Monarchist aristocrat who staged the Prussian coup, brokered Hitler's appointment as chancellor and became his vice-chancellor
Born into a wealthy Westphalian Catholic noble family, he served in the Prussian Army from 1898 and was expelled from the United States in 1915 for organising sabotage as military attaché. Appointed chancellor by Hindenburg in June 1932, he ruled by decree and in July deposed the Social Democrat-led Prussian government in the Prussian coup. Ousted by Schleicher in November, he allied with Hitler and in January 1933 had him appointed chancellor with himself as vice-chancellor. His Marburg speech of 1934 warned against a "second revolution", and in the Night of the Long Knives his close associates were murdered. He served as ambassador in Vienna and Ankara, joined the Nazi Party in 1938, and was acquitted at Nuremberg.
Also known as: Franz Joseph Hermann Michael Maria von Papen
Activities and affiliations
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1898–1919
Germany state institutionsPrussian Army officer
Military command -
1921–1932
Government and administration
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1921–1932
Germany state institutionsMember of the Prussian Landtag
Legislature and state representation -
1932
Germany state institutionsChancellorMain
Government and administration -
1933–1934
Germany state institutionsVice-Chancellor
Government and administration -
1934–1938
Germany state institutionsAmbassador to Austria
Diplomacy and international organization -
1938–1945
Diplomacy and international organization
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1939–1944
Germany state institutionsAmbassador to Turkey
Diplomacy and international organization