Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger
| Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Deputy Chief of the Reich Chancellery | |
|
In office Early 1942 – 30 April 1945 | |
| President | Adolf Hitler |
| Chancellor | Adolf Hitler |
| Reich Chancellery Representative, The Wannsee Conference | |
|
In office 20 January 1942 – 6 March 1942 (2 Meetings Held) | |
| State Secretary of the Reich Chancellery | |
|
In office February 1938 – Early 1942 (Date Of Promotion To Deputy Chief Uncertain) | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
14 April 1890 Grünfier, Posen, Prussia |
| Died |
25 April 1947 (aged 57) Nuremberg, American Zone, Germany |
| Political party | National Socialist (Nazi) Party |
| Profession | Lawyer, Reserve Reichswehr Officer, Philosopher |
Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger (14 April 1890 – 25 April 1947) was a German official and state secretary in the Reich Chancellery during the period of Nazi Germany. He was the deputy head of the Reich Chancellery under Hans Lammers, and was present at the Wannsee Conference as Lammers' representative.
Early life
Kritzinger was born as a son of a pastor in Grünfier near Filehne (Polish: Wieleń) in the Prussian province of Posen. He received his Abitur in 1908 and studied law. During 1914–1918 Kritzinger served in the German military, reaching the rank of lieutenant in the reserve. In 1921 he passed the bar examination and then worked as an assistant in the Reich Ministry of Justice. In 1925–26 he worked in the Prussian Ministry of Commerce and in 1926 moved back to the Ministry of Justice.
In the Third Reich
He joined the Nazi Party in 1938. In February 1938 Kritzinger was transferred to the Reich Chancellery, as head of the Division B with the official designation of a Permanent Secretary. In early 1942 Kritzinger was promoted to State Secretary.
Wannsee Conference
Kritzinger was one of the participants at the Wannsee Conference, which established the policies of The Final Solution. Following the conference, he attempted to resign his position in the Chancellery, but his resignation was refused on the grounds that "it would be worse without him". It is speculated by historians that he may have openly and vocally opposed the Wannsee protocols, which would have explained his resignation, but no accurate historical record exists to support or confirm such speculation.
Arrest, trial and death
Kritzinger would be eventually arrested, along with most of the surviving members of the Conference, in 1946. During the Nuremberg Trials, where he was a witness, he publicly declared himself ashamed of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. He was released, and died in Nuremberg the following year.
Fictional portrayals
Kritzinger was portrayed by Franz Rudnick in a 1984 film Wannseekonferenz, and again by David Threlfall in the 2001 BBC/HBO film Conspiracy.
References
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