The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Government & Party
Hans Frank (1900–1946): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 3 May 1900, Karlsruhe |
|---|---|
| Died | 16 October 1946, Nuremberg (executed) |
| Key offices | Chief legal counsel of the NSDAP; minister of justice posts in 1933; Governor-General of occupied Poland (1939–1945) |
| Documents bearing his name | General Government decrees and correspondence, legal and party papers |
| In the collection | No pieces currently available |
Hans Frank was the Nazi Party’s lawyer who became the ruler of the General Government, the part of occupied Poland where much of the Holocaust was carried out. Documents of his administration record the persecution, forced labour and murder of the population he governed.
Who Was Hans Frank?
Frank was born in Karlsruhe in 1900. He joined the German Workers’ Party in 1921, became its chief legal counsel and acted as Hitler’s personal lawyer. After 1933 he held posts including minister of justice. After the invasion of Poland in 1939 he became Governor-General of occupied Poland, the highest civil authority there.
What Documents Bear Frank’s Signature?
His signature appears on decrees and correspondence of the General Government and on earlier legal and party papers. Many decrees were published in print. See original signature or facsimile and documents of occupied Poland.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- General Government documents date from 1939 to 1945.
- Printed decrees are not signed originals.
- Documents from occupied Poland must be described with full historical context.
Responsibility and Fate
The International Military Tribunal convicted Frank of war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced him to death on 1 October 1946. He was hanged on 16 October 1946.
Collector’s Note
Documents from the General Government are among the most sensitive in this field. I describe them always with their context: the people they concerned and what happened to them.
Related Entries and Pieces
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the General Government?
The German-administered part of occupied Poland, governed by Hans Frank.
What happened to Hans Frank?
He was sentenced to death at Nuremberg and hanged on 16 October 1946.
Was Hans Frank Hitler’s lawyer?
Yes, he served as Hitler’s personal lawyer before 1933.
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
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Hans Frank.