09 Jan January 9, 1945

On the morning of January 9, 1945, Alfred Delp was brought before the People’s Court with five others, including Helmuth von Moltke.  The rumors Delp had heard about the president of the People’s Court, Roland Freisler, were correct.  He not only hated priests, he considered all the defendants as guilty from the outset and proceeded to shriek abuse at them in an effort to humiliate them and gain points with Hitler.

Alfred Delp before the People’s Court, January 9, 1945

Delp was the first of the six to stand trial.  To his surprise, Freisler was not interested in the question that Delp was sure would be the main accusation against him–that he supposedly knew about the attack on Hitler of July 20.  Instead, Freisler seemed interested only in ridiculing him and hurling abuse at him.

That evening, an official summary of the proceeding stated about Delp: “Strong, rustic appearance; trained in dialectical method to an extraordinary degree.  Answered neither yes nor no, but constantly sidestepped.  To a question of Freisler’s, whether he had lied to the police, he answered, ‘I did not lie, nor did I not lie.’

‘I did not lie, nor did I not lie.’

His action is a classic example of the way Jesuits work.  Acted with the knowledge of his provincial superior, who for his part remained throughout in the background.  Made possible–according to Freisler’s statement–conspiracy meetings at consecrated locations, but during those meetings he himself temporarily disappeared like a madam, so that he could then wash his hands of the matter.”