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{{Infobox person|name=Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Baron of Gienanth|native_name=Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Freiherr von Gienanth|image=Ulrich-von-Gienanth 1954.jpg|caption=Gienanth in [[Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate|Eisenberg]], [[State of Rhineland-Palatinate|Rhineland-Palatinate]], [[Federal Republic of Germany|West Germany]], 1954. Photo by [[Robert Mottar]] (1919–1967).|birth_date=6 June 1907|birth_place=[[Berlin]], [[Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918)|Kingdom of Prussia]], [[German Empire (1871–1918)|Germany]]|death_date=10 December 1996 (aged 89)|death_place=Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany|nationality=German}}''Not to be confused with his uncle, [[Curt Ludwig von Gienanth|Curt Ludwig Freiherr von Gienanth]].'' | {{Infobox person|name=Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Baron of Gienanth|native_name=Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Freiherr von Gienanth|image=Ulrich-von-Gienanth 1954.jpg|caption=Gienanth in [[Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate|Eisenberg]], [[State of Rhineland-Palatinate|Rhineland-Palatinate]], [[Federal Republic of Germany|West Germany]], 1954. Photo by [[Robert Mottar]] (1919–1967).|birth_date=6 June 1907|birth_place=[[Berlin]], [[Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918)|Kingdom of Prussia]], [[German Empire (1871–1918)|Germany]]|death_date=10 December 1996 (aged 89)|death_place=Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany|nationality=German}}''Not to be confused with his uncle, [[Curt Ludwig von Gienanth|Curt Ludwig Freiherr von Gienanth]].'' | ||
'''Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Freiherr von Gienanth''' (6 June 1907 – 10 December 1996) was a [[German Reich (1933–1945)|Nazi]] diplomat, factory director, and ''[[SS-Hauptsturmführer]]'' who served as the second secretary of the [[German Embassy Washington|German embassy]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] during the [[Second World War]]. He was often described as the "head of the [[Gestapo]] in the [[United States of America|United States]]" and the "personal American representative of [[Heinrich Himmler]]."<ref name=": | '''Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Freiherr von Gienanth''' (6 June 1907 – 10 December 1996) was a [[German Reich (1933–1945)|Nazi]] diplomat, factory director, and ''[[SS-Hauptsturmführer]]'' who served as the second secretary of the [[German Embassy Washington|German embassy]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] during the [[Second World War]]. He was often described as the "head of the [[Gestapo]] in the [[United States of America|United States]]" and the "personal American representative of [[Heinrich Himmler]]."<ref name=":042">Charnay, David; Wallace, William (1942-05-05).: "Gestapo's Head in America. Most Feared Greenbrier Guest. Baron Von Gienanth Rules Others In Nazi Ranks Through Terror." [[Washington Times-Herald|''Washington Times-Herald'']]. Page 2. Retrieved on 2023-11-04.</ref> | ||
== Life == | == Life == | ||
Ulrich Ernst Kurt Freiherr von Gienanth was born in [[State of Berlin|Berlin]] on 6 June 1907, the son of [[Karl Friedrich Freiherr von Gienanth|Karl Friedrich Eugen Freiherr von Gienanth]] (1873–1949) and [[Freda Freifrau von Gienanth|Pauline Helene Friederike Anna Freda Freifrau von Gienanth]] (née Freiin Varnbüler von und zu Hemmingen; 1877–1959). | Ulrich Ernst Kurt Freiherr von Gienanth was born in [[State of Berlin|Berlin]] on 6 June 1907. Some sources claim he was the son<ref>No author (1935-05-18).: "Baron von Gienanth Mt. Holyoke Visitor". [[Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram|''Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram'']]. Retrieved 2024-04-28.</ref> or nephew<ref>No author (1932-08-18).: "Brandon Folks Ride, Too". [[The Brandon Union|''The Brandon Union'']]. Retrieved 2024-04-28.</ref> of ambassador [[Friedrich Wilhelm von Prittwitz und Gaffron]]; however, this is false. Ulrich was actually the son of [[Karl Friedrich Freiherr von Gienanth|Karl Friedrich Eugen Freiherr von Gienanth]] (1873–1949) and [[Freda Freifrau von Gienanth|Pauline Helene Friederike Anna Freda Freifrau von Gienanth]] (née Freiin Varnbüler von und zu Hemmingen; 1877–1959). His father was a factory director, former ''[[Leutnant]]'' in the [[Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918)|Prussian]] ''[[Landwehr]]'', and a Knight of Honour of the [[Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Chivalric Order of Saint John of the Hospital at Jerusalem|Order of Saint John]]; both his father and [[Eugen Wilhelm Freiherr von Gienanth|his grandfather]] were [[Royal Bavarian Councilor of Commerce|Royal Bavarian Commerce Councilors]]. He had an older brother named [[Conrad Eugen Freiherr von Gienanth|Conrad-Eugen Friedrich Axel Freiherr von Gienanth]] (1903–1942).<ref>''Gothaisches genealogisches Taschenbuch der Freiherrlichen Häuser. 1919''. [[Gotha]]. [[Justus Perthes Verlag]]. p. 300.</ref> | ||
