Figure 1.--This photograph is Helmuth's family. From left to right are Oma (Wilhelmina Sudrow), Helmuth (about 2 years old), Opa (Johannes Sudrow), Gerhard (about 6 years old), Hans (about 7 years old), and Mutti (Emma, Helmuth, Gerhard, and Hans' mother).

Helmuth Günther Guddat Hübener (1925–42) came from a Mormon (LDS) family. The Mormons were a small church, but included very few NAZIs. Helmuth grew up in an apolitical religious family in Hamburg. He was an enthusiatic Boy Scout until the group was banned and he was forced to join the Hitler Youth. As a boy he was deeply troubled by Kristalnacht. He was only 13 yearsold at the time, but horrified at what he saw. Unlike the britalization and killing of Jews in Poland, this was something that every German could see. He began questioning what he was being taught. He stopped participating in the Hitler Youth--a violtion of the required mandatory participation. Helmüth began listen to BBC radio broadcasts on his brothers radio, another violation of the law (summer 194). He learned more about how the Jews were treated. Together with three friends, he started making anti-Nazi pamphlets in an effort to inform people of what was happening in German occupied areas. He was quickly arrested for making and destributing anti-Nazi pamflets (February 5, 1942). He was one of the youngest opponents of the NAZI regimes to be tried by the Volksgerichtshof (People's Courts). These were special tribunals ordered by Hitler because the German courts had not yet been NAZIfied (1934). He was questioned, beaten and tortured before trial. Helmuth was found guilty and setenced to death (August 11). After the sentence was read, Helmuth turned and faced the judges, and said, "Now I must die, even though I have committed no crime. So now it's my turn, but your turn will come." He was only 17 years old. Two confederates received prison terms. Helmuth was beheaded by guillotine (October 27). He was 17 years old.

Created: 11:32 PM 4/2/2017
Last updated: 11:32 PM 4/2/2017