Mathias Kneißl) [in English: "Kneissel"], known as Robber Kneissl (in German Räuber Kneißl, in Austro-BavarianRaiba Kneißl), (4 August 1875 in Unterweikertshofen – 21 February 1902) was a German outlaw, poacher and popular antihero in the Bavarian folklore of the Dachau district when the Kingdom of Bavaria was part of the Second Reich. Chased by scores of green-uniformed rural policemen, who were already widely considered to be corrupt and who were further disliked for being Franconians who could not speak the local Upper Bavarian dialect, Kneissl became a folk hero to the local population because of his repeated humiliations of the police.[1] According to German forensic scientistMark Benecke, Mathias Kneissl never saw himself as a Robin Hood figure and was, in reality, "just a man who went astray with no way of getting back."[2]
Mathias Kneißl
Heavily injured from his last gunfight, Mathias Kneißl (centre) is being held by two nurses
Mathias Kneissl was born on 4 August, 1875, as the eldest of six children of a poor innkeeper. In 1886 his parents, who were later described as having "unknown origins" and as, "ill-tempered", purchased the mill at Sulzemoos Schacher. The mill was "a strategically remote location", and was often used as a secret meeting place for local criminals.[3]
When he was 12 years old, a school report card wrote about Kneissl, "He is not totally devoid of gifts, but he is lazy beyond imagination. He never pays attention, his output doesn't exist. It is useless to scold him or punish him. He has no love of school whatsoever."[4]
Career
Kneissl then began accompanying his brothers at an early age while poaching. At age 16 he was imprisoned for the first time, because members of his family were suspected of cattle raiding. His father was arrested for plundering the pilgrimage shrine of Herrgottsruh at Friedberg in 1892 and died soon after while in police custody in the town of Dachau. Soon after, Kneissl's mother was also arrested and imprisoned for poaching and her sons began to skip school in favor of similarly poaching instead.[5] six years.[6]
After serving his sentence, he was released in February 1899 and worked as a carpenter in Nußdorf am Inn. After six months Kneissl was dismissed by his master, because his colleagues refused to work with him any longer. Due to his bad reputation, he was unable to find another job.
For two years, Kneissl was pursued by the police. After his accomplices were arrested, he continued committing armed robberies on his own. An attempt to arrest him occurred on 30 November 1900 in Irchenbrunn Altomünster. In a massive gun battle, two policemen were injured so badly that they subsequently died. Three months later, in March 1901, Kneissl was captured at Geisen Egenhofen by 60 policemen. During the preceding gunfight, Kneissl was seriously injured by a bullet in the abdomen.
Trial
Between 14 and 19 November 1901 Kneissl was placed on trial at Augsburg. He was charged with two murders, attempted murder, as well as armed robbery and extortion. At his trial, which was followed by the media with great attention, Kneissl said, "As my bad luck would have it I had to go to the same school right up to my 17th year, just because Pastor Endl could not stand me and kept harassing me. Many of my friends left school long before I learned as much as the others. For the final exams, I was the only one told to do a calculation on the blackboard. I didn't want to do it. I don't accept unfairness. I will not bow even if it kills me."[7]
Kneissl confessed to most of the charges, but denied an intent to kill against the two policemen who were shot by him. However, the court found him guilty of murder, premeditated bodily harm with fatal consequences, extortion and for aggravated robbery.
The Court then sentenced him to receive the death penalty for murder and 15 years imprisonment on the other charges. Sentenced on a Monday, Kneissl allegedly sarcastically remarked: "Well, that's a good start of a week."
Judge Anton Rebholz appealed by letter to the Ministry of Justice, which confirmed Kneissl's death sentence. Kneissl was awakened shortly after seven o'clock on the morning of 21 February 1902. He was then executed via guillotine. The executioner was Franz Xaver Reichhart.
Legacy
Kneissl was already a legendary figure in his own lifetime. The people, especially the small farmers of Bavaria saw in his outlaw life something revolutionary, a rebellion against the authorities. Even in recent times the Kneissl legend remains popular. Musical examples include the songs "Kneissl" by Georg Ringsgwandl (1993) and "Schachermüller-Hiasl" by Schandmaul (2016).[8][9]
^ Mark Benecke, translated by Karin Heusch, (2005), Murderous Methods: Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes, Columbia University Press. Pages 218-219.
