Home > Wilhelm Voigt

Voigt was born in Tilsit, Germany (now Sovetsk, Russia). In 1863, aged 14, he was sentenced for 14 days in prison for theft, which led to his expulsion from school. He learned shoemaking from his father.

Between 1864 and 1891, Voigt was sentenced to prison for a total of 25 years for thefts and forgery. The longest sentence was a conviction for 15 years for theft. He was released on February 12 1906.

Voigt traveled from place to place until he settled in Rixdorf in Berlin and went to live with his sister. He worked briefly as a court shoemaker until, on August 24, 1906, police expelled him from Berlin as undesirable. Officially he left for Hamburg, although he remained in Berlin as an unregistered resident.

On October 16October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in Leap years). There are 76 days remaining. Events 456 Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Roman Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western Roman Empire 1775 Portland, Maine burned by the 1906 Voigt was ready for his next caper. He had purchased parts of used captain's uniforms from two different shops and tested their effect on soldiers. He had resigned from the shoe factory ten days previously. He took the uniform out of baggage storage, put it on and took a train to KöpenickKopenick is a former borough of Berlin, since 2001 merged with Treptow to form the new borough Treptow-Kopenick. It is located in the south-east of the city. Prior to the 2001 borough reform, Kopenick was Berlin's biggest borough by area. It has also the, east of Berlin.

In KöpenickKopenick is a former borough of Berlin, since 2001 merged with Treptow to form the new borough Treptow-Kopenick. It is located in the south-east of the city. Prior to the 2001 borough reform, Kopenick was Berlin's biggest borough by area. It has also the he went to the local army barracks, stopped four grenadierA Grenadier was originally a specialized assault trooper for siege operations, first established as a distinct role in the early 17th century. Grenadiers were soldiers who would throw grenades and storm breaches, leading the forefront of such a breakthrous and a sergeantThis article is about the rank of sergeant. For alternate meanings see Sergeant (disambiguation). In most non-naval military organizations, a sergeant is a non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranking above privates and corporals, and below warrant officers and on their way back to barracks and told them to come with him. Indoctrinated to obey officers without question, they followed. He dismissed the commanding sergeant to report to his superiors and later commandeered 6 more grenadiers from a shooting range. Then he took the soldiers to the Köpenick city hall and told them to cover all exits.

He had the town secretary Rosenkranz and mayorA mayor ( Latin major "better") is the chief executive official of a city, town, or village. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs as to the powers and responsibilities of a mayor, as well as the means of becoming mayor. The French Georg Langerhans arrested for suspicions of crooked bookkeeping and confiscated 4000 marks and 70 pfennigs - with a receipt, of course. Then he commandeered two carriages and told the grenadiers to take the mayor and the treasurer Wiltberg to Berlin to General Moltke for interrogation. He told the remaining guards stand in their places for half an hour and then left for the train station. In the train he changed to civilian clothes and slipped out.

In the following days the German press speculated on what had really happened. At the same time the army ran its own investigation. The public seemed to be positively amused by the daring of the culprit.

Voigt was arrested on October 26 and on December 1 sentenced to four years in prison for forgery, impersonating an officer and wrongful imprisonment. However, much of the public opinion was in his side. German Kaiser Wilhelm II pardoned him in August 16, 1908. There are some claims that even the kaiser had been amused by the incident.

Voigt decided to capitalize on his fame. His wax figure appeared in the wax museum in Unter den Linden four days after his release. He appeared in the museum to sign his pictures but public officials banned the appearances on the same day. He appeared in small theatres in a play that depicted his exploit and signed more photographs as the Captain of Köpenick. In spite of the ban he toured in Dresden, Vienna and Budapest in variety shows, restaurants and amusement parks. In 1909, he published a book about his caper. Although his American tour almost failed because the immigration authorities refused to grant him a visa, he arrived in 1910 via Canada. He also ended up in Madame Tussaud's museum in London.

In 1910, he bought a house in Luxemburg and retired, but post- World War One inflation ruined his wealth. Voigt died in Luxemburg.