Gau Westmark

Last updated
Gau Westmark
Gau of Nazi Germany
1925–1945
Flag of German Reich (1935-1945).svg
Flag
Reichsadler.svg
Coat of arms
NS administrative Gliederung 1944.png
Map of Nazi Germany showing its administrative
subdivisions ( Gaue and Reichsgaue ).
Capital Neustadt an der Weinstraße (1926–1935)
Saarbrücken (1935–1945)
Government
Gauleiter  
 1925–1926
Friedrich Wambsganss
 1926–1944
Josef Bürckel
 1944–1945
Willi Stöhr
History 
February 1925
8 May 1945
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria
Civil flag of Oldenburg.svg Free State of Oldenburg
Flag of Saar 1920-1935.svg Territory of the Saar Basin
Flag of Lorraine.svg Moselle (department)
Rheinland-Pfalz Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg
Saar Protectorate Flag of Saar (1947-1956).svg
Moselle (department) Flag of Lorraine.svg
Today part of France
Germany

The Gau Westmark (English: Western March ) was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. From 1925 to 1933, it was a regional subdivision of the Nazi Party.

Contents

History

The Nazi Gau (plural Gaue) system was established at a party conference on 22 May 1926 to improve administration of the party structure. From 1933 onwards, after the Nazi seizure of power, the Gaue increasingly replaced the states as administrative subdivisions in Germany. [1]

The Gau had its origin in 1925 in Gau Rheinpfalz (English: 'Rhenish Palatinate'), comprising the Bavarian/Rhenish Palatinate – the exclave of Bavaria left (west) of the river Rhine, which is now part of the modern state of Rhineland-Palatinate (see also: Palatinate region). The territory of Oldenburg Birkenfeld was also annexed to the Gau in 1934. With the return of the Saar Basin to Germany on 1 March 1935, the two regions were merged and formed the new Gau Pfalz-Saar. This Gau was renamed Gau Saarpfalz (English: 'Saar-Palatinate') on 13 January 1936.

After the outbreak of the Second World War and the defeat of France in 1940, the French département of Moselle, renamed " CdZ-Gebiet Lothringen ", was added to the Gau on 30 November 1940. [2] On 7 December 1940, it was again renamed Gau Westmark (English: 'Western March'). Gauleiter Bürckel hoped that Westmark would be extended as far as Germany's future western border, especially keeping in mind the ore region of Briey-Longwy in the département of Meurthe-et-Moselle. [3] Bürckel further laid claims to parts of Alsace and even Baden. The Gau, however, remained as it was until the defeat of Germany in 1945. [3]

At the head of each Gau stood a Gauleiter , a position which became increasingly more powerful, especially after the outbreak of the Second World War. Local Gauleiters were in charge of propaganda and surveillance and, from September 1944 onwards, the Volkssturm and the defence of the Gau. [1] [4]

The position of Gauleiter was held by Friedrich Wambsganss from February 1925 to 13 March 1926 and Josef Bürckel from 13 March 1926 until his death on 28 September 1944, when Willi Stöhr took over and served for the duration of the existence of the Gau. [5] [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Franconia</span> Nazi subdivision

Gau Franconia was an administrative division of Nazi Germany in Middle Franconia, Bavaria, from 1933 to 1945. Before that, from 1929 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area. Originally formed as Middle Franconia in 1929, it was renamed Franconia in 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Main Franconia</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany

The Gau Main Franconia, formed as Gau Lower Franconia on 1 March 1929 and renamed Gau Main Franconia on 30 July 1935, was an administrative division of Nazi Germany in Lower Franconia, Bavaria, from 1933 to 1945. Before that, from 1929 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau March of Brandenburg</span>

The Gau March of Brandenburg was formed in March 1933 initially under the name Gau Electoral March in Nazi Germany as a district within the Free State of Prussia. In January 1939, Kurmark was renamed March of Brandenburg. The Gau was dissolved in 1945, following Allied Soviet occupation of the area and Germany's formal surrender. After the war, the territory of the former Gau became part of the state of Brandenburg in East Germany except for areas beyond the Oder-Neisse line, which were given to the Polish People's Republic. Most of its territory is now divided between Germany's State of Brandenburg and Poland's Lubusz Voivodeship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau East Prussia</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany

Gau East Prussia was an administrative division of Nazi Germany encompassing the province of East Prussia in the Free State of Prussia from 1933 to 1945. Before that, from 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area, having been established at a conference in Königsberg on 6 December 1925. In 1939, Gau East Prussia expanded following the annexation of the Klaipėda Region from Lithuania and the occupation of Poland, while a sliver of territory from the gau was transferred to Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia. After Germany's attack on the USSR, the Belarusian city of Hrodna also became part of the Gau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Southern Hanover-Brunswick</span>

Gau Southern Hanover–Brunswick was a de facto administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the Free State of Brunswick and part of the Free State of Prussia. Before that, from its formation on 1 October 1928 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area. Gau Southern Hanover-Brunswick was abolished after Germany's defeat in 1945. The territory after the war became part of Lower Saxony in West Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reichsgau Wien</span>

