Lothar Witzke: Difference between revisions

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Witzke was born in Kreis Koschmin, Germany in 1895. During the First World War, he was captured after his battleship, the SMS ''Dresden'', was sunk following many months of attacks on Allied shipping. In 1916, Witzke escaped from American custody, and joined a group of saboteurs, being paired with [[Kurt Jahnke]]. Together, Witzke and Jahnke carried out several sabotage missions, mostly blowing up munitions factories.

In 1918, Witzke was arrested at the Mexican border while using the assumed name "Pablo Waberski". A cryptogram found in his sleeve when he was arrested was later decoded, confirming Witzke's identity and status as a saboteur. As a result, Witzke was sentenced to death, at one point managing to escape but being recaptured the same day. However, shortly before his execution, the Armistice was signed, ending the war and delaying Witzke's death sentence until it was commuted to life imprisonment by President Woodrow Wilson.

In 1918, Witzke was arrested at the Mexican border while using the assumed name "Pablo Waberski". A cryptogram found in his sleeve when he was arrested was later decoded, confirming Witzke's identity and status as a saboteur. As a result, Witzke was sentenced to death, at one point managing to escape but being recaptured the same day. However, shortly before his execution, the Armistice was signed, ending the war and delaying Witzke's death sentence until it was commuted to life imprisonment by President [[Woodrow Wilson]].

In 1923, the German Ambassador requested Witzke's release on the grounds that all other countries had released their prisoners of war. This, combined with the fact that Witzke's prison record revealed that he had prevented a boiler explosion, resulted in President Calvin Coolidge granting Witzke an official pardon.

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[[Category:Villains of World War 2]]

[[Category:Modern Villains]]

[[Category:Military]]

[[Category:Saboteurs]]

[[Category:Karma Houdini]]

[[Category:Deceased]]

~~[[Category:Military]]~~

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 Witzke was born in Kreis Koschmin, Germany in 1895. During the First World War, he was captured after his battleship, the SMS ''Dresden'', was sunk following many months of attacks on Allied shipping. In 1916, Witzke escaped from American custody, and joined a group of saboteurs, being paired with [[Kurt Jahnke]]. Together, Witzke and Jahnke carried out several sabotage missions, mostly blowing up munitions factories.
-In 1918, Witzke was arrested at the Mexican border while using the assumed name "Pablo Waberski". A cryptogram found in his sleeve when he was arrested was later decoded, confirming Witzke's identity and status as a saboteur. As a result, Witzke was sentenced to death, at one point managing to escape but being recaptured the same day. However, shortly before his execution, the Armistice was signed, ending the war and delaying Witzke's death sentence until it was commuted to life imprisonment by President Woodrow Wilson.
+In 1918, Witzke was arrested at the Mexican border while using the assumed name "Pablo Waberski". A cryptogram found in his sleeve when he was arrested was later decoded, confirming Witzke's identity and status as a saboteur. As a result, Witzke was sentenced to death, at one point managing to escape but being recaptured the same day. However, shortly before his execution, the Armistice was signed, ending the war and delaying Witzke's death sentence until it was commuted to life imprisonment by President [[Woodrow Wilson]].
 In 1923, the German Ambassador requested Witzke's release on the grounds that all other countries had released their prisoners of war. This, combined with the fact that Witzke's prison record revealed that he had prevented a boiler explosion, resulted in President Calvin Coolidge granting Witzke an official pardon.
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 [[Category:Villains of World War 2]]
 [[Category:Modern Villains]]
+[[Category:Military]]
+[[Category:Saboteurs]]
 [[Category:Karma Houdini]]
 [[Category:Deceased]]
-[[Category:Military]]