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Konstantin HierlHead of the Imperial Labor Service of the Third Reich, a close ally of Hitler even before he came to power
Date of Birth: 24.02.1875
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Konstantin Hierl
Konstantin Hierl, the head of the Imperial Labor Service of the Third Reich, was a significant figure in the management of Nazi Germany and a close associate of Hitler before he came to power. Born on February 24, 1875, in Parsberg, Bavaria, Hierl attended schools in Burghausen and Regensburg. At the age of 18, he was conscripted into the Bavarian army and attained the rank of lieutenant in 1895.
From 1899 to 1902, Hierl studied at the military academy and then served in various positions. In 1908, he became a captain in the general staff and from 1909 to 1911, he commanded the 17th company of the Bavarian infantry regiment. He then returned to the military academy for further training. During World War I, Hierl rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and served in the general staff in Berlin. He also commanded the general staff of the 1st reserve Bavarian corps.
After the defeat in the war, Hierl organized a volunteer corps named after himself, which participated in the Spartacist uprising in Augsburg and its surroundings. He was temporarily appointed as the commander of Munich in 1919, where he met Adolf Hitler, who was then under the command of the new commander. In the same year, Hierl sent Hitler to a meeting of the German Workers' Party, which later became the Nazi Party under Hitler's leadership.
Hierl continued his career in the general staff of the Reichswehr, but on November 30, 1923, he was expelled from the organization because he supported Hitler and Erich Ludendorff during the Beer Hall Putsch. It is still unknown whether Hierl himself participated in the coup or not.
Leadership of the Labor Service
On June 5, 1931, two years before the establishment of the Nazi Party, Hierl was appointed as the head of the voluntary labor service (FAD), which was sponsored by the state and provided services to civil and agricultural construction projects. At that time, there were numerous similar organizations in Europe aimed at providing employment to citizens during the Great Depression.
When the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, Hierl was already a high-ranking member and remained the head of the voluntary labor service, which changed its name to Nationalsozialistischer Arbeitsdienst (NSAD). In 1934, the name was changed again, this time for good, and Hierl was now referred to as the head of the Imperial Labor Service, which he led until the end of World War II.
Post-War Life
On February 24, 1945, Konstantin Hierl was awarded the German Order, the highest honor of the Third Reich. Hierl and Arthur Axmann (leader of the Hitler Youth) were the only recipients of this award while still alive and who survived the war and its aftermath. All others who received this honor were awarded the German Order posthumously.
After the war, Hierl was arrested and found guilty of war crimes, serving 5 years in a labor re-education camp. Konstantin Hierl passed away on September 23, 1955, in Heidelberg.
