Otto Meissner (Meissner)

Meissner, Otto (Meissner), (1880-1953), a Nazi lawyer. Born March 13, 1880 in Bishvillere (Alsace). Doing in his youth in the public service for 25 years he worked as chief of the Reich Chancellery, initially under President Paul von Hindenburg (1924-1934), and then under Hitler (1934-1945). Using his influence in government circles, together with the President's son Oskar von Hindenburg put pressure on the aging president and persuaded him to proclaim Hitler Chancellor. As a reward for it, Hitler saved him the post of State Secretary Reich Chancellery. In 1937, Meisner was appointed Reich Minister. April 11, 1949, he appeared before a military tribunal in Nuremberg as a war criminal, but was acquitted. Meissner died in Munich May 27, 1953.