The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Government & Party
Otto Meissner (1880–1953): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 13 March 1880, Bischweiler (Alsace) |
|---|---|
| Died | 27 May 1953, Munich |
| Key offices | Head of the Office of the Reich President (from 1 April 1920); State Secretary (1923); Staatsminister with the rank of Reich minister (1937) |
| Documents bearing his name | Presidential and Presidential Chancellery papers, certificates and correspondence |
| In the collection | No pieces currently available |
Otto Meissner ran the office of Germany’s head of state for 25 years, serving Ebert, Hindenburg and Hitler. His office handled appointments, honours and ceremonial matters, so his signature is found on the paperwork that accompanied many presidential and award documents.
Who Was Otto Meissner?
Meissner was born in Bischweiler in 1880. He took over the Office of the Reich President on 1 April 1920 and became State Secretary in 1923. In August 1935 his office was renamed the Presidential Chancellery, with ceremonial and formal duties, and in 1937 he became Staatsminister with the rank of a Reich minister.
What Documents Bear Meissner’s Signature?
His signature appears on correspondence of the presidential office and Presidential Chancellery, on covering letters for appointments and honours, and on some certificates. See original signature or facsimile.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- “Präsidialkanzlei” appears from 1935.
- Covering letters and certificates must fit the date and the head of state.
- Distinguish ink from printed signatures.
Responsibility and Fate
Meissner was acquitted in the Ministries Trial at Nuremberg on 14 April 1949 and cleared by three denazification tribunals. He died in Munich in 1953.
Collector’s Note
Meissner’s documents show the routine of the head of state’s office across three very different regimes. That continuity is itself historically revealing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Whom did Meissner serve?
Presidents Ebert and Hindenburg and then Hitler.
What was the Presidential Chancellery?
From 1935, the renamed office of the head of state, responsible for ceremonial and formal matters.
Was Meissner convicted?
No, he was acquitted in 1949.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Menges, F. (1990) ‘Meißner, Otto’, Neue Deutsche Biographie, 16, pp. 702–703.