^ Mark Benecke, translated by Karin Heusch, (2005), Murderous Methods: Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes, Columbia University Press. Pages 217-218.
^ Mark Benecke, translated by Karin Heusch, (2005), Murderous Methods: Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes, Columbia University Press. Page 218.
^ Mark Benecke, translated by Karin Heusch, (2005), Murderous Methods: Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes, Columbia University Press. Page 218.
^ Mark Benecke, translated by Karin Heusch, (2005), Murderous Methods: Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes, Columbia University Press. Page 218.
^ Mark Benecke, translated by Karin Heusch, (2005), Murderous Methods: Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes, Columbia University Press. Page 219.
^ Mark Benecke, translated by Karin Heusch, (2005), Murderous Methods: Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes, Columbia University Press. Page 219.
^"Kneißl". Ringsgwandl official website (in German). Retrieved 8 November 2016.
^Jooß-Bernau, Christian (19 September 2016). "Geschichtensucher mit Dudelsack". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 8 November 2016.
^Herbrich, Oliver. "The Proud and Sad Life of Mathias Kneissl". Filmwebsite (English).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Further reading
Räuberhauptmann Kneißl vor dem Schwurgericht In: Hugo Friedländer: Interessante Kriminal-Prozesse von kulturhistorischer Bedeutung. 1911–1921, vol. 2, pp. 192–221.
Wilhelm Lukas Kristl: Das traurige und stolze Leben des Mathias Kneißl—Bayerns großer Kriminalfall". Munich, 1957. ISBN3-7787-3033-9
Marlene Reidel (illustration), Wilhelm Lukas Christl: Der Räuber Kneißl. Ebenhausen near Munich, 1966. ISBN3-7846-0176-6
Michael Farin: Polizeireport München 1799-1999. 2001, ISBN3-933510-25-2
Oliver Herbrich: Mathias Kneißl - Theo Berger. Volkshelden wider Willen (German language) Fiction - Non-Fiction Film Edition, 2018. ISBN978-3-00-059239-3
May 18, 2023
mathias, kneißl, 1971, german, film, mathias, kneissl, film, english, kneissel, known, robber, kneissl, german, räuber, kneißl, austro, bavarian, raiba, kneißl, august, 1875, unterweikertshofen, february, 1902, german, outlaw, poacher, popular, antihero, bavar. For the 1971 German film see Mathias Kneissl film Mathias Kneissl in English Kneissel known as Robber Kneissl in German Rauber Kneissl in Austro Bavarian Raiba Kneissl 4 August 1875 in Unterweikertshofen 21 February 1902 was a German outlaw poacher and popular antihero in the Bavarian folklore of the Dachau district when the Kingdom of Bavaria was part of the Second Reich Chased by scores of green uniformed rural policemen who were already widely considered to be corrupt and who were further disliked for being Franconians who could not speak the local Upper Bavarian dialect Kneissl became a folk hero to the local population because of his repeated humiliations of the police 1 According to German forensic scientist Mark Benecke Mathias Kneissl never saw himself as a Robin Hood figure and was in reality just a man who went astray with no way of getting back 2 Mathias KneisslHeavily injured from his last gunfight Mathias Kneissl centre is being held by two nursesBorn4 August 1875 1875 08 04 Died21 February 1902 1902 02 22 aged 26 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Trial 4 Legacy 5 References 6 Further readingEarly life EditMathias Kneissl was born on 4 August 1875 as the eldest of six children of a poor innkeeper In 1886 his parents who were later described as having unknown origins and as ill tempered purchased the mill at Sulzemoos Schacher The mill was a strategically remote location and was often used as a secret meeting place for local criminals 3 When he was 12 years old a school report card wrote about Kneissl He is not totally devoid of gifts but he is lazy beyond imagination He never pays attention his output doesn t exist It is useless to scold him or punish him He has no love of school whatsoever 4 Career EditKneissl then began accompanying his brothers at an early age while poaching At age 16 he was imprisoned for the first time because members of his family were suspected of cattle raiding His father was arrested for plundering the pilgrimage shrine of Herrgottsruh at Friedberg in 1892 and died soon after while in police custody in the town of Dachau Soon after Kneissl s mother was also arrested and imprisoned for poaching and her sons began to skip school in favor of similarly poaching instead 5 six years 6 After serving his sentence he was released in February 1899 and worked as a carpenter in Nussdorf am Inn After six months Kneissl was dismissed by his master because his colleagues refused to work with him any longer Due to