Karl Holz (Nazi)
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Karl Holz | |
---|---|
Gauleiter of Gau Franconia | |
In office December 1944 – 20 April 1945 | |
Preceded by | Himself |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
Acting Gauleiter of Gau Franconia | |
In office 4 April 1942 – December 1944 | |
Preceded by | Hans Zimmermann |
Succeeded by | Himself |
Deputy Gauleiter of Gau Franconia | |
In office 1 January 1934 – 20 April 1940 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Nuremberg, German Empire | 27 December 1895
Died | 20 April 1945 Nuremberg, Nazi Germany | (aged 49)
Political party | Nazi Party |
Other political affiliations | German Socialist Party |
Military service | |
Allegiance | German Empire Nazi Germany |
Branch/service | Imperial German Army Sturmabteilung |
Years of service | 1915–1918 |
Rank | Gruppenführer |
Unit | Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 16 Infanterie-Regiment 144 Infanterie-Regiment 79 Jäger-Regiment 2 |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Karl Holz (27 December 1895 – 20 April 1945) was a German Nazi Party politician. He was Gauleiter of Gau Franconia and rose to the rank of Gruppenführer in the Sturmabteilung (SA).
Early years
He was born the fifth child of a heliographer, also named Karl Holz. He finished Volksschule and an apprenticeship as a salesman, working thereafter as a clerk. During World War I, Holz served in a number of Prussian units between 1915 and 1918: Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 16, Infanterie-Regiment 144, Infanterie-Regiment 79, and Jäger-Regiment 2 on the Western Front. He sustained a number of wounds. After the war ended, he returned in September 1919 and took a job as an official in Nuremberg, but eventually was discharged due to his political activities. In 1920 he joined the German-Socialist Party (Deutschsozialistische Partei). In 1921 its chairman, Julius Streicher joined the Nazi Party (NSDAP), bringing with him enough members of the German-Socialist Party to almost double the size of the NSDAP overnight.[1][2]
Nazi career
Holz officially joined the Nazi Party on 11 November 1922 and his membership number was 77. Holz also joined the Sturmabteilung (SA). Quite early on, Holz established a close relationship with Streicher. In 1924, Holz was elected to the Nuremberg City Council, serving till 1932 and eventually serving as leader of the Nazi faction. Between 1927 and 1933, he held the post of
As of 1 January 1934, Holz became Deputy Gauleiter to Streicher in
World War II
He was called up for military service with Panzer Regiment 25 and saw combat in France, being severely wounded in June 1940. He also served in the Russian campaign the next year.[5]
On 4 April 1942, he was returned to party service, becoming the Acting Gauleiter in Franconia, in succession to Hans Zimmermann. On 9 November 1942, he was promoted to the rank of SA-Gruppenführer. On 16 November 1942, he was appointed the Reich Defense Commissioner for his Gau.[6] Finally, in December 1944, Hitler appointed Holz as the permanent Gauleiter for Franconia.[7]
Holz led the defense of Nuremberg with
References
- ^ Evans 2003, p. 188.
- ^ Rees 2017, p. 23.
- ^ Miller & Schulz 2012, p. 530.
- ^ Miller & Schulz 2012, p. 531.
- ^ Miller & Schulz 2012, pp. 532–533.
- Bayerische Landesbibliothek. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ Miller & Schulz 2012, p. 533.
- Bayerische Landesbibliothek. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
Sources
- ISBN 0-14-303469-3.
- Fest, Joachim (1974). Hitler. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc. ISBN 0-15-141650-8.
- Miller, Michael D.; Schulz, Andreas (2012). Gauleiter: The Regional Leaders of the Nazi Party and Their Deputies, 1925-1945. Vol. I (Herbert Albrecht – H. Wilhelm Huttmann). R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 978-1-932970-21-0.
- Rees, Laurence (2017). The Holocaust: A New History. New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-61039-844-2.