Otto Ritter von Dandl
Encyclopedia
Otto Ritter von Dandl was the last Minister-President
of the Kingdom of Bavaria
.
, in 1868, his parents being Georg Ritter von Dandl and Karoline Weninger. He studied law and graduated in 1890. He entered the Bavarian government service, becoming a judge
at the court in Munich
. He rose through the ranks quickly, occupying a position in the justice department from 1900.
In 1906, von Dandl became an adviser of Prinzregent Luitpold
, who ruled Bavaria in his nephew's, King Otto's
stead. With the death of Luitpold in 1912, his son Ludwig
took up the position as Prinzregent (Prince Regent) of Bavaria and von Dandl became the chief of his cabinet. Ludwig acceded to the throne of Bavaria as Ludwig III in 1913 and bestowed the title of Staatsrat
on von Dandl.
In 1917, when Germany's situation had gradually worsened due to World War I
, Otto Ritter von Dandl was made Minister of State of the Royal Household and of the Exterior and President of the Council of Ministers on 11 November 1917, a title equivalent to Prime Minister of Bavaria.
On 2 November 1918, von Dandl reached an agreement with all major parties, to reform Bavaria and to built a new coalition government with him as leaders and prominent members of the Zentrumspartei and the SPD
in ministerial posts. The event of the German surrender a few days after meant, this government never came to be. It would have included three future Bavarian prime ministers, Heinrich Held
, Eugen von Knilling
and Johannes Hoffmann
as ministers..
He only held this position for one year; with the collapse of Imperial Germany, the Kingdom of Bavaria was abolished by Kurt Eisner on 8 November 1918, who succeeded him to the office of prime minister, making von Dandl the last prime minister of the Kingdom of Bavaria.
On 12 November 1918, Dandl went to Schloss Anif
, near Salzburg
, to see the King and obtain what is known as the Anifer Erklärung (Anif declaration
) in which the King released all government officials, soldiers and officers from their oath to him, but made no declaration of resignation. The Eisner government published the declaration when Dandl returned to Munich the next day, interpreting it, somewhat ambiguously, as the end to Wittelsbacher rule.
Von Dandl remained in government service, becoming the director of the taxation department in Würzburg
in 1919. From 1929 to 1933, he held the same position in Munich.
In his town of birth, Straubing, a street is named after him, the Otto-von-Dandl-Ring.
Ritter
, as in the name Otto Ritter von Dandl, is not a name but a noble title, considered roughly equal to the title Knight
or Baronet
.
Minister-President
A minister-president is the head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments, in which a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government prevails, who presides over the council of ministers...
of the Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
.
Life
Otto Ritter von Dandl was born in Straubing, Lower BavariaLower Bavaria
Lower Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state.- Geography :Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two regions - Landshut and Donau-Wald. Recent election results mark it as the most conservative part of Germany, generally giving huge...
, in 1868, his parents being Georg Ritter von Dandl and Karoline Weninger. He studied law and graduated in 1890. He entered the Bavarian government service, becoming a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
at the court 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...
. He rose through the ranks quickly, occupying a position in the justice department from 1900.
In 1906, von Dandl became an adviser of Prinzregent Luitpold
Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria
Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria , was the de facto ruler of Bavaria from 1886 to 1912, due to the incapacity of his nephews, King Ludwig II and King Otto.-Early life:...
, who ruled Bavaria in his nephew's, King Otto's
Otto of Bavaria
Otto , was King of Bavaria from 1886 to 1913. He was the son of Maximilian II and his wife, Marie of Prussia, and younger brother of Ludwig II...
stead. With the death of Luitpold in 1912, his son Ludwig
Otto of Bavaria
Otto , was King of Bavaria from 1886 to 1913. He was the son of Maximilian II and his wife, Marie of Prussia, and younger brother of Ludwig II...
took up the position as Prinzregent (Prince Regent) of Bavaria and von Dandl became the chief of his cabinet. Ludwig acceded to the throne of Bavaria as Ludwig III in 1913 and bestowed the title of Staatsrat
Staatsrat
In the German Democratic Republic , the State Council was the collective head of state from 1960 to 1990.-Origins:...
on von Dandl.
In 1917, when Germany's situation had gradually worsened due to World War I
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...
, Otto Ritter von Dandl was made Minister of State of the Royal Household and of the Exterior and President of the Council of Ministers on 11 November 1917, a title equivalent to Prime Minister of Bavaria.
On 2 November 1918, von Dandl reached an agreement with all major parties, to reform Bavaria and to built a new coalition government with him as leaders and prominent members of the Zentrumspartei and the SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
in ministerial posts. The event of the German surrender a few days after meant, this government never came to be. It would have included three future Bavarian prime ministers, Heinrich Held
Heinrich Held
Heinrich Held was a Catholic politician and Minister President of Bavaria. He was forced out of office by the Nazi takeover in Germany in 1933.-Life:...
, Eugen von Knilling
Eugen von Knilling
Eugen Ritter von Knilling was the Prime Minister of Bavaria from 1922 to 1924.-Life:Knilling had originally studied law at the university of Munich. From 1912 to 1918 he served as the minister for education in the government of the Kingdom of Bavaria. From 1920 to 1922, he was a member of the...
and Johannes Hoffmann
Johannes Hoffmann
Johannes Hoffmann was a Bavarian Minister-President and member of the SPD.-Life:Born in Ilbesheim, near Landau, his parents were Peter Hoffmann and Maria Eva Keller...
as ministers..
He only held this position for one year; with the collapse of Imperial Germany, the Kingdom of Bavaria was abolished by Kurt Eisner on 8 November 1918, who succeeded him to the office of prime minister, making von Dandl the last prime minister of the Kingdom of Bavaria.
On 12 November 1918, Dandl went to Schloss Anif
Anif Palace
The Anif Palace, also known as Water Palace Anif, stands beside an artificial pond within the Austrian county of Anif at the southern edge of the city of Salzburg...
, near Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, to see the King and obtain what is known as the Anifer Erklärung (Anif declaration
Anif declaration
The Anif declaration , issued by the Bavarian king Ludwig III on 12 November 1918 at Anif Palace, Austria, ended the 738-year rule of the House of Wittelsbach in Bavaria.-Historical background:...
) in which the King released all government officials, soldiers and officers from their oath to him, but made no declaration of resignation. The Eisner government published the declaration when Dandl returned to Munich the next day, interpreting it, somewhat ambiguously, as the end to Wittelsbacher rule.
Von Dandl remained in government service, becoming the director of the taxation department 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....
in 1919. From 1929 to 1933, he held the same position in Munich.
In his town of birth, Straubing, a street is named after him, the Otto-von-Dandl-Ring.
Ritter
Ritter
Ritter is a designation used as a title of nobility in German-speaking areas. Traditionally it denotes the second lowest rank within the nobility, standing above "Edler" and below "Freiherr"...
, as in the name Otto Ritter von Dandl, is not a name but a noble title, considered roughly equal to the title Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
or Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
.
Sources
- Universitätsbibliothek Regensburg - Bosls bayrische Biographie - Otto Ritter von Dandl (in German) author: Karl Bosl, publisher: Pustet, page 127