Baldur von Schirach
Baldur von Schirach | |
|---|---|
Schirach as Reichsstatthalter, 1942 | |
| Reich Youth Leader of the Nazi Party | |
| In office 30 October 1931 – 8 August 1940 | |
| Deputy | Karl Nabersberg Hartmann Lauterbacher Artur Axmann |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Artur Axmann |
| Reichsstatthalter of Reichsgau Vienna | |
| In office 8 August 1940 – 8 May 1945 | |
| Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | Josef Bürckel |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Gauleiter of Reichsgau Vienna | |
| In office 8 August 1940 – 8 May 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Josef Bürckel |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Additional positions | |
| 1944–1945 | Commander of the Volkssturm in Reichsgau Wien |
| 1940–1945 | Deputy to the Führer for Inspection of the Hitler Youth |
| 1933–1945 | Reichsleiter for Youth Education of the Nazi Party |
| 1933–1945 | Member of the Greater German Reichstag |
| 1932–1933 | Member of the Reichstag |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Baldur Benedikt von Schirach 9 May 1907 Berlin, Germany |
| Died | 8 August 1974 (aged 67) Kröv, West Germany |
| Party | Nazi Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Richard von Schirach |
| Civilian awards | Hitler Youth Golden Honour Badge with Diamonds and Rubies Golden Party Badge |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Branch/service | German Army |
| Years of service | 1939–1940 |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland |
| Battles/wars | Battle of France |
| Military awards | Iron Cross, 2nd class |
| Criminal information | |
| Conviction | Crimes against humanity |
| Trial | Nuremberg trials |
| Criminal penalty | 20 years imprisonment |
Baldur Benedikt von Schirach (German pronunciation: [ˈbaldʊʁ ˈbeːnedɪkt fɔn ˈʃiːʁax]; 9 May 1907 – 8 August 1974) was a German Nazi politician and convicted war criminal who was the leader (Reichsjugendführer) of the Hitler Youth from 1931 to 1940. From 1940 to 1945, he was the Gauleiter (district leader) and Reichsstatthalter (Reich governor) of Vienna.
A member of the Nazi Party from the age of 18, Schirach was named national youth leader of the party in 1931. In 1932, he was elected as a deputy to the Reichstag. After Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, he was appointed Jugendführer (Youth Leader) of the German Reich, responsible for all youth organizations in the nation. In 1940, Schirach saw action as an infantryman in the French Campaign, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class. In 1940, Schirach was appointed Gauleiter of the Reichsgau Vienna; Artur Axmann succeeded him as leader of the Hitler Youth. A virulent antisemite, he was responsible for deporting 65,000 Viennese Jews to various Nazi concentration camps in German-occupied Poland.
In April 1945, facing Red Army advance, Schirach fled from Vienna to Tyrol, where he later surrendered to American forces. At the Nuremberg trials, he was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 20 years in prison. After completing his sentence at Spandau in 1966, Schirach retired to southern Germany. He died in 1974 at the age of 67.