Otto Meißner
Encyclopedia
Otto Meißner was head of the Office of the President of Germany during the entire period of the Weimar Republic
under Friedrich Ebert
and Paul von Hindenburg
and, finally, at the beginning of the Nazi
era under Adolf Hitler
.
from 1898 to 1903, where he also became a member of the Straßburg Student Youth Fraternity (Burschenschaft
) Germania. Later he also studied in Berlin and earned his Doctor of Laws in 1908, at the age of 28, in Erlangen
, Bavaria
. Afterwards, he became a bureaucrat for the national railroad, the Reichsbahn, in Strasbourg. Between 1915 and 1917 he participated in the First World War
in an infantry regiment. Up to 1919 he was more active behind the front, first in Bucharest
, Romania
, then in Kiev
, and finally as a German business agent for the Ukrainian government.
Thanks to his good contacts, in 1919 Meißner became "Acting Advisor in the Bureau of the President" (who at that time was the social democrat Friedrich Ebert
), and by 1920 rose to the position of "Ministerial Director and Head of the Bureau of the President." Ebert named Meißner to the post of State Secretary in 1923. He continued in that post under Ebert's successor Paul von Hindenburg
.
When Hitler fused the functions of Head of State
(here, the President) and the Head of Government
(the Chancellery) in 1934, Meißner's office was renamed the "Presidential Chancellery" and restricted in its responsibilities to representative and formal matters. In 1937, Meißner was appointed to the newly-created position of "State Minister of the Rank of a Federal Minister and Chief of the Presidential Chancellery of the Führer and Chancellor."
After the Second World War
, Meißner was arrested by the Allies and interrogated as a witness in the Nuremberg Trials
. In July 1947, he appeared as a character witness for the accused former State Secretary Franz Schlegelberger
. In 1949, he was finally prosecuted himself in the Wilhelmstraße Trial, but the court acquitted him on 14 April. Two years later, in May 1949, he was accused again, in Munich
, and adjudged a fellow traveler. His appeal was turned down, but the proceedings called to a halt in January, 1952.
In 1950, Meißner published a memoir covering his unusual bureaucrat's career in a book entitled State Secretary under Ebert, Hindenburg and Hitler.
and a few others, Meißner, in the years 1929 and 1930, furthered the dissolution of the parliamentary system by means of a civil presidential cabinet.
His role in the appointment of Hitler to Chancellor in December 1932-January 1933 remains a controversy among historians. As member of the "camarilla
," Meißner was certainly no small influence as State Secretary, due to his close relations with President Paul von Hindenburg. Together with Oskar von Hindenburg
and Franz von Papen
, Meißner organized the negotiations with Hitler to depose von Schleicher and appoint Hitler to the post of Chancellor. For the Nazis' part, the talks were facilitated through Wilhelm Keppler
, Joachim von Ribbentrop
and the banker Kurt Freiherr von Schröder
, a former officer and head of the old-guard conservative "Herrenklub" (Gentlemen's club) in Berlin, in which von Papen was also active. Neither Hitler nor Hindenburg, as of the end of 1932, would have initiated contact to one another, so great was their mutual distaste for each other.
Meißner submitted his resignation in 1933, but was turned down, whereupon he assumed responsibility primarily for delegational duties. In 1937, the Nazi regime raised him to the rank of Federal Minister, with the title, "Chief of the Presidential Chancellery of the Führer and the Chancellor". But politically, his influence in the Hitler regime was distinctly minor.
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
under Friedrich Ebert
Friedrich Ebert
Friedrich Ebert was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .When Ebert was elected as the leader of the SPD after the death of August Bebel, the party members of the SPD were deeply divided because of the party's support for World War I. Ebert supported the Burgfrieden and...
and Paul von Hindenburg
Paul von Hindenburg
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg , known universally as Paul von Hindenburg was a Prussian-German field marshal, statesman, and politician, and served as the second President of Germany from 1925 to 1934....
and, finally, at the beginning of the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
era under 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...
.
Life
The son of a postal official, Meißner studied law in StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
from 1898 to 1903, where he also became a member of the Straßburg Student Youth Fraternity (Burschenschaft
Burschenschaft
German Burschenschaften are a special type of Studentenverbindungen . Burschenschaften were founded in the 19th century as associations of university students inspired by liberal and nationalistic ideas.-History:-Beginnings 1815–c...
) Germania. Later he also studied in Berlin and earned his Doctor of Laws in 1908, at the age of 28, in Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, Bavaria
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...
. Afterwards, he became a bureaucrat for the national railroad, the Reichsbahn, in Strasbourg. Between 1915 and 1917 he participated in the First World War
World 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...
in an infantry regiment. Up to 1919 he was more active behind the front, first in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, then in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, and finally as a German business agent for the Ukrainian government.
Thanks to his good contacts, in 1919 Meißner became "Acting Advisor in the Bureau of the President" (who at that time was the social democrat Friedrich Ebert
Friedrich Ebert
Friedrich Ebert was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany .When Ebert was elected as the leader of the SPD after the death of August Bebel, the party members of the SPD were deeply divided because of the party's support for World War I. Ebert supported the Burgfrieden and...
), and by 1920 rose to the position of "Ministerial Director and Head of the Bureau of the President." Ebert named Meißner to the post of State Secretary in 1923. He continued in that post under Ebert's successor Paul von Hindenburg
Paul von Hindenburg
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg , known universally as Paul von Hindenburg was a Prussian-German field marshal, statesman, and politician, and served as the second President of Germany from 1925 to 1934....
