Alfred Meyer
Encyclopedia
Dr. Alfred Meyer was a Nazi
official, achieving the rank of Staatssekretär and Deputy Reichsminister in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories
(Reichministerium für die Besetzten Ostgebiete or Ostministerium).
, the son of a government official. He was educated at the Gymnasium
in Soest
, graduating in 1911. In 1912 he became a Fahnenjunker (cadet officer) with Infanterieregiment 68 (Koblenz), passing his officer exam in 1913. During World War I
he fought with Infanterieregiment 363 on the Western Front
, winning the Iron Cross
twice. In 1917 he was injured and captured by the French. Released in March 1920, he left the army with the rank of Oberleutnant.
After the war, Meyer worked for Deutsche Erdöl AG before studying political science
at the Universities of Bonn
and then Würzburg
. He graduated with a Ph.D.
in 1922 and joined the legal department of a Gelsenkirchen
mining firm. He married Anna Dorothee Schenker in 1920.
and in January 1931 NSDAP Gauleiter in north Westphalia
. Following the Nazi seizure of power Meyer was appointed Reichsstatthalter (deputy governor) of Lippe
und Schaumburg-Lippe
in May 1933 and he was made Staatsminister (governor) of the federal government for Lippe und Schaumburg-Lippe in August 1936.
In 1939 Meyer was made Chef der Zivilverwaltung and in 1941 he became deputy to Alfred Rosenberg
in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories. Meyer was responsible for the departments of politics, administration and economics. In this role he directed the exploitation of the occupied Soviet
areas, the suppression and murder of its inhabitants, particularly Jews, and the organisation of slave labour.
Meyer attended the Wannsee conference
in January 1942 as a representative for Rosenberg. In November of that year he was also made Reichsverteidigungskommissar (Reich Defense Commissioner) of Defense District VI (northern Westphalia).
.
.
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
official, achieving the rank of Staatssekretär and Deputy Reichsminister in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories
Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories
The Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories was created by Adolf Hitler on July 1941 and headed by the Nazi theoretical expert and Baltic German, Alfred Rosenberg. Alfred Meyer was Rosenberg's deputy. This ministry was created to control the vast areas captured by the Germans in...
(Reichministerium für die Besetzten Ostgebiete or Ostministerium).
Early life
Meyer was born in GöttingenGöttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, the son of a government official. He was educated at the Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Soest
Soest, Germany
Soest is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Soest district. After Lippstadt, a neighbouring town, Soest is the second biggest town in its district.-Geography:...
, graduating in 1911. In 1912 he became a Fahnenjunker (cadet officer) with Infanterieregiment 68 (Koblenz), passing his officer exam in 1913. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he fought with Infanterieregiment 363 on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
, winning the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
twice. In 1917 he was injured and captured by the French. Released in March 1920, he left the army with the rank of Oberleutnant.
After the war, Meyer worked for Deutsche Erdöl AG before studying political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the Universities of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
and then Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
. He graduated with a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1922 and joined the legal department of a Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
mining firm. He married Anna Dorothee Schenker in 1920.
In the Third Reich
In April 1928 he joined the Nazi Party and became a local group leader in October 1929. In September 1930 he became a member of the ReichstagReichstag (Weimar Republic)
The Reichstag was the parliament of Weimar Republic .German constitution commentators consider only the Reichstag and now the Bundestag the German parliament. Another organ deals with legislation too: in 1867-1918 the Bundesrat, in 1919–1933 the Reichsrat and from 1949 on the Bundesrat...
and in January 1931 NSDAP Gauleiter in north Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
. Following the Nazi seizure of power Meyer was appointed Reichsstatthalter (deputy governor) of Lippe
Free State of Lippe
The Free State of Lippe was a German state formed after the Principality of Lippe was abolished following the German Revolution of 1918.After the end of World War II, Lippe was restored from Nazi rule. This autonomy ended in January 1947 when British forces incorporated Lippe into the new German...
und Schaumburg-Lippe
Free State of Schaumburg-Lippe
The Free State of Schaumburg-Lippe was created following the abdication of Prince Adolf II of Schaumburg-Lippe on 15 November 1918. It was a state in Germany during the Weimar Republic, headed by a Minister President. The democratic government was suppressed during Nazi rule...
in May 1933 and he was made Staatsminister (governor) of the federal government for Lippe und Schaumburg-Lippe in August 1936.
In 1939 Meyer was made Chef der Zivilverwaltung and in 1941 he became deputy to Alfred Rosenberg
Alfred Rosenberg
' was an early and intellectually influential member of the Nazi Party. Rosenberg was first introduced to Adolf Hitler by Dietrich Eckart; he later held several important posts in the Nazi government...
in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories. Meyer was responsible for the departments of politics, administration and economics. In this role he directed the exploitation of the occupied Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
areas, the suppression and murder of its inhabitants, particularly Jews, and the organisation of slave labour.
Meyer attended the Wannsee conference
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a meeting of senior officials of the Nazi German regime, held in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee on 20 January 1942. The purpose of the conference was to inform administrative leaders of Departments responsible for various policies relating to Jews, that Reinhard Heydrich...
in January 1942 as a representative for Rosenberg. In November of that year he was also made Reichsverteidigungskommissar (Reich Defense Commissioner) of Defense District VI (northern Westphalia).
Death
Meyer was found dead on April 11, 1945, by the River Weser. The cause of death was suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
Fictional portrayals
In the 2001 HBO film Conspiracy, Meyer was played by Brian PettiferBrian Pettifer
Brian Pettifer is an actor who has appeared in many television shows. Pettifer was born in Lower Durban, South Africa, and briefly brought up in Glasgow and London. He intended to become a photographer, but pursued a career as an actor...
.