Fritz Wächtler
Fritz Wächtler | |
|---|---|
| Gauleiter of Gau Bayreuth | |
| In office 5 December 1935 – 19 April 1945 | |
| Appointed by | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | Hans Schemm |
| Succeeded by | Ludwig Ruckdeschel |
| Head of the National Socialist Teachers League | |
| In office 5 December 1935 – 17 February 1943 | |
| Appointed by | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | Hans Schemm |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| Deputy Gauleiter of Gau Thuringia | |
| In office 15 June 1932 – 5 December 1935 | |
| Appointed by | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | Willy Marschler |
| Succeeded by | Heinrich Siekmeier |
| Interior Minister of Thuringia | |
| In office 8 May 1933 – 22 January 1936 | |
| Prime Minister | Willy Marschler |
| Preceded by | Fritz Sauckel |
| Succeeded by | Walter Ortlepp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 January 1891 Triebes, Principality of Reuss-Gera, German Empire |
| Died | 19 April 1945 (aged 54) Waldmünchen, Bavaria, Nazi Germany |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Political party | Nazi Party |
| Profession | Teacher |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Branch/service | Imperial German Army |
| Years of service | 1913–1918 |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit |
|
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Iron Cross, 2nd class |
Fritz Wächtler (7 January 1891 – 19 April 1945) was a Nazi Party official and politician who served as the Gauleiter of the eastern Bavarian administrative region of Gau Bayreuth. Trained as a primary school teacher, he also became head of the National Socialist Teachers League (NSLB) in 1935. During World War II he held the honorary rank of SS-Obergruppenführer and was the Reich Defense Commissioner of Gau Bayreuth. Prone to alcoholic outbursts and unpopular with the local residents, he eventually ran afoul of Martin Bormann in a political intrigue. Wächtler was executed on orders from Führer Headquarters near the end of the war on 19 April 1945.