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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Short description| German Politician}}
[[Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-C08786, Zeesen, Jungfliegerheim übergeben.jpg|thumb|Wilhelm Ohnesorge, center, in civilian attire holding hat, 1937]]
{{Infobox officeholder
'''Karl Wilhelm Ohnesorge''' (8 June 1872 – 1 February 1962) was a German politician in the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]] who sat in [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]'s [[Hitler's cabinet|cabinet]]. From 1937 to 1945, he also acted as the minister and official of the [[Reichspost]],<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/hinkel.htm|title=William Ohnesorge (postal official)|accessdate=16 December 2007}}</ref> the German [[Mail|postal service]], having succeeded [[Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach]] as minister. Along with his ministerial duties, Ohnesorge also significantly delved into research relating to propagation and promotion of the [[Nazi Party]] through the radio, and the development of a proposed [[German nuclear energy project|German atomic bomb]].
|name = Wilhelm Ohnesorge
|image = Wilhelm Ohnesorge.jpg
|imagesize =
|alt =
|caption =
|office = [[List of German postal ministers|Reich Postal Minister]]
|term_start = 2 February 1937
|term_end = 30 April 1945
|predecessor = {{nowrap|[[Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach]]}}
|successor = ''Position abolished''
|birth_date = {{birth date|1872|6|8|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Gräfenhainichen]], [[Province of Saxony]], [[German Empire]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1962|2|1|1872|6|8}}
|death_place = [[Munich]], [[Bavaria]], [[West Germany]]
|nationality = German
|party = [[National Socialist German Worker's Party]]
|spouse =
|children =
|alma_mater =
|occupation = Postal Manager
|religion =
|signature =
|footnotes =
|birth_name=Karl Wilhelm Ohnesorge}}

'''Wilhelm Ohnesorge''' (8 June 1872 – 1 February 1962) was a German politician in the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]] who sat in the [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] [[Hitler Cabinet|Cabinet]]. From 1937 to 1945, he was the ''[[Reichsminister]]'' of the [[Reich Postal Ministry]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/hinkel.htm|title=William Ohnesorge (postal official)|access-date=16 December 2007}}</ref> the German [[Mail|postal service]], having succeeded [[Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach]]. Along with his ministerial duties, Ohnesorge also significantly delved into research relating to propagation and promotion of the [[Nazi Party]] through the radio, and the development of a proposed [[German nuclear energy project|German atomic bomb]].


==Life==
==Life==
Born in [[Gräfenhainichen]], Saxony-Anhalt, Ohnesorge started working for the Imperial Post in 1890. He later went on to study Physics in [[Kiel]] and [[Berlin]], before he became the head of the postal service in the Imperial Headquarters during [[World War I]].
Born in [[Gräfenhainichen]], in the Prussian [[Province of Saxony]], Ohnesorge started working for the Imperial Post in 1890. He later went on to study physics in [[Kiel]] and [[Berlin]], before he became the head of the postal service in the Imperial Headquarters during [[World War I]]. After the war, he became involved in right wing politics and joined the ''[[Deutschvölkischer Schutz- und Trutzbund]]'', the largest, most active and most influential anti-Semitic organization in the [[Weimar Republic]].


Ohnesorge first met Hitler sometime in 1920, and they became good friends. Shortly after this, he joined the [[Nazi Party]] (Party Membership Nr. 42), founding its first branch outside [[Bavaria]], at [[Dortmund]]. By the year 1929, he had become the president of the Central Office of the Reichspost, Germany's central postal service. With the Nazi takeover in 1933 Ohnesorge was named State Secretary, and he ''de facto'' supervised the Reichspost, particularly engaging himself for the propagation of the Nazi Party and their goals through the Post. From 1937, he assumed the duties of Minister of the Reichspost, succeeding [[Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach]].
Ohnesorge first met Hitler sometime in 1920, and they became good friends. Shortly after this, he joined the [[NSDAP]] (Party Membership Nr. 42), founding its first local branch (''Ortsgruppe'') outside [[Bavaria]], at [[Dortmund]]. By the year 1929, he had become the president of the Central Office of the ''[[Reichspost]]'', Germany's central postal service. With the Nazi takeover in 1933 Ohnesorge was named [[State Secretary]], and he ''de facto'' supervised the ''Reichspost'', particularly engaging himself for the propagation of the Nazi Party and their goals through the Post. From 1937, he became the ''Reichsminister'' of the Postal Ministry, succeeding [[Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach]].


