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Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf
Photo: Vollrath, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons16

Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf

German politicial leader from Lower Saxony

Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf (6 May 1893 – 21 December 1961) was a German politician for the SPD, who was a major figure in the founding and leadership of Lower Saxony in the aftermath of World War II.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born May 6, 1893, died Dec 21, 1961.1

Companies

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedUniversity of Göttingen3

Kopf was born in Neuenkirchen, Hanover in 1893, and joined the SPD in 1919.

From Wikipedia’s article on Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: politician, farmer, merchant, jurist.9

  • 1959 to 1961Minister-President of Lower Saxony4
  • 1957 to 1959Interior minister4
  • Since 1953Justice minister4
  • 1953 to 1955Chair, Ministry of Justice‎8
  • 1951 to 1952President of the Bundesrat of Germany4 5
  • Since 1950Finance minister4
  • 1950 to 1951Agriculture minister4
  • 1950 to 1951Chair, Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection7
  • 1948Minister of culture4
  • 1948Science minister4
  • 1947 to 1948Interior minister4
  • 1946 to 1955Minister-President of Lower Saxony4
  • 1946 to 1947Chair, German Red Cross Lower Saxony6
  • Date not recordedMember of the Landtag of Lower Saxony4

Personal life

  • BornMay 6, 1893, Neuenkirchen, Cuxhaven10
  • DiedDec 21, 1961, Göttingen11
  • CitizenshipGermany12
  • SpouseJosefine Grimme13

Politics

Chosen to head of the government of the Province of Hanover by the British occupation authorities in June 1945, he was named Oberpräsident in September 1945. He then served as minister-president of the short-lived State of Hanover from August to November 1946, and subsequently as minister president of Lower Saxony from 1946 to 1955.

In 1948, Polish authorities requested his extradition for being involved in deportations, abusing Polish workers, and confiscating Jewish property. However, Military Governor Brian Robertson dismissed the allegations, stating they were "insufficient." Kopf served as the third president of the Bundesrat from 7 September 1951 to 6 September 1952, and later a second term as minister president of Lower Saxony from 1959 to 1961. Kopf died in office at the city of Göttingen.

His grave is located in the Stöcken city cemetery in Hanover, and was a declared an honorary grave of the city until 2015, after his Nazi ties became more widely known.

From Wikipedia’s article on Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Awards

  • 1953Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany14
  • Date not recordedLower Saxony Honorary Medal14
  • Date not recordedSchlesierschild14

Sources

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