his bad reputation he was unable to find another job For two years Kneissl was pursued by the police After his accomplices were arrested he continued committing armed robberies on his own An attempt to arrest him occurred on 30 November 1900 in Irchenbrunn Altomunster In a massive gun battle two policemen were injured so badly that they subsequently died Three months later in March 1901 Kneissl was captured at Geisen Egenhofen by 60 policemen During the preceding gunfight Kneissl was seriously injured by a bullet in the abdomen Trial EditBetween 14 and 19 November 1901 Kneissl was placed on trial at Augsburg He was charged with two murders attempted murder as well as armed robbery and extortion At his trial which was followed by the media with great attention Kneissl said As my bad luck would have it I had to go to the same school right up to my 17th year just because Pastor Endl could not stand me and kept harassing me Many of my friends left school long before I learned as much as the others For the final exams I was the only one told to do a calculation on the blackboard I didn t want to do it I don t accept unfairness I will not bow even if it kills me 7 Kneissl confessed to most of the charges but denied an intent to kill against the two policemen who were shot by him However the court found him guilty of murder premeditated bodily harm with fatal consequences extortion and for aggravated robbery The Court then sentenced him to receive the death penalty for murder and 15 years imprisonment on the other charges Sentenced on a Monday Kneissl allegedly sarcastically remarked Well that s a good start of a week Judge Anton Rebholz appealed by letter to the Ministry of Justice which confirmed Kneissl s death sentence Kneissl was awakened shortly after seven o clock on the morning of 21 February 1902 He was then executed via guillotine The executioner was Franz Xaver Reichhart Legacy EditKneissl was already a legendary figure in his own lifetime The people especially the small farmers of Bavaria saw in his outlaw life something revolutionary a rebellion against the authorities Even in recent times the Kneissl legend remains popular Musical examples include the songs Kneissl by Georg Ringsgwandl 1993 and Schachermuller Hiasl by Schandmaul 2016 8 9 Three German films are based on his life story Mathias Kneissl by Reinhard Hauff 1971 The Proud and Sad Life of Mathias Kneissl by Oliver Herbrich 1980 10 and Rauber Kneissl de by Marcus H Rosenmuller 2008 References Edit Mark Benecke translated by Karin Heusch 2005 Murderous Methods Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes Columbia University Press Pages 218 219 Mark Benecke translated by Karin Heusch 2005 Murderous Methods Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes Columbia University Press Pages 217 218 Mark Benecke translated by Karin Heusch 2005 Murderous Methods Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes Columbia University Press Page 218 Mark Benecke translated by Karin Heusch 2005 Murderous Methods Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes Columbia University Press Page 218 Mark Benecke translated by Karin Heusch 2005 Murderous Methods Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes Columbia University Press Page 218 Mark Benecke translated by Karin Heusch 2005 Murderous Methods Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes Columbia University Press Page 219 Mark Benecke translated by Karin Heusch 2005 Murderous Methods Using Forensic Science to Solve Lethal Crimes Columbia University Press Page 219 Kneissl Ringsgwandl official website in German Retrieved 8 November 2016 Jooss Bernau Christian 19 September 2016 Geschichtensucher mit Dudelsack Suddeutsche Zeitung in German Retrieved 8 November 2016 Herbrich Oliver The Proud and Sad Life of Mathias Kneissl Filmwebsite English a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Further reading EditRauberhauptmann Kneissl vor dem Schwurgericht In Hugo Friedlander Interessante Kriminal Prozesse von kulturhistorischer Bedeutung 1911 1921 vol 2 pp 192 221 Wilhelm Lukas Kristl Das traurige und stolze Leben des Mathias Kneissl Bayerns grosser Kriminalfall Munich 1957 ISBN 3 7787 3033 9 Marlene Reidel illustration Wilhelm Lukas Christl Der Rauber Kneissl Ebenhausen near Munich 1966 ISBN 3 7846 0176 6 Manfred Bockl Mathias Kneissl Der Raubschutz von der Schachermuhle Dachau 1998 ISBN 3 89251 258 2 Michael Farin Polizeireport Munchen 1799 1999 2001 ISBN 3 933510 25 2 Oliver Herbrich Mathias Kneissl Theo Berger Volkshelden wider Willen German language Fiction Non Fiction Film Edition 2018 ISBN 978 3 00 059239 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mathias Kneissl amp oldid 1154165054, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
