Baldur von Schirach

Baldur von Schirach
Schirach as Reichsstatthalter, 1942
Reich Youth Leader of the Nazi Party
In office 30 October 1931 – 8 August 1940
Deputy	Karl Nabersberg Hartmann Lauterbacher Artur Axmann
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Artur Axmann
Reichsleiter for Youth Education
In office 2 June 1933 – 8 May 1945
Reichsstatthalter of Reichsgau Vienna
In office 8 August 1940 – 8 May 1945
Leader	Adolf Hitler
Preceded by	Josef Bürckel
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Gauleiter of Reichsgau Vienna
In office 8 August 1940 – 8 May 1945
Preceded by	Josef Bürckel
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	Baldur Benedikt von Schirach (1907-05-09)9 May 1907 Berlin, Brandenburg, Prussia, German Empire
Died	8 August 1974(1974-08-08) (aged 67) Kröv, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany
Political party	National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP)
Spouse	Henriette Hoffmann ​ ​ (m. 1932; div. 1949)​
Children	4, including Richard von Schirach
Civilian awards	Hitler Youth Golden Honour Badge with Diamonds and Rubies Golden Party Badge
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch/service	German Army
Years of service	1939–1940
Rank	Leutnant
Unit	Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland
Battles/wars	Battle of France
Military awards	Iron Cross, 2nd class
Criminal conviction
Criminal status	Deceased
Conviction(s)	Crimes against humanity
Trial	Nuremberg trials
Criminal penalty	20 years imprisonment

Baldur Benedikt von Schirach (9 May 1907 – 8 August 1974) was a German politician who served as head of the Hitler Youth from 1931 to 1940. From 1940 to 1945, he was the Gauleiter (district leader) and Reichsstatthalter (Reich governor) of Vienna.

A member of the Nazi Party from the age of 18, Schirach was named national youth leader of the party in 1931. In 1932, he was elected as a deputy to the Reichstag. After Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, he was appointed Jugendführer (Youth Leader) of the German Reich, responsible for all youth organizations in the nation. In 1940, Schirach saw action as an infantryman in the French Campaign, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class. In 1940, Schirach was appointed Gauleiter of the Reichsgau Vienna; Artur Axmann succeeded him as leader of the Hitler Youth. A virulent antisemite, he was responsible for deporting 65,000 Viennese Jews to various Nazi concentration camps in German-occupied Poland.

In April 1945, facing Red Army advance, Schirach fled from Vienna to Tyrol, where he later surrendered to American forces. At the Nuremberg trials, he was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 20 years in prison. After completing his sentence at Spandau in 1966, Schirach retired to Southern Germany. He died in 1974 at the age of 67.