History of Konstantin von Neurath

Konstantin Hermann Karl Freiherr von Neurath was a German diplomat and politician whose career spanned the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. Born on February 2, 1873, in Vaihingen an der Enz, in the Kingdom of Württemberg, Neurath hailed from a noble Swabian family with a tradition of public service. His life and career reflect the tumultuous changes in Germany from the German Empire through the Weimar Republic and into the era of National Socialism.

Neurath pursued higher education in law and political science at several universities, including Tübingen, Berlin, and Leipzig. After completing his studies, he entered German civil service in 1901, initially working at the German embassy in London. His diplomatic acumen and aristocratic lineage enabled him to rise rapidly within the ranks of the German foreign service. Neurath's early career was marked by postings in Constantinople (now Istanbul) and a return to London, where he served as an embassy counselor.

During World War I, Neurath was assigned to the Ottoman Empire, a critical ally of Germany, where he worked to maintain diplomatic relations. Post-war, he returned to Germany and continued to serve in the foreign ministry. The interwar period was a challenging time for German diplomats due to the country's international isolation and the punitive terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Despite these challenges, Neurath managed to adapt to the new geopolitical realities of the Weimar Republic, serving in various diplomatic roles, including as ambassador to Denmark and Italy.

Neurath’s diplomatic career took a significant turn in 1930 when he became Germany's Foreign Minister under Chancellor Heinrich Brüning. Though his tenure began during the waning years of the Weimar Republic, Neurath managed to retain his position through the chancellorships of Franz von Papen and Kurt von Schleicher. As Foreign Minister, Neurath was seen as a stabilizing force and a figure interested in maintaining traditional diplomatic practices rather than embracing the radical ideologies emerging in Germany.

The pivotal change in Neurath's career occurred in 1933, when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. Despite Neurath's conservative background and general skepticism towards the Nazi regime, he was retained as Foreign Minister, a decision made to signal continuity and stability to the international community. His aristocratic background and professional reputation were valuable assets to a new regime eager to reassure the Western powers. During his tenure as Hitler’s Foreign Minister, Neurath played a role in Germany's withdrawal from the League of Nations and in the early stages of rearmament, processes in which he often acted more as a facilitator of policies dictated by the Nazi leadership than as an independent authority.

In 1938, Neurath was involved in the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. However, his influence within the Nazi regime began to wane as Hitler started to favor more radical elements and leaders like Joachim von Ribbentrop, a loyal supporter of Nazi ideology, who replaced Neurath as Foreign Minister in 1938. Despite this, Neurath’s loyalty to the regime was rewarded when he was appointed Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia, a position he held from 1939 to 1943. In this role, Neurath worked under harsh conditions, trying to balance appeasing Nazi leadership with maintaining order in the occupied territories. However, his comparatively lenient methods were seen as ineffective by top Nazi officials, and Reinhard Heydrich was sent to reinforce control. Neurath retained his title but was essentially sidelined.

After World War II, Neurath was arrested and tried as a major war criminal at the Nuremberg Trials. The tribunal sentenced him to 15 years in prison for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. However, owing to health reasons, he was released in 1954 after serving only a fraction of his sentence.

Neurath’s legacy is complex and often viewed through the lens of his role in the Nazi regime. Critics argue that he was a conservative traditionalist who failed to adequately oppose the radical elements of Nazism. Others contend that he represented an era of diplomacy that was ultimately swept away by the tide of extremism and war. His career, marked by both diplomatic skill and controversial complicity, reflects a turbulent period of German history wherein established norms were upended by radical ideologies.

Konstantin von Neurath passed away on August 14, 1956, in Enzweihingen, West Germany. His life story serves as an important reminder of the intersections between diplomacy, politics, and morality in times of political upheaval.