Karl von Spreti
Encyclopedia
Count Karl Maria von
Spreti (May 21, 1907-April 5, 1970) was a German
diplomat
. He is best known as the West Germa
n Ambassador to Guatemala
from 1968 until his assassination in 1970. The story of his assassination by Guatemalan guerillas was depicted in a 1970 book Why Karl Von Spreti Died by Ryszard Kapuściński
.
Von Spreti was born in the Kapfing Castle near Landshut
to an aristocratic
family (his direct ancestor was Leo von Klenze
). Like his forefather, Karl von Spreti studied architecture. He also joined the Bavarian People's Party
. After his service in the World War II
German Army
and a short period in Allied captivity he settled in Lindau
, where he continued his career as an architect and as a local politician for the Christian Social Union of Bavaria
.
In 1956, Karl von Spreti became West Germany's first ambassador to Luxembourg
since the second world war, and held that post until 1960, when he became the ambassador to Cuba (until 1963) and then Dominican Republic
(between 1966 and 1968). Finally he was dispatched to Guatemala
during the turbulent times of the Guatemalan Civil War
. On March 31, 1970 he was kidnapped by leftist FAR guerillas
in Guatemala City
and was murdered on April 5 of the same year. In the immediate aftermath, West Germany
froze all diplomatic ties with Guatemala. On April 8, a counter-insurgency claimed the life a Guatemalan communist politician as revenge for the Spreti murder. César Montenegro Paniagua
was killed by a group named MANO
.
Von
In German, von is a preposition which approximately means of or from.When it is used as a part of a German family name, it is usually a nobiliary particle, like the French, Spanish and Portuguese "de". At certain times and places, it has been illegal for anyone who was not a member of the nobility...
Spreti (May 21, 1907-April 5, 1970) was 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...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He is best known as the West Germa
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
n Ambassador to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
from 1968 until his assassination in 1970. The story of his assassination by Guatemalan guerillas was depicted in a 1970 book Why Karl Von Spreti Died by Ryszard Kapuściński
Ryszard Kapuscinski
Ryszard Kapuściński was a Polish journalist and writer whose dispatches in book form brought him a global reputation. Also a photographer and poet, he was born in Pińsknow in Belarusin the Kresy Wschodnie or eastern borderlands of the second Polish Republic, into poverty: he would say later that...
.
Von Spreti was born in the Kapfing Castle near Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
to an aristocratic
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
family (his direct ancestor was Leo von Klenze
Leo von Klenze
Leo von Klenze was a German neoclassicist architect, painter and writer...
). Like his forefather, Karl von Spreti studied architecture. He also joined the Bavarian People's Party
Bavarian People's Party
The Bavarian People's Party was the Bavarian branch of the Centre Party, which broke off from the rest of the party in 1919 to pursue a more conservative, more Catholic, more Bavarian particularist course...
. After his service in the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
German Army
Heer (1935-1945)
The Heer was the Army land forces component of the German armed forces from 1935 to 1945, the latter also included the Navy and the Air Force...
and a short period in Allied captivity he settled in Lindau
Lindau
Lindau is a Bavarian town and an island on the eastern side of Lake Constance, the Bodensee. It is the capital of the Landkreis or rural district of Lindau. The historic city of Lindau is located on an island which is connected with the mainland by bridge and railway.- History :The name Lindau was...
, where he continued his career as an architect and as a local politician for the Christian Social Union of Bavaria
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
.
In 1956, Karl von Spreti became West Germany's first ambassador to Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
since the second world war, and held that post until 1960, when he became the ambassador to Cuba (until 1963) and then Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
(between 1966 and 1968). Finally he was dispatched to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
during the turbulent times of the Guatemalan Civil War
Guatemalan Civil War
The Guatemalan Civil War ran from 1960-1996. The thirty-six-year civil war began as a grassroots, popular response to the rightist and military usurpation of civil government , and the President's disrespect for the human and civil rights of the majority of the population...
. On March 31, 1970 he was kidnapped by leftist FAR guerillas
Rebel Armed Forces
The Rebel Armed Forces was a Guatemalan guerrilla organization established in 1961 and lasting until the peace agreements in 1996.FAR is most significantly known for having killed the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, John Gordon Mein, in 1968. Also killed that year were two U.S...
in Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
and was murdered on April 5 of the same year. In the immediate aftermath, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
froze all diplomatic ties with Guatemala. On April 8, a counter-insurgency claimed the life a Guatemalan communist politician as revenge for the Spreti murder. César Montenegro Paniagua
César Montenegro Paniagua
César Montenegro Paniagua was a communist Guatemalan politician, who was assassinated on April 7, 1970.Montenegro was born into one of Guatemala's largest and most influential families and was one of twelve children. His father was a successful army general while his mother was a home maker...
was killed by a group named MANO
Mano
-People:* Mano people, an ethnic group in Liberia** the Mano language* Mano * Mano * Mano , Phillimon Junior Ramaphoko, formerly of C.D...
.