Ignaz Rindeschwender
Ignaz Rindeschwender, born in Gaggenau in 1787, lived here. Even as a teenager, he was often at odds with his conservative father due to his democratic views. He decided to become a lawyer. As an adult, he founded the democratic association "Gesellschaft Gewölbe" in Rastatt.
Rindeschwender was good friends with the revolutionary Gustav Struve and had already been actively involved in the revolution before the events unfolded in Rastatt. After a failed coup attempt together with Struve in Lörrach, he fled to Switzerland for a while. But just one year later, he returned to his homeland to take up important posts in the revolutionary government. In this house, Rindeschwender hosted the poet Hoffmann von Fallersleben, best known for writing the German national anthem.
However, his democratic commitment was his undoing. Ignaz Rindeschwender was charged with high treason and sentenced to nine years in prison. His only option was to flee to the USA, where he eventually died.
