Franz von Sonnleithner
Encyclopedia
Franz Edler von Sonnleithner (June 1, 1905 - April 18, 1981) was a diplomat
who acted as Ribbentrop's representative in Adolf Hitler
's headquarters during the later years of the war with the rank of Minister.
, Austria
and studied law in Vienna
and Innsbruck
where he gained a doctorate in 1928. He was then a police commissioner
in Vienna and Salzburg and worked in the Federal Chancellery in Vienna. He was arrested as a Nazi in 1936 and remained in prison until March 12, 1938 Anschluss
when Germany
annexed Austria. After joining the Reich Foreign Office he worked on the personal staff of the Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop
.
He was present at the situation conference in 1944 at the Wolf's Lair headquarters in Rastenburg, East Prussia
when the 20 July plot bomb was planted by Claus Von Stauffenberg
. From April 1945 to 1948 he was held in American internment camps. He then worked in industry in Ingelheim am Rhein
where he died aged 75.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who acted as Ribbentrop's representative in Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's headquarters during the later years of the war with the rank of Minister.
Life
He was born in SalzburgSalzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and studied law in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
where he gained a doctorate in 1928. He was then a police commissioner
Police commissioner
Commissioner is a senior rank used in many police forces and may be rendered Police Commissioner or Commissioner of Police. In some organizations, the commissioner is a political appointee, and may or may not actually be a professional police officer. In these circumstances, there is often a...
in Vienna and Salzburg and worked in the Federal Chancellery in Vienna. He was arrested as a Nazi in 1936 and remained in prison until March 12, 1938 Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
when Germany
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...
annexed Austria. After joining the Reich Foreign Office he worked on the personal staff of the Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. He was later hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg Trials.-Early life:...
.
He was present at the situation conference in 1944 at the Wolf's Lair headquarters in Rastenburg, East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
when the 20 July plot bomb was planted by Claus Von Stauffenberg
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg
Claus Philipp Maria Justinian Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg commonly referred to as Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg was a German army officer and Catholic aristocrat who was one of the leading members of the failed 20 July plot of 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler and remove the Nazi Party from...
. From April 1945 to 1948 he was held in American internment camps. He then worked in industry in Ingelheim am Rhein
Ingelheim am Rhein
Ingelheim am Rhein is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany on the Rhine’s west bank. The town calls itself the Rotweinstadt and since 1996 it has been Mainz-Bingen’s district seat....
where he died aged 75.