Konstantin von Neurath
| Konstantin von Neurath | |
|---|---|
Neurath as a Reichsprotektor in 1939
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Reichsminister of Foreign Affairs Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
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In office 1 June 1932 – 4 February 1938 |
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| President | Paul von Hindenburg (1932–34) Adolf Hitler (Führer; 1934–38) |
| Chancellor |
Franz von Papen (1932) Kurt von Schleicher (1932–33) Adolf Hitler (1933–38) |
| Preceded by | Heinrich Brüning |
| Succeeded by | Joachim von Ribbentrop |
| Protector of Bohemia and Moravia | |
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In office 21 March 1939 – 24 August 1943 |
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| Appointed by | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | new post |
| Succeeded by |
Reinhard Heydrich (de facto) Wilhelm Frick (de jure) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Konstantin Hermann Karl Freiherr von Neurath 2 February 1873 Kleinglattbach, German Empire |
| Died | 14 August 1956 (aged 83) Enzweihingen West Germany |
| Political party | Independent (1932–37) Nazi (1937–45) |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Auguste Moser von Filseck |
| Children | 2 |
| Signature |  |
Konstantin Hermann Karl Freiherr von Neurath (2 February 1873 – 14 August 1956) was a German diplomat remembered mostly for having served as Foreign minister of Germany between 1932 and 1938. Holding this post in the early years of Adolf Hitler's regime, Neurath was regarded as playing a key role in the foreign policy pursuits of the Nazi dictator in undermining the Treaty of Versailles and territorial expansion in the prelude to World War II, although he was often tactically if not necessarily ideologically. This aversion eventually induced Hitler to replace Neurath with the more compliant and fervent Nazi Joachim von Ribbentrop.
Neurath served as "Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia" between 1939 and 1943, though his authority was only nominal after September 1941. He was tried as a major war criminal in Nuremberg and sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment for his compliance and actions in the Nazi regime.
Neurath was born at the manor of Kleinglattbach (since 1972 part of Vaihingen an der Enz) in Württemberg, the scion of a Swabian dynasty of Freiherren. His grandfather Constantin Franz von Neurath had served as Foreign Minister under King Charles I of Württemberg (reigned 1864–1891); his father Konstantin Sebastian von Neurath (died 1912) had been a Free Conservative member of the German Reichstag parliament and Chamberlain of King William II of Württemberg.
He studied law in Tübingen and in Berlin. After graduating in 1897 he initially joined a local law firm in his home town. In 1901 he entered into civil service and worked for the Foreign Office in Berlin. In 1903 he was assigned to the German embassy in London, at first as Vice-Consul and from 1909 as Legationsrat (legation counsel). Following the visit of the Prince of Wales to the Kingdom of Württemberg in 1904, as Lord Chamberlain to King William II, he was created an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Neurath's career was decisively advanced by Secretary of State Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter. In 1914 he was sent to the embassy in Constantinople.
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