Gienanth joined the [[National Socialist German Workers' Party|Nazi Party]] in | Gienanth joined the [[National Socialist German Workers' Party|Nazi Party]] in 1930.<ref>No author (1939-11-04).: "Captain in Hitler's Guard Will Speak". [[The Richmond News Reader|''The Richmond News Reader'']]. Retrieved 2024-04-28.</ref> He arrived at [[Johns Hopkins University]] as an exchange student from the [[Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich|University of Munich]] in 1931.<ref name=":0">No author (1941-12-20).: "German Embassy Secretary Honeymoons At Greenbrier. Marriage at Alexandria Made Possible by "Very Nice" FBI Agents". [[The Roanoke Times|''The Roanoke Times'']]. Retrieved 2024-04-28.</ref> In 1936, the [[German Library of Information]] (a Nazi propaganda agency) was established, and Gienanth began working there as its director.<ref name=":032">Charnay, David; Wallace, William (1942-05-05).: "Gestapo's Head in America. Most Feared Greenbrier Guest. Baron Von Gienanth Rules Others In Nazi Ranks Through Terror." [[Washington Times-Herald|''Washington Times-Herald'']]. Page 2. Retrieved on 2023-11-04.</ref> That same year he served at the [[German Consulate General New York|German Consulate General in New York]].<ref>No author (1941-12-21).: "German and Hungarian Legation Staffs At White Sulphur Awaits Developments; Bridal Couple Attracts Interest". ''The Roanoke Times''. Retrieved 2024-04-29.</ref> Later in 1937, Gienanth started working at the German embassy in Washington, quickly rising through the ranks and succeeding [[Richard Sallet]] as second secretary. | ||
Gienanth attended the [[Nuremberg rallies|tenth Nuremberg rally]] in September 1937.<ref>[[Thomas M. Johnson (writer)|Johnson, Thomas M.]] (1942-03-11).: "Native American Pro-Fascists Escape Net That Traps Aliens". [[Newspaper Enterprise Association|''Newspaper Enterprise Association'']]. Retrieved 2024-04-06.</ref> | Gienanth attended the [[Nuremberg rallies|tenth Nuremberg rally]] in September 1937.<ref>[[Thomas M. Johnson (writer)|Johnson, Thomas M.]] (1942-03-11).: "Native American Pro-Fascists Escape Net That Traps Aliens". [[Newspaper Enterprise Association|''Newspaper Enterprise Association'']]. Retrieved 2024-04-06.</ref> | ||
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As the second secretary of the German embassy, Gienanth worked to keep the U.S. out of the Second World War. It was widely-reported in the Statesian media that one [[Laura Ingalls (aviator)|Laura Ingalls]] was being paid hundreds of dollars a month by the German embassy to spread pro-German, anti-interventionist propaganda. It was also reported that Gienanth threatened legal action against Statesian filmmaker [[Louis de Rochement]] for including parts of the Nazi propaganda film "[[Baptism of Fire|''Feuertaufe'']]" (1940) in [[The Ramparts We Watch|''The Ramparts We Watch'']] (1940), likely since it made the Nazis look bad.<ref>No author (1940-08-29).: "FILM CHIEF BARES NAZI SUIT THREAT." [[Indianapolis Times|''Indianapolis Times'']]. Page 14. Retrieved on 2023-11-04.</ref> | As the second secretary of the German embassy, Gienanth worked to keep the U.S. out of the Second World War. It was widely-reported in the Statesian media that one [[Laura Ingalls (aviator)|Laura Ingalls]] was being paid hundreds of dollars a month by the German embassy to spread pro-German, anti-interventionist propaganda. It was also reported that Gienanth threatened legal action against Statesian filmmaker [[Louis de Rochement]] for including parts of the Nazi propaganda film "[[Baptism of Fire|''Feuertaufe'']]" (1940) in [[The Ramparts We Watch|''The Ramparts We Watch'']] (1940), likely since it made the Nazis look bad.<ref>No author (1940-08-29).: "FILM CHIEF BARES NAZI SUIT THREAT." [[Indianapolis Times|''Indianapolis Times'']]. Page 14. Retrieved on 2023-11-04.</ref> | ||
