Hans Nieland
Encyclopedia
Hans Heinrich Nieland was a politician of the German Nazi-Party
(NSDAP) and Lord Mayor of Dresden
from 1940 until 1945.
(discharge in December 1918). From February 1919 he studied jurisprudence
and economic science in Göttingen
and Hamburg. After the end of his studies in July 1922 he worked as a commercial clerk for three years in two Hamburg export firms. Hereupon followed a job training in the local and provincial administration. Afterwards Nieland went to the small town Kirchhörde (which now forms part of Dortmund
) as a candidate for the career of a Westphalia
n bailiff
. His political career started as a head of the district authority in his native town Hagen
, later on Nieland became district president in Münster
. In June 1925 he completed his political science dissertation on the topic "The power as a governmental concept of law: at the same time an analysis of the German Reich's constitutional law situation under the rule of the Versailles Treaty
"
(German
: "Die Macht als staatlicher Rechtsbegriff: Zugleich eine Untersuchung über die staatsrechtliche Stellung des Deutschen Reiches unter der Herrschaft des Versailler Vertrages").
In January 1926 Hans Nieland joined the NSDAP (membership number 33 333), became Bezirksführer
(District Leader) at home and then Sektionsführer (Section Leader) in Hamburg. Moreover he entered the SS (membership number 61 702), was promoted SS Major General Brigadeführer
on January 30, 1939 and achieved his assignment to the Staff SS Upper Sector "Elbe
" (German
: Stab SS-Oberabschnitt "Elbe") on November 9, 1944. From November 1926 until March 1928 he applied himself to law studies again in Münster and Göttingen. In December 1928 he became an intern with the Altona
legal authorities. On September 14, 1930 he was elected Member of the Reichstag
for the Hamburg constituency.
On May 1, 1931 Hans Nieland was appointed Leader of the NSDAP Foreign Organization ' onMouseout='HidePop("32401")' href="/topics/NSDAP/AO">NSDAP/AO
), which was founded in Hamburg, by NSDAP Reichsorganisationsleiter (Reich Organization Leader) Gregor Strasser
. Nieland already resigned from this party office on May 8, 1933 because he had acceeded more important duties in the meantime. As from March 5, 1933 he was head of the Hamburg police
authority for a short time and since May 18, 1933 member of the Hamburg provincial government. Nieland assumed the Hamburg revenue office in May 1933. Additionally, he directed parts of the Administration for Economics, Technology and Labour since November 1934. After the Groß-Hamburg Gesetz
came into force in April 1937 Nieland was awarded the title Senator and the position of a city treasurer for life. In February 1940 he was appointed Lord Mayor of regional capital Dresden at the suggestion of Reichsstatthalter (Imperial Governor) Martin Mutschmann by Reich Minister of the Interior Wilhelm Frick
. After the heavy air raids of February 13 and 14,
1945, which destroyed the baroque historic section totally, Nieland left precipitously Dresden on February 23, 1945, disappeared completely for 8 days and turned up in Berlin on March 3, 1945.
From June 2, 1945 until February 21, 1948 Nieland was detained in several British detention centers, for example in Neumünster
-Gadeland and in Civil Internment Camp No 5 Staumühle (near Paderborn
). In August 1948 a fine was imposed on Nieland in the course of a "Spruchkammerverfahren" (English
: "proceedings before denazification
tribunals") in Bielefeld
, which was regarded as compensated by the term of imprisonment, however. In 1949 he was classified as minderbelastet (marginally incriminated) and in 1950 as Mitläufer (follower or ).
National Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
(NSDAP) and Lord Mayor of Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
from 1940 until 1945.
Life
Nieland was drafted into the Imperial Army in June 1918 just after his final examinations at modern grammar school. He remained a soldier until one month after the end of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(discharge in December 1918). From February 1919 he studied jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
and economic science in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and Hamburg. After the end of his studies in July 1922 he worked as a commercial clerk for three years in two Hamburg export firms. Hereupon followed a job training in the local and provincial administration. Afterwards Nieland went to the small town Kirchhörde (which now forms part of Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
) as a candidate for the career of a Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
n bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
. His political career started as a head of the district authority in his native town Hagen
Hagen
Hagen is the 39th-largest city in Germany, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area, 15 km south of Dortmund, where the rivers Lenne, Volme and Ennepe meet the river Ruhr...
, later on Nieland became district president in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
. In June 1925 he completed his political science dissertation on the topic "The power as a governmental concept of law: at the same time an analysis of the German Reich's constitutional law situation under the rule of the Versailles Treaty
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
"
(German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: "Die Macht als staatlicher Rechtsbegriff: Zugleich eine Untersuchung über die staatsrechtliche Stellung des Deutschen Reiches unter der Herrschaft des Versailler Vertrages").
