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Werner LorenzHead of the SS Main Office for the Repatriation of Ethnic Germans "Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle"
Date of Birth: 02.10.1891
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Werner Lorenz: A Key Figure in Nazi Germany
- Nazi Party and SS Career
- Head of Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle
- Later Years and Trial
Werner Lorenz: A Key Figure in Nazi Germany
Early Life and Military CareerWerner Lorenz was born on October 2, 1891, in Grünthof, Pomerania. He received a military education and joined the artillery regiment in October 1912. During World War I, he transferred to the aviation service in 1917 and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class for his combat achievements.
Nazi Party and SS Career
After demobilization in 1920, Lorenz became a landowner near Danzig, Poland. In December 1930, he joined the Nazi Party and in March 1931, the SS as a Sturmbannführer. He held several key positions, including Chief of Staff of the 2nd SS Division (November 1931-February 1934), and commander of the 7th SS Division (November 1931-February 1934).
In 1933, Lorenz was elected to the Prussian Landtag and the Reichstag. He served as commander of the SS Oberabschnitt "Nordost" (February 1934-March 1937). During this time, he played a significant role in the Nazi takeover of Austria and planning the occupation of the Sudetenland.
Head of Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle
In February 1937, Lorenz became head of the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle (VOMI), a key SS agency responsible for the repatriation of ethnic Germans. He advocated for the interests of Germans outside the Third Reich and was instrumental in the resettlement of populations within Germany and Nazi-occupied territory.
Later Years and Trial
In January 1942, Lorenz was awarded the War Merit Cross with Swords. He survived a serious car accident in Bosnia in 1942 and continued to lead VOMI until February 1945. After the war, he was arrested in May 1945 and sentenced to 20 years in prison by the American Military Tribunal on March 10, 1948. He was released on January 21, 1954, after serving 15 years.
Werner Lorenz died in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, on March 13, 1974. He remains a controversial figure whose role in Nazi Germany continues to be debated.
