From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hitler Cabinet
Hitler Cabinet
von Papen chose to resign after the Night of the Long
Knives in 1934, his post was not filled again. After von
Hindenburg’s death on 2 August 1934, Hitler also as-
sumed his office as head of state, styling himself Führer
und Reichskanzler.
From the beginning, Hitler did not admit any votings
but expected the ministers to obey his orders. The cabi-
net met less and less often, the last session being held on
5 February 1938.
Besides Hitler himself, Lutz Graf Schwerin von
Krosigk and Wilhelm Frick were the only people to serve
in the cabinet continuously from Hitler’s appointment as
Chancellor until his death.
Press session on 30 January 1933, standing from left: Schwerin
von Krosigk, Frick, von Blomberg, Hugenberg, sitting: Göring,
Hitler, von Papen
Composition
The Reich cabinet consisted of the following Ministers:
The Hitler Cabinet de jure formed the government of Office Incumbent In office Party
Nazi Germany between 30 January 1933 and 30 April 1945
Chancellor Adolf Hitler 30 Jan- NSDAP
upon the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of the
uary 1933
German Reich by President Paul von Hindenburg – con-
– 30 April
trived by the national conservative politician Franz von
1945
Papen, who reserved the office of the Vice-Chancellor for
himself. Vice-Chancel- Franz von Papen 30 Jan- none
lor uary 1933 (Centre
– 7 August until
Formation 1934 1932)
Hitler succeeded the conservative Chancellor Kurt von Minister of Konstantin von 30 Jan- none
Schleicher and similar to the preceding cabinets of the Foreign Affairs Neurath uary 1933 (NSDAP
Weimar Republic, the parties of his coalition govern- – 4 Febru- from
ment, NSDAP and DNVP, initially had no majority in the ary 1938 1937)
Reichstag parliament until the elections of March 1933.
Joachim von 4 Febru- NSDAP
The conservative plans to "enframe" the Nazis failed: af-
Ribbentrop ary 1938 –
ter the Enabling Act had passed on March 24, Hitler was
30 April
no longer dependent neither on presidential decrees ac-
1945
cording to Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution nor on
the support of his coalition partner. On 27 June 1933 the Minister of the Wilhelm Frick 30 Jan- NSDAP
DNVP officially dissolved, with its Reichstag MPs joining Interior uary 1933
the Nazi Party. – 24 Au-
At first, only three members of the cabinet were affil- gust 1943
iated to the NSDAP: Hitler himself, Wilhelm Frick heading Heinrich Himm- 24 August
the strategically important Interior ministry, and Her- ler 1943 – 30
mann Göring as Minister without portfolio. Shortly after- April 1945
wards, Joseph Goebbels entered the cabinet upon the es- Minister of Fi- Lutz Graf Schw- 30 Jan- none
tablishment of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and nance erin von Krosigk uary 1933 (NSDAP
Propaganda, furthermore the former Stahlhelm leader – 30 April from
Franz Seldte, the Minister for Labour, joined the Nazi 1945 1937)
Party in April 1933. After the dissolution of the DNVP in
Minister of Franz Gürtner † 30 Jan- DNVP
June, the party’s "strong man" Alfred Hugenberg, who
Justice uary 1933 (NSDAP
had held two ministerial posts, retired. Vice-Chancellor
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hitler Cabinet
– 29 Jan- from April
uary 1941 1937) 1933)
Franz Schlegel- 29 Jan- NSDAP Minister for Paul Freiherr 30 Jan- none
berger (acting) uary 1941 Postal Affairs von Eltz-Rübe- uary 1933
– 24 Au- nach – 2 Febru-
gust 1942 ary 1937
Otto Georg 24 August Wilhelm Ohne- 2 Febru- NSDAP
Thierack 1942 – 30 sorge ary 1937 –
April 1945 30 April
Minister of the Werner von 30 Jan- none 1945
Reichswehr Blomberg uary 1933 Minister for Paul Freiherr 30 Jan- none
(from 1935: of – 5 Febru- Transport von Eltz-Rübe- uary 1933
War) ary 1938 nach – 2 Febru-
Wilhelm Keitel 5 Febru- ary 1937
(as Chief of the ary 1938 – Julius Dorp- 2 Febru- none
OKW) 30 April müller ary 1937 – (NSDAP
1945 30 April from
Minister for Alfred Hugen- 30 Jan- DNVP 1945 1941)
Economics berg uary Minister of Joseph Goebbels 13 March NSDAP
1933– 29 Public Enlight- 1933 – 30
June 1933 enment and April 1945
Kurt Schmitt 29 June NSDAP Propaganda
1933 – 3 Minister of Hermann Göring 5 May NSDAP
August Aviation 1933 – 24
1934 April 1945
Hjalmar Schacht 3 August none Minister for Bernhard Rust 1 May NSDAP
1934 – 26 (NSDAP Science and 1934 – 30
November from Education April 1945
1937 1937) Minister for Hanns Kerrl † 16 July NSDAP
Hermann Göring 26 NSDAP Church Affairs 1935 – 15
November December
1937 – 15 1941
January Hermann Muhs 15 Decem-
1938 (acting) ber 1941 –
Walther Funk 5 Febru- 30 April
ary 1938 – 1945
30 April Minister for Fritz Todt † 17 March NSDAP
1945 Armaments 1940 – 8
Minister for Alfred Hugen- 30 Jan- DNVP and Ammuni- February
Food and Agri- berg uary tion 1942
culture 1933– 29 (from 1943: for Albert Speer 8 Febru-
June 1933 Armaments ary 1942 –
Richard Walther 29 June NSDAP and War Pro- 30 April
Darré 1933 – 23 duction) 1945
May 1942 Minister for Alfred Rosen- 17 NSDAP
Herbert Backe 23 May the Occupied berg November
1942 - 30 Eastern Terri- 1941 - 30
April 1945 tories April 1945
Minister for Franz Seldte 30 Jan- NSDAP Minister of Karl Hermann 20 August NSDAP
Labour uary 1933 (from State for Bo- Frank 1943 - 30
– 30 April 30 hemia and April 1945
1945 Moravia
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hitler Cabinet
Ministers Hermann Göring 30 Jan- NSDAP • June 1933: Kurt Schmitt succeeds Hugenberg as
without port- uary 1933 Minister of Economics. Richard Walther Darré
folio - 28 April succeeds Hugenberg as Minister of Food.
