Paul von Breitenbach
Encyclopedia
Paul Justin von Breitenbach (April 16, 1850 – March 10, 1930) was a Prussia
n politician
and railway planner.
Breitenbach was central to the building of the underground
in Berlin
, specifically the line between the city center and Berlin-Dahlem
(today U3
). The Breitenbachplatz in Dahlem was named after him in 1913.
in the Province of Prussia
. He studied law in Leipzig
and Berlin
until 1869. In 1881 he moved to the town of Altona
near Hamburg
.
From 1873 he was Gerichtsreferendar (Assistant), and from 1877 Gerichtsassessor at the civic court in Berlin. In 1878 he entered the Prussian state railways
administration, first in Hanover
, then from 1880 on in Breslau (Wrocław). In July 1884 he came to Berlin to work for the state-owned Berlin-Hamburg railway.
From 1893-95, Breitenbach was the director of the Eisenbahn-Betriebsamt (railway traffic office), first in Hanover, later in Hamburg. In 1896 he was a commissioner to the Prussian Minister for Public Works in Mainz
. In 1897 he became president of the Royal Prussian and Grand Duchy of Hesse Railway Division (Königliche Preußische und Großherzogliche Hessische Eisenbahndirektion), the Prussian and Hessian
railway management in Mainz.
In 1903 Breitenbach moved to Cologne
, taking up the post as president of the Königliche Eisenbahndirektion. From there, the Reich Chancellor, Bernhard von Bülow
, made Breitenbach the Minister of Public Works in 1906. He remained there until 1916. During this time, he was also the head of the Imperial Office for the Management of the Imperial Railways in Alsace-Lorraine
(Reichsamt für die Verwaltung der Reichseisenbahnen in Elsaß-Lothringen).
In 1909 he was ennobled by William II, German Emperor
, and, in 1913, he received the Order of the Black Eagle
.
From May 1916 until November 1917, Breitenbach was the vice president of the government of Prussia. After the German Revolution
, on November 11, 1918, he went into pension. He died in Bückeburg
.
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and railway planner.
Breitenbach was central to the building of the underground
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
in 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...
, specifically the line between the city center and Berlin-Dahlem
Dahlem (Berlin)
Dahlem is a locality of the Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough in southwestern Berlin. Until Berlin's 2001 administrative reform it was a part of the former borough of Zehlendorf. Dahlem is one of the most affluent parts of the city and home to the main campus of the Free University of Berlin with the...
(today U3
U3 (Berlin U-Bahn)
U3 is a line on the Berlin U-Bahn created in its current version on 12 December 2004. The routing is the same as the previous U2 until 1993, only run from Krumme Lanke to Wittenbergplatz....
). The Breitenbachplatz in Dahlem was named after him in 1913.
Life
Breitenbach was born in Danzig (Gdańsk)Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
in the Province of Prussia
Province of Prussia
The Province of Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1829-1878 created out of the provinces of East Prussia and West Prussia....
. He studied law 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...
and 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...
until 1869. In 1881 he moved to the town of 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...
near 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...
.
From 1873 he was Gerichtsreferendar (Assistant), and from 1877 Gerichtsassessor at the civic court in Berlin. In 1878 he entered the Prussian state railways
Prussian state railways
The term Prussian state railways encompasses those railway organisations that were owned or managed by the State of Prussia...
administration, first in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, then from 1880 on in Breslau (Wrocław). In July 1884 he came to Berlin to work for the state-owned Berlin-Hamburg railway.
From 1893-95, Breitenbach was the director of the Eisenbahn-Betriebsamt (railway traffic office), first in Hanover, later in Hamburg. In 1896 he was a commissioner to the Prussian Minister for Public Works in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
. In 1897 he became president of the Royal Prussian and Grand Duchy of Hesse Railway Division (Königliche Preußische und Großherzogliche Hessische Eisenbahndirektion), the Prussian and Hessian
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
railway management in Mainz.
In 1903 Breitenbach moved to Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, taking up the post as president of the Königliche Eisenbahndirektion. From there, the Reich Chancellor, Bernhard von Bülow
Bernhard von Bülow
Bernhard Heinrich Karl Martin von Bülow , named in 1905 Prince von Bülow, was a German statesman who served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for three years and then as Chancellor of the German Empire from 1900 to 1909.Bülow was described as possessing every quality except greatness...
, made Breitenbach the Minister of Public Works in 1906. He remained there until 1916. During this time, he was also the head of the Imperial Office for the Management of the Imperial Railways in Alsace-Lorraine
Imperial Railways in Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Railways in Alsace-Lorraine were the first railways owned by the German Empire.They emerged in 1871, after France had ceded the region of Alsace-Lorraine to the German Empire under the terms of the peace treaty following the Franco-Prussian War...
(Reichsamt für die Verwaltung der Reichseisenbahnen in Elsaß-Lothringen).
In 1909 he was ennobled by William II, German Emperor
William II, German Emperor
Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. He was a grandson of the British Queen Victoria and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe...
, and, in 1913, he received the Order of the Black Eagle
Order of the Black Eagle
The Order of the Black Eagle was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg . In his Dutch exile after WWI, deposed Emperor Wilhelm II continued to award the order to his family...
.
From May 1916 until November 1917, Breitenbach was the vice president of the government of Prussia. After the German Revolution
German Revolution
The German Revolution was the politically-driven civil conflict in Germany at the end of World War I, which resulted in the replacement of Germany's imperial government with a republic...
, on November 11, 1918, he went into pension. He died in Bückeburg
Bückeburg
Bückeburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the border with North Rhine Westphalia. It was once the capital of the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and is today located in the district of Schaumburg close to the northern slopes of the Weserbergland ridge...
.