Reichsstatthalter
In the era of National Socialism in the German Empire from 1933 to 1945, there were imperial governor for approximately the German states corresponding, rich direct administrative districts. They were entrusted as agent of the Reich Central Office at the level of Reichsgaue with monitoring, intervention and management functions and is responsible for the country- side DC circuit, which had been introduced by the Provisional Gleichschaltung Law of 31 March 1933. Your task corresponded approximately to the President of the country, partly they exercised this office in a personal union of.
Second Law for coordination of the countries with the Kingdom of April 7, 1933
Powers
The imperial governor newly appointed had the task of ensuring compliance with the principles which the Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler guidelines of the policy. You were essentially the following powers:
- Appointment and dismissal of the Chairman of the State Government,
- Resolution and disposition of the election of the new parliament,
- Promulgation and publication of state laws,
- Appointment and dismissal of key state officials and judges,
- The right of pardon.
State of Prussia
In Prussia, the chancellor, Hitler held the affairs of the Reich Governor. This should be an end to the dualism Empire / Prussia; most of state should finally " rise " in the kingdom. The powers of the Reich Governor of Prussia had been transferred to the Prussian Minister President Hermann Göring already on 10 April 1933.
Since November 27, 1934 also appointed the President for the upper range of its provinces to permanent representatives of the national government " to carry out the reorganization of the Empire " in Prussia. They had the power to keep itself from all imperial and provincial authorities in their field and " to focus attention on relevant aspects and the necessary measures afterwards ." They were also allowed to meet interim measures in exigent circumstances.
Except Prussian countries ( excluding Saarland )
For each major country except Prussian Reich Governor was determined. For countries under 2 million inhabitants there were common areas with other countries (eg, Oldenburg and Bremen, Mecklenburg and Lübeck, Lippe and Schaumburg -Lippe ).
In almost all cases, Hitler appointed Gauleiter of the NSDAP selected to Reich Governors; next to Prussia, where he and Goering sided this office, only made with Bayern Franz von Epp an exception.
The state political powers of these Reichsstatthalter / Gauleiter were an important lever for Nazi penetration of the state apparatus. At the same time thus there was a power-political differentiation in the circle of the Nazi Gauleiter, and even within the Reich Governor: Some were allowed after 1935 Reich Governor and Minister of Presidential offices combine other Reichsstatthalter and Upper President offices.
Reich Governor Law of January 30, 1935
Now all Reichsstatthalter were for their district to permanent representatives of the national government and had the task " to ensure the monitoring of the established by the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor guidelines of the policy."
They had, like the Prussian baron empowered to take lessons from all imperial and provincial authorities in their field and " they draw attention to the relevant aspects and the necessary measures thereafter ." They were also allowed to meet interim measures in exigent circumstances. In addition, the imperial governor could also be entrusted with the leadership of a state government. For trimming the districts of the Reich governor were not affected.
Saarland / " Westmark "
After the " reintegration " of the Saar from 1 March 1935, a new administrative body was set up in Saarbrücken, which was under the leadership of Josef Bürckel. Bürckel received the title " Reich Commissioner for the reintegration of the Saarland " and had a permanent representative of the imperial government in Saarland the task to ensure the monitoring of the established by Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor Hitler guidelines of the policy.
Authorities name changed over the years as follows:
Reich governor in the Old Reich
Reich governor in the connected Reichsgaue
In the new Reichsgaue ( Sudetenland, Danzig-West Prussia, Warta Country and the Alps and Danube Reichsgaue ) of the Reich Governor directed the administration. He was in personal union the same Gauleiter ( Party ) Gau of the NSDAP.