Karl Kaufmann
Encyclopedia
Karl Kaufmann was a Nazi Gauleiter
in Hamburg—head of the Nazi Party, and government of Hamburg
from 1933 until 1945.
and in the Brigade Ehrhardt
(1919–1920).
's favourites. He was appointed Gauleiter of the Gaus Rheinland and Ruhr
in 1922-29, then Gauleiter of Hamburg in 1929, a post he was to hold until 1945. He was also member of the German Reichstag
. After Hitler gained power
on 16 May 1933, Kaufmann was appointed Reichsstatthalter
(Regional Governor) of Hamburg with absolute power
over some 1.8 million people. One of his first acts was to turn over control of the city's Fuhlsbüttel Prison to the SA
and SS
, where it quickly became the nucleus of the notorious Kola-Fu concentration camp.
In September 1941, after Allied
bombing of Hamburg had rendered many people homeless, Kaufmann petitioned Hitler to allow him to deport local Jews so that he could confiscate their property to rehouse bombed-out citizens. Hitler quickly responded, allowing Kaufmann the dubious distinction of being the first Nazi leader to deport German Jews, in this instance to the Łódź Ghetto in Poland
.
Adolf Hitler declared Hamburg as fortress, similar to the Festung Warschau
, the cities of Posen
, or Kolberg. In April 1945, Kaufmann and Commander Generalmajor Alwin Wolz
wanted, independently of each other, to capitulate without further struggle. After negotiations and the publication of a by Kaufmann prepared pamphlet—without Kaufmann's consent—Hamburg was declared open city by Admiral Karl Dönitz
, then president of Germany.
forces in 1945, in 1946 Kaufmann was witness at the Nuremberg Trials
, he was subsequently tried for war crimes and sentenced to a term of imprisonment, but released soon after on the grounds of ill health after an accident. He was to be arrested twice more before being finally released in 1953. Kaufmann died on 4 December 1969 in Hamburg.
", a "rebel against the leader", and the "rescuer of Hamburg", because of the capitulation without struggle of the city of Hamburg. These theses are disproved.
Gauleiter
A Gauleiter was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP or the head of a Gau or of a Reichsgau.-Creation and Early Usage:...
in Hamburg—head of the Nazi Party, and government of Hamburg
Government of Hamburg
The government of Hamburg is divided into executive, legislative and judicial branches. Due to the characteristic that Hamburg is a city-state and a municipality in Germany, the governance deals several details of state politics and community politics. It takes place in two ranks; a city-wide and...
from 1933 until 1945.
Early life
Kaufmann was born in Krefeld on 10 October 1900. He served as a war volunteer in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and in the Brigade Ehrhardt
Marinebrigade Ehrhardt
The Marinebrigade Ehrhardt was a Free Corps group of around 6,000 men formed by Captain Hermann Ehrhardt in the aftermath of World War I, also known as II Marine Brigade or the Ehrhardt Brigade...
(1919–1920).
Career
A founding member of the NSDAP in 1921; after the re-establishment of the party, he rejoined in 1925 and quickly became one of Adolf HitlerAdolf 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 favourites. He was appointed Gauleiter of the Gaus Rheinland and Ruhr
Ruhr Area
The Ruhr, by German-speaking geographers and historians more accurately called Ruhr district or Ruhr region , is an urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With 4435 km² and a population of some 5.2 million , it is the largest urban agglomeration in Germany...
in 1922-29, then Gauleiter of Hamburg in 1929, a post he was to hold until 1945. He was also member of the German Reichstag
Reichstag (Weimar Republic)
The Reichstag was the parliament of Weimar Republic .German constitution commentators consider only the Reichstag and now the Bundestag the German parliament. Another organ deals with legislation too: in 1867-1918 the Bundesrat, in 1919–1933 the Reichsrat and from 1949 on the Bundesrat...
. After Hitler gained power
Machtergreifung
Machtergreifung is a German word meaning "seizure of power". It is normally used specifically to refer to the Nazi takeover of power in the democratic Weimar Republic on 30 January 1933, the day Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany, turning it into the Nazi German dictatorship.-Term:The...
on 16 May 1933, Kaufmann was appointed Reichsstatthalter
Reichsstatthalter
The term Reichsstatthalter was used twice for different offices, in the imperial Hohenzollern dynasty's German Empire and the single-party Nazi Third Reich.- "Statthalter des Reiches" 1879-1918 in Alsace-Lorraine :...
(Regional Governor) of Hamburg with absolute power
Absolute Power
Absolute Power may refer to:*Lord Acton's dictum, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"*The power held by the sovereign of an absolute monarchy*Omnipotence, unlimited power, as of a deity...
over some 1.8 million people. One of his first acts was to turn over control of the city's Fuhlsbüttel Prison to the SA
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
and SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
, where it quickly became the nucleus of the notorious Kola-Fu concentration camp.
In September 1941, after Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
bombing of Hamburg had rendered many people homeless, Kaufmann petitioned Hitler to allow him to deport local Jews so that he could confiscate their property to rehouse bombed-out citizens. Hitler quickly responded, allowing Kaufmann the dubious distinction of being the first Nazi leader to deport German Jews, in this instance to the Łódź Ghetto in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Adolf Hitler declared Hamburg as fortress, similar to the Festung Warschau
Festung Warschau
Festung Warschau was the name applied in German language to Warsaw when the city was defended, which happened under various constellations in the course of history, with and without involvement of German-speaking troops....
, the cities of Posen
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, or Kolberg. In April 1945, Kaufmann and Commander Generalmajor Alwin Wolz
Alwin Wolz
Alwin Wolz was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Luftwaffe during World War II who commanded the 3. Flak Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
wanted, independently of each other, to capitulate without further struggle. After negotiations and the publication of a by Kaufmann prepared pamphlet—without Kaufmann's consent—Hamburg was declared open city by Admiral Karl Dönitz
Karl Dönitz
Karl Dönitz was a German naval commander during World War II. He started his career in the German Navy during World War I. In 1918, while he was in command of , the submarine was sunk by British forces and Dönitz was taken prisoner...
, then president of Germany.
After the war
Arrested shortly after the occupation of Hamburg by BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
forces in 1945, in 1946 Kaufmann was witness at the Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
, he was subsequently tried for war crimes and sentenced to a term of imprisonment, but released soon after on the grounds of ill health after an accident. He was to be arrested twice more before being finally released in 1953. Kaufmann died on 4 December 1969 in Hamburg.
The "good Gauleiter"
In his book Das letzte Kapitel (The last chapter) published 1947, Kurt Detlev Möller described Kaufmann as a "good GauleiterGauleiter
A Gauleiter was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP or the head of a Gau or of a Reichsgau.-Creation and Early Usage:...
", a "rebel against the leader", and the "rescuer of Hamburg", because of the capitulation without struggle of the city of Hamburg. These theses are disproved.
External links
- Kaufmann, Karl in Der Deutsche Reichstag, Wahlperiode nach d. 30. Jan. 1933, Bd.: 1938, Berlin, 1938