Friedrich Kellner Diary | journal written during the Second World War

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022

The Diary of Friedrich Kellner is a journal written during the Second World War. The author, August Friedrich Kellner, was a justice inspector in the courthouse in Mainz. He was also a political activist for the Social Democratic Party of Germany between 1918 and 1933. After Hitler banned the party, the family moved to Laubach.

When Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland in September 1939, Kellner began his secret diary. He named his diary "Mein Widerstand," which means "My Opposition." In the diary, he wrote down what he saw and heard about what happened in Nazi Germany. He wrote it so that people later would know about it.

The diary has ten volumes, with a total of 861 pages. There are 676 dated entries. Included in the diary are more than 500 newspaper clippings.

The English translation of the diary was published in 2018 by Cambridge University Press under the title, My Opposition: The Diary of Friedrich Kellner -- A German against the Third Reich.

Questions and Answers

Q: Who was Friedrich Kellner?

A: Friedrich Kellner was a justice inspector in the courthouse in Mainz, a political activist for the Social Democratic Party of Germany between 1918 and 1933, and the author of the diary "Mein Widerstand," which means "My Opposition."

Q: When did Kellner begin his secret diary?

A: Kellner began his secret diary when Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland in September 1939.

Q: Why did Kellner name his diary "Mein Widerstand"?

A: Kellner named his diary "Mein Widerstand" because it means "My Opposition," and he intended to write down what he saw and heard about what happened in Nazi Germany so that people later would know about it.

Q: How many volumes does Kellner's diary have?

A: Kellner's diary has ten volumes.

Q: How many pages are there in Kellner's diary?

A: There are 861 pages in Kellner's diary.

Q: How many dated entries are in Kellner's diary?

A: There are 676 dated entries in Kellner's diary.

Q: When was the English translation of Kellner's diary published?

A: The English translation of Kellner's diary was published in 2018 by Cambridge University Press under the title, "My Opposition: The Diary of Friedrich Kellner -- A German against the Third Reich."