Fritz Thyssen, a prominent figure in German industry, emerged as one of the earliest and most significant financial contributors to the Nazi Party. Born in 1873 in Styrum, Gemeinde, he eventually became a member of the Reichstag, though his political alignment shifted from early ideological support to outright opposition as the Nazi regime escalated its aggressive policies.
Industrial Leadership
Thyssen inherited a massive industrial empire after the death of his father, August, in 1926. He consolidated his influence by forming United Steelworks, an entity that controlled more than 75 percent of Germany's iron ore reserves and managed a workforce of 200,000 employees. His authority within the sector was further cemented through his roles as head of the German Iron and Steel Industry Association, the Reich Association of German Industry, and as a board member of the Reichsbank.
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Driven by a profound fear of communism, Thyssen viewed the Nazi Party as the only viable counterweight to a potential Soviet-style revolution. He provided substantial financial backing, including a donation of 100,000 gold marks in 1923, and organized a formal appeal to President Paul von Hindenburg to appoint Adolf Hitler as Chancellor in 1932. As a member of the Prussian Council of State, he actively supported the suppression of trade unions and leftist political organizations throughout the early years of the regime.
Conflict and Imprisonment
The relationship between Thyssen and the regime soured following the anti-Jewish violence of Kristallnacht in 1938 and his vocal disapproval of Nazi economic policies regarding rearmament. By 1939, his opposition reached a breaking point, prompting him to flee to Switzerland and later France. After being arrested by authorities in Vichy France in 1941, he was returned to Germany, where he was confined in various facilities, including the Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps, remaining a prisoner until his liberation in May 1945.
Post-War Years
Following the conclusion of World War II, Thyssen faced denazification proceedings. He was classified as a lesser offender and assessed a fine for his past political activities. In 1950, he emigrated to Buenos Aires, Argentina. He died there in 1951, ending a life defined by his transition from a pillar of German industry and early Nazi financier to a political outcast who ultimately became a prisoner of the state he once helped elevate.
Fast facts
- Born: 1873, Styrum, Gemeinde
- Died: 1951, Buenos Aires
- Citizenship: Germany
- Occupations: politician, entrepreneur, art collector, factory owner
- Positions: Member of the Reichstag of Nazi Germany
- Primary Industry: Steel and Mining
Questions readers ask
Why did Fritz Thyssen support the Nazi Party?
Thyssen was primarily motivated by an intense fear of communism and believed the Nazi Party offered the most effective anti-communist alternative for Germany.
What happened to Thyssen during World War II?
After fleeing Germany in 1939, he was arrested by Vichy France in 1941, returned to Germany, and interned in concentration camps, including Sachsenhausen and Dachau, until 1945.
Achievements
- Holdings: Bouquet of Flowers in a Clay Vase
