Reichsminister, SS-Obergruppenführer, Hauptmann d.R. a.D., Dr. jur. Hans Heinrich Lammers
* 27.05.1879, Lublinitz (today Lubliniec, near Katowice)/Upper Silesia (Oberschlesien)
+ 04.01.1962, Düsseldorf
- Head of the Reich Chancellery (Chef der Reichskanzlei)
Hans Heinrich Lammers was born in a family of a veterinarian (father Johannes Lammers, mother Anna, née Hielscher). After studying at the Evangelical Fürstenschule in Pless and subsequently studying at the law school in Breslau (today's Wrocław) and Heidelberg, he entered the Imperial Army for one year's service. In 1901 he entered the service of the Prussian judiciary; thereafter he served for a short period as a university assistant, and then practised as a lawyer for a few months. Later he decides to take up the judicial profession, which, after passing the state examination in 1907, he carries out for several years as an assistant judge (Hilfsrichter) at the Landgericht (Landgericht) in Breslau. In 1912 he becomes a judge of the district court (Amtsgericht) in Beuthen (now Bytom, Poland).
After the outbreak of World War I, he volunteers for the army in 1914 and is assigned as a lieutenant in reserve (Leutnant d.R.) to the Schlesischen Infanterie-regiment, and later to the 51st Infanterie-regiment, the Schlesische Infanterie-regiment. Infanterie-regiment. Already in 1914 he is awarded the Iron Cross II Class (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse) and shortly afterwards the Ith Class (EK I. Klasse). In 1917 he is severely wounded and loses his left eye, as a result of which he is transferred from the front to the Imperial Generalgouvernement Warschau, where he serves as an administrative (clerical) officer (Verwaltungsoffizier). The end of the war finds him at the rank of Hauptmann der Reserve.
After the end of the war, Lammers joins the Reich Ministry of the Interior (Reichsinnenministeriums) in 1921 as Chief Government Counsellor (Oberregierungsrat), and is promoted to the rank of Ministerial Counsellor (Ministerialrat) in 1922. A convinced monarchist and national conservative, he joined the German National People's Party (Deutschnationale Volkspartei-DNVP), from where he defected to the NSDAP in 1932. He is also a member of the Stahlhelm Union of Front Fighters. Officially, his party membership is registered from 1.3.1932 (NSDAP-No.: 1 010 355). On 29.1.1933 Lammers is introduced to Adolf Hitler, on the recommendation of Wilhelm Frick, Hitler's legal advisor at the time. Hitler offers Lammers the post of State Chancellor in the Reich Chancellery, as he is in need of an expert in state and administrative law. Lammers accepts the offer and the very next day (30 January 1933) is appointed State Secretary (Staatssekretär) by Reich President Paul von Hindenburg. In November/November 1933 he became head of the Reich Chancellery (Reichskanzlei), a post he held until 1945, from 26.11.1937 at the level of minister without portfolio. In addition, he is head of the Reich Association of German Administrative (administrative) Academies (Führer des Reichsverbandes Deutscher Verwaltungs-Akademien), a member of the Academy for German Law (Mitglied der Akademie für Deutsches Recht) and Prussian State Councillor (Preußischer Staatsrat).
On the orders of Adolf Hitler, Lammers joins the Allgemeine SS (SS-Nr.: 118 401) on 29 September 1933, where he is immediately assigned the rank of Oberführer. He is subsequently promoted to the rank of Brigadeführer on 20.4.1935, to the rank of Gruppenführer on 30.1.1938, and finally to Obergruppenführer on 20.4.1940. The individual promotions, however, are more in the nature of honorary ranks, and in the circles of the SS leadership Lammers is referred to as a "simple uniform wearer" ("reiner Uniformträger").
The prominence of the position of Lammers, resp. The importance of Lammers's position of trust in Hitler is illustrated, for example, by the fact that when Hitler on 23.4.1938, he drew up a political will in which he named Hermann Göring as his successor in the event of his death, while Rudolf Hess was to take over the leadership of the NSDAP, he entrusted one of the two copies of the will to Lammers, while the other was retained by Hitler himself. Also his personal will, written in his own handwriting by Hitler on 2 May.1938, he entrusted it to Lammers, who in the event of Hitler's death was to hand it over to the executor of his last will, whom Hitler designated as the NSDAP treasurer Franz Xaver Schwarz (Reichsschatzmeister der NSDAP), or Reichschatzmeister der NSDAP. In the event of his death, the Reichsleiter (Reichsleiter) Martin Bormann.
On 30.8.1939, Hitler signs a decree, a draft of which is created within hours at the instigation of Hermann Göring, creating the Ministerial Council for the Defence of the Reich (Ministerrat für die Reichsverteidigung), with broad powers to pass decrees. The council was chaired by Hermann Göring, and its other members were Lammers, Rudolf Hess, Wilhelm Keitel and also Wilhelm Frick as plenipotentiary for the administration of the Reich (Generalbevollmächtige für die Reichsverwaltung) and Walther Funk as Plenipotentiary for the Economy (Generalbevollmächtige für die Wirtschaft). With this decree, Hitler made it clear that he was withdrawing from the routine administrative work of the Reich government and would concentrate all his efforts on warfare and foreign policy.
