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Wilhelm Voigt

Wilhelm Voigt


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Wilhelm Voigt

WILHELM VOIGT German shoemaker who in 1906 successfully passed himself off as the Captain von Kopenick, making fools of Prussian bureaucracy

Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries

Media ID 585007

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10038636

1849 Bureaucracy Passed Prussian Shoe Maker Successfully Wilhelm


EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing photograph captures the enigmatic figure of Wilhelm Voigt, a German shoemaker who made history in 1906 with an audacious hoax that left the Prussian bureaucracy red-faced. Voigt, born in 1849, was a humble artisan living in the outskirts of Berlin when he hatched a plan to impersonate Captain Maximilian von Kopenick, a retired Prussian officer and former commandant of the Spandau Citadel. The story began when Voigt learned that the city council of Berlin had misappropriated funds intended for the welfare of the Spandau garrison. Seizing the opportunity, Voigt donned the uniform of the retired captain, complete with medals and decorations, and went to the city hall to demand the return of the money. With an air of authority and a convincing demeanor, he managed to convince the unsuspecting officials to hand over a substantial sum, believing they were dealing with the real Captain von Kopenick. The hoax came to light only when the real captain, who had been living in poverty in a mental institution, was brought in to authenticate Voigt's claims. The shoemaker was arrested and brought to trial, but the public reaction was one of amusement rather than anger. Voigt became an instant celebrity, and his exploits were immortalized in songs, plays, and films. This photograph, taken around the time of the hoax, shows Voigt in his shoemaker's workshop, surrounded by his tools and leather goods. Despite his moment of fame, he continued to work as a shoemaker until his death in 1914. The story of Wilhelm Voigt and his daring impersonation of Captain von Kopenick remains a fascinating chapter in German history, a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the absurdity of bureaucracy.

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