Henryk Leon Strasburger
Encyclopedia
Henryk Leon Strasburger (1887-1951) was a Polish
economist
, General Commissioner in the Free City of Danzig
(now Gdańsk) and delegate to the League of Nations
. He was also a member of the Polish government in exile
during World War II
. According to the New York Times, he was among the earliest and most outspoken of Poles
to recognize the Hitler menace to his country. His warning was clear in his book The Case of Danzig, published some months before the outbreak of World War II.
, to Juljan Teofil Strasburger (half-brother of Eduard Adolf Strasburger) and Marja (Julia Maria) Simmler, daughter of Joseph Simmler. His schooling was at Heidelberg
and Kharkov universities.
, Strasburger was a member of the first Polish
government, as Undersecretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from 1918-1923, as well as holding the position of Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1923. He was a member of the Polish peace delegation
at Riga
in 1921, and a delegate to the League of Nations
in 1923 and 1924. He conducted commercial treaty negotiations with Italy, France, Romania, Yugoslavia, Finland, Belgium, and Japan.
He then joined the Polish Foreign Office, and from 1924-1932 he was General Commissioner (Commissariat) of the Polish Republic (Komisarz Generalny Rzeczpospoltej Polskiej), responsible for the liaison between the Senate and the Polish government in the Free City of Danzig
. He resigned in 1932 and was replaced by Dr. Kazimierz Papée
. This was an unusual move that drew international attention since it seemed to mark an important change in Polish policy towards Danzig, as the supposedly Free City was becoming a center for Berlin Nationalist activities.
Strasburger had been allowed a free hand in dealing with Danzig authorities, and during his first few years in office had had success in improving Danzig-Polish relations, but difficulties increased in his last two years in office, caused by the new Nationalist Senate of the free city, which became a stronghold of the German Nationalists and Hitlerites. The Senate became increasingly hostile towards Poland, and after a public dispute in 1931 between Strasburger and the President of Danzig
, Dr. Ernst Ziehm
, Strasburger offered his resignation but it was not accepted. When he tried again to resign in 1932, the Polish Government decided that Danzig-Polish policies would be made in Warsaw, not in Danzig. From 1932-1939, he was the President of the Central Organisation of Polish Industries.
After the 1939 German invasion of Poland
, Strasburger became part of the Polish government in exile. From 1939-1942 he was the Polish Minister of Finance, Industry and Commerce in the Sikorski Government. In 1942, he was the individual who announced to the world in New York
that over one million Polish Jews had been killed.
In 1943, he became the "Minister in the Middle East," and then in 1944 accepted the Ambassadorship to London at the bidding of Stanisław Mikołajczyk, a post which he held until 1946. He was recalled at that time to Poland, but decided instead to stay in London, where he settled with his wife and children.
He died on May 2, 1951, in London, while still in exile.
. They had two children, Henryk and Teresa.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, General Commissioner in the Free City of Danzig
Free City of Danzig
The Free City of Danzig was a semi-autonomous city-state that existed between 1920 and 1939, consisting of the Baltic Sea port of Danzig and surrounding areas....
(now Gdańsk) and delegate to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. He was also a member of the Polish government in exile
Polish government in Exile
The Polish government-in-exile, formally known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile , was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland of September 1939, and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which...
during World War II
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...
. According to the New York Times, he was among the earliest and most outspoken of Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
to recognize the Hitler menace to his country. His warning was clear in his book The Case of Danzig, published some months before the outbreak of World War II.
Early years
He was born on May 25, 1887 in WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, to Juljan Teofil Strasburger (half-brother of Eduard Adolf Strasburger) and Marja (Julia Maria) Simmler, daughter of Joseph Simmler. His schooling was at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
and Kharkov universities.
Career
From 1916-1918, he was the Director of the Polish Industrial Association. After 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...
, Strasburger was a member of the first Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
government, as Undersecretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from 1918-1923, as well as holding the position of Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1923. He was a member of the Polish peace delegation
Peace of Riga
The Peace of Riga, also known as the Treaty of Riga; was signed in Riga on 18 March 1921, between Poland, Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine. The treaty ended the Polish-Soviet War....
at Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
in 1921, and a delegate to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
in 1923 and 1924. He conducted commercial treaty negotiations with Italy, France, Romania, Yugoslavia, Finland, Belgium, and Japan.
He then joined the Polish Foreign Office, and from 1924-1932 he was General Commissioner (Commissariat) of the Polish Republic (Komisarz Generalny Rzeczpospoltej Polskiej), responsible for the liaison between the Senate and the Polish government in the Free City of Danzig
Free City of Danzig
The Free City of Danzig was a semi-autonomous city-state that existed between 1920 and 1939, consisting of the Baltic Sea port of Danzig and surrounding areas....
. He resigned in 1932 and was replaced by Dr. Kazimierz Papée
Kazimierz Papée
Dr. Kazimierz Papée was the ambassador from Poland to the Holy See from 1939 to 1958, during and after World War II...
. This was an unusual move that drew international attention since it seemed to mark an important change in Polish policy towards Danzig, as the supposedly Free City was becoming a center for Berlin Nationalist activities.
Strasburger had been allowed a free hand in dealing with Danzig authorities, and during his first few years in office had had success in improving Danzig-Polish relations, but difficulties increased in his last two years in office, caused by the new Nationalist Senate of the free city, which became a stronghold of the German Nationalists and Hitlerites. The Senate became increasingly hostile towards Poland, and after a public dispute in 1931 between Strasburger and the President of Danzig
Administrations of Danzig before April 1945
-Lord Mayors before 1862:Lord Mayors is Oberbürgermeister in German.*1342-1347 – Dettloff von der Osten*1342-1354 – Henrich Burmeister der Aeltere*1346-1355 – Steffen von der Osten*1354-1374 – Hillebrand Müntzer*1356-1360 – Johan von Stein...
, Dr. Ernst Ziehm
Ernst Ziehm
Dr. Ernst Ziehm was a Danzig based German politician from the conservative German National People's Party and President of the Senate of the Free City of Danzig from 1931 to 1933....
, Strasburger offered his resignation but it was not accepted. When he tried again to resign in 1932, the Polish Government decided that Danzig-Polish policies would be made in Warsaw, not in Danzig. From 1932-1939, he was the President of the Central Organisation of Polish Industries.
After the 1939 German invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, Strasburger became part of the Polish government in exile. From 1939-1942 he was the Polish Minister of Finance, Industry and Commerce in the Sikorski Government. In 1942, he was the individual who announced to the world in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that over one million Polish Jews had been killed.
In 1943, he became the "Minister in the Middle East," and then in 1944 accepted the Ambassadorship to London at the bidding of Stanisław Mikołajczyk, a post which he held until 1946. He was recalled at that time to Poland, but decided instead to stay in London, where he settled with his wife and children.
He died on May 2, 1951, in London, while still in exile.
Family
Around 1926, he married Olga Dunin (1902-1972), daughter of Rodryg DuninRodryg Dunin
Rodryg Dunin was a Polish noble , a hrabia , and an industrialist and agriculturalist. His work in agricultural industry, including pioneering new techniques, earned him recognition among the farming circles of early 20th century Greater Poland.- Biography :Rodryg Dunin was born in Marszewo,...
. They had two children, Henryk and Teresa.
Writing
- "German Designs on Pomerania; An Analysis of Germany's Revisionistic Policy", 1934, Torun, The Baltic institute
- "The Core of a Continent: Problems of Central and Eastern Europe", 1943, Philadelphia, The American academy of political and social science
- The Case of Danzig, 1936
- Foreign Trade in the Service of National Economy, 1939