Andreas Hermes
Encyclopedia
Andreas Hermes was a German
Christian Democratic Union
politician
, agricultural scientist, Finance Minister
of the Weimar Republic
, and a member of the resistance to Nazism
.
on 18 July 1878 to Andreas and Theresia (Schmidt) Hermes. He was raised as a Catholic
in Mönchengladbach
, and lost his father at the age of 8. Hermes studied agriculture and philosophy at the universities of Bonn
, Jena and Berlin
, receiving his diploma in 1900. After completing further studies in the area of animal breeding, Hermes received his doctorate in 1905 with a dissertation on the optimisation of crop rotation. Shortly thereafter Hermes began his career with the German Agricultural Society
. Hermes continued to work in various scientific and advisory positions in the field of Agriculture both before and during World War I
.
Following the war, Hermes was appointed to the Reich Ministry for Economic Affairs in Berlin. Hermes was named Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture in 1920. The 1920's saw Hermes serving in multiple locations within the government: Hermes was named Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture in 1920, headed the Reich Ministry of Finance from October 1921 to August 1923, served as a member of the Prussian parliament from 1924 to 1928, and was also a member of the Reichstag
from 1928 to 1933, belonging to the Centre Party
. He was president of the Reich Association of German agricultural cooperatives from 1930 to 1933 and President of the Association of German Farmers' Associations, which was renamed the Christian Association of German Farmers' Associations in 1931.
in 1939. He then developed contacts with Carl Friedrich Goerdeler
and the Kreisau Circle
and was earmarked to be the Minister of Agriculture had the July 20 plot
succeeded. As the result of his role in the Kreisau Circle, Hermes was arrested on 22 July of 1944. As a prisoner Hermes was at one point detained in Ravensbrück, and was often tortured and humiliated. On 11 January 1945, Hermes was sentenced to death by the People's Court. Due to the efforts of his wife his execution was postponed and he survived the war.
in Berlin in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany. Facing opposition by the Soviets he moved to Bad Godesberg
in December 1945, and joined the CDU in the West. From 1947 to 1948 he was a member of the Economic Council, and chairman of the nutrition committee. From 1948 to 1955 he was the first president of the German Farmers' Association, and remained the president of the German Raiffeisen (Cooperative) until 1961.
) survived only after falling into Russian captivity. Peter would eventually become a German diplomat and served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1975 until 1979. Hermes' Christian faith motivated his political involvement, and he cited his Christian worldview as his main motive for partaking in the July 20 assassination plot. Hermes died on 8 August 1964 in Krälingen.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, agricultural scientist, Finance Minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
of the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
, and a member of the resistance to Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
.
Life
Hermes was born in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
on 18 July 1878 to Andreas and Theresia (Schmidt) Hermes. He was raised as a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
in Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach , formerly known as Münchengladbach, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located west of the Rhine half way between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border....
, and lost his father at the age of 8. Hermes studied agriculture and philosophy 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...
, Jena and Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
, receiving his diploma in 1900. After completing further studies in the area of animal breeding, Hermes received his doctorate in 1905 with a dissertation on the optimisation of crop rotation. Shortly thereafter Hermes began his career with the German Agricultural Society
German Agricultural Society
The German Agricultural Society , commonly known as DLG, is an organisation for agricultural industry in Germany. DLG was founded in the year 1885 by Max Eyth, has over 23,000 members as of 2011 and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main...
. Hermes continued to work in various scientific and advisory positions in the field of Agriculture both before and 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...
.
Following the war, Hermes was appointed to the Reich Ministry for Economic Affairs in Berlin. Hermes was named Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture in 1920. The 1920's saw Hermes serving in multiple locations within the government: Hermes was named Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture in 1920, headed the Reich Ministry of Finance from October 1921 to August 1923, served as a member of the Prussian parliament from 1924 to 1928, and was also a member of the Reichstag
Reichstag (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...
from 1928 to 1933, belonging to the Centre Party
Centre Party (Germany)
The German Centre Party was a Catholic political party in Germany during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic. Formed in 1870, it battled the Kulturkampf which the Prussian government launched to reduce the power of the Catholic Church...
. He was president of the Reich Association of German agricultural cooperatives from 1930 to 1933 and President of the Association of German Farmers' Associations, which was renamed the Christian Association of German Farmers' Associations in 1931.
Opposition to the Nazis
Hermes openly opposed the Nazis even before the Enabling Act of 1933 and was resultantly arrested on March 21, 1933 on charges of corruption. After being released from prison five months later, Hermes found himself without employment. This led to him taking the opportunity in 1936 to head into exile in Bogota, Colombia, where he was able to find work as an agricultural advisor to the Columbian government. Rather than remain separated from his family, Hermes returned to Germany at the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939. He then developed contacts with Carl Friedrich Goerdeler
Carl Friedrich Goerdeler
Carl Friedrich Goerdeler was a monarchist conservative German politician, executive, economist, civil servant and opponent of the Nazi regime...
and the Kreisau Circle
Kreisau Circle
The Kreisau Circle was the name the Nazi Gestapo gave to a group of German dissidents centered on the Kreisau estate of Helmuth James Graf von Moltke. The Kreisauer Kreis is celebrated as one of the instances of German opposition to the Nazi regime...
and was earmarked to be the Minister of Agriculture had the July 20 plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
succeeded. As the result of his role in the Kreisau Circle, Hermes was arrested on 22 July of 1944. As a prisoner Hermes was at one point detained in Ravensbrück, and was often tortured and humiliated. On 11 January 1945, Hermes was sentenced to death by the People's Court. Due to the efforts of his wife his execution was postponed and he survived the war.
Politics
During his time as a member of the Kreisau Circle, Hermes often worked with Wilhelm Elfes on developing a christian political party for the "citizen, peasent, and worker." After the war he was the co-founding chairman of the CDUChristian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
in Berlin in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany. Facing opposition by the Soviets he moved to Bad Godesberg
Bad Godesberg
Bad Godesberg is a municipal district of Bonn, southern North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. From 1949 till 1990 , the majority of foreign embassies to Germany were located in Bad Godesberg...
in December 1945, and joined the CDU in the West. From 1947 to 1948 he was a member of the Economic Council, and chairman of the nutrition committee. From 1948 to 1955 he was the first president of the German Farmers' Association, and remained the president of the German Raiffeisen (Cooperative) until 1961.
Personal Life
Hermes married Anna Schaller in 1920, and the two had five children together - three sons and two daughters - in the following years. Two of Andreas and Anna's sons died in World War II, and the third (Peter HermesPeter Hermes
Peter Hermes is a German diplomat, and was German Ambassador to the United States from 1979 to 1984.-Life:He is the son of Andreas Hermes....
) survived only after falling into Russian captivity. Peter would eventually become a German diplomat and served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1975 until 1979. Hermes' Christian faith motivated his political involvement, and he cited his Christian worldview as his main motive for partaking in the July 20 assassination plot. Hermes died on 8 August 1964 in Krälingen.
Further Reading
- Morsey, Rudolf (2004). "Andreas Hermes." Christliche Demokraten gegen Hitler: Aus Verfolgung und Widerstand zur Union. Ed. Buchstab, Günter; Kaff, Brigitte; Kleinmann, Hans-Otto. Freiburg, Germany: Herder, 2004. 240-245. Print.