Starting in January/January 1943, Lammers presides over cabinet meetings in Hitler's absence, and after a backroom deal with Martin Bormann, the two gain near-exclusive power over the control of access to persons or documents to the Führer.
As the end of the war approaches, so does the end of H.H. Lammers' career. On March 27, 1945, he submits the papers for signature for the last time, as Hitler sends him on medical leave. The official reason is his high blood pressure, but in reality the 65-year-old Lammers has a nervous breakdown.
Because he advises General Karl Koller, chief of the Luftwaffe staff, on the wording of Göring's telegram of 23 April.1945, in which Göring proposes to the Führer that he take over the entire leadership of the Reich, Lammers falls out of favor with Hitler and, with the abundant help of the intrigues of M. Bormann's arrest and shooting order is issued. Ironically, he is saved from death by his capture by American soldiers. During the turmoil after the armistice is declared, Lammers loses his wife and daughter Ilse Hoffmann-Lammers, who commit suicide on May 8 and 10, 1945, respectively.
On April 8 and 9, 1945, Lammers and his wife, Ilse Hoffmann-Lammers, commit suicide.1946 Lammers appears as a witness in the Nuremberg Trials against the main war criminals and three years later, on 11.4.1949, he himself is sentenced in the so-called Wilhelmstrassenprozess to twenty years imprisonment for crimes against peace and war crimes (anti-Jewish measures). His imprisonment from 11.5.1945 is included in his sentence, but already on 31.1.1951 his sentence is adjusted to ten years imprisonment by the American High Commissioner McCloy, and on 16.12.1951 he is pardoned and released from prison.
He dies at the age of 83 in Düsseldorf.
Honours:
1914 Iron Cross II Class (1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse): ?
Iron Cross 1914 1st Class (1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse): ?
Cross of Honour for Front Fighters (Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer): ?
Landesorden: ?
Gold Party Badge (Goldenes Parteiabzeichen): 31.1.1937
Honorary Dagger of the Reich SS Leader (Ehrendegen des RF SS): ?Totenkopfring der SS (Totenkopfring of the SS): ?
Cross for faithful service (Treuedienst-Ehrenzeichen): 6.7.1939
* 27.05.1879, Lublinitz (today Lubliniec, near Katowice)/Upper Silesia (Oberschlesien)
+ 04.01.1962, Düsseldorf
- Head of the Reich Chancellery (Chef der Reichskanzlei)
Hans Heinrich Lammers was born in a family of a veterinarian (father Johannes Lammers, mother Anna, née Hielscher). After studying at the Evangelical Fürstenschule in Pless and subsequently studying at the law school in Breslau (today's Wrocław) and Heidelberg, he entered the Imperial Army for one year's service. In 1901 he entered the service of the Prussian judiciary; thereafter he served for a short period as a university assistant, and then practised as a lawyer for a few months. Later he decides to take up the judicial profession, which, after passing the state examination in 1907, he carries out for several years as an assistant judge (Hilfsrichter) at the Landgericht (Landgericht) in Breslau. In 1912 he becomes a judge of the district court (Amtsgericht) in Beuthen (now Bytom, Poland).
After the outbreak of World War I, he volunteers for the army in 1914 and is assigned as a lieutenant in reserve (Leutnant d.R.) to the Schlesischen Infanterie-regiment, and later to the 51st Infanterie-regiment, the Schlesische Infanterie-regiment. Infanterie-regiment. Already in 1914 he is awarded the Iron Cross II Class (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse) and shortly afterwards the Ith Class (EK I. Klasse). In 1917 he is severely wounded and loses his left eye, as a result of which he is transferred from the front to the Imperial Generalgouvernement Warschau, where he serves as an administrative (clerical) officer (Verwaltungsoffizier). The end of the war finds him at the rank of Hauptmann der Reserve.
After the end of the war, Lammers joins the Reich Ministry of the Interior (Reichsinnenministeriums) in 1921 as Chief Government Counsellor (Oberregierungsrat), and is promoted to the rank of Ministerial Counsellor (Ministerialrat) in 1922. A convinced monarchist and national conservative, he joined the German National People's Party (Deutschnationale Volkspartei-DNVP), from where he defected to the NSDAP in 1932. He is also a member of the Stahlhelm Union of Front Fighters. Officially, his party membership is registered from 1.3.1932 (NSDAP-No.: 1 010 355). On 29.1.1933 Lammers is introduced to Adolf Hitler, on the recommendation of Wilhelm Frick, Hitler's legal advisor at the time. Hitler offers Lammers the post of State Chancellor in the Reich Chancellery, as he is in need of an expert in state and administrative law. Lammers accepts the offer and the very next day (30 January 1933) is appointed State Secretary (Staatssekretär) by Reich President Paul von Hindenburg. In November/November 1933 he became head of the Reich Chancellery (Reichskanzlei), a post he held until 1945, from 26.11.1937 at the level of minister without portfolio. In addition, he is head of the Reich Association of German Administrative (administrative) Academies (Führer des Reichsverbandes Deutscher Verwaltungs-Akademien), a member of the Academy for German Law (Mitglied der Akademie für Deutsches Recht) and Prussian State Councillor (Preußischer Staatsrat).
