Albert Neuhaus | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Neuhaus in 1925. | |
| Reich Minister of Economics | |
| In office January 15, 1925 (1925-01-15) – 26 October 1925 (1925-10-26) | |
| President | Friedrich Ebert Paul von Hindenburg |
| Chancellor | Hans Luther |
| Preceded by | Eduard Hamm |
| Succeeded by | Rudolf Krohne(acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1873-07-09)July 9, 1873 |
| Died | 29 April 1948(1948-04-29) (aged 74) |
| Political party | DNVP |
| Alma mater | University of Erlangen–Nuremberg |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Albert Neuhaus (9 July 1873 - 29 April 1948) was a German politician and civil servant of theDNVP. He most notably served asReich Minister of Economics inHans Luther's cabinet from 15 January to 26 October 1925, when he resigned, and was succeeded byRudolf Krohne.
Neuhaus was born into a family ofRhenishmanufacturers, although his father had been residing inScotland to run a business. He attended university studying inlaw, and eventually received hisDoctor of Law degree from theUniversity of Erlangen–Nuremberg in 1896. He then went into being acivil servant for thePrussian state government, and be 1909 became aGovernment Councillor. He reached his most senior civil servant position as aMinisterial Director and Real Senior Privy Councillor in 1918. Neuhaus left the government in 1920 he work in theprivate sector, which he would do until he was appointed minister.
A member of the nationalist party,DNVP, he was appointed Reich Minister of Economics in January 1925. During this time he criticized the Germanprivate industry for their spending of foreign capital, and largely spent his time responding to theprevious hyperinflation. Notable laws passed during his tenure to achieve this was the Loan Liquidation Act and Bond Redemption Law. He eventually resigned in October 1925, as did two other members of the DNVP in Luther's cabinet. This was in response to theLocarno Treaties, which were sent to theReichstag, but of which the DNVP declared unsatisfactory because they wished for no concessions toFrance. After he left, he spent the rest of his career in obscurity and died in 1948.
Albert Neuhaus was born on 9 July 1873 inGlasgow,Scotland,[1] into a family who wereRhenishmanufacturers.[2] His father had been residing in Scotland to set up a business.[3] He attended agymnasium inNeuwied. He then studied atHeidelberg University and later theUniversity of Bonn,[4] and joined theCorps Suevia Heidelberg, a student fraternity, in 1893. He graduated from theUniversity of Erlangen–Nuremberg in 1896 as aDoctor of Law.[5] After graduating, he was an advisor at the bank H. Albert de Bary & Co inAntwerp.[2]
In 1901 he became anassessor for thePrussian state government inDüsseldorf.[6] By 1902 he was anunskilled worker inBerlin at the Prussian Ministry of Trade and Industry.[7] In 1909 he was promoted toGovernment Councillor, in 1910 toPrivy Councillor and Lecturer Councillor.[8] In 1914 he became Privy Senior Government Councillor.[9] Four years later he was promoted toMinisterial Director and Real Senior Privy Councillor.[10] In 1920 he left civil service to work in theprivate sector, where he worked at until he was appointed minister.[11] During this time he publicly commented on the debate of whether to keepGerman colonies by stating that they were necessary as space for German human settlement, a position he would continuously defend.[12]
Neuhaus was appointedReich Minister of Economics on 15 January 1925 in theHans Luther.[13] He was a member of theDNVP.[14]
He criticized the Germanprivate industry for spending foreign capital from theUnited States on advertising and other social activities instead of using it to increase production, and he also urged for moreagricultural production to lessen purchases of food from abroad.[15] During his term, prices dropped in the second quarter of 1925 due to compromise legislation for investors, who expected partial compensation because of mark debt, which existed due tohyperinflation.[16] The Loan Liquidation Act was also passed, which qualified 73 billionreichsmarks Reich debt for conversion to 1.8 billion reichsmarks loan liquidation debt.[16] Another important law passed during his time as minister was the Bond Redemption Law on 16 July which stipulated what German Reich bonds issued in the old Reich currency could be exchanged for German Reich loan redemption debt.[17]
He officially resigned on 26 October 1925.[18] The reason for his resignation was due to theLocarno Treaties, which was sent to theReichstag, but of which the DNVP declared unsatisfactory because they wished for no concessions toFrance.[19]
He had a brother named Charles.[3] His wife was the daughter of Dr.Dittmar Finkler, a physician and professor.[3]
Neuhaus died on 29 April 1948 inWuppertal-Elberfeld.[6]