Heinrich XLV, Hereditary Prince Reuss Younger Line
Encyclopedia
Heinrich XLV, Prince Reuss Younger Line was the head of the House of Reuss from 1928 to 1945, as well the last male member of the Reuss-Schleiz branch of the Younger Line.
, Reuss Younger Line, only surviving son of Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line
(1858–1928), (son of Heinrich XIV, Prince Reuss Younger Line
, and Duchess Agnes of Württemberg
) and his wife, Princess Elise of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1864–1929), (daughter of Hermann, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen).
He attended high school in Dresden
and served as a lieutenant in the First World War. After the war he studied in Leipzig
, Marburg
, Munich
and Kiel
, literature, music and philosophy.
He was a great theatre lover and supporter and was a director, writer and consultant. In 1923, Heinrich XLV became head of the dramaturgy department at Reussian Theatre in Gera
.
Lines merged, when the Elder Line became extinct in the male line in 1927.
In 1935 he adopted one of his relatives, Prince Heinrich I
(1910–1982) member of the Reuss of Köstritz branch, the adoption took place for inheritance
reasons, but not for succession rights for the headship of the House of Reuss.
During the 1930s Heinrich XLV became a Nazi
sympathizer and member of the Nazi Party. In August 1945 he was arrested in Ebersdorf by the Soviet
military and disappeared, most likely that he was interned and killed in NKVD special camp Nr. 2 in Buchenwald, his name is not in any of the books of the dead people in special camps lists. On 5 January 1962 he was declared dead by a court in Büdingen. His entire fortune was seized and confiscated in 1948 by the Soviet Military Administration
, including the Ebersdorf Castle, Thallwitz Castle, Osterstein Castle in Gera.
Heinrich XLV remained unmarried and childless and the succession of the House of Reuss passed to Prince Heinrich IV
of the Reuss of Köstritz branch.
Early life
Heinrich XLV was born at EbersdorfSaalburg-Ebersdorf
Saalburg-Ebersdorf is a town in the Saale-Orla-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, 10 km southwest of Schleiz, and 30 km west of Plauen....
, Reuss Younger Line, only surviving son of Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line
Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line
Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line was the last reigning Prince Reuss Younger Line from 1913 to 1918. Then he became Head of the House of Reuss Younger Line from 1918 to 1928.-Early life:...
(1858–1928), (son of Heinrich XIV, Prince Reuss Younger Line
Heinrich XIV, Prince Reuss Younger Line
-Early life:Heinrich XIV was born at Coburg, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, sixth child of Heinrich LXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line , and his wife, Princess Adelheid Reuss of Ebersdorf , .-Prince Reuss...
, and Duchess Agnes of Württemberg
Duchess Agnes of Württemberg
Duchess Agnes of Württemberg was a German aristocrat and writer under the pseudonym of Angela Hohenstein.-Life and family:Duchess Agnes was born at Carlsruhe, Kingdom of Prussia was the youngest child of Duke Eugen of Württemberg , by his second marriage to Princess Helene...
) and his wife, Princess Elise of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1864–1929), (daughter of Hermann, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen).
He attended high school in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
and served as a lieutenant in the First World War. After the war he studied in 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...
, Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, literature, music and philosophy.
He was a great theatre lover and supporter and was a director, writer and consultant. In 1923, Heinrich XLV became head of the dramaturgy department at Reussian Theatre in Gera
Gera
Gera, the third-largest city in the German state of Thuringia , lies in east Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster, approximately 60 kilometres to the south of the city of Leipzig and 80 kilometres to the east of Erfurt...
.
Prince Reuss
At the death of his father in 21 November 1928 he became head of the House of Reuss after the Younger and ElderReuss Elder Line
The Principality of Reuss Elder Line was a state in Germany, ruled by members of the House of Reuss. The Counts Reuss of Greiz, Lower- and Upper Greiz , were elevated to princely status in 1778. Its members bore the title Prince Reuss, Elder Line, or Prince Reuss of Greiz...
Lines merged, when the Elder Line became extinct in the male line in 1927.
In 1935 he adopted one of his relatives, Prince Heinrich I
Prince Heinrich I Reuss of Köstritz
Prince Heinrich I Reuss was son of Prince Heinrich XXXIV Reuss and member of the House of Reuss.-Early life and family:Heinrich I was born at Krietern, Breslau, Kingdom of Prussia, eldest child of Prince Heinrich XXXIV Reuss, and his wife, Princess Sophie Renata Reuss , Prince Heinrich I Reuss ...
(1910–1982) member of the Reuss of Köstritz branch, the adoption took place for inheritance
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
reasons, but not for succession rights for the headship of the House of Reuss.
During the 1930s Heinrich XLV became a Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
sympathizer and member of the Nazi Party. In August 1945 he was arrested in Ebersdorf by the 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....
military and disappeared, most likely that he was interned and killed in NKVD special camp Nr. 2 in Buchenwald, his name is not in any of the books of the dead people in special camps lists. On 5 January 1962 he was declared dead by a court in Büdingen. His entire fortune was seized and confiscated in 1948 by the Soviet Military Administration
Soviet Military Administration in Germany
The Soviet Military Administration in Germany was the Soviet military government, headquartered in Berlin-Karlshorst, that directly ruled the Soviet occupation zone of Germany from the German surrender in May 1945 until after the establishment of the German Democratic Republic in October...
, including the Ebersdorf Castle, Thallwitz Castle, Osterstein Castle in Gera.
Heinrich XLV remained unmarried and childless and the succession of the House of Reuss passed to Prince Heinrich IV
Heinrich IV, Prince Reuss of Köstritz
Heinrich IV, Prince Reuss, Prince Reuss of Köstritz is the current head of the German Princely House of Reuss and is 1282nd in the Line of succession to the British throne.-Life:...
of the Reuss of Köstritz branch.
Titles and styles
- 13 May 1895 – 29 March 1913: His Serene Highness Prince Heinrich XLV Reuss of Schleiz
- 29 March 1913–1945: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince Reuss Younger Line