Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Arthur Seyss-Inquart

Role / Field:

Austrian Nazi politician, Chancellor of Austria, and convicted war criminal.

Born:

1892-07-22

Died:

1946-10-16

Century / Era:

1892s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Arthur Seyss-Inquart (German: Seyß-Inquart; Austrian German pronunciation: [ˈartuːɐ̯ saɪs ˈɪŋkvart]; 22 July 1892 – 16 October 1946) was an Austrian Nazi politician and convicted war criminal who served as Chancellor of Austria in 1938 for two days before the Anschluss. His positions in Nazi Germany included deputy governor to Hans Frank in the General Government of Occupied Poland, and Reichskommissar for the German-occupied Netherlands. In the latter role, he shared responsibility for the deportation of Dutch Jews and the shooting of hostages. During World War I, Seyss-Inquart fought for the Austro-Hungarian Army with distinction.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After the war, he became a successful lawyer and went on to join the governments of Chancellors Engelbert Dollfuss and Kurt Schuschnigg. In 1938, Schuschnigg resigned in the face of a German invasion, and Seyss-Inquart was appointed his successor. The newly installed Nazis proceeded to transfer power to Germany, and Austria subsequently became the German province of Ostmark, with Seyss-Inquart as its governor (Reichsstatthalter). During World War II, Seyss-Inquart served briefly as the Deputy Governor General in occupied Poland and, following the fall of...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Akira Mutō — Contemporary (Born in 1892) (1892): Imperial Japanese Army General implicated in war crimes during WWII.
• Adam Michnik — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Prominent Polish intellectual, dissident, and journalist advocating for democracy.
• Ahmed Zewail — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Pioneering chemist, acclaimed as the 'father of femtochemistry'.
• Akira Kamiya — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Veteran Japanese voice actor known for roles in anime like Kenshiro and Kogoro Mori.
• Alan Menken — Shared historical date (07-22 · Born) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
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• Ahmad Shah Durrani — Shared historical date (10-16 · Died) (1772): Founder of the Durrani Empire and modern Afghanistan's first ruler.
• Albrecht von Haller — Shared historical date (10-16 · Born) (1708): Swiss polymath, father of modern physiology, renowned anatomist and naturalist.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Arthur Seyss-Inquart