Franz Schwede Franz Schwede-Coburg | |
|---|---|
| Oberpräsident of Pomerania | |
| In office 30 July 1934 – 8 May 1945 | |
| Appointed by | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | Rudolf zur Bonsen |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| Gauleiter of Gau Pomerania | |
| In office 21 July 1934 – 8 May 1945 | |
| Appointed by | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | Wilhelm Karpenstein |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| Regierungspräsident of Lower Bavaria/Upper Palatinate | |
| In office 1 July 1934 – 20 July 1934 | |
| Oberbürgermeister of Coburg | |
| In office 1 March 1933 – 1 July 1934 | |
| Preceded by | Erich Unverfähr |
| Succeeded by | Otto Schmidt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 March 1888 Drawöhnen, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 19 October 1960 (aged 72) Coburg, Bavaria, West Germany |
| Political party |  NSDAP |
| Other political affiliations | Deutschvölkischer Schutz und Trutzbund Völkischer Block National Socialist Freedom Movement |
| Occupation | Sailor |
| Nickname | Nero |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  German Empire |
| Branch/service | Imperial German Navy Reichsmarine |
| Years of service | 1907–1919 1920-1921 |
| Rank | Deckoffizier |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class |
Franz Reinhold Schwede (5 March 1888 – 19 October 1960)[1] was a Nazi German politician, Oberbürgermeister (Lord Mayor) of Coburg and both Gauleiter and Oberpräsident of Pomerania. An early supporter of Adolf Hitler in Coburg, Schwede used intimidation and propaganda to help elect the first Nazi-majority local government in Germany. This contributed to a personality cult surrounding Schwede and he became known as "Franz Schwede-Coburg." During World War II he ordered secret executions of the infirm and mass deportations of Jews. He also played a key role in abandoning the Pomeranian civilian population to the advancing Red Army, while escaping their fate himself. In 1945 he was captured by the British Army and in 1948 he was tried and convicted of war crimes.
- ^ Carl-Christian H. Dressel: "Anmerkungen zur Justiz in Coburg von der Errichtung des Landgerichts Coburg bis zur Entnazifizierung", in: Jahrbuch der Coburger Landesstiftung 1997, Coburg 1997, p. 73. (in German)