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Koske (Walter) prison diary
6258
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Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Walter Koske prison diary
Creator:
Koske, Walter (1902-)
Creator:
Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand (Berlin, Germany)
Identifier/Call Number: 6258
Physical Description:
0.21 Linear Feet
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1937-1938
Date: 2002
Abstract: A prison diary written by Walter Koske, a documented member of the Nazi resistance. Walter Koske was one of twelve members
of the illegal resistance cell Mix & Genest (named after the electronics company they worked for) who were arrested in 1937
for participating in communist party activities. Six of the arrested Mix & Genest members were sentenced to prison and six
were released. Walter Koske (born in 1902), was arrested on his 35th birthday and charged with treason (
Hochverrat), for which he could have been executed. Koske wrote this diary during his time in prison, starting on March 4, 1937, with
entries spanning from February 1937 to March 1938. The entries prior to March 1937 appear to be written in retrospect. Koske's
diary includes descriptions of his arrest, his interrogation, and his daily life. Also included in the collection is a published
volume--titled
Widerstand in Schöneberg und Tempelhof--written by Heinrich-Wilhelm Wörmann and published in 2002.
Widerstand in Schöneberg und Tempelhof is volume 13 of a series titled
Widerstand in Berlin 1933-1945, published by Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand.
Widerstand in Schöneberg und Tempelhof includes a section titled "Betriebszelle: 'Mix & Genest'" beginning on page 111, which provides some background on the Mix
& Genest resistance cell.
Language of Material:
German
.
Container: 1
A prison diary written by Walter Koske, a documented member of the Nazi resistance. Walter Koske was one of twelve members
of the illegal resistance cell Mix & Genest (named after the electronics company they worked for) who were arrested in 1937
for participating in communist party activities. Six of the arrested Mix & Genest members were sentenced to prison and six
were released. Walter Koske (born in 1902), was arrested on his 35th birthday and charged with treason (
Hochverrat), for which he could have been executed. Koske wrote this diary during his time in prison, starting on March 4, 1937, with
entries spanning from February 1937 to March 1938. The entries prior to March 1937 appear to be written in retrospect. Koske's
diary includes descriptions of his arrest, his interrogation, and his daily life. Also included in the collection is a published
volume--titled
Widerstand in Schöneberg und Tempelhof--written by Heinrich-Wilhelm Wörmann and published in 2002.
Widerstand in Schöneberg und Tempelhof is volume 13 of a series titled
Widerstand in Berlin 1933-1945, published by Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand.
Widerstand in Schöneberg und Tempelhof includes a section titled "Betriebszelle: 'Mix & Genest'" beginning on page 111, which provides some background on the Mix
& Genest resistance cell.
Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special
Collections at specol@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Walter Koske prison diary, Collection no. 6258, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Johnson Rare Books & Archives, March 1, 2022.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Anti-Nazi movement -- Germany -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Communism -- Germany -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Political prisoners -- Germany -- Personal narratives
World War, 1939-1945 -- Germany -- Archival resources
Books
Diaries
Koske, Walter (1902-) -- Diaries
Mix & Genest -- Archives