An Imperial Quiz

[McCulloh]

A Hauptman @1913:
For a six pack of Chaimberlin Pale Ale:"Who is he and why is he so famous?"

[Klaus O.]

Is he the Hauptmann von Köpenick? A famous "Hochstapler"... An old socially marginalized person that dressed up as "Hauptmann" and convinced the local garrison and municipal authority that he was the new commander.

Ciao,

Claudio

[WNickel]

Hi Jeff,

I think it is Baron von Münchhausen who rode on a canonball.....

Werner

[Daniel Krause]

I also think it is Wilhelm Voigt. the Hauptmann von Köpenick.

But he did not pretend to be the new commander. He "picked up" some soldiers on the streeet and occupied the town hall of Köpenick to get a passport.

Best regards

Daniel

[Klaus O.]

Ah yes.. now I remember. You are right about that... I couldn't have a passport because he spent some time in prison. The prison's director was a veteran of the Franco-Prussian war who always did class of military strategy and told stories about how they defeated the French...

Ciao,

Claudio

[McCulloh]

we have a winner!

Clkaudio is of course, correct ! It is the famous "Hauptman Voigt Von Koepenick" from a postcard @1913.
On October 16th, 1906 a platoon of infantry were marching through Tegel when they were ordered to halt by a man wearing a Hauptman's uniform. He inspected them, bullied the Sergeant a bit and then ordered them to follow him to Koepenick.
After they arrived at the Town Hall the Captain posted three soldiers as guards at the Rat's doors and ordered them to allow nobody to enter. The other 7 men of the platoon were posted throughout the inside of the building with similar orders.
The Hauptman then marched into the Burgermeister's office and arrested him. The Captain then took control of the Treasury-a box with 4000 marks in it. An Unterofficeir was sent away to get taxis and upon their arrival, the Mayor was marched off along with the box of money.
The platoon Sergeant was sent with the Mayor and his platoon to the police station-15 miles away. the Captain went in a separate direction.
Upon arriving at the police station it ttok several hours before the troops and Mayor realized they'd been hoaxed.
The next day the newspapers were full of the "outrageous story" regarding the "virtues' of military obedience" and/ "the insult to the officer class" (depending if one read the German version of the Daily Telegraph or the Guardian I suppose). The Kaiser was so amused at the crook's cheek that he laughed out loud at breakfast. The Crown Prince publically declared the Con man should be shot. One excited editor in a Hessian newspaper suggested the man was an English spy and as a result, diplomatic notes were passed in the corridors of power. teddy Roosevelt declared the job a "neat piece of work".
On October 26th one William Voigt , an ex-cobbler (who had spent @22 years in prison) was picked up on suspiscion at a Berlin railway station.
Voigt had bought the uniform at a second hand shop and then went on to pull one of Germany's most famous con jobs.
The Kaiser, bemused at this aspect of the Junker state, went on to commute Voigt's 4 year hard labor sentence to only 20 months. After his release in 1909 Voigt had the great fortune to see himself the hero of a play and many cartoons and essays in the socialist press. He augmented his meager income by posing for souviner postcards-which he would sign for tourists at 25 pfennigs each. He died in 1916.
Later his story was made into a film.
Alas Claudio, I can not mail alcohol through the post. Shuld you come to america however, I shall be happy to give you said 6 pack in person.
Cheers,
JeMc