sure it was all legal.  They call that meeting the Wansee Conference.

Had Frisler not been killed in an Allied bombing raid he surly would have been in the first wave of war criminals executed at Nuremberg.

I only hope that Singer and McQuarie read this and consider making the film.  If they pass on it, surely another filmmaker should step in.  There would be a generous German film grant waiting for the producer.

The official trailer for the German production of several years ago is below:

Cameras in Courtrooms are an Invitation to Corruption of Justice and Tyranny

Chicago, IL—The Illinois Supreme Court announced that they intend to allow cameras inside courtrooms bringing live trials for television entertainment.

Entertainment is exactly what they are creating. Turning courtrooms into media circus venues began inside The Peoples Court of Nazi Germany. The Show trials of Hitler’s courts were played in every neighborhood theater along with the regular films.

The Nazis learned from the Romans who dispensed “justice” at the Coliseum. People have an appetite to see the process of punishment utilized against their fellow man. Make no mistake standing trial for a crime in any forum is punishment.

The man pictured above is the father of televised trials. He’s Judge Roland Frisler who sent thousands of German citizens and at least one American woman to their deaths. Their crimes were that they resisted Nazi tyranny.

Another huge problem with televised trials is that it allows witnesses to see and hear each other give testimony. It’s the custom to exclude all witnesses from any court proceeding until after they testified.

People engaged in perjury conspiracies are obstructed by the exclusion. When they hear each other’s testimony they can keep their story lines in order. This move will corrupt trials.

If instead they broadcast trials after they ended lots problems could be avoided. News providers would be upset because the delay would turn news into history.

Lawyers, witnesses and judges turn into defacto entertainers. They play to the theater and embellish their roles. Many witnesses are reluctant to truthfully testify if doing that would prove embarrassing with the whole world watching.

Too many lawyers love the idea of winning television fame as players in the theater of the courtroom.

TV news providers know this will bring ratings and new revenue so they understandable welcome this change.

The Nazi regime used show trials as an intimidation technique to terrorize the population as a way to shut down any resistance to their tyranny.

Don’t allow our courts to become an intimidation tool for government despots. Don’t allow our courts to corrupt the practice of excluding witnesses.