18 Facts About Konstantin Hierl

Konstantin Alois Hierl was a German career military officer who became a major figure in the administration of Nazi Germany.

An associate of Adolf Hitler before he came to national power, Hierl became the head of the Reich Labour Service and a Reichsleiter of the Nazi Party.

Konstantin Hierl was born in Parsberg near Neumarkt in the Bavarian Upper Palatinate region, and attended secondary school in Burghausen and Regensburg.

Konstantin Hierl was commissioned as a Leutnant in 1895 and graduated from the military academy in 1902.

Konstantin Hierl was promoted to Hauptmann in 1909 and served as a company commander in the Bavarian infantry.

Konstantin Hierl attained the rank of Oberstleutnant and was awarded the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class, the Bavarian Military Merit Order, 3rd class with swords and other decorations.

Konstantin Hierl was discharged from the service with the rank of Oberst in September 1924, in part due to his support of General Erich Ludendorff's participation in the Beer Hall Putsch.

Konstantin Hierl began to be involved in politics as an organizer in southern Germany for Ludendorff's far-right Tannenbergbund political society between 1925 and 1927.

Konstantin Hierl continued to be reelected throughout the Nazi regime, switching to represent electoral constituency 6 from November 1933.

On 5 June 1931, two years before the Nazi Party ascended to national power, Konstantin Hierl became head of the Freiwilliger Arbeitsdienst or FAD, a state sponsored voluntary labour organization that provided manpower for civic and agricultural construction projects.

Konstantin Hierl was already a high-ranking member of the Party when it took power in January 1933.

Konstantin Hierl was named a member of Hans Frank's Academy for German Law.

Konstantin Hierl was named Reich Labor Leader on 26 June 1935 and Reichsleiter, the second highest political rank in the Nazi Party, on 10 September 1936.

Konstantin Hierl was granted the honor rank of Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht.

Konstantin Hierl was named a Reichsminister without portfolio in Hitler's cabinet.

On 24 February 1945, Konstantin Hierl was awarded the German Order, the highest decoration the Nazi Party could bestow on an individual.

Konstantin Hierl was tried before a denazification tribunal and, on 21 August 1948, was found guilty as a "major offender".

Konstantin Hierl received a sentence of three years in a labour camp but was immediately freed on the basis of time served.