Ludwig Martin
Encyclopedia
Markus Ludwig Martin was a German lawyer. He served as Attorney General of Germany
from 7 April 1963 until 30 April 1974.
Born in Waltenhofen
, the son of a dairy worker, he was able to take his Abitur
thanks to a teacher, despite his father's opposition. He subsequently went on to study law and economics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. From 1933 to 1934 he additionally studied philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome. He earned his first and second Staatsexamen
in 1932 and 1937 and joined the Bavaria
n judiciary. In 1939 he was appointed an investigating judge, later a criminal judge and a scientific associate at the Reichsanwaltschaft. In October 1939, he was appointed district attorney
in Nuremberg
and Fürth
, and in February 1940 in Leipzig
. However, as he was conscripted into military service from 1939 to 1945, he never actually worked as a district attorney.
In 1946 he was appointed a judge in Sonthofen
, and in 1950, he was employed in the Federal Ministry of Justice
. In 1951, he was appointed Oberstaatsanwalt in the Generalbundesanwaltschaft, and in June 1952, he was appointed Federal Attorney (Bundesanwalt). He was appointed a federal judge in 1953, serving for ten years until 1963, mostly as a criminal judge at the Federal Court of Justice of Germany
.
In 1963, he was appointed Attorney General of Germany. During his term of service, the Spiegel scandal
and the Guillaume Affair
took place. He retired in 1974, and was succeeded by Siegfried Buback
, who later was murdered in a left-wing terrorist attack.
Martin lived for the rest of his life in Karlsruhe
, where he celebrated his 100th birthday in 2009.
Martin was president and honorary president of the German section of the International Commission of Jurists
and honorary president of the German-Italian Lawyer's Association. He was also honorary president of the International Society for Human Rights
. Martin advocated capital punishment
. He was a devout Catholic and a conservative, and a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
and the pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great
. He also received the Great Cross of Merit with star.
Attorney General of Germany
The Attorney General of Germany is the federal prosecutor of Germany, representing the federal government at the Bundesgerichtshof, the federal court of justice. The office of the Attorney General is located in Karlsruhe. Besides its role in appellate cases, the Attorney General has primary...
from 7 April 1963 until 30 April 1974.
Born in Waltenhofen
Waltenhofen
Waltenhofen is a municipality in the district of Oberallgäu in Bavaria in Germany....
, the son of a dairy worker, he was able to take his Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
thanks to a teacher, despite his father's opposition. He subsequently went on to study law and economics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. From 1933 to 1934 he additionally studied philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome. He earned his first and second Staatsexamen
Staatsexamen
The ' is a German government licensing examination that future doctors, teachers, pharmacists, food chemists and jurists have to pass to be allowed to work in their profession. The examination is generally organized by government examination agencies which are under the authority of the...
in 1932 and 1937 and joined the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n judiciary. In 1939 he was appointed an investigating judge, later a criminal judge and a scientific associate at the Reichsanwaltschaft. In October 1939, he was appointed district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
and Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
, and in February 1940 in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. However, as he was conscripted into military service from 1939 to 1945, he never actually worked as a district attorney.
In 1946 he was appointed a judge in Sonthofen
Sonthofen
Sonthofen is the most southerly town of Germany, located in the Oberallgäu region of the Bavarian Alps. Neighbouring Oberstdorf is situated 14 km farther south but is not classified as a town. Sonthofen is located at...
, and in 1950, he was employed in the Federal Ministry of Justice
Federal Ministry of Justice (Germany)
The Federal Ministry of Justice is a federal ministry in Germany.Under the federal system of Germany, individual states are most responsible for the administration of justice and the application of penalties. The Federal Ministry of Justice devotes itself to creating and changing law in the...
. In 1951, he was appointed Oberstaatsanwalt in the Generalbundesanwaltschaft, and in June 1952, he was appointed Federal Attorney (Bundesanwalt). He was appointed a federal judge in 1953, serving for ten years until 1963, mostly as a criminal judge at the Federal Court of Justice of Germany
Federal Court of Justice of Germany
The Federal Court of Justice of Germany in Karlsruhe is the highest court in the system of ordinary jurisdiction in Germany. It is the supreme court in all matters of criminal and private law...
.
In 1963, he was appointed Attorney General of Germany. During his term of service, the Spiegel scandal
Spiegel scandal
The Spiegel Affair of 1962 was one of the major political scandals in Germany in the era following World War II.The scandal involved a conflict between Franz Josef Strauss, then Federal Minister of Defense, and Rudolf Augstein, owner and editor-in-chief of Der Spiegel magazine, Germany's leading...
and the Guillaume Affair
Guillaume Affair
The Guillaume Affair was an espionage scandal in the Cold War history of Germany. The scandal revolved around the exposure of an East German spy within the West German government and had far-reaching political repercussions in Germany, the most prominent being the resignation of West German...
took place. He retired in 1974, and was succeeded by Siegfried Buback
Siegfried Buback
Siegfried Buback was the Attorney General of Germany from 1974-1977.Buback studied at the University of Leipzig. From 1940 to 1945 he was a member of the Nazi Party. From 1945 to 1947 he was a POW...
, who later was murdered in a left-wing terrorist attack.
Martin lived for the rest of his life in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
, where he celebrated his 100th birthday in 2009.
Martin was president and honorary president of the German section of the International Commission of Jurists
International Commission of Jurists
The International Commission of Jurists is an international human rights non-governmental organization. The Commission itself is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists , including members of the senior judiciary in Australia, Canada, and South Africa and the former UN High Commissioner for Human...
and honorary president of the German-Italian Lawyer's Association. He was also honorary president of the International Society for Human Rights
International Society for Human Rights
The International Society for Human Rights is an international non-governmental, non-profit human rights organization with Participative Status with the Council of Europe and is a member of the Liaison Committee of the Non-Governmental Organisations at the Council of Europe...
. Martin advocated capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
. He was a devout Catholic and a conservative, and a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
and the pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The 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...
. He also received the Great Cross of Merit with star.