Karl Blessing
Encyclopedia
Dr. Karl Blessing was a German
banker. It was proposed that he would have been the Minister of Economics or President of the Reichsbank if the 20 July plot to kill Adolf Hitler
had succeeded. He was also President of the Deutsche Bundesbank
from 1958 to 1969.
He was born in Württemberg
, joined the Reichsbank
in 1920 and graduated in Business Administration in 1925. In 1929 he became an assistant to Reichsbank president Hjalmar Schacht
and in 1934 he was seconded to the Reich Ministry of Economics. He became a member of the executive board of the Reichsbank in 1937 but was dismissed in February 1939 along with other board members for criticising Nazi economic policy. He was not arrested by the Gestapo
after the 20 July 1944 plot failed. They were unaware that he would have been named "Wirtschaftsminister".
Shortly after retiring as President of the Deutsche Bundesbank
Blessing died in Rasteau
, France
aged 71. His grandson is CEO of the German Commerzbank.
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...
banker. It was proposed that he would have been the Minister of Economics or President of the Reichsbank if the 20 July plot to kill 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...
had succeeded. He was also President of the Deutsche Bundesbank
Deutsche Bundesbank
The Deutsche Bundesbank is the central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany and as such part of the European System of Central Banks . Due to its strength and former size, the Bundesbank is the most influential member of the ESCB. Both the Deutsche Bundesbank and the European Central Bank are...
from 1958 to 1969.
He was born in Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
, joined the Reichsbank
Reichsbank
The Reichsbank was the central bank of Germany from 1876 until 1945. It was founded on 1 January 1876 . The Reichsbank was a privately owned central bank of Prussia, under close control by the Reich government. Its first president was Hermann von Dechend...
in 1920 and graduated in Business Administration in 1925. In 1929 he became an assistant to Reichsbank president Hjalmar Schacht
Hjalmar Schacht
Dr. Hjalmar Horace Greeley Schacht was a German economist, banker, liberal politician, and co-founder of the German Democratic Party. He served as the Currency Commissioner and President of the Reichsbank under the Weimar Republic...
and in 1934 he was seconded to the Reich Ministry of Economics. He became a member of the executive board of the Reichsbank in 1937 but was dismissed in February 1939 along with other board members for criticising Nazi economic policy. He was not arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
after the 20 July 1944 plot failed. They were unaware that he would have been named "Wirtschaftsminister".
Shortly after retiring as President of the Deutsche Bundesbank
Deutsche Bundesbank
The Deutsche Bundesbank is the central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany and as such part of the European System of Central Banks . Due to its strength and former size, the Bundesbank is the most influential member of the ESCB. Both the Deutsche Bundesbank and the European Central Bank are...
Blessing died in Rasteau
Rasteau
Rasteau is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Vaucluse department*Rasteau AOC, a wine appellation covering Rasteau and some neighbouring communes-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
aged 71. His grandson is CEO of the German Commerzbank.