(from 1938: 1933 • December 1933: Ernst Röhm and Rudolf Hess enter
Reich Minis- the Cabinet as Ministers without Portfolio.
Ernst Röhm (SA 1 Decem-
ters) • May 1934: Bernhard Rust enters the Cabinet as
Chief) † ber 1933 -
Minister of Science and Education.
1 July
• June 1934: Hanns Kerrl enters the Cabinet as
1934
Minister without Portfolio. Röhm, Minister without
Rudolf Hess 1 Decem- Portfolio, is murdered.
(Deputy Führer) ber 1933 - • July 1934: Göring takes another portfolio as Minister
10 May of Forestry.
1941 • August 1934: Vice-Chancellor Franz von Papen leaves
Hanns Kerrl 16 April the cabinet. A new Vice-Chancellor is not installed.
1934 - 18 Hjalmar Schacht succeeds Schmitt as Minister of
July 1935 Economics.
Hans Frank 19 Decem- • December 1934: Hans Frank enters the Cabinet as
(Governor-Gen- ber 1934 - Minister without Portfolio.
eral from 1939) 30 April • March 1935: Göring takes yet another portfolio as
1945 Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe.
• May 1935: The title of Minister of Defense is replaced
Hjalmar Schacht 26
by that of Minister of War. Blomberg retains the
November
office.
1937 - 22
• July 1935: Hanns Kerrl takes a portfolio as Minister of
January
Ecclesiastical Affairs.
1943
• April 1936: Werner von Fritsch, Commander-in-Chief
Otto Meissner 1 Decem- of the Army, and Erich Raeder, Commander in Chief
(Chief of Presi- ber 1937 - of the Navy, join the Cabinet.
dential Chan- 30 April • February 1937: Wilhelm Ohnesorge succeeds Eltz as
cellery) 1945 Minister of Posts. Julius Dorpmüller succeeds Eltz as
Hans Lammers 1 Decem- Minister of Transport.
(Chief of Reich ber 1937 - • November 1937: Hermann Göring succeeds Schacht
Chancellery) 30 April as Minister of Economics. Schacht becomes Minister
1945 without Portfolio.
• December 1937: Otto Meissner enters the Cabinet as
Arthur Seyss-In- 1 May
Minister of State and Head of the Chancellery.
quart 1939 - 30
• January 1938: Walter Funk succeeds Göring as
April 1945
Minister of Economics.
Martin Bormann 12 May • February 1938: Joachim von Ribbentrop replaces
(Chief of Nazi 1941 - 30 Neurath as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Neurath
Party Chan- April 1945 becomes Minister without Portfolio. Blomberg
cellery) resigns as Minister of War and his office is abolished.
Wilhelm Frick 24 August His role is taken by General Wilhelm Keitel as
(Reich Protec- 1943 – 30 Director of the OKW. Walther von Brauchitsch
tor) April 1945 succeeds Fritsch as Commander-in-Chief of the
Army.
• May 1939: Arthur Seyss-Inquart enters the Cabinet as
Changes Minister without Portfolio.
• March 1933: Joseph Goebbels enters the cabinet as • March 1940: Fritz Todt becomes Minister of
Minister of Propaganda. Armaments and Ammunition.
• April 1933: Franz Seldte becomes a member of the • January 1941: Franz Schlegelberger succeeds Gürtner
NSDAP; Göring takes a portfolio as Minister of as Minister of Justice.
Aviation. • May 1941: Rudolf Hess is suspended from the
Cabinet.
• July 1941: Alfred Rosenberg enters the Cabinet as
Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories.
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hitler Cabinet
• December 1941: Hanns Kerrl, the Minister of and is elevated to Minister of Armaments and War
Ecclesiastical Affairs, dies. He is not replaced. Hitler Production.
himself takes up the position of Commander-in-Chief • July 1944: Schacht departs the Cabinet.
of the Army.
• February 1942: Albert Speer succeeds Todt as
Minister of Armaments and Ammunition.
End of Cabinet
• May 1942: Herbert Backe succeeds Darré as Minister As the Third Reich government was disintegrating at the
of Food. end of the Second World War and following Hitler’s death
• August 1942: Otto Georg Thierack succeeds on 30 April 1945, it was succeeded by the short-lived
Schlegelberger as Minister of Justice. Cabinet Schwerin von Krosigk of the Flensburg govern-
• January 1943: Karl Dönitz succeeds Raeder as ment.
Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.
• January 1943: Hans Lammers appointed President of
Reich Cabinet (Cabinet President in Hitler’s absence)
Notes and references
• August 1943: Heinrich Himmler succeeds Frick as This article incorporates information from the
Minister of the Interior. equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.
• September 1943: Albert Speer’s ministerial authority
is extended to cover the entire German war industry,
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hitler_Cabinet&oldid=472273561"
Categories:
• Adolf Hitler
• Historic German cabinets
• Nazi Germany ministers
• World War II German government
• 1933 establishments in Germany
• 1945 disestablishments
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