Start Content

After 1945

Georg Elser’s family did not find out what happened to him, even after the end of the war. He was not declared dead until 1950. The family received no compensation for his imprisonment or his death. Up until she passed away in 1960, his mother Maria Elser had to ward off repeated accusations that her son had been an “instrument” of the Nazi leaders.

Former fellow prisoners and guards based this version of events on alleged conversa­tions with Elser. In actual fact, however, neither Martin Niemöller nor the British secret service agent Payne Best had had close contact to Elser. They merely embroidered on rumors they heard as prisoners.

ullstein bild, 2. Wk 49 124 k1
Collapse and capitulation—German soldier, 1944/45.
Institut für Zeitgeschichte, München
The Elser family contacted Martin Niemöller at this time because they had heard about his public statements regarding Georg Elser.

Institut für Zeitgeschichte, München
Although Niemöller claimed only to have heard rumors from SS men in the Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps, he did not retract his false public statements.

Institut für Zeitgeschichte, München
Although Niemöller claimed only to have heard rumors from SS men in the Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps, he did not retract his false public statements.

Institut für Zeitgeschichte, München
Maria Elser made it clear that Elser was never in the SS and could not have acted on Hitler’s orders.
Private
Rejection of compensation for Georg Elser’s imprisonment to his sister Marie Hirth, Stuttgart, March 13, 1951.
Private
At the late date of 1958, Karl Hirth attempted to receive at least a compensation of 113 DM. His application was not granted until 1962.