Princess Pauline of Württemberg (1877–1965)
Encyclopedia
Princess Pauline of Württemberg was the only daughter of William II of Württemberg
and wife of William Frederick, Prince of Wied
. She was the last Princess of Württemberg, as well the last senior member of the House of Württemberg
.
She was for many years the regional director of the German Red Cross
, in several western Germany regions.
, Kingdom of Württemberg
the first child of King William II of Württemberg
(1848–1921) by his first wife Princess Marie of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1857–1882) daughter of George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
and Princess Helena of Nassau
.
She was a first cousin of:
March 3, 1948
Princess Pauline of Württemberg was indicted by a United States Military Government court for "having concealed two prominent Nazis since October 1945." The 70-year-old princess admitted "having deliberately provided a haven for Frau Gertrud Scoltz-Klink" and her husband, former Maj. General August Heissmayer of the SS.
The Princess, according to the New York Times report, acknowledged knowing that Fray Scholtz-Klink was "known as the chief of all Nazi women's organizations," but she denied that she had been aware of Heissmayer's SS position.
Princess Pauline and her nurse, who was also indicted, were released "on her personal bail." She will be tried in Ludwigsburg on March 23. She informed the United States interrogator that she was for many years the director of the German Red Cross for the Rhineland, Hesse, Nassau and Westphalia, and had met Frau Schlotz-Klinik, "during the Nazi regime in their respective capacities as leaders of important organizations."
Frau Schlotz-Klink and her husband were interviewed at a police station in Tübingen in the French, and they "readily admitted that they sought the sanctuary of Princess Pauline's home on their arrival in this area in 1945." They said that Princess Pauline had told them "a German should not refuse to give them shelter." Princess Pauline made arrangements for the couple "to live quietly in the village of Bebenhausen" where they were found last Saturday by "French, United States and German authorities."
Frau Schlotz-Klink told the authorities that she did not know whether "Adolf Hitler was alive or dead," but "as long as he lives in the hearts of his followers, he cannot die."
to William Frederick, Prince of Wied
(1872–1945), son of William, Prince of Wied
and Princess Marie of the Netherlands
.
They had two children:
William II of Württemberg
William II was the fourth King of Württemberg, from 6 October 1891 until the abolition of the kingdom on 30 November 1918...
and wife of William Frederick, Prince of Wied
William Frederick, Prince of Wied
William Frederick, Prince of Wied was a German nobleman, eldest child of William, Prince of Wied. He was brother of William, Prince of Albania.-Early life:...
. She was the last Princess of Württemberg, as well the last senior member of the House of Württemberg
House of Württemberg
The Württemberg family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Württemberg. The House has its origins, according to recent research, probably in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty.-History:...
.
She was for many years the regional director of the German Red Cross
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...
, in several western Germany regions.
Early life
Pauline was born at StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Kingdom of Württemberg
Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
the first child of King William II of Württemberg
William II of Württemberg
William II was the fourth King of Württemberg, from 6 October 1891 until the abolition of the kingdom on 30 November 1918...
(1848–1921) by his first wife Princess Marie of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1857–1882) daughter of George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
George Victor was the 3rd sovereign Prince of the German state of Waldeck and Pyrmont.He was born in Arolsen the son of George II, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and his wife Princess Emma of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym...
and Princess Helena of Nassau
Princess Helena of Nassau
Princess Helena of Nassau was daughter of William, Duke of Nassau , and consort of George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont.-Early life:...
.
She was a first cousin of:
- Wilhelmina of the NetherlandsWilhelmina of the NetherlandsWilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
(1880–1962), queen regnant of the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. - Princess Alice, Countess of AthlonePrincess Alice, Countess of AthlonePrincess Alice, Countess of Athlone was a member of the British Royal Family. She was the longest-lived Princess of the Blood Royal of the British Royal Family and the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria...
(1883–1981) - Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and GothaCharles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and GothaCharles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the fourth and last reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, two duchies in Germany , and the head of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 1900 until his death in 1954...
(1884–1954), last reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and GothaSaxe-Coburg and GothaSaxe-Coburg and Gotha or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha served as the collective name of two duchies, Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha, in Germany. They were located in what today are the states of Bavaria and Thuringia, respectively, and the two were in personal union between 1826 and 1918...
. - Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and PyrmontJosias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and PyrmontJosias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont was the heir apparent to the throne of the Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont and a General in the SS. From 1946 until his death he was the head of the Princely House of Waldeck and Pyrmont...
(1896–1967) - George Louis, Prince of Erbach-SchönbergGeorge Louis, Prince of Erbach-SchönbergGeorge Louis, Prince of Erbach-Schönberg was the 3rd Prince of Erbach-Schönberg, elder son of Alexander, 2nd Prince of Erbach-Schönberg.-Early life:...
(1903–1971)
World War II
Princess indicted for helping the NazisMarch 3, 1948
Princess Pauline of Württemberg was indicted by a United States Military Government court for "having concealed two prominent Nazis since October 1945." The 70-year-old princess admitted "having deliberately provided a haven for Frau Gertrud Scoltz-Klink" and her husband, former Maj. General August Heissmayer of the SS.
The Princess, according to the New York Times report, acknowledged knowing that Fray Scholtz-Klink was "known as the chief of all Nazi women's organizations," but she denied that she had been aware of Heissmayer's SS position.
Princess Pauline and her nurse, who was also indicted, were released "on her personal bail." She will be tried in Ludwigsburg on March 23. She informed the United States interrogator that she was for many years the director of the German Red Cross for the Rhineland, Hesse, Nassau and Westphalia, and had met Frau Schlotz-Klinik, "during the Nazi regime in their respective capacities as leaders of important organizations."
Frau Schlotz-Klink and her husband were interviewed at a police station in Tübingen in the French, and they "readily admitted that they sought the sanctuary of Princess Pauline's home on their arrival in this area in 1945." They said that Princess Pauline had told them "a German should not refuse to give them shelter." Princess Pauline made arrangements for the couple "to live quietly in the village of Bebenhausen" where they were found last Saturday by "French, United States and German authorities."
Frau Schlotz-Klink told the authorities that she did not know whether "Adolf Hitler was alive or dead," but "as long as he lives in the hearts of his followers, he cannot die."
Marriage and family
Princess Pauline married on 29 October 1898 in StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
to William Frederick, Prince of Wied
William Frederick, Prince of Wied
William Frederick, Prince of Wied was a German nobleman, eldest child of William, Prince of Wied. He was brother of William, Prince of Albania.-Early life:...
(1872–1945), son of William, Prince of Wied
William, Prince of Wied
William V, Prince of Wied was a German officer and politician, elder son of Hermann, Prince of Wied. He was the father of William, Prince of Albania and brother of Queen Elisabeth of Romania.-Early life:...
and Princess Marie of the Netherlands
Princess Marie of the Netherlands
Princess Marie of the Netherlands was the fourth child and younger daughter of Prince Frederick of the Netherlands and wife of William, 5th Prince of Wied...
.
They had two children:
- Prince Hermann of Wied (18 August 1899 – 5 November 1941), married Countess Marie Antonia of Stolberg-Wernigerode, had issue.
- Prince Dietrich of Wied (30 October 1901 – 8 June 1976), married Countess Antoinette Julia Grote, had issue.
Titles and styles
- 19 December 1877 – 29 October 1898: Her Royal Highness Princess Pauline of Württemberg
- 29 October 1898 – 22 October 1907: Her Royal Highness Princess William Frederick of Wied
- 22 October 1907 – 18 June 1945: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wied
- 18 June 1945 – 7 May 1965: Her Royal Highness The Dowager Princess of Wied