.
When Hitler fused the functions of Head of State
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
(here, the President) and the Head of Government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
(the Chancellery) in 1934, Meißner's office was renamed the "Presidential Chancellery" and restricted in its responsibilities to representative and formal matters. In 1937, Meißner was appointed to the newly-created position of "State Minister of the Rank of a Federal Minister and Chief of the Presidential Chancellery of the Führer and Chancellor."
After the Second World War
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...
, Meißner was arrested by the Allies and interrogated as a witness in 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....
. In July 1947, he appeared as a character witness for the accused former State Secretary Franz Schlegelberger
Franz Schlegelberger
Louis Rudolph Franz Schlegelberger was State Secretary in the German Reich Ministry of Justice and served awhile as Justice Minister during the Third Reich. He was the highest-ranking defendant at the Judges' Trial in Nuremberg.- Early life :Schlegelberger was born into a Protestant salesman's...
. In 1949, he was finally prosecuted himself in the Wilhelmstraße Trial, but the court acquitted him on 14 April. Two years later, in May 1949, he was accused again, in 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 adjudged a fellow traveler. His appeal was turned down, but the proceedings called to a halt in January, 1952.
In 1950, Meißner published a memoir covering his unusual bureaucrat's career in a book entitled State Secretary under Ebert, Hindenburg and Hitler.
Meißner's Role in History
Meißner, who lived with his family in the Palace of the German President between 1929 and 1939, undoubtedly enjoyed major influence upon the Presidents, especially Hindenburg. Together with Kurt von SchleicherKurt von Schleicher
Kurt von Schleicher was a German general and the last Chancellor of Germany during the era of the Weimar Republic. Seventeen months after his resignation, he was assassinated by order of his successor, Adolf Hitler, in the Night of the Long Knives....
and a few others, Meißner, in the years 1929 and 1930, furthered the dissolution of the parliamentary system by means of a civil presidential cabinet.
His role in the appointment of Hitler to Chancellor in December 1932-January 1933 remains a controversy among historians. As member of the "camarilla
Camarilla (history)
A camarilla is a group of courtiers or favourites who surround a king or ruler. Usually, they do not hold any office or have any official authority but influence their ruler behind the scenes. Consequently, they also escape having to bear responsibility for the effects of their advice...
," Meißner was certainly no small influence as State Secretary, due to his close relations with President Paul von Hindenburg. Together with Oskar von Hindenburg
Oskar von Hindenburg
Generalleutnant Oskar von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg was the politically powerful son and aide-de-camp to Field Marshal and President of Germany Paul von Hindenburg....
and Franz von Papen
Franz von Papen
Lieutenant-Colonel Franz Joseph Hermann Michael Maria von Papen zu Köningen was a German nobleman, Roman Catholic monarchist politician, General Staff officer, and diplomat, who served as Chancellor of Germany in 1932 and as Vice-Chancellor under Adolf Hitler in 1933–1934...
, Meißner organized the negotiations with Hitler to depose von Schleicher and appoint Hitler to the post of Chancellor. For the Nazis' part, the talks were facilitated through Wilhelm Keppler
Wilhelm Keppler
Wilhelm Karl Keppler was a German businessman and one of Adolf Hitler's early financial backers. Introduced to Hitler by Heinrich Himmler, Keppler helped to finance the Nazi Party....
, Joachim von Ribbentrop
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. He was later hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg Trials.-Early life:...
and the banker Kurt Freiherr von Schröder
Kurt Baron von Schröder
Baron Kurt von Schroeder was a banker in Cologne, Germany who was a member of the Nazi Party and who hosted a notorious meeting between Franz von Papen and Hitler that facilitated Hitler's assumption of the Chancellorship.He was born in Hamburg, Germany, on 24 November 1889...
, a former officer and head of the old-guard conservative "Herrenklub" (Gentlemen's club) in Berlin, in which von Papen was also active. Neither Hitler nor Hindenburg, as of the end of 1932, would have initiated contact to one another, so great was their mutual distaste for each other.
Meißner submitted his resignation in 1933, but was turned down, whereupon he assumed responsibility primarily for delegational duties. In 1937, the Nazi regime raised him to the rank of Federal Minister, with the title, "Chief of the Presidential Chancellery of the Führer and the Chancellor". But politically, his influence in the Hitler regime was distinctly minor.
List of works
- "Die Reichsverfassung. Das neue Reichstaatsrecht für den Praktischen Gebrauch", Berlin, 1919
- "Das neue Staatsrecht des Reichs und seiner Länder", Berlin, 1921
- "Grundriß der Verfassung und Verwaltung des Reichs und Preußens nebst Verzeichnis der Behörden und ihres Aufgabenkreises", Berlin, 1922
- "Staatsrecht des Reichs und seiner Länder", Berlin, 1923
- "Staats- und Verwaltungsrecht im Dritten Reich", Berlin, 1935
- "Deutsches Elsaß, deutsches Lothringen. Ein Querschnitt aus Geschichte, Volkstum und Kultur", Berlin, 1941
- "Elsaß und Lothringen, Deutsches Land, Verlkagsanstalt Otto Stollberg", (324 s.), Berlin, 1941.
- "Staatssekretär unter Ebert, Hindenburg, Hitler. Der Schicksalsweg des deutschen Volkes von 1918 – 1945. Wie ich ihn erlebte", Hamburg, 1951