Werner Otto von Hentig
Encyclopedia
Werner Otto von Hentig was a German
diplomat
from Berlin
. He was the elder brother of criminal psychologist
Hans von Hentig and the father of Hartmut von Hentig.
Hentig joined the Imperial German diplomatic service in 1909 and was posted as an attache to the German mission at Beijing
, and was later posted to Constantinopole and Tehran
. During World War I
he was wounded in the Battle of Masuria, and later in 1915 led, along with Oskar Niedermayer, the German mission to Kabul that sought to enlist the Afghan Amir's support for the Central Powers
and attack British India.
At the end of the war, Hentig was attached to the embassy at Constantinopole, before becoming active in repatriation of German prisoners of war from Siberia
. In 1924, he was appointed the ambassador to Poznan
. In the 1920s, Hentig became involved in the German Youth Movement
. In the 1930s, he was appointed the German Consul General to San Francisco and later Bogotá
when in 1935, attempts were made to assassinate him.
As the Middle East historian Wolfgang G. Schwanitz
of New Jersey proved in his research, Hentig did cultivate a bitter rivalry with another foremost German envoy to the Middle East, Dr. Fritz Grobba
. This shaped the German Middle Eastern policy: Hentig obstructed the expansion of World War II to the Middle East. Whereas Grobba belonged in both world wars to Foreign Office's faction that favored the massive incitement of Muslims to jihad in the colonial hinterland of Britain, France, and Russia, Hentig opposed it. Though he had switched sides for during World War I he did spread jihad ideas himself in his secret mission to Kabul, Afghanistan, due to the Ottoman-German conspiracy to instigate Muslims for a Holy War.
After World War II
, he was the West German
ambassador to Indonesia
. Following his retirement, he also served as the personal advisor to the Saudi Royal Family for nearly two years.
In 1961, Hentig, along with Bogislaw von Bonin
, Herman Schwann, Wolf Schenke and Theodor Kogler, was one of the cofounders of the Association of German National Assembly.
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...
from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He was the elder brother of criminal psychologist
Criminal psychology
Criminal psychology is the study of the wills, thoughts, intentions and reactions of criminals. It is related to the field of criminal anthropology. The study goes deeply into what makes someone commit crime, but also the reactions after the crime, on the run or in court...
Hans von Hentig and the father of Hartmut von Hentig.
Hentig joined the Imperial German diplomatic service in 1909 and was posted as an attache to the German mission at Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, and was later posted to Constantinopole and Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. During 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...
he was wounded in the Battle of Masuria, and later in 1915 led, along with Oskar Niedermayer, the German mission to Kabul that sought to enlist the Afghan Amir's support for the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
and attack British India.
At the end of the war, Hentig was attached to the embassy at Constantinopole, before becoming active in repatriation of German prisoners of war from Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. In 1924, he was appointed the ambassador to Poznan
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...
. In the 1920s, Hentig became involved in the German Youth Movement
German Youth Movement
The German Youth Movement is a collective term for a cultural and educational movement that started in 1896. It consists of numerous associations of young people that focus on outdoor activities. The movement included German Scouting and the Wandervogel...
. In the 1930s, he was appointed the German Consul General to San Francisco and later Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
when in 1935, attempts were made to assassinate him.
As the Middle East historian Wolfgang G. Schwanitz
Wolfgang G. Schwanitz
Wolfgang G. Schwanitz is a German-American Middle East historian. He is a specialist in comparative studies of modern international relations between the United States, the Middle East, and Europe...
of New Jersey proved in his research, Hentig did cultivate a bitter rivalry with another foremost German envoy to the Middle East, Dr. Fritz Grobba
Fritz Grobba
Fritz Konrad Ferdinand Grobba is best remembered for being a German diplomat during the interwar period and World War II.-Biography:...
. This shaped the German Middle Eastern policy: Hentig obstructed the expansion of World War II to the Middle East. Whereas Grobba belonged in both world wars to Foreign Office's faction that favored the massive incitement of Muslims to jihad in the colonial hinterland of Britain, France, and Russia, Hentig opposed it. Though he had switched sides for during World War I he did spread jihad ideas himself in his secret mission to Kabul, Afghanistan, due to the Ottoman-German conspiracy to instigate Muslims for a Holy War.
After 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...
, he was the West German
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....
ambassador to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Following his retirement, he also served as the personal advisor to the Saudi Royal Family for nearly two years.
In 1961, Hentig, along with Bogislaw von Bonin
Bogislaw von Bonin
Bogislaw von Bonin was a German Wehrmacht officer and journalist.- Early life :Bonin was born in Potsdam, Province of Brandenburg and joined the 4. Reiterregiment of the German Reichswehr in 1926...
, Herman Schwann, Wolf Schenke and Theodor Kogler, was one of the cofounders of the Association of German National Assembly.