Adolf II, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe

Adolf II (23 February 1883 – 26 March 1936) was the last ruler of the small Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe in northwestern Germany from 29 April 1911 until his abdication on 15 November 1918.

Adolf was the eldest son of

Upon the death of Prince George on 29 April 1911, Adolf succeeded his father as prince of Schaumburg-Lippe at the age of 28.^[1] During his reign he developed the spa of Bad Eilsen and was responsible for many buildings there.

He was forced to abdicate on 15 November 1918 following the

Adolf married the actress Elisabeth Franziska (Ellen) Bischoff-Korthaus (1894–1936, previously married to Prince Eberwyn, son of Alexis, Prince of Bentheim and Steinfurt) in Berlin on 10 January 1920.^[1]

They were both killed in a plane crash in Zumpango, Mexico, on 26 March 1936, while flying from Mexico City to Guatemala City^[2] in a Ford Trimotor airplane.^[3] The New York Times from 27 March 1936 reported that it was the worst Mexican air crash. All fourteen people died on board the airplane, ten tourists from Europe and four crew members. His youngest brother Prince Friedrich Christian of Schaumburg-Lippe, who served as an adjutant to Joseph Goebbels, spoke out against letting Ellen be buried in Bückeburger Mausoleum next to her husband, because she was not of "Aryan origin".

As he had no children, Adolf was succeeded as head of the House of

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adolphus II, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe.

• "Worst & First". Time. 6 April 1936. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
• A 1913 wire photo; hosting and hunting with the Germain kaiser. Quebec Chronicle