Hermann von Stengel
Encyclopedia
Hermann Guido Leopold Freiherr von Stengel (19 July 1837 – 1919) was a Bavaria
n administrator, a German
politician and Finance Minister of the empire.
He was born in Speyer
, Kurpfalz, on 19 July 1837, and baptised on 21 July, the son of Carl Albert Leopold von Stengel and Julia Magdalena Catharina Franziska von Mayer. After studying law, he entered into the civil service of the kingdom of Bavaria. In 1874 he became government assessor
in Würzburg
, and in 1881 he was made ministerial council, and as such and authorized deputy of the Bundesrat in Berlin
. He exercised this office until he was appointed State Council sixteen years later.
On 23 August 1903, he was then appointed as a successor to Max Franz Guido von Thielmann as Finance Minister of the empire. In the next years followed a steady deterioration of the finances of the empire, that in the end developed into a constant, structural crisis. The Fleet Acts
of 1898 and 1900, employment of German troops during the Boxer Rebellion
in China
, the expansion of the army
in 1893, 1899 and 1905 by as many as 613,000 men, and the increase in military pensions, all had to be financed.
Preassured by the increasing costs of armament, he developed a measure in 1906 that undermined the existing federal system, and instituted a country-wide inheritance tax
, in addition to higher excise
taxes. Yet the measures were not able to achieve the desired results, so the empire's debt of 3 billion marks in 1904, grew to 4 billion in 1908. On 20 February 1908, he was replaced as Finance Minister by Reinhold Sydow.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n administrator, a German
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...
politician and Finance Minister of the empire.
He was born in Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
, Kurpfalz, on 19 July 1837, and baptised on 21 July, the son of Carl Albert Leopold von Stengel and Julia Magdalena Catharina Franziska von Mayer. After studying law, he entered into the civil service of the kingdom of Bavaria. In 1874 he became government assessor
Assessor (law)
In some jurisdictions, an assessor is a judge's or magistrate's assistant. This is in fact the historical meaning of this word.-By country:In Denmark, it was the former title given to Supreme Court judges. Today the title is given to Deputy Judges...
in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, and in 1881 he was made ministerial council, and as such and authorized deputy of the Bundesrat in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He exercised this office until he was appointed State Council sixteen years later.
On 23 August 1903, he was then appointed as a successor to Max Franz Guido von Thielmann as Finance Minister of the empire. In the next years followed a steady deterioration of the finances of the empire, that in the end developed into a constant, structural crisis. The Fleet Acts
Fleet Acts
The Naval Laws were five separate laws passed by the German Empire, in 1898, 1900, 1906, 1908, and 1912. These acts, championed by Kaiser Wilhelm II and his Secretary of State for the Navy, Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, committed Germany to building up a navy capable of competing with the Royal...
of 1898 and 1900, employment of German troops during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the expansion of the army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
in 1893, 1899 and 1905 by as many as 613,000 men, and the increase in military pensions, all had to be financed.
Preassured by the increasing costs of armament, he developed a measure in 1906 that undermined the existing federal system, and instituted a country-wide inheritance tax
Inheritance tax
An inheritance tax or estate tax is a levy paid by a person who inherits money or property or a tax on the estate of a person who has died...
, in addition to higher excise
Excise
Excise tax in the United States is a indirect tax on listed items. Excise taxes can be and are made by federal, state and local governments and are far from uniform throughout the United States...
taxes. Yet the measures were not able to achieve the desired results, so the empire's debt of 3 billion marks in 1904, grew to 4 billion in 1908. On 20 February 1908, he was replaced as Finance Minister by Reinhold Sydow.