Following the [[German declaration of war against the United States|German]], [[Italian declaration of war on the United States|Italian]], and [[Imperial edict of declaration of war by the Empire of Japan on the United States and the British Empire|Japanese declarations of war on the United States]] in December 1941, [[Axis Powers|Axis]] diplomats in the United States were arrested and interned at [[The Greenbrier]], a luxury hotel in [[State of West Virginia|West Virginia]]. While interned there, Gienanth married [[Karin von Vietinghoff-Riesch]], age 34, in [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]], [[Commonwealth of Virginia|Virginia]].<ref>No author (1941-12-20).: "German Baron Takes Bride With Aid Of The FBI". [[Daytona Beach Morning Journal|''Daytona Beach Morning Journal'']]. Page 5. Retrieved 2023-11-04.</ref> | Following the [[German declaration of war against the United States|German]], [[Italian declaration of war on the United States|Italian]], and [[Imperial edict of declaration of war by the Empire of Japan on the United States and the British Empire|Japanese declarations of war on the United States]] in December 1941, [[Axis Powers|Axis]] diplomats in the United States were arrested and interned at [[The Greenbrier]], a luxury hotel in [[State of West Virginia|West Virginia]]. While interned there, Gienanth married [[Karin von Vietinghoff-Riesch]], age 34, in [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]], [[Commonwealth of Virginia|Virginia]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>No author (1941-12-20).: "German Baron Takes Bride With Aid Of The FBI". [[Daytona Beach Morning Journal|''Daytona Beach Morning Journal'']]. Page 5. Retrieved 2023-11-04.</ref> | ||
Gienanth returned to Germany in May 1942.<ref>https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82-00038R001000150033-0.pdf</ref> | Gienanth returned to Germany in May 1942.<ref>https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82-00038R001000150033-0.pdf</ref> | ||
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At the end of World War II, his family iron and steel foundry, [[Gienanth Group GmbH|Gienanth Eisenberg]], was seized by [[French occupation zone in Germany|French occupation forces]]. In 1949, Ulrich's father died, and in 1950, Ulrich was given back the factory, serving as its managing director until 1972. | At the end of World War II, his family iron and steel foundry, [[Gienanth Group GmbH|Gienanth Eisenberg]], was seized by [[French occupation zone in Germany|French occupation forces]]. In 1949, Ulrich's father died, and in 1950, Ulrich was given back the factory, serving as its managing director until 1972. | ||
In 1987, he was made an honourary | In 1987, he was made an honourary citisen of the city of [[Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate|Eisenberg]]. | ||
Gienanth died on 10 December 1996. | Gienanth died on 10 December 1996. | ||
Revision as of 23:21, 2 May 2024
Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Baron of Gienanth Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Freiherr von Gienanth | |
|---|---|
 Gienanth in Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany, 1954. Photo by Robert Mottar (1919–1967). | |
| Born | 6 June 1907 Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, Germany |
| Died | 10 December 1996 (aged 89) Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| Nationality | German |
Not to be confused with his uncle, Curt Ludwig Freiherr von Gienanth.
Ulrich Ernst Kurt, Freiherr von Gienanth (6 June 1907 – 10 December 1996) was a Nazi diplomat, factory director, and SS-Hauptsturmführer who served as the second secretary of the German embassy in Washington, D.C. during the Second World War. He was often described as the "head of the Gestapo in the United States" and the "personal American representative of Heinrich Himmler."[1]
Life
Ulrich Ernst Kurt Freiherr von Gienanth was born in Berlin on 6 June 1907. Some sources claim he was the son[2] or nephew[3] of ambassador Friedrich Wilhelm von Prittwitz und Gaffron; however, this is false. Ulrich was actually the son of Karl Friedrich Eugen Freiherr von Gienanth (1873–1949) and Pauline Helene Friederike Anna Freda Freifrau von Gienanth (née Freiin Varnbüler von und zu Hemmingen; 1877–1959). His father was a factory director, former Leutnant in the Prussian Landwehr, and a Knight of Honour of the Order of Saint John; both his father and his grandfather were Royal Bavarian Commerce Councilors. He had an older brother named Conrad-Eugen Friedrich Axel Freiherr von Gienanth (1903–1942).[4]
Gienanth joined the Nazi Party in 1930.[5] He arrived at Johns Hopkins University as an exchange student from the University of Munich in 1931.[6] In 1936, the German Library of Information (a Nazi propaganda agency) was established, and Gienanth began working there as its director.[7] That same year he served at the German Consulate General in New York.[8] Later in 1937, Gienanth started working at the German embassy in Washington, quickly rising through the ranks and succeeding Richard Sallet as second secretary.
