Who Is Baldur von Schirach? Age, Biography and Wiki
Baldur von Schirach was born on May 9, 1907, in Berlin, Germany, and passed away on August 8, 1974. He was a notable figure during the Nazi regime, holding various political positions, including the Reich Youth Leader. His controversial role in Nazi Germany left a complex legacy that scholars continue to study. As of 2025, Baldur would have been 118 years old had he lived.
| Occupation | Politician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 9, 1907 |
| Age | 67 Years |
| Birth Place | Berlin, German Empire |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | Germany |
| Date of death | 8 August, 1974 |
| Died Place | Kröv, West Germany |
Popularity
Baldur von Schirach's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While there is limited information regarding his physical statistics, historical records suggest that Baldur von Schirach was of average height for his time, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall. He maintained a typical build but specific weight and measurement details are not widely documented.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Baldur von Schirach was married to Leonore von Schirach, with whom he had three children. Their family background is tied closely to the political climate of Nazi Germany. Post-war, von Schirach faced various challenges that impacted his family dynamics, particularly as many sought to distance themselves from his political activities.
On 31 March 1932 Schirach married the 19-year-old Henriette Hoffmann, the daughter of Heinrich Hoffmann, Adolf Hitler's personal photographer and friend. Schirach's family was at first vehemently opposed to this marriage, but Hitler insisted. Otto Strasser dismissively described Schirach as "a young effeminate".
Through this relationship, Schirach became part of Hitler's inner circle. The young couple were welcome guests at Hitler's "Berghof" holiday home.
Henriette von Schirach gave birth to four children: Angelika Benedikta von Schirach (born 1933), lawyer Klaus von Schirach (born 1935), businessman Robert Benedict Wolf von Schirach (1938–1980) and sinologist Richard von Schirach (1942–2023). Robert had a son, the lawyer and best-selling German crime-fiction writer Ferdinand von Schirach.
Richard had children Ariadne von Schirach, philosopher and critic, and Benedict Wells, a novelist.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death, Baldur von Schirach's exact net worth was difficult to ascertain, primarily due to the controversies surrounding his political career and the impact of his post-war trials. In the context of modern evaluations, his worth might be assessed based on his political influence and assets accumulated during his peak.
Career, Business and Investments
Baldur von Schirach's career was significantly shaped by his involvement with the Hitler Youth and later as the Gauleiter of Vienna. Following World War II, he was convicted for crimes against humanity and served a lengthy prison sentence. After his release, he lived a much quieter life, shifting away from the political landscape that had defined much of his earlier years. His investments and business activities were limited given the nature of his historical reputation.
In 1936, the Hitler Youth was declared the only legal youth organisation. At this point it had approximately six million members. Membership became compulsory in March 1939, with almost eight million members aged 10 and older. On 1 December 1936, Schirach was given the position of State Secretary to the Reich Government, as head of a Supreme Reich Authority (Oberste Reichsbehörde).
Social Network
In terms of social networks, Baldur von Schirach did not have a modern social media presence, given that he lived during a time when such platforms did not exist. However, his legacy is often discussed in various historical and academic contexts through social media forums focused on World War II and political history.
On 12 May 1942 Schirach heard a private speech by Arthur Greiser, in which Greiser said that of 800,000 Jews interned in the Litzmannstadt ghetto, only 45,000 slaves remained alive.
Greiser said, "'Now you will quite rightly ask why there so few Jews left today in the ghetto and outside it too, and here I say to you as a National Socialist: I cannot answer this question in such a circle in detail.
I can only answer by saying that the Jews there are of course becoming fewer [in number], down to the 45,000 who actually work – and the Viennese Jews we have received in the meantime, they too have already been put to work...
Some of them did not want to stay in the ghetto at all, because they didn't like it there, and they wanted to be better situated and make their peace with their Jew god, and we gave them a hand with that and...
[Great amusement and strong applause].'" Schirach had also heard a speech by Heinrich Himmler in Posen on 6 October 1943, in which Himmler had described his decision to "exterminate" women and children as well as men.
Schirach later claimed that he instructed his colleague Hans Dellbrügge to reduce capacity for deportations, however there is no evidence for this claim. According to Wilhelm Bienenfeld, a Viennese Jew, Schirach must have known about the deportations because of the number of people who asked him to intervene.
He refused to intervene on numerous occasions, including on behalf of five retired members of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, of which he was patron, or on behalf of family friend Josef Krips.
Education
Von Schirach's formal education is not extensively documented; however, his early life was influenced by the cultural and political atmosphere of pre-war Germany. His education in the arts and literature would later lay the groundwork for his rhetorical skills used in Nazi propaganda.
A member of the Nazi Party from the age of 18, Schirach was named national youth leader of the party in 1931. In 1932, he was elected as a deputy to the Reichstag. After Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, he was appointed Jugendführer (Youth Leader) of the German Reich, responsible for all youth organizations in the nation.
In 1940, Schirach saw action as an infantryman in the French Campaign, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class. In 1940, Schirach was appointed Gauleiter of the Reichsgau Vienna; Artur Axmann succeeded him as leader of the Hitler Youth.
A virulent antisemite, he was responsible for deporting 65,000 Viennese Jews to various Nazi concentration camps in German-occupied Poland.
