Andreas Hofer - Court Martial and Execution

Court Martial and Execution

Officers holding the court martial disagreed on the exact sentence until they received a message from Milan. It was supposedly from the Viceroy, transmitting Napoleon's order to "give him a fair trial and then shoot him." Later Napoleon claimed to Prince Metternich that Hofer was executed against his wishes.

Andreas Hofer was executed by a firing squad on February 20, 1810. He refused a blindfold and gave money to a corporal in charge, telling him to "shoot straight". Hofer became a martyr in Germany and Austria and a rallying point against the power of Napoleon.

Read more about this topic:  Andreas Hofer

Famous quotes containing the words court, martial and/or execution:

    “World history is a court of judgment.”
    —Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)

    “What, then, does a chaste girl do?
    She does not offer, yet she does not say “No.””
    —Marcus Valerius Martial (c. 40–104)

    “If Germany is to become a colonising power, all I say is, “God speed her!” She becomes our ally and partner in the execution of the great purposes of Providence for the advantage of mankind.”
    —W.E. (William Ewart)