Gienanth attended the tenth Nuremberg rally in September 1937.[9]
As the second secretary of the German embassy, Gienanth worked to keep the U.S. out of the Second World War. It was widely-reported in the Statesian media that one Laura Ingalls was being paid hundreds of dollars a month by the German embassy to spread pro-German, anti-interventionist propaganda. It was also reported that Gienanth threatened legal action against Statesian filmmaker Louis de Rochement for including parts of the Nazi propaganda film "Feuertaufe" (1940) in The Ramparts We Watch (1940), likely since it made the Nazis look bad.[10]
Following the German, Italian, and Japanese declarations of war on the United States in December 1941, Axis diplomats in the United States were arrested and interned at The Greenbrier, a luxury hotel in West Virginia. While interned there, Gienanth married Karin von Vietinghoff-Riesch, age 34, in Alexandria, Virginia.[6][11]
Gienanth returned to Germany in May 1942.[12]
In December 1942, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels wrote in his diary that he had received a report from a Gienanth (most certainly Ulrich Freiherr von Gienanth) testifying to a lack of experience and morale among the Statesian and British POWs whom he had interrogated at the Transit Camp of the Luftwaffe in Oberursel.[13]
At the end of World War II, his family iron and steel foundry, Gienanth Eisenberg, was seized by French occupation forces. In 1949, Ulrich's father died, and in 1950, Ulrich was given back the factory, serving as its managing director until 1972.
In 1987, he was made an honourary citisen of the city of Eisenberg.
Gienanth died on 10 December 1996.
Gallery
-
Gienanth (left) and Lawrence Dennis (right) at the 9th Reich Party Congress in Nuremberg in September 1937
-
German women and children outside a schoolhouse at The Greenbrier. Gienanth is left of Hans Thomsen (standing, top row, light suit).
References
- ↑ Charnay, David; Wallace, William (1942-05-05).: "Gestapo's Head in America. Most Feared Greenbrier Guest. Baron Von Gienanth Rules Others In Nazi Ranks Through Terror." Washington Times-Herald. Page 2. Retrieved on 2023-11-04.
- ↑ No author (1935-05-18).: "Baron von Gienanth Mt. Holyoke Visitor". Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
- ↑ No author (1932-08-18).: "Brandon Folks Ride, Too". The Brandon Union. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
- ↑ Gothaisches genealogisches Taschenbuch der Freiherrlichen Häuser. 1919. Gotha. Justus Perthes Verlag. p. 300.
- ↑ No author (1939-11-04).: "Captain in Hitler's Guard Will Speak". The Richmond News Reader. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 No author (1941-12-20).: "German Embassy Secretary Honeymoons At Greenbrier. Marriage at Alexandria Made Possible by "Very Nice" FBI Agents". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
- ↑ Charnay, David; Wallace, William (1942-05-05).: "Gestapo's Head in America. Most Feared Greenbrier Guest. Baron Von Gienanth Rules Others In Nazi Ranks Through Terror." Washington Times-Herald. Page 2. Retrieved on 2023-11-04.
- ↑ No author (1941-12-21).: "German and Hungarian Legation Staffs At White Sulphur Awaits Developments; Bridal Couple Attracts Interest". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ↑ Johnson, Thomas M. (1942-03-11).: "Native American Pro-Fascists Escape Net That Traps Aliens". Newspaper Enterprise Association. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ↑ No author (1940-08-29).: "FILM CHIEF BARES NAZI SUIT THREAT." Indianapolis Times. Page 14. Retrieved on 2023-11-04.
- ↑ No author (1941-12-20).: "German Baron Takes Bride With Aid Of The FBI". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Page 5. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ↑ https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82-00038R001000150033-0.pdf
- ↑ Goebbels, Joseph; Lochner, Ludwig Paul (1948).: The Goebbels Diaries, 1942–1943. Doubleday and Company. December 1942. December 16, 1942. Page 245.