Background
Joseph Wirmer was born in Paderborn on 19 March 1901.
Joseph Wirmer was born in Paderborn on 19 March 1901.
Wirmer had been expelled from the NS-Rechtswahrerbund (National Socialist Lawyers' Association) for defending Jews. A skilful negotiator he brought together the conservative wing of the Resistance around Carl Goerdeler and Social Democrats like Julius Leber, who were politically closer to the young aristocratic leader of the conspiracy, Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg.
After the failure of the attempt on Hitler’s life, Wirmer was arrested and executed by order of the People’s Court on 8 September 1944.