Georg Leibbrandt
Encyclopedia
Georg Leibbrandt was a scholar and politician in the Nazi Party.
parents in Torosovo (also called in ), near Odessa
, in the Zebrikovo district of the Tsarist Russia. At an early age he emigrated to Germany
for his studies.
In 1918, Leibbrandt studied theology
in Germany; also taking classes in philology
and history
. In 1927, he was awarded a Ph.D.
He traveled extensively through the Soviet Union
in 1926, 1928, and 1929.
During his visits, he was variously represented as a doctor of philosophy
, a post-graduate student, a professor of history
from Leipzig
University, and an employee of the Institute for the Study of Germans Abroad (Deutsches Ausland Institute) in Stuttgart
. The official purposes of his visits were the study of the history of the development of German colonies in the Black Sea
coastal region, and the gathering of historical information. As a result of his work, a book regarding emigrant movement of the Germans was published in Germany.
Leibbrandt had a talent for languages, which, coupled with a Rockefeller scholarship
, enabled him to resume his studies in Paris
and the United States
from 1931 - 1933. While in the US he actively kept contact with Germans from Russia
who had also emigrated to America.
in 1933 to return to Germany, and joined the Nazi Party that year. He was then named director of the Eastern Division of the Foreign Policy Office of the NSDAP. Leibbrandt was also placed in charge of anti-Soviet and anti-Communist propaganda
. When the Soviet Union was invaded in 1941, and the Ministry for the Eastern Occupied Territories was established, Rosenberg chose Leibbrandt to direct the Political Department. Thus, Leibbrandt became the liaison for the Ukrainian
, Caucasian
, Russian, and other groups of emigres.
Leibbrandt and Alfred Meyer
attended the Wannsee Conference
in 1942; both represented the Ostministerium. In the summer of 1943, for unknown reasons, he ceased his duties in the Ministry and joined the Kriegsmarine
(German Navy).
, by the Nuremberg Landgericht. The case against him was dismissed on August 10, 1950 and he was released from custody.
In the post-war period, he returned to America and resumed his earlier studies on the subject of the Russian Germans, making expert contributions to the Association of Germans from Russia (the Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland, which might be literally translated as the "Cultural Association of Germans from Russia") until his death in Bonn
on June 16, 1982.
.
Early life
Leibbrandt was born to ethnic GermanEthnic German
Ethnic Germans historically also ), also collectively referred to as the German diaspora, refers to people who are of German ethnicity. Many are not born in Europe or in the modern-day state of Germany or hold German citizenship...
parents in Torosovo (also called in ), near Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, in the Zebrikovo district of the Tsarist Russia. At an early age he emigrated to 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...
for his studies.
In 1918, Leibbrandt studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Germany; also taking classes in philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. In 1927, he was awarded 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...
He traveled extensively through the Soviet Union
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....
in 1926, 1928, and 1929.
During his visits, he was variously represented as a doctor of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, a post-graduate student, a professor of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
University, and an employee of the Institute for the Study of Germans Abroad (Deutsches Ausland Institute) in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. The official purposes of his visits were the study of the history of the development of German colonies in the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
coastal region, and the gathering of historical information. As a result of his work, a book regarding emigrant movement of the Germans was published in Germany.
Leibbrandt had a talent for languages, which, coupled with a Rockefeller scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
, enabled him to resume his studies 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...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1931 - 1933. While in the US he actively kept contact with Germans from Russia
History of Germans in Russia and the Soviet Union
The German minority in Russia and the Soviet Union was created from several sources and in several waves. The 1914 census puts the number of Germans living in Russian Empire at 2,416,290. In 1989, the German population of the Soviet Union was roughly 2 million. In the 2002 Russian census, 597,212...
who had also emigrated to America.
Nazi Party
Leibbrandt accepted a request from Alfred RosenbergAlfred 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 1933 to return to Germany, and joined the Nazi Party that year. He was then named director of the Eastern Division of the Foreign Policy Office of the NSDAP. Leibbrandt was also placed in charge of anti-Soviet and anti-Communist 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....
. When the Soviet Union was invaded in 1941, and the Ministry for the Eastern Occupied Territories was established, Rosenberg chose Leibbrandt to direct the Political Department. Thus, Leibbrandt became the liaison for the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Caucasian
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, Russian, and other groups of emigres.
Leibbrandt and Alfred Meyer
Alfred Meyer
Dr. Alfred Meyer was a Nazi official, achieving the rank of Staatssekretär and Deputy Reichsminister in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories .-Early life:Meyer was born in Göttingen, the son of a government official...
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 1942; both represented the Ostministerium. In the summer of 1943, for unknown reasons, he ceased his duties in the Ministry and joined the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
(German Navy).
Post-war life
Leibbrandt was kept in Allied internment from 1945 to May 1949. In January 1950, he was formally charged with involvement in the destruction of JewsJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, by the Nuremberg Landgericht. The case against him was dismissed on August 10, 1950 and he was released from custody.
In the post-war period, he returned to America and resumed his earlier studies on the subject of the Russian Germans, making expert contributions to the Association of Germans from Russia (the Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland, which might be literally translated as the "Cultural Association of Germans from Russia") until his death in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
on June 16, 1982.
Fictional portrayals
In the 2001 HBO film Conspiracy, Leibbrandt was played by Ewan StewartEwan Stewart
Ewan Stewart is a Scottish film, television and stage actor.- Life and career :Stewart was born Andrew Ewan Stewart in Glasgow, and is the son of the late Scottish entertainer Andy Stewart. His mother Sheila is still alive and lives in Arbroath, Scotland. Stewart was educated at Edinburgh's...
.
See also
- http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=53436