Ernst Achenbach
Encyclopedia
Ernst Achenbach was a German lawyer and politician of the Nazi Party, and after World War II
, the Free Democratic Party
.
. Subsequently, he studied law in Paris
, Berlin
, Hamburg
and Bonn
. After the first state examination in 1931, he pursued further studies and graduated in 1936, and began working as Managing Director of the Adolf Hitler Fund, involved with the collection of donations. He became a formal member of the Nazi party in 1937.
After joining the Nazi Party, in 1937 Achenbach began Foreign Service in 1939 served at the German Embassy in Paris. During the German occupation of France (1940–1944), he was from June 1940 to May 1943, Head of the Political Department of the Embassy, and a close collaborator of the German Ambassador Otto Abetz
. Within that framework, Achenbach was also responsible for the implementation of the deportation of the Jews. In 1944/45 he was a soldier and after the war he led American investigators to believe that the German Embassy in France had been a stronghold of the conspiracy against Hitler.
From 1946, Achenbach worked as a lawyer in Essen, and successfully defended both Alexander von Falkenhausen
and Eggert Reeder
at their trial for war crimes in Belgium
in 1951.
Although he had been a member of the Nazi Party, he advocated the condemnation of the German war criminals, something which led to a scandal in 1970 when he initially failed to make it as a Commissioner in the European Economic Community
because of public pressure. In 1974, Achenbach's involvement in the Holocaust became public knowledge and he was forced to resign from this position.
After the war, Achenbach joined the Free Democratic Party, and served as a foreign affairs spokesman until April 1953. Within the FDP in North Rhine-Westphalia, he was considered the right hand of the State Chairmen Friedrich Middelhauve
and was responsible for fund-raising from industry donations. He was assisted by his contacts from his time as CEO of the Foundation Adolf Hitler Fund, including Hugo Stinnes
, Jr., Heinz Wilke, Wolfgang Diewerge, etc., all of whom were former Nazis.
From 1953 to 1959 he was Chairman of the FDP Ruhr District Association and from 1970 to 1973 of the Ruhr District Association West. He also belonged for several years to the Landtag of the North Rhine-Westphalia. From 1957 to 1976 he was a member of the Bundestag
and from December 7, 1971 to 1972, Achenbach served as Vice Chairman of the FDP. Throughout much of the 1960s and 1970s he was involved in foreign policy and defense. From 1969 to 1974 for instance he was Chairman of the Committee on Relations with African Countries and Madagascar, and then until 1976, a member of the Committee on Development and Cooperation.
As an active member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag until 1976, he was responsible for the Franco-German Supplementary Agreement to Transition signed in 1971, and successfully prevented its ratification until 1974.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
.
Life and work
Achenbach, a Protestant by faith, attended High School in GelsenkirchenGelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
. Subsequently, he studied law in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. After the first state examination in 1931, he pursued further studies and graduated in 1936, and began working as Managing Director of the Adolf Hitler Fund, involved with the collection of donations. He became a formal member of the Nazi party in 1937.
After joining the Nazi Party, in 1937 Achenbach began Foreign Service in 1939 served at the German Embassy in Paris. During the German occupation of France (1940–1944), he was from June 1940 to May 1943, Head of the Political Department of the Embassy, and a close collaborator of the German Ambassador Otto Abetz
Otto Abetz
Dr. Heinrich Otto Abetz was the German ambassador to Vichy France during World War II.-Early years:Abetz was born in Schwetzingen on May 26, 1903. He was the son of an estate manager, who died when Otto was only 13...
. Within that framework, Achenbach was also responsible for the implementation of the deportation of the Jews. In 1944/45 he was a soldier and after the war he led American investigators to believe that the German Embassy in France had been a stronghold of the conspiracy against Hitler.
From 1946, Achenbach worked as a lawyer in Essen, and successfully defended both Alexander von Falkenhausen
Alexander von Falkenhausen
Alexander Ernst Alfred Hermann Freiherr von Falkenhausen was a German general. He was the head of the military government of Belgium from 1940–44 during its occupation by Germany in World War II....
and Eggert Reeder
Eggert Reeder
SS-Gruppenführer Eggert Reeder was a German jurist, civil servant, and district President of several regions...
at their trial for war crimes in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1951.
Although he had been a member of the Nazi Party, he advocated the condemnation of the German war criminals, something which led to a scandal in 1970 when he initially failed to make it as a Commissioner in the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
because of public pressure. In 1974, Achenbach's involvement in the Holocaust became public knowledge and he was forced to resign from this position.
After the war, Achenbach joined the Free Democratic Party, and served as a foreign affairs spokesman until April 1953. Within the FDP in North Rhine-Westphalia, he was considered the right hand of the State Chairmen Friedrich Middelhauve
Friedrich Middelhauve
Friedrich Middelhauve was a German publisher and politician of the Free Democratic Party...
and was responsible for fund-raising from industry donations. He was assisted by his contacts from his time as CEO of the Foundation Adolf Hitler Fund, including Hugo Stinnes
Hugo Stinnes
-Life and career:Stinnes was born in Mülheim, in the Ruhr Valley, North German Confederation. His father was also named Hugo, and his grandfather Matthias Stinnes had founded a modest enterprise in Mülheim....
, Jr., Heinz Wilke, Wolfgang Diewerge, etc., all of whom were former Nazis.
From 1953 to 1959 he was Chairman of the FDP Ruhr District Association and from 1970 to 1973 of the Ruhr District Association West. He also belonged for several years to the Landtag of the North Rhine-Westphalia. From 1957 to 1976 he was a member of the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
and from December 7, 1971 to 1972, Achenbach served as Vice Chairman of the FDP. Throughout much of the 1960s and 1970s he was involved in foreign policy and defense. From 1969 to 1974 for instance he was Chairman of the Committee on Relations with African Countries and Madagascar, and then until 1976, a member of the Committee on Development and Cooperation.
As an active member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag until 1976, he was responsible for the Franco-German Supplementary Agreement to Transition signed in 1971, and successfully prevented its ratification until 1974.