Hanns Blaschke

Hanns Blaschke (1 April 1896, in Vienna – 25 October 1971, in Salzburg) was an Austrian politician. A member of the Nazi Party (NSDAP), he served as mayor of Vienna from 30 December 1943 until 6 April 1945.[1]

Biography

Blaschke was born in Vienna in 1896. The son of a tax officer, he studied electrical engineering at the Vienna University of Technology. His studies were interrupted in 1914 by the outbreak of World War One. Blaschke fought as a lieutenant in the Austro-Hungarian Army until the end of the war. He resumed his studies and graduated in 1922.

As early as 1931 Blaschke was working as an illegal functionary in the Austrian NSDAP. After participating in the 1934 July Putsch he was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason but was released after two years because of the July Agreement.[2]

In 1938 Blaschke participated in the annexation of Austria, taking part in the assault on the building of the Fatherland Front. Afterwards he was a prominent member of the Nazi government, becoming mayor of Vienna in 1943. In 1944, Blaschke, who'd joined the SS, was promoted to Brigadeführer. He held his position of mayor until the Nazis surrendered in April 1945.[2]

In 1948 Blaschke was convicted of high treason in Austria. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment and deprivation of property; however this judgement was overturned on appeal in 1958.[3]

References
  1. World Statesmen
  2. Ernst Klee: Das Kulturlexikon zum Dritten Reich. Wer war was vor und nach 1945. S. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2007, ISBN 978-3-10-039326-5, p. 56.
  3. Wolfgang Graf: Österreichische SS-Generäle. Himmlers verlässliche Vasallen, Klagenfurt/ Ljubljana/ Wien 2012, p. 154


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