Voting Station

Wilhelm Voigt

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Outlaw

The Resume

    (February 13, 1849-January 3, 1922)
    Born in Tilsit, Prussia (now Sovetsk, Russia)
    Birth name was Friedrich Wilhelm Voigt
    Shoemaker and petty criminal
    Wearing a second-hand uniform, impersonated a Prussian officer and took command of a group of 11 soldiers (October 16, 1906)
    Led them to the Berlin suburb of Köpenick, occupied city hall, ordered the mayor and treasurer arrested, and seized 4,000 marks from the treasury
    Arrested 10 days later
    Sentenced to four years in prison for forgery, impersonating an officer and wrongful imprisonment
    Pardoned by Kaiser Wilhelm II (1908)
    Known as 'the Captain of Köpenick'

Why he might be annoying:

    At 14, he was expelled from school and spent two weeks in jail for stealing from his classmates.
    He spent a total of 25 of the next 30 years in jail after being repeatedly busted for theft and forgery.
    He died broke, having lost his money to post-WWI hyperinflation.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He took advantage of German soldiers being indoctrinated to obey orders without questioning.
    He became a folk hero among much of the public, who were amused by his audacity.
    The Kaiser reportedly called him 'an ingenious fellow' while pardoning him.
    After his release, he made a living re-enacting his exploits on the stage.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 36 Votes: 8.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 80 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 26 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 42 Votes: 47.62% Annoying