Ohnesorge was also intrigued by the possibility of party propagation through wire signals and radio, and became known as something of a technician for his work in making the latter technically possible. He is also known to have contributed heavily to research towards a German [[atomic bomb]], despite his occupation as the minister of the German postal service, which would constantly tax his time. He presented many designs and diagrams of his ideas to Hitler himself,<ref>Henry Picker ''Hitler's table discussions in the leader's headquarters''. 1997</ref> with whom he had developed a personal companionship.
Ohnesorge was also intrigued by the possibility of party propagation through wire signals and radio, and became known as something of a technician for his work in making the latter technically possible. He is also known to have contributed heavily to research towards a German [[atomic bomb]], despite his occupation as the minister of the German postal service, which would constantly tax his time. He presented many designs and diagrams of his ideas to Hitler himself,<ref>Henry Picker ''Hitler's table discussions in the leader's headquarters''. 1997</ref> with whom he had developed a personal companionship.
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==References==
==References==
*Wilhelm Ohnesorge: ''Die Deutsche Reichspost in Geschichte und Gegenwart''. 1941.
*Wilhelm Ohnesorge: ''Die Deutsche Reichspost in Geschichte und Gegenwart''. 1941.
*{{de icon}} Rainer Karlsch: ''Hitlers Bombe''. DVA München, 2005. ISBN 3-421-05809-1.
*{{in lang|de}} Rainer Karlsch: ''Hitlers Bombe''. DVA München, 2005. {{ISBN|3-421-05809-1}}.
*[http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/hinkel.htm Wilhelm Ohnesorge (postal official)]
*[http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/hinkel.htm Wilhelm Ohnesorge (postal official)]

----
==External links==
:''This article is based on a translation of the [[:de:Wilhelm Ohnesorge|corresponding article]] in the [[German Wikipedia]].
* {{PM20|FID=pe/022775}}


{{Hitler's Cabinet}}
{{Hitler's Cabinet}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Ohnesorge, Wilhelm
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Nazi German minister
| DATE OF BIRTH = 8 June 1872
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1 February 1962
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ohnesorge, Wilhelm}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ohnesorge, Wilhelm}}
[[Category:1872 births]]
[[Category:1872 births]]
[[Category:1962 deaths]]
[[Category:1962 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Gräfenhainichen]]
[[Category:People from Wittenberg (district)]]
[[Category:Nazi Germany ministers]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Nazi Party officials]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Golden Party Badge]]

Latest revision as of 10:26, 16 May 2024

Wilhelm Ohnesorge
Reich Postal Minister
In office
2 February 1937 – 30 April 1945
Preceded byPaul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born
Karl Wilhelm Ohnesorge

(1872-06-08)8 June 1872
Gräfenhainichen, Province of Saxony, German Empire
Died1 February 1962(1962-02-01) (aged 89)
Munich, Bavaria, West Germany
NationalityGerman
Political partyNational Socialist German Worker's Party
OccupationPostal Manager

Wilhelm Ohnesorge (8 June 1872 – 1 February 1962) was a German politician in the Third Reich who sat in the Hitler Cabinet. From 1937 to 1945, he was the Reichsminister of the Reich Postal Ministry,[1] the German postal service, having succeeded Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach. Along with his ministerial duties, Ohnesorge also significantly delved into research relating to propagation and promotion of the Nazi Party through the radio, and the development of a proposed German atomic bomb.

Life

[edit]

Born in Gräfenhainichen, in the Prussian Province of Saxony, Ohnesorge started working for the Imperial Post in 1890. He later went on to study physics in Kiel and Berlin, before he became the head of the postal service in the Imperial Headquarters during World War I. After the war, he became involved in right wing politics and joined the Deutschvölkischer Schutz- und Trutzbund, the largest, most active and most influential anti-Semitic organization in the Weimar Republic.

Ohnesorge first met Hitler sometime in 1920, and they became good friends. Shortly after this, he joined the NSDAP (Party Membership Nr. 42), founding its first local branch (Ortsgruppe) outside Bavaria, at Dortmund. By the year 1929, he had become the president of the Central Office of the Reichspost, Germany's central postal service. With the Nazi takeover in 1933 Ohnesorge was named State Secretary, and he de facto supervised the Reichspost, particularly engaging himself for the propagation of the Nazi Party and their goals through the Post. From 1937, he became the Reichsminister of the Postal Ministry, succeeding Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach.

Ohnesorge was also intrigued by the possibility of party propagation through wire signals and radio, and became known as something of a technician for his work in making the latter technically possible. He is also known to have contributed heavily to research towards a German atomic bomb, despite his occupation as the minister of the German postal service, which would constantly tax his time. He presented many designs and diagrams of his ideas to Hitler himself,[2] with whom he had developed a personal companionship.

During the denazification after the war, as a leading member of the Party, charges were brought against him. However, for unknown reasons, these charges were later revoked, and Ohnesorge was not penalised for his involvement with the Nazis. His life post-war remains undocumented.

Ohnesorge died at the age of 89 on 1 February 1962 in Munich.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "William Ohnesorge (postal official)". Retrieved 16 December 2007.
  2. ^ Henry Picker Hitler's table discussions in the leader's headquarters. 1997

References

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