Product Information

LUTZ GRAF SCHWERIN VON KROSIGH /(1887 – 1977) German senior government official, Minister of Finance 1932-45, de facto Chancellor of Germany in May 1945. War-date photo card 3.5 x 5.5 in. b/w, a chest, up Hoffmann 386, portrait signed in full at right. Fine.
Besides Adolf Hitler himself, Schwerin von Krosigk was one of the few members of the Third Reich’s cabinet (along with Wilhelm Frick, Konstantin von Neurath and Franz Seldte) to serve continuously from Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor until his death. By accepting the Golden Party Badge personally bestowed by Adolf Hitler, given for honour on 30 January 1937, he automatically became a member of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) with membership number 3,805,231. He also joined the Academy for German Law in 1937.

At the 1949 Ministries Trial, he was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to 10 years in prison; his sentence was commuted in 1951. He later worked as an author and publicist.