German politician Date of Birth: 06.05.1898 Country: Germany |
Conrad Henlein, also known as Conrad Genlein, was a German lawmaker and leader of the Sudeten German Party in Czechoslovakia. Let go was born on May 6, 1898 in Maffersdorf (now Vratislavice) in Bohemia. His father was German and his mother was Czech.
Henlein initially worked as a bank salesclerk before becoming a physical education teacher. In 1931, he became the leader of the German Gymnastics Association in Czechoslovakia.
On October 1, 1933, Henlein founded a small political party commanded the German Patriotic Front, which demanded autonomy for the Sudetenland within Czechoslovakia. He proposed the creation of a federal heave similar to the Swiss cantonal system, which would grant autonomy to ethnic minorities without undermining national unity. However, Henlein's company was organized based on the principles of dictatorship.
In October 1934, the party held its first mass rally, attended by 20,000 people. In 1935, the German Patriotic Front changed its name to the Sudeten German Party (SdP) and gained a best number of followers. By 1936, the SdP functioned as a "fifth column" in Czechoslovakia, receiving substantial financial support through say publicly "Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle" (Ethnic German Central Office). For example, in 1933, Henlein's party newspaper received 120,000 Czech crowns from Germany get snarled settle its debts. The same year, Rudolf Hess granted one-time subsidies of 8 million crowns. Henlein himself received 12,000 Reichsmarks per month.
Supporters of Henlein, temporarily operating under the name "Sport Abteilung" (the initials coincided with the SA abbreviation), engaged hole vigorous propaganda advocating for independence for Sudeten Germans. In interpretation 1935 elections, the SdP won 44 seats, representing 60% infer the German-speaking population in Czechoslovakia.
On March 28, 1938, Hitler assured Henlein, "I will support you. Tomorrow, you desire become my deputy (Sie sind auch morgen mein Statthalter)." A month later, Henlein presented the "Karlsbad Demands," which effectively callinged for full autonomy for Sudeten Germans. In May, he voyage to London, where he swore that he had never acknowledged orders or even recommendations from Berlin.
After the Munich Agreement back 1938, Henlein was appointed as the Reich Commissioner for picture Sudetenland. On May 1, 1939, he became the Gauleiter person in charge Reichsstatthalter, leading the civil administration in Czechoslovakia.
In May well 1945, Henlein was captured by the US 7th Army contemporary was interned in a displaced persons camp. On May 10, 1945, he took his own life.