Ten Months in Prison for the Truth: The Fate of Josef Huber (*1891)

How the Nazi Regime Suppressed Critical Voices in Everyday Life

On April 3, 1942, the Nazi judiciary sentenced factory worker Josef Huber from Solbad Hall (now Hall in Tyrol) to ten months in prison. His "crimes": speaking his mind at work. Huber's case, documented in the files of the People's Court (Volksgerichtshof), is a prime example of the brutal suppression of even the smallest sign of resistance and criticism in Nazi Germany.

The "Crimes" of an Ordinary Worker

Josef Huber, born in 1891, was not an organized member of the resistance. His offense was voicing his opinion among his trusted work colleagues – an opinion that was dangerous to the regime.
·       Criticism of War Propaganda: In response to articles about alleged Polish atrocities used to justify the invasion of Poland, Huber objected. He commented: "The Germans would have done the same in the world wars." This relativization of German guilt and questioning of the official victim narrative was a thorn in the regime's side.
·       Attacks on the Leadership Elite: Huber sharply criticized Reichsmarshal Hermann Göring, calling him a "bloodsucker, hound of hell, and plutocrat." He accused Göring of enriching himself at the expense of the workers: "We have nothing to eat, but Göring will surely have his hams and butter dumplings at home."
·       Insulting the "Führer": Huber expressed his contempt in the most drastic way possible: he described a newspaper page with Adolf Hitler's picture as "suitable for toilet paper" and subsequently used it for exactly that purpose.
·       Condemnation of War Reporting: After attending a newsreel screening at the factory, he told his colleagues that it was all "fraud and mock-ups." The Wehrmacht reports were pure "Goebbels propaganda" that no one could believe. He also complained that "the bigwigs still have the upper hand, just like before."

The Legal Basis: The "Malicious Practices Act" (Heimtücke-Gesetz)

Huber was not convicted of high treason but under the "Law Against Malicious Practices" (Heimtücke-Gesetz) of December 20, 1934. This law criminalized "malicious" statements that disparaged the Party, its representatives, or the "welfare measures" of the regime. It was a weapon used to criminalize any derogatory remark in public or the workplace, creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust.

The Role of Denunciation: Fear and Surveillance in the Workplace

A central element without which Huber's conviction would hardly have been possible was denunciation by his work colleagues. The anonymous witnesses who reported his statements to the regime were the crucial informants. Their motives could have been ideological conviction, personal dislike, careerism, or simply the fear of being held accountable themselves as accomplices if they did not report him. This mechanism of denunciation was an instrument of social control wanted and promoted from above. It turned supposedly private spaces like the factory floor into places of surveillance, where every word could be a political verdict and distrust among colleagues was systematically fostered. Josef Huber trusted his co-workers with what he thought – and they delivered him to the Gestapo for it.

A Fate Shared by Thousands

The verdict against Josef Huber shows the complete arbitrariness and severity of the Nazi unjust legal system. For expressing thoughts that millions secretly shared, an ordinary man paid with his freedom. His case reminds us that resistance to the dictatorship did not only consist of grand assassinations or leaflets but also of the courageous dissent of ordinary citizens in their daily environment. What happened to Josef Huber after his prison sentence is unknown. But his name remains a memorial to the struggle for freedom of speech and the countless silent victims of Nazi justice.