Hirsh Lekert
Encyclopedia
Hirsh Lekert was a Jewish socialist activist and member of the Bund.
On May 18, 1902 he carried out an unsuccessful assassination attempt of the governor of Vilna, General Victor von Wahl
. When von Wahl, who had previously been a mayor of St. Petersburg, was made governor of the city, the Bund organized demonstrations against him. Later von Wahl was responsible for repressive measures directed at Vilna's workers, and the Bund in particular. Von Wahl ordered arrest and humiliating flogging of a number of Jewish and Polish workers who had taken part in the May Day
parade in 1902. Because of the cruel practices of his administration, plots for his assassination began to be formed soon after his arrival. Lekert, together with several other Bund members began watching von Wahl's movement's, bought weapons and trained in forests outside of Vilna.
However, most of the formal plans fell through and Lekert's attempt was made without any preparation. Lekert, who was working as a shoemaker at the time, fired a pistol twice at the governor as von Wahl was exiting the circus
show, wounding him in the leg and arm. Lekert was immediately arrested, brutally beaten, then transferred to the city's prison.
Under pressure from the Minister of the Interior, Vyacheslav von Plehve
, Hirsh Lekert was tried by military court, which made a death sentence a foregone conclusion, and the trial a mere formality. He was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. At his trial, Lekert, despite the advice of a local rabbi, refused to ask for forgiveness and gave an eloquent speech on the dignity of the Jewish worker.
The sentence was carried out on June 10, 1902. Subsequently, Hirsh Lekert became a folk hero to many in the workers' movement. Several dramas in Yiddish and many poems were written as a tribute to him. The most well known of these is the poem by Abraham Suckewer "די לערערען מיראַ" (Di Lererin Mira - The Teacher Mira).
Life
Lekert, illiterate shoemaker, was active in the Bund since his youth. On May 24, 1900 he led group of people in an attack on a police station in Vilna and released three arrested workers. He was caught and exiled to Yekaterinoslav. He escaped in 1902 and came to Vilna.On May 18, 1902 he carried out an unsuccessful assassination attempt of the governor of Vilna, General Victor von Wahl
Victor von Wahl
Victor von Wahl was an Imperial Russian Army general, mayor of St. Petersburg, and governor of Vilnius. He came from Baltic German aristocracy. He had also been a director of the Xenia Institute, an exclusive school for aristocratic women....
. When von Wahl, who had previously been a mayor of St. Petersburg, was made governor of the city, the Bund organized demonstrations against him. Later von Wahl was responsible for repressive measures directed at Vilna's workers, and the Bund in particular. Von Wahl ordered arrest and humiliating flogging of a number of Jewish and Polish workers who had taken part in the May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
parade in 1902. Because of the cruel practices of his administration, plots for his assassination began to be formed soon after his arrival. Lekert, together with several other Bund members began watching von Wahl's movement's, bought weapons and trained in forests outside of Vilna.
However, most of the formal plans fell through and Lekert's attempt was made without any preparation. Lekert, who was working as a shoemaker at the time, fired a pistol twice at the governor as von Wahl was exiting the circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
show, wounding him in the leg and arm. Lekert was immediately arrested, brutally beaten, then transferred to the city's prison.
Under pressure from the Minister of the Interior, Vyacheslav von Plehve
Vyacheslav von Plehve
Vyacheslav Konstantinovich von Plehve , also Pléhve, or Pleve was the director of Imperial Russia's police and later Minister of the Interior.- Biography :...
, Hirsh Lekert was tried by military court, which made a death sentence a foregone conclusion, and the trial a mere formality. He was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. At his trial, Lekert, despite the advice of a local rabbi, refused to ask for forgiveness and gave an eloquent speech on the dignity of the Jewish worker.
The sentence was carried out on June 10, 1902. Subsequently, Hirsh Lekert became a folk hero to many in the workers' movement. Several dramas in Yiddish and many poems were written as a tribute to him. The most well known of these is the poem by Abraham Suckewer "די לערערען מיראַ" (Di Lererin Mira - The Teacher Mira).