In January 1926 Hans Nieland joined the NSDAP (membership number 33 333), became Bezirksführer
(District Leader) at home and then Sektionsführer (Section Leader) in Hamburg. Moreover he entered the SS (membership number 61 702), was promoted SS Major General Brigadeführer
Brigadeführer
SS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
on January 30, 1939 and achieved his assignment to the Staff SS Upper Sector "Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
" (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Stab SS-Oberabschnitt "Elbe") on November 9, 1944. From November 1926 until March 1928 he applied himself to law studies again in Münster and Göttingen. In December 1928 he became an intern with the Altona
Altona, Hamburg
Altona is the westernmost urban borough of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe river. From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937...
legal authorities. On September 14, 1930 he was elected Member of the Reichstag
Reichstag (Weimar Republic)
The Reichstag was the parliament of Weimar Republic .German constitution commentators consider only the Reichstag and now the Bundestag the German parliament. Another organ deals with legislation too: in 1867-1918 the Bundesrat, in 1919–1933 the Reichsrat and from 1949 on the Bundesrat...
for the Hamburg constituency.
On May 1, 1931 Hans Nieland was appointed Leader of the NSDAP Foreign Organization ' onMouseout='HidePop("32401")' href="/topics/NSDAP/AO">NSDAP/AO
NSDAP/AO
The NSDAP/AO was the Foreign Organization branch of the National Socialist German Workers Party . AO is the abbreviation of the German compound word Auslands-Organisation...
), which was founded in Hamburg, by NSDAP Reichsorganisationsleiter (Reich Organization Leader) Gregor Strasser
Gregor Strasser
Gregor Strasser was a politician of the National Socialist German Workers Party...
. Nieland already resigned from this party office on May 8, 1933 because he had acceeded more important duties in the meantime. As from March 5, 1933 he was head of the Hamburg police
Hamburg Police
The Hamburg Police is the German Landespolizei force for the city-state of Hamburg. Law enforcement in Germany is divided between federal and state agencies...
authority for a short time and since May 18, 1933 member of the Hamburg provincial government. Nieland assumed the Hamburg revenue office in May 1933. Additionally, he directed parts of the Administration for Economics, Technology and Labour since November 1934. After the Groß-Hamburg Gesetz
Gesetz über Groß-Hamburg und andere Gebietsbereinigungen
The Greater Hamburg Act was passed by the government of Nazi Germany on January 26, 1937, and mandated the exchange of territories between Hamburg and the Free State of Prussia...
came into force in April 1937 Nieland was awarded the title Senator and the position of a city treasurer for life. In February 1940 he was appointed Lord Mayor of regional capital Dresden at the suggestion of Reichsstatthalter (Imperial Governor) Martin Mutschmann by Reich Minister of the Interior Wilhelm Frick
Wilhelm Frick
Wilhelm Frick was a prominent German Nazi official serving as Minister of the Interior of the Third Reich. After the end of World War II, he was tried for war crimes at the Nuremberg Trials and executed...
. After the heavy air raids of February 13 and 14,
1945, which destroyed the baroque historic section totally, Nieland left precipitously Dresden on February 23, 1945, disappeared completely for 8 days and turned up in Berlin on March 3, 1945.
From June 2, 1945 until February 21, 1948 Nieland was detained in several British detention centers, for example in Neumünster
Neumünster
Neumünster is an independent town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, which has a total of four independent towns.-Current Situation:Neumünster station is major railway junction with lines running in six directions, including the important Hamburg-Altona–Kiel and Neumünster–Flensburg lines.Near...
-Gadeland and in Civil Internment Camp No 5 Staumühle (near Paderborn
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
). In August 1948 a fine was imposed on Nieland in the course of a "Spruchkammerverfahren" (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "proceedings before denazification
Denazification
Denazification was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of any remnants of the National Socialist ideology. It was carried out specifically by removing those involved from positions of influence and by disbanding or rendering...
tribunals") in Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
, which was regarded as compensated by the term of imprisonment, however. In 1949 he was classified as minderbelastet (marginally incriminated) and in 1950 as Mitläufer (follower or ).
Decorations
- Kriegsverdienstkreuz (KVK) II. Klasse ohne Schwerter (Engl.English languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "War Merit Cross, 2nd Class without Swords) - Goldenes Parteiabzeichen der NSDAP (Engl.English languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "Golden Party Award of the NSDAP) - SS-Ehrenring (Totenkopfring) (Engl.English languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "SS Honour Ring - Death's head ring") - Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS (Engl.English languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "Honor Sword of the SS Reich Führer")
See also
- NSDAP/AONSDAP/AOThe NSDAP/AO was the Foreign Organization branch of the National Socialist German Workers Party . AO is the abbreviation of the German compound word Auslands-Organisation...
(Foreign Organization of the Nazi Party) - List of Nazi Party leaders and officials
- List of SS Personnel
- Nazi Germany: Nazi Party and Nazi government leaders and officials
Literature
- Christel Hermann: Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Dresden Hans Nieland und Stellvertreter Rudolf Kluge (in: Dresdner Geschichtsbuch. - Vol. No. 7 . - Altenburg : DZA Publishing House, 2001. - ISBN 3-9806602-5-7. - pp. 181–200) This is a publication by the Stadtgeschichtliche Museen Dresden (see http://stadtmuseum.dresden.de/public/da.shtml).