14 Facts About Wilhelm Keppler

Wilhelm Karl Keppler was a German businessman and one of Adolf Hitler's early financial backers.

Wilhelm Keppler then served in the army between 1903 and 1904 before attending Konigliche Technische Hochschule zu Danzig from 1905 to 1910, where he earned his degree in engineering.

Wilhelm Keppler was commissioned by the army as a reserve second lieutenant in 1910.

Wilhelm Keppler became an engineer in the chemical industry starting in 1911.

Wilhelm Keppler co-owned Odin Works, a small photographic gelatin factory, and was chairman of the I G Farben subsidiary Braunkohle-Benzin AG.

Wilhelm Keppler was elected to the Reichstag on 5 March 1933, representing Baden, a position which he held to 1945.

Wilhelm Keppler joined the SS in August 1932 and founded the Circle of Friends of Heinrich Himmler, which was a continuation of the Wilhelm Keppler Circle.

Wilhelm Keppler served as a personal adviser to Hermann Goring on the Four Year Plan.

Wilhelm Keppler was given a new title of "general expert of German raw and industrial materials".

Wilhelm Keppler went to Austria in 1938 to prepare the ground for Anschluss.

Wilhelm Keppler served as Secretary at the German Embassy in Vienna in 1938, Reich Commissioner in Austria from March to June 1938, then Reich Commissioner in Slovakia in 1939, and finally Reich Commissioner in Danzig in August 1939.

Wilhelm Keppler became Secretary of State with special duties in the Foreign Office during World War II, during which he administered SS confiscated industries in Poland and Russia.

Wilhelm Keppler was sentenced to ten years in prison during the Ministries Trial on 14 April 1949.

Wilhelm Keppler was pardoned early on February 1,1951 by the US High Commissione and released from prison.