The Reichsgau Vienna was an administrative division of Nazi Germany based in Vienna, Austria. It existed between 1938 and 1945. Parts of Lower Austria were annexed to establish Greater Vienna, which then became the biggest city of Nazi Germany by area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reichsgau Salzburg</span>

The Reichsgau Salzburg was an administrative division of Nazi Germany in Salzburg, Austria. It existed between 1938 and 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Baden</span>

The Gau Baden, renamed Gau Baden–Alsace in March 1941, was a de facto administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the German state of Baden and, from 1940 onwards, in Alsace. Before that, from 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Halle-Merseburg</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945

The Gau Halle-Merseburg was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the Prussian Province of Saxony. Before that, from 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Pomerania</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945

The Gau Pomerania formed on 22 March 1925, was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 comprising the Prussian province of Pomerania. Before that, from 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area. Most of the Gau became part of Poland after the Second World War while the remainder became part of what would become East Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Württemberg-Hohenzollern</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany

The Gau Württemberg-Hohenzollern, formed on 8 July 1925, was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the German state of Württemberg and the Prussian province of Hohenzollern. Before that, from 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Saxony</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany

The Gau Saxony was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the German state of Saxony. Before that, from 1926 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Electoral Hesse</span>

The Gau Electoral Hesse was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, initially known under the name Gau Hesse-Nassau-North, comprising the northern part of the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau. Before that, from 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Schleswig-Holstein</span>

The Gau Schleswig-Holstein was formed on 26 February 1925. It was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein, parts of the Free State of Oldenburg and, from 1 April 1937, the Free City of Lübeck. Before that, from 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Moselland</span> Administrative division or Nazi Germany

The Gau Moselland, formed as Gau Koblenz-Trier in June 1931, was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the Prussian Rhine Province. Before that, from 1931 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area. On 24 January 1941, the Gau was renamed Gau Moselland, Mosel being the German name of the river Moselle. Following the 1940 German conquest of Luxembourg, the country was subsequently annexed on 30 August 1942 and made part of Gau Moselland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Mecklenburg</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945

The Gau Mecklenburg, was formed as Gau Mecklenburg-Lübeck on 22 March 1925 and renamed Gau Mecklenburg on 31 March 1937 when Lübeck was transferred to Gau Schleswig-Holstein. It was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Before that, from 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Magdeburg-Anhalt</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945

The Gau Magdeburg-Anhalt was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. Formed in 1926 as Gau Anhalt-North Saxony Province by the merger of three smaller Gaue it comprised the German state of Anhalt and part of the Prussian province of Saxony. It was renamed Gau Magdeburg-Anhalt on 1 October 1928. From 1926 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Silesia</span>

The Gau Silesia formed on 15 March 1925, was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1941 in the Prussian Province of Silesia. From 1925 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party for this area. The Gau was split into Lower Silesia and Upper Silesia on 27 January 1941. The majority of the former Gau became part of Poland after the Second World War, with small parts in the far west becoming part of the future East Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gau Berlin</span> Administrative division of Nazi Germany

The Gau Berlin was an administrative division of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 in the German capital Berlin. Before that, from 1928 to 1933, it was the regional subdivision of the Nazi Party in that area. From 1926 to 1928 Berlin was part of the Gau Berlin-Brandenburg which was split into two separate Gaue on 1 October 1928.

References

  1. 1 2 "Die NS-Gaue" [The Nazi Gaue]. dhm.de (in German). Deutsches Historisches Museum . Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  2. Jacques Lorraine (Edmond Huntzbuchler): Les Allemands en France. Origines, Bretagne, Zone interdite Est, Bourgogne, Alsace et Lorraine, editions du Désert, Alger-Oran, 1945, p. 121-124.
  3. 1 2 Kroener, Bernhard R.; Müller, Rolf-Dieter; Umbreit, Hans (2000). Germany and the Second World War: Organization and mobilization of the German sphere of power. Wartime administration, economy, and manpower resources 1939–1941. Oxford University Press. p. 169. ISBN   0-19-822887-2.
  4. "The Organization of the Nazi Party & State". nizkor.org. The Nizkor Project . Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  5. Michael D. Miller and Andreas Schulz (2012). Gauleiter: The Regional Leaders of the Nazi Party and Their Deputies, 1925–1945, Vol. 1. R. James Bender Publishing. pp. 38–39, 48. ISBN   978-1932970210.
  6. "Übersicht der NSDAP-Gaue, der Gauleiter und der Stellvertretenden Gauleiter zwischen 1933 und 1945" [Overview of Nazi Gaue, the Gauleiter and assistant Gauleiter from 1933 to 1945]. zukunft-braucht-erinnerung.de (in German). Zukunft braucht Erinnerung. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  7. "Gau Westmark". verwaltungsgeschichte.de (in German). Retrieved 24 March 2016.