Who Is Ernst Kaltenbrunner? Age, Biography and Wiki
Ernst Kaltenbrunner was born on October 4, 1903, in Austria. He rose through the ranks of the SS (Schutzstaffel) during World War II and became one of the highest-ranking officials in Nazi Germany, notorious for his involvement in war crimes. Kaltenbrunner was captured after the war and tried at the Nuremberg Trials for his actions. He was executed on October 16, 1946. As of 2025, he would have been 122 years old had he been alive.
| Occupation | Military Leaders |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 4, 1903 |
| Age | 43 Years |
| Birth Place | Ried im Innkreis, Austria-Hungary |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | Austria |
| Date of death | 16 October, 1946 |
| Died Place | Nuremberg, Germany |
Popularity
Ernst Kaltenbrunner's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While precise measurements of Kaltenbrunner's height and weight are not well-documented, historical accounts suggest he had a commanding presence typical of many individuals in leadership positions during that era.
During the summer of 1943, Kaltenbrunner conducted his second inspection of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp. While he was there, 15 prisoners were selected to demonstrate for Kaltenbrunner three methods of killing: by a gunshot to the neck, hanging, and gassing.
After the killings were performed, Kaltenbrunner inspected the crematorium and later the quarry. In October 1943, he told Herbert Kappler, the head of German police and security services in Rome, that the "eradication of the Jews in Italy" was of "special interest" for "general security".
Four days later, Kappler's SS and police units began rounding up and deporting Jews by train to Auschwitz concentration camp.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Kaltenbrunner's personal life was shadowed by his political affiliations and the turmoil of his public career. He was married to his wife, Gretl, and they had three children together. There is little public information available regarding any romantic relationships outside of his marriage.
His father Hugo was a lawyer, and Kaltenbrunner spent his early years and primary education in Raab, later attending the Realgymnasium in Linz. Raised in a nationalist family, his ideological understanding of the world was shaped to some extent by the völkisch Pan-Germanism movement in Austria, since his father was an adherent to its ideals.
Like his father, the younger Kaltenbrunner's pan-Germanism—replete with anti-Semitism and the notion that political conflict was a racial struggle—was cultivated in the nationalist student fraternities known as Burschenschaften.
Kaltenbrunner was incidentally also childhood friends with Adolf Eichmann, the infamous SS officer who later played a key role in implementing the Nazis' "Final Solution" against Europe's Jews.
Net Worth and Salary
Estimates of Ernst Kaltenbrunner’s net worth during his lifetime are not available, as most financial records are overshadowed by his criminal activities and the subsequent trials. His high-ranking position within the Nazi regime likely afforded him a lifestyle of considerable wealth, but he did not survive to see any post-war financial ventures.
Career, Business and Investments
Kaltenbrunner's career was primarily rooted in his positions within the Nazi government and SS. He served as Deputy Chief of the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA) and was directly involved in the implementation of the Final Solution. His career ended following his capture by Allied forces, and he had no opportunity or means for post-war business ventures due to his execution.
Kaltenbrunner argued in his defence that his position as RSHA chief existed only theoretically and said he was only active in matters of espionage and intelligence. He maintained that Himmler, as his superior, was the person culpable for the atrocities committed during his tenure as chief of the RSHA.
Kaltenbrunner also asserted that he had no knowledge of the Final Solution before 1943 and went on to claim that he protested against the ill-treatment of the Jews to Himmler and Hitler.
Further denials from Kaltenbrunner included statements that he knew nothing of the Commissar Order and that he never visited Mauthausen concentration camp, despite documentation of his visit. At one point, Kaltenbrunner went so far as to avow that he was responsible for bringing the Final Solution to an end.
In response to his denials, people in the courtroom laughed.
Social Network
Due to the nature of his activities during World War II, Kaltenbrunner was associated with many notable figures in the Nazi regime. However, with the condemnation of his actions and execution, his contemporary social network swiftly disappeared, and he became a figure of historical study rather than personal relationships.
Acting on orders from Hermann Göring, Kaltenbrunner assisted in bringing about the Anschluss with Germany (13 March 1938); he was awarded the role of State Secretary for Public Security in the Seyss-Inquart cabinet of 11 to 13 March 1938.
Controlled from behind the scenes by Himmler, Kaltenbrunner still led, albeit clandestinely, the Austrian SS as part of his duty to "coordinate" and manage the Austrian population – this entailed the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian society. Then on 21 March 1938, he was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer.
He was a member of the German Reichstag from 10 April 1938 until 8 May 1945. Amid this activity, he helped establish the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp near Linz. Mauthausen was the first Nazi concentration camp opened in Austria following the Anschluss.
On 11 September 1938, Kaltenbrunner was promoted to the rank of SS-Gruppenführer (equivalent to a lieutenant general in the German Army) while holding the position of leader of SS-Oberabschnitt Österreich (re-designated SS-Oberabschnitt Donau in November 1938).
Also in 1938, he was appointed Higher SS and Police Leader (Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer; HSSPF) for Oberabschnitt Donau, which was the primary SS command in Austria (he held that post until 30 January 1943).
Education
Kaltenbrunner was educated in Austria, where he initially studied law but became increasingly involved in political and military organizations. His education played a significant role in shaping his views and career, leading him to join the Nazi party in the early 1930s.
