- Helmut Bruckner
Helmuth Brückner (1896–1954) was a "Gauleiter" of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) from 1925 until 1934.
Life
Helmuth Brückner was born on May 7, 1896 in Peilau (Prussia). He attended "Volkschule" in Peilau, "Höhere Knabenschule" in Langenbielau, and "Kgl. Realgymnasium" in Reichenbach. He then studied at Friederich-Wilhelm-Universität in Breslau.
In 1914, Brückner volunteered for the Army and was posted with the Feld-Artillerie-Regiment 88 where he won the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class as "Leutnant der Reserve" and "Abteilung-Adjutant". On March 25, 1918, he was seriously wounded while in France. In 1921, he was "Ib–Gruppe Nord" with the "Deutschen Selbstschutz" (Freikorps) in Oberschlesien.
In 1924, Brückner joined the "NS-Freiheitsbewegung" (the NSDAP had been banned after the failed “"Beer Hall Putsch"” in 1923) and became editor of "Schlesien Volksstimme". He also became "Stadtverordneter" in Breslau, a position he held until 1926. Brückner organized the NSDAP in Schlesien and on March 15, 1925, he officially joined the NSDAP (number 2 023) and was appointed "Gauleiter" for Schlesien. In September, 1930 he became a member of the "Reichstag" for Breslau (Wkr.8) and on April 24, 1932, he became a member of the "Preußischen Lantags". On August 17, 1932 Brückner was named "Kommissar Ost der NSDAP". It was at this time he also founded the publishing house "NS-Schlesien" which published the “"Schlesischen Beobachters".” On March 12, 1933, Brückner became "Provinzial-Landtagsabgeordneter, Kreistagsabgeordneter" and "Stadtverordneter". On March 25, 1933, he became a "Preußischen Staatsrat" and the "Oberpräsident" in Breslau (while simultaneously being given temporary authority of "Oberpräsident" in Oppeln). On October 7, 1933 he became "SA-Gruppenführer", but on December 25, 1934, he was expelled from NSDAP and dismissed as "Gauleiter" in connection with the "Röhm Putsch".
From 1938, Brückner was as an industrial worker in the Heinkel works in Rostock. Arrested by the Soviets in July, 1945, he was confined in a Thüringischen prison camp until 1949, then moved to the USSR where he was also in various internment camps. Official sources give his year of death as both 1954, however hide the date and place.
References
“Reichstags-Handbuch VIII.Wahlperiode 1933” (Berlin: Druck und Verlag der Reichsdruckerei, p. 107)
“Hitlers politische Generale. Die Gauleiter des 3. Reiches; ein biographisches Nachschlagewerk.“ Karl Höffkes (Tübingen 1997: Grabert-Verlag)
“Axis Biographical Research” Website by Michael D. Miller & Gareth Collins (http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/)
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