Hans Ritter von Lex
Encyclopedia
Hans Ritter von Lex was a German political figure and the President of the German Red Cross
from 1961 to 1967. He was born Hans Lex on October 27, 1893 in Rosenheim
, Upper Bavaria
, Germany
. He died February 26, 1970 in Munich
, Germany
.
in 1912, Lex began the study of law at the University of Munich. In 1914, shortly after taking his first state exam, his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I
. Lex volunteered to serve in the Bavarian Army and served with the Infantry Life Regiment, Bavaria's elite bodyguard regiment. He was commissioned a reserve lieutenant in March 1915 and in September 1915 he went to the Bavarian 18th Reserve Infantry Regiment. For his bravery on July 31, 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, Lex was decorated with the Military Order of Max Joseph
, Bavaria's highest bravery decoration. The order conferred a patent of nobility, and the title "Ritter von" was added to Lex's name. Lex returned to the Infantry Life Regiment in late 1916 as a company commander, but in 1918 he was transferred to an office in the Bavarian War Ministry
after his three brothers were killed in action.
After the war, Ritter von Lex resumed his legal studies, and upon completion of the second state exam, he became a lawyer in the Bavarian state government. He was a civil servant in the Bavarian Culture Ministry from 1921 to 1923 and from 1927 to 1932, with an interlude from 1923 to 1927 as a district attorney in his hometown of Rosenheim. From 1932 to 1933, he was a member of the Reichstag, the parliament of the Weimar Republic, for the Bavarian People's Party. His party negotiated with the Nazi Party over power-sharing in a coalition government, but after Adolf Hitler
took power, he and the other leaders of the Bavarian People's Party were briefly imprisoned. After his release, Ritter von Lex became a civil servant in the Reich Ministry of the Interior, responsible for sports affairs. He helped plan the 1936 Winter and Summer Olympics which took place in Germany.
After World War II, in 1946, Ritter von Lex became a senior civil servant in the Bavarian Interior Ministry. In October 1949 he became a state secretary in the West German Federal Ministry of the Interior. He retired from government service in October 1960.
Hans Ritter von Lex was elected President of the German Red Cross in 1961. He served as president until 1967, after which he became an honorary president until his death in 1970.
German Red Cross
The German Red Cross , or the DRK, is the national Red Cross Society in Germany.With over 4.5 million members, it is the third largest Red Cross society in the world. The German Red Cross offers a wide range of services within and outside Germany...
from 1961 to 1967. He was born Hans Lex on October 27, 1893 in Rosenheim
Rosenheim
Rosenheim is a town in Bavaria at the confluence of the rivers Inn and Mangfall. It is seat of administration of the district of Rosenheim, but is not a part of it.-Geography:...
, Upper Bavaria
Upper Bavaria
Upper Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany.- Geography :Upper Bavaria is located in the southern portion of Bavaria, and is centered around the city of Munich. It is subdivided into four regions : Ingolstadt, Munich, Bayerisches Oberland , and Südostoberbayern...
, Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. He died February 26, 1970 in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Biography
After graduation from a GymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in 1912, Lex began the study of law at the University of Munich. In 1914, shortly after taking his first state exam, his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I
World 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...
. Lex volunteered to serve in the Bavarian Army and served with the Infantry Life Regiment, Bavaria's elite bodyguard regiment. He was commissioned a reserve lieutenant in March 1915 and in September 1915 he went to the Bavarian 18th Reserve Infantry Regiment. For his bravery on July 31, 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, Lex was decorated with the Military Order of Max Joseph
Military Order of Max Joseph
The Military Order of Max Joseph was the highest purely military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria...
, Bavaria's highest bravery decoration. The order conferred a patent of nobility, and the title "Ritter von" was added to Lex's name. Lex returned to the Infantry Life Regiment in late 1916 as a company commander, but in 1918 he was transferred to an office in the Bavarian War Ministry
Ministry of War (Kingdom of Bavaria)
The Ministry of War was a ministry for military affairs of the Kingdom of Bavaria, founded as Ministerium des Kriegswesens on October 1, 1808 by King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. It was located at Ludwigstraße in Munich...
after his three brothers were killed in action.
After the war, Ritter von Lex resumed his legal studies, and upon completion of the second state exam, he became a lawyer in the Bavarian state government. He was a civil servant in the Bavarian Culture Ministry from 1921 to 1923 and from 1927 to 1932, with an interlude from 1923 to 1927 as a district attorney in his hometown of Rosenheim. From 1932 to 1933, he was a member of the Reichstag, the parliament of the Weimar Republic, for the Bavarian People's Party. His party negotiated with the Nazi Party over power-sharing in a coalition government, but after Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
took power, he and the other leaders of the Bavarian People's Party were briefly imprisoned. After his release, Ritter von Lex became a civil servant in the Reich Ministry of the Interior, responsible for sports affairs. He helped plan the 1936 Winter and Summer Olympics which took place in Germany.
After World War II, in 1946, Ritter von Lex became a senior civil servant in the Bavarian Interior Ministry. In October 1949 he became a state secretary in the West German Federal Ministry of the Interior. He retired from government service in October 1960.
Hans Ritter von Lex was elected President of the German Red Cross in 1961. He served as president until 1967, after which he became an honorary president until his death in 1970.
Honors
- Merit Order of the Federal Republic of GermanyBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
, Grand Cross of Merit with Star and Sash (1955) - Bavarian Order of MeritBavarian Order of MeritThe Bavarian Order of Merit is the order of merit of the Free State of Bavaria. It is awarded by the Minister-President of Bavaria as a "recognition of outstanding contributions to the Free State of Bavaria and the Bavarian people"....
- Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Honorary Knight Commander (KBE, 1961) - Military Order of Max JosephMilitary Order of Max JosephThe Military Order of Max Joseph was the highest purely military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria...
, Knight's Cross (1916, conferred 1920) - Papal Order of St. GregoryOrder of St. Gregory the GreatThe Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
, Grand Cross - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
, 1st and 2nd Class - After his death, the German border guard (Grenzschutz) renamed its barracks in Rosenheim the "Grenzschutzunterkunft Hans Ritter von Lex"