On the orders of Adolf Hitler, Lammers joins the Allgemeine SS (SS-Nr.: 118 401) on 29 September 1933, where he is immediately assigned the rank of Oberführer. He is subsequently promoted to the rank of Brigadeführer on 20.4.1935, to the rank of Gruppenführer on 30.1.1938, and finally to Obergruppenführer on 20.4.1940. The individual promotions, however, are more in the nature of honorary ranks, and in the circles of the SS leadership Lammers is referred to as a "simple uniform wearer" ("reiner Uniformträger").
The prominence of the position of Lammers, resp. The importance of Lammers's position of trust in Hitler is illustrated, for example, by the fact that when Hitler on 23.4.1938, he drew up a political will in which he named Hermann Göring as his successor in the event of his death, while Rudolf Hess was to take over the leadership of the NSDAP, he entrusted one of the two copies of the will to Lammers, while the other was retained by Hitler himself. Also his personal will, written in his own handwriting by Hitler on 2 May.1938, he entrusted it to Lammers, who in the event of Hitler's death was to hand it over to the executor of his last will, whom Hitler designated as the NSDAP treasurer Franz Xaver Schwarz (Reichsschatzmeister der NSDAP), or Reichschatzmeister der NSDAP. In the event of his death, the Reichsleiter (Reichsleiter) Martin Bormann.
On 30.8.1939, Hitler signs a decree, a draft of which is created within hours at the instigation of Hermann Göring, creating the Ministerial Council for the Defence of the Reich (Ministerrat für die Reichsverteidigung), with broad powers to pass decrees. The council was chaired by Hermann Göring, and its other members were Lammers, Rudolf Hess, Wilhelm Keitel and also Wilhelm Frick as plenipotentiary for the administration of the Reich (Generalbevollmächtige für die Reichsverwaltung) and Walther Funk as Plenipotentiary for the Economy (Generalbevollmächtige für die Wirtschaft). With this decree, Hitler made it clear that he was withdrawing from the routine administrative work of the Reich government and would concentrate all his efforts on warfare and foreign policy.
Starting in January/January 1943, Lammers presides over cabinet meetings in Hitler's absence, and after a backroom deal with Martin Bormann, the two gain near-exclusive power over the control of access to persons or documents to the Führer.
As the end of the war approaches, so does the end of H.H. Lammers' career. On March 27, 1945, he submits the papers for signature for the last time, as Hitler sends him on medical leave. The official reason is his high blood pressure, but in reality the 65-year-old Lammers has a nervous breakdown.
Because he advises General Karl Koller, chief of the Luftwaffe staff, on the wording of Göring's telegram of 23 April.1945, in which Göring proposes to the Führer that he take over the entire leadership of the Reich, Lammers falls out of favor with Hitler and, with the abundant help of the intrigues of M. Bormann's arrest and shooting order is issued. Ironically, he is saved from death by his capture by American soldiers. During the turmoil after the armistice is declared, Lammers loses his wife and daughter Ilse Hoffmann-Lammers, who commit suicide on May 8 and 10, 1945, respectively.
On April 8 and 9, 1945, Lammers and his wife, Ilse Hoffmann-Lammers, commit suicide.1946 Lammers appears as a witness in the Nuremberg Trials against the main war criminals and three years later, on 11.4.1949, he himself is sentenced in the so-called Wilhelmstrassenprozess to twenty years imprisonment for crimes against peace and war crimes (anti-Jewish measures). His imprisonment from 11.5.1945 is included in his sentence, but already on 31.1.1951 his sentence is adjusted to ten years imprisonment by the American High Commissioner McCloy, and on 16.12.1951 he is pardoned and released from prison.
He dies at the age of 83 in Düsseldorf.
Honours:
1914 Iron Cross II Class (1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse): ?
Iron Cross 1914 1st Class (1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse): ?
Cross of Honour for Front Fighters (Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer): ?
Landesorden: ?
Gold Party Badge (Goldenes Parteiabzeichen): 31.1.1937
Honorary Dagger of the Reich SS Leader (Ehrendegen des RF SS): ?Totenkopfring der SS (Totenkopfring of the SS): ?
Cross for faithful service (Treuedienst-Ehrenzeichen): 6.7.1939
