# Konstantin von Neurath

> German Foreign Minister, Ambassador and Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia, general and Nazi war criminal (1873-1956)

**Wikidata**: [Q153421](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q153421)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_von_Neurath)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/konstantin-von-neurath

## Summary
Konstantin von Neurath was a German diplomat, politician, lawyer, and general who served as Foreign Minister and Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia during the Nazi era. Born in 1873 and dying in 1956, he was a member of the Nazi Party and the Schutzstaffel (SS), and was ultimately convicted as a Nazi war criminal for his role in the occupation and governance of Czechoslovakia.

## Biography
- Born: February 2, 1873
- Died: August 14, 1956
- Full Name: Konstantin Hermann Karl von Neurath (also known as Konstantin Freiherr von Neurath)
- Nationality: Germany
- Education: University of Tübingen, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Occupation: Politician, Diplomat, Lawyer, General
- Known for: Serving as German Foreign Minister, Ambassador, and Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia; convicted Nazi war criminal
- Affiliations: Nazi Party member, Schutzstaffel (SS) member
- Children: 2
- Conflicts: World War I

## Contributions
- **Foreign Minister of Germany**: Directed the foreign policy of Nazi Germany during its early expansionist period.
- **Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia**: Served as the senior German administrator over occupied Czech territories following invasion.
- **Ambassador**: Represented German diplomatic interests internationally.
- **Military Service**: Served as a general and participated in World War I (1914–1918), later receiving the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918.
- **SS Membership**: Held membership in the Schutzstaffel (SS), the Nazi paramilitary organization active from 1925 to 1945 that conducted the mass murder of European Jews during the Holocaust.

## FAQs

**What was Konstantin von Neurath's role in World War II?**
Von Neurath served as Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia, the senior German authority over occupied Czech lands. His governance in this position contributed to his conviction as a Nazi war criminal.

**What awards did Konstantin von Neurath receive?**
He received the Golden Party Badge (for early Nazi Party membership), the Order of the German Eagle, the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918, the Sudetenland Medal, and the SS Long Service Award.

**Where was Konstantin von Neurath educated?**
He studied at the University of Tübingen (founded 1477) and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (founded August 16, 1809), both public research universities in Germany.

**What was Konstantin von Neurath's connection to the SS?**
He was a member of the Schutzstaffel (SS), the Nazi paramilitary organization established on April 4, 1925. The SS was responsible for the Holocaust and operated with headquarters in Berlin until 1945.

## Why They Matter
Konstantin von Neurath represents the involvement of traditional German aristocratic and diplomatic elites in the Nazi regime. As Foreign Minister, he shaped the international strategy of the Third Reich during its aggressive expansion. As Reich Protector, he oversaw the occupation government in Czechoslovakia. His SS membership placed him within the organization responsible for the Holocaust. His conviction as a war criminal established legal precedent for holding senior government officials accountable for crimes against humanity committed under their authority.

## Notable For
- Serving as German Foreign Minister during the Nazi rise to power
- Holding the position of Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia
- Membership in the Nazi Party and the Schutzstaffel (SS)
- Participation in World War I as a general
- Conviction as a Nazi war criminal
- Recipient of the Golden Party Badge (among the first 100,000 Nazi Party members)
- Recipient of the Order of the German Eagle (typically awarded to prominent foreigners and diplomats)
- Recipient of the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
- Recipient of the Sudetenland Medal (related to the 1938 annexation of the Sudetenland)
- Recipient of the SS Long Service Award
- Education at University of Tübingen and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Aristocratic title: Konstantin Freiherr von Neurath

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Konstantin Hermann Karl von Neurath was born on February 2, 1873, in Germany. He pursued legal studies at two of Germany's prominent academic institutions. He attended the University of Tübingen, a public research university in Tübingen, Germany, founded in 1477. He also studied at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, a public research university in Berlin founded on August 16, 1809, which employed thousands of academic staff across its operations.

### Military Service
Von Neurath served as a general in the German military and participated in World War I (1914–1918), the global war originating in Europe. For his service in that conflict, he was later awarded the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918, a decoration established on July 13, 1934, by Nazi Germany. The cross was issued in three versions: with swords for front-line fighters and two forms without swords. This award remained in use until 1945.

### Diplomatic and Political Career
Trained as a lawyer, von Neurath entered government service as a diplomat, representing Germany as an ambassador. His career advanced to the position of Foreign Minister of Germany, where he directed the nation's foreign policy during a critical period of Nazi expansion. He worked across the intersection of diplomacy, law, and military affairs throughout his career.

### Nazi Party and SS Affiliation
Von Neurath joined the Nazi Party and received the Golden Party Badge, a special award instituted in 1933 for the first 100,000 party members, signifying early and loyal membership. He also became a member of the Schutzstaffel (SS), the Nazi paramilitary organization founded on April 4, 1925. The SS operated with the Waffen-SS as its military branch and was responsible for conducting the mass murder of European Jews during the Holocaust. Headquartered in Berlin, the SS functioned until the end of World War II in 1945.

### Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia
Von Neurath was appointed Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia, placing him as the senior German authority over the occupied Czech territories. In this capacity, he governed the administration of the occupation, a role for which he was later prosecuted.

### Awards and Decorations
Throughout his career in Nazi Germany, von Neurath received multiple honors:

- **Golden Party Badge**: Instituted in 1933, awarded to the first 100,000 Nazi Party members.
- **Order of the German Eagle**: Created on May 1, 1937, this award was given to prominent foreigners, especially diplomats, in several levels. It remained active until 1945.
- **Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918**: Established on July 13, 1934, for World War I participants and their surviving dependants.
- **Sudetenland Medal**: Instituted on October 18, 1938, this interwar period decoration was related to the annexation of the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
- **SS Long Service Award**: Established on January 30, 1938, this SS service award came in four classes and was issued until 1945.

### Personal Life
Von Neurath had two children. He carried the aristocratic title Konstantin Freiherr von Neurath, reflecting his background in the German nobility.

### Later Years, Prosecution, and Death
Following World War II, von Neurath was prosecuted for his role in Nazi crimes. He was convicted as a Nazi war criminal for his actions as Foreign Minister, Ambassador, Reich Protector, and SS member. Konstantin von Neurath died on August 14, 1956, at the age of 83.

### Historical Record
Von Neurath's life is documented across numerous international cataloging and biographical systems, including the German National Library, the Library of Congress, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and various academic and historical databases. His Wikipedia entry is maintained across 52 language editions, and his records are indexed in major authority files including GND, VIAF, ISNI, and Wikidata.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Genealogics
4. FactGrid
5. TracesOfWar
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. Nuremberg Trials Project
9. SNAC
10. Find a Grave
11. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
12. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. I was the Nuremberg jailer (1st American edition)
15. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
16. Nuremberg trials
17. LIBRIS. 2014
18. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
19. Regional Database of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno