Helmuth Prieß

Helmuth Prieß (18 March 1939, Hildesheim – 26 April 2012, Bonn) was a German professional soldier, and one of the founders and speaker of the Darmstädter Signal, an independent organization opposing weapons of mass destruction and the primary usage of military means to solve conflicts. His signing of a critical resolution led to a demotion of two ranks in 1992, until the Federal Administrative Court of Germany repealed this disciplinary punishment after one year. In 1996, Prieß received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and continued to campaign for military-related topics throughout the following years. He died on 26 April 2012 in Bonn.

Early life Helmuth Prieß was born 18 March 1939 in Hildesheim, Germany After the premature attainment of a high school diploma and an apprenticeship as wholesaler, he became a professional soldier. Two posts as company commander in the German Army included the organization and safeguarding of nuclear materials' transports. Following his criticism of nuclear weapons, he was transferred to the Army Office in Cologne in 1972 and was concerned with training matters and the inspection of army schools.

In 1984, a physician of IPPNW labelled soldiers as potential murderers (German: "Jeder Soldat ist ein potentieller Mörder ..." ) in a public debate about the threat of a nuclear war. This remark triggered a heated dispute in German politics and society about freedom of speech weighed against protecting soldiers against possible defamation and the German Army as institution. Courts in Frankfurt rejected charges against the physician in the following years, harshly criticised as "irresponsible verdict" (German: "Das Urteil ist unverantwortlich.") from several, mostly conservative, members of the German parliament. Soon afterwards he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and retired from active service on 30 September 1993. alleged mistreatment during army training and his criticism of proposed army missions against terrorist threats on German territory.

Prieß was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) since 1972, of the Public Service Union ÖTV since 1974 and later of its successor organization ver.di. together with his wife Anne he organized yearly art exhibitions in Heimerzheim, Swisttal. Testimonial of the municipality Swisttal (2011)