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Erwin Bumke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Reichsgericht | |
| In office 1 April 1929 – 20 April 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Simons |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Erwin Konrad Eduard Bumke 7 July 1874 Stolp, Province of Pomerania, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 20 April 1945 (aged 70) Leipzig, Allied-occupied Germany |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Political party | Nazi Party (from 1937) |
| Other political affiliations | German National People's Party (1919–1929) |
| Spouse |
Eva von Merkatz (m. 1907) |
| Relations | Oswald Bumke (brother) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Law |
| Alma mater | University of Freiburg University of Leipzig Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Humboldt University of Berlin University of Greifswald |
| Profession | Judge |
| Awards | Golden Party Badge |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  German Empire |
| Branch/service |  Imperial German Army |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Erwin Konrad Eduard Bumke (7 July 1874 – 20 April 1945) was the last president of the Reichsgericht, the supreme civil and criminal court of the German Reich, serving from 1929 to 1945. As such, according to the Weimar Constitution, he should have become acting President of Germany upon the death of Paul von Hindenburg in August 1934, and thus the acting Head of State of Nazi Germany. The Law Concerning the Head of State of the German Reich, passed by the Hitler cabinet, unconstitutionally prevented that by combining the presidency with the chancellorship, making Adolf Hitler the undisputed ruler of Germany.