Hermann Schmitz

Schmitz was born in Essen on 1 January 1881, son of factory worker Diedrich Schmitz and Luise Wöhrmann. In 1898, he began studying at Ahrenbergische Aktiengesellschaft für Bergbau und Hüttenbetrieb in Hessen, and in 1905 he entered the Commerce College in Nuremberg. After completing his studies, he was hired by Metallurgische Gesellschaft (metallurgy company), where after some time he became consultant of Wilhelm Merton, member of the supervisors' council of the company, who helped Schmitz promote his career.

In 1914, Schmitz served in the Imperial German Army with Infantry Regiment 81 during the First World War. He was a Leutnant of reserves and was severely wounded in action in October 1914, earning the Wound Badge and the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class. After recovering from his injuries, he was made a commissioner in the Prussian War Ministry (War Raw Materials Department) from 1915 to 1916. From 1917 to 1918, he was an economic advisor to the Reich Treasury.

At the November parliamentary election, Schmitz was elected as a deputy to the Reichstag as a "guest" of the Nazi Party. He was reelected at the March 1936 and the April 1938 elections, and held this seat until the fall of the Nazi regime. He was also made a member of Hans Frank's Academy for German Law. In April 1935, he succeeded Carl Bosch as IG Farben's chief executive officer (CEO). In 1935, he was appointed a war economy leader (Wehrwirtschaftsführer). His company used forced labor in its factories and was involved in the financing and construction of the Auschwitz III concentration camp. In 1941, Hitler gave an autographed portrait of himself to Schmitz as a gift for his dedication to the aims of Nazi Germany. Also in 1941, he received the War Merit Cross, first class, for his contribution to the war effort. Schmitz led IG Farben until the end of the Second World War.