Konstantin von Neurath

German general and Nazi war criminal (1873-1956)

Konstantin Freiherr[1] von Neurath (2 February 1873 in Vaihingen – 14 August 1956 in Vaihingen) was a German politician and diplomat. He was the Foreign minister of Germany between 1932 and 1938. In those early years of Adolf Hitler's regime, Von Neurath played an important role in the foreign policy. He helped the Nazi dictator to get around the Treaty of Versailles. He also helped in the territorial expansion before World War II. Hitler replaced Von Neurath with the more compliant and fervent Nazi Joachim von Ribbentrop.

Konstantin von Neurath
Reichsprotektor von Neurath, 1939
Reich Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
In office
1 June 1932 – 4 February 1938
PresidentPaul von Hindenburg (1932-1934)
Adolf Hitler (1934-1938)
ChancellorFranz von Papen (1932)
Kurt von Schleicher (1932-1933)
Adolf Hitler (1933-1938)
Preceded byHeinrich Brüning
Succeeded byJoachim von Ribbentrop
Protector of Bohemia and Moravia
In office
21 March 1939 – 24 August 1943
Appointed byAdolf Hitler
Preceded byNew post
Succeeded byReinhard Heydrich (de facto from 29 September 1941)
Wilhelm Frick (de iure)
Personal details
Born(1873-02-02)2 February 1873
Kleinglattbach
German Empire
Died14 August 1956(1956-08-14) (aged 83)
Enzweihingen
West Germany
Political partyIndependent (1932-1937)
Nazi (1937-1945)

Von Neurath served as Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia between 1939 and 1943. When he started to work for SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich his authority became nominal. He was one of the 24 accused at the Nuremberg Trials. He was sentenced to 15 years in Spandau Prison. He was freed in 1954.

Von Neurath was ambassador in Italy from 1921 to 1930 and ambassador in the United Kingdom from 1930 to 1932.

References change

  1. About personal names: Freiherr is a title, usually translated as Baron. It is not a first or middle name. The female forms are Freifrau and Freiin.