August Schirmer
Encyclopedia
August Schirmer was a German architect, engineer, elected member of the Reichstag
, Central Office Manager in the Amt Rosenberg
, and head from 1939-1943 of an anti-Jewish propaganda
publication service and news agency
called Welt-Dienst / World-Service / Service Mondial
.
. From 1930 to 1933 he was a research assistant at the Hanover University in Hanover and from the winter semester 1935/36 on he served there as a political education lecturer.
(NSDStB) and in February 1930 the NSDAP at Hanover. From July 1933 he acted within the party as Gauschulungsleiter and Gaukulturwart in South Hanover Brunswick. In July 1934 he became a member of the Reichstag for the constituency of Schirmer 6 (Pomerania).
For most of his career Schirmer was a functionary within the Amt Rosenberg (Rosenberg Bureau), a collective term used to describe the various offices under the direction of Reichsleiter Alfred Rosenberg
. Beginning on 1 November 1935 he went to work in the Welt-Dienst organization, overseeing its American Section. When Rosenberg reorganized antisemitic propaganda
operations in 1939, wresting full control of the Welt-Dienst / World-Service / Service Mondial
news service from its founder Ulrich Fleischhauer
, Schirmer became its head in July 1939. Shortly afterwards he announced the relocation of the offices to Frankfurt am Main, where all anti-Jewish 'research establishments' under Alfred Rosenberg's direction were concentrated. In addition, Schirmer continued to be involved in Nazi cultural plunder activities for the vast Amt Rosenberg operation once World War II
began. Schirmer was Oberreichsleiter (general director) of the Netherlands Task Force (AG Niederlande; later HAG) from September 1940 until May 1941. Schirmer resigned from Welt-Dienst in August 1943, at which time it was published in 18 languages. His replacement as editor of World-Service in September 1943 occurred after Schirmer came under suspicion of fraud because he had allegedly taken a valuable postage stamp
collection seized in Paris
from Jewish owners for his own private purposes rather than those of the German state.
Schirmer died 30 October 1948 in the St. Josef-Stift hospital in Celle
and is buried there in the city cemetery.
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...
, Central Office Manager in the Amt Rosenberg
Amt Rosenberg
Amt Rosenberg was an official body for cultural policy and surveillance within the Nazi party, headed by Alfred Rosenberg.It was established in 1934 under the name of Dienststelle Rosenberg , with offices at Margarethenstraße 17 in Berlin, to the west of Potsdamer Platz.Due to the long official...
, and head from 1939-1943 of an anti-Jewish propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
publication service and news agency
News agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
called Welt-Dienst / World-Service / Service Mondial
Ulrich Fleischhauer
thumb|Ulrich Fleischhauer Ulrich Fleischhauer was a leading antisemitic publisher of books and news articles reporting on an alleged Judeo-Masonic conspiracy theory and supposed "nefarious plots" by clandestine Jewish interests to dominate the world.His career was at first grounded in the Imperial...
.
Life and work
Schirmer attended a Gymnasium in Celle and studied architecture at the Technische Hochschule Hannover. After 1929, he worked as a foreman at the Prussian Hochbauamt in TorgauTorgau
Torgau is a town on the banks of the Elbe in northwestern Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district Nordsachsen.Outside Germany, the town is most well known as the place where during the Second World War, United States Army forces coming from the west met with forces of the Soviet Union...
. From 1930 to 1933 he was a research assistant at the Hanover University in Hanover and from the winter semester 1935/36 on he served there as a political education lecturer.
Political Activism
In May 1929 he joined the National Socialist German Students' LeagueNational Socialist German Students' League
The National Socialist German Students' League was founded in 1926 as a division of the NSDAP with the mission of integrating University-level education and academic life within the framework of the National Socialist worldview...
(NSDStB) and in February 1930 the NSDAP at Hanover. From July 1933 he acted within the party as Gauschulungsleiter and Gaukulturwart in South Hanover Brunswick. In July 1934 he became a member of the Reichstag for the constituency of Schirmer 6 (Pomerania).
For most of his career Schirmer was a functionary within the Amt Rosenberg (Rosenberg Bureau), a collective term used to describe the various offices under the direction of Reichsleiter 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...
. Beginning on 1 November 1935 he went to work in the Welt-Dienst organization, overseeing its American Section. When Rosenberg reorganized antisemitic propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
operations in 1939, wresting full control of the Welt-Dienst / World-Service / Service Mondial
Ulrich Fleischhauer
thumb|Ulrich Fleischhauer Ulrich Fleischhauer was a leading antisemitic publisher of books and news articles reporting on an alleged Judeo-Masonic conspiracy theory and supposed "nefarious plots" by clandestine Jewish interests to dominate the world.His career was at first grounded in the Imperial...
news service from its founder Ulrich Fleischhauer
Ulrich Fleischhauer
thumb|Ulrich Fleischhauer Ulrich Fleischhauer was a leading antisemitic publisher of books and news articles reporting on an alleged Judeo-Masonic conspiracy theory and supposed "nefarious plots" by clandestine Jewish interests to dominate the world.His career was at first grounded in the Imperial...
, Schirmer became its head in July 1939. Shortly afterwards he announced the relocation of the offices to Frankfurt am Main, where all anti-Jewish 'research establishments' under Alfred Rosenberg's direction were concentrated. In addition, Schirmer continued to be involved in Nazi cultural plunder activities for the vast Amt Rosenberg operation once World War II
World 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...
began. Schirmer was Oberreichsleiter (general director) of the Netherlands Task Force (AG Niederlande; later HAG) from September 1940 until May 1941. Schirmer resigned from Welt-Dienst in August 1943, at which time it was published in 18 languages. His replacement as editor of World-Service in September 1943 occurred after Schirmer came under suspicion of fraud because he had allegedly taken a valuable postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
collection seized in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from Jewish owners for his own private purposes rather than those of the German state.
Schirmer died 30 October 1948 in the St. Josef-Stift hospital in Celle
Celle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
and is buried there in the city cemetery.