Josef Wagner Party activist. Date of Birth: 12.01.1899 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Joseph Wagner
2. Early Life and Military Service
3. Political Career
4. Later Career and Controversies

Biography of Joseph Wagner

Joseph Wagner (12.01.1899, Aldringen, Lorraine - 22.04.1945, Berlin) was a political activist and party member. He served as a member of the Nazi Party and held various positions within the party hierarchy.

Early Life and Military Service

Wagner participated in the First World War and was captured on the Western Front on 14.05.1918. He returned to Germany in August 1919 and served in the military until October 1920. From 1921 to 1927, he worked in a financial institution in Fulda and also engaged in trade union activities and journalism.

Political Career

Wagner joined the Nazi Party in 1922 and played an instrumental role in establishing the party's local group in Bochum in 1923. He later became a member of the Reichstag, representing the South Westphalia district starting from 20.05.1928. On 01.10.1928, Wagner was appointed as the Gauleiter (regional leader) of Westphalia. When the region was divided into two, he became the Gauleiter of South Westphalia on 01.01.1931.

In 1930, Wagner founded the newspaper "Westfälische Beobachter" and in 1932, he established the party's higher education school in Westphalia. He also served as a Prussian State Councilor from 01.09.1933. In January 1935, Wagner was appointed as the Gauleiter of Silesia while continuing to hold the position of Gauleiter of South Westphalia. From 12.06.1935, he served as the Oberpresident of Upper and Lower Silesia.

Later Career and Controversies

Wagner's influence expanded when he was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner for Imperial Construction and authorized by the Four-Year Plan agency from 29.10.1936. From 01.09.1939, he served as the Imperial Commissioner of Defense for the 8th Military District. In 1940, Wagner received the rank of State Secretary in the Imperial Government.

Despite his high position within the party, Wagner opposed Adolf Hitler's policies of territorial expansion in Europe and the increasing role of Martin Bormann within the party. He also resisted taking strong measures against the Church within his Gauleiter territory. Bormann accused Wagner of allowing children to attend church and forbidding his pregnant daughter from marrying an atheist member of the SS. Wagner filed a complaint with the Higher Party Court and was acquitted.

However, on 09.01.1941, Wagner was removed from his positions as Oberpresident and Gauleiter of Silesia, and on 09.11.1941, he was also removed as Gauleiter of South Westphalia. On 06.02.1943, he was expelled from the Nazi Party by a decision of the Highest Party Court. Wagner was arrested by the Gestapo on 21.10.1943 and later implicated in the July Plot of 1944. He was executed by the Gestapo on 22.04.1945.