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'''Anton Schmidt Weintraub''' (10 March 1876 - 22 May 1981) was a {{wp|Hanoverian}} politician and banker who served as the first minister-president of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} and was the founding leader of the [[Hanoverian Union Party]] from 1924 to 1939. A hugely popular figure in modern-day {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}, Weintraub is widely regarded by many {{wp|Hanoverians}} for his successful efforts in establishing an elected government for {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}, as well as for his founding of the [[Hanoverian Union Party]], which would come to dominate {{wp|Hanoverian}} politics in the decades following his retirement.
'''Anton Schmidt Weintraub''' (10 March 1876 - 22 May 1981) was a {{wp|Hanoverian}} politician and banker who served as the first minister-president of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} and was the founding leader of the [[Hanoverian Union Party]] from 1924 to 1939. A hugely popular figure in modern-day {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}, Weintraub is widely regarded by many {{wp|Hanoverians}} for his successful efforts in establishing an elected government for {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}, as well as for his founding of the [[Hanoverian Union Party]], which would come to dominate {{wp|Hanoverian}} politics in the decades following his retirement.


The only son of a wealthy banking family in {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}, Weintraub, then a promising and fairly successful banker in his family's tradition, first rose to prominence as one of the founding members of the {{wp|Democratic Movement for Hanover}}, a group of {{wp|Hanoverian}} activists concerned with modernisation and reform of the administration of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} which, by the early 20th century, had begun to be seen by large sectors of society as outdated and archaic, given that the kingdom's administrative leader, known as a viceroy, was an unelected position. During the course of this, in 1907, following the death of the group's founder, {{wp|Patrik Rosenhain}}, Weintraub was subsequently elected as the group's new leader, an appointment that allowed him to further advance the group's cause, which became more and more noticeable and popular following the end of {{wp|World War I}}, during which post-war tensions had thrown the future of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} into doubt. Eventually, on November 1924, following {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}'s formal incorporation into the {{wp|United Kingdom}} as an autonomous constituent country as a result of the passage of the {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover Act 1924}}, in which Weintraub played a significant role as the leading {{wp|Hanoverian}} voice concerning the bill, in the country's first state elections, Weintraub, by then a leading and popular figure in the reform movement for {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}, was elected as the country's first minister-president, a role which he would hold from 1924 until 1939, before voluntarily stepping down in accordance to a tradition he had established himself, whereby each officeholder would voluntarily resign after holding the office for fifteen years. It has since come to be known as the "Weintraub rule", named in honour of the party's founder.
The only son of a {{wp|German}} banking family in {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}, Weintraub, a promising and fairly successful banker in his family's tradition, first rose to prominence as one of the founding members of the {{wp|Democratic Movement for Hanover}}, a group of {{wp|Hanoverian}} activists and thinkers concerned with modernisation and reform of the administration of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} which, by the early 20th century, had begun to be seen by large sectors of society as outdated and archaic given that the kingdom's administrative leader, known as a viceroy, was an unelected position. In 1907, following the death of the group's founder {{wp|Patrik Rosenhain}}, Weintraub was subsequently elected as the group's new leader, allowing him to further advance the group's cause which became more and more noticeable and popular following the end of {{wp|World War I}} during which post-war tensions had thrown the future of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} into doubt. Eventually, on November 1924, following {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}'s formal incorporation into the {{wp|United Kingdom}} as an autonomous constituent country as a result of the passage of the {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover Act 1924}}, in the country's first state elections, Weintraub was elected as the country's first minister-president, a role which he held from 1924 until 1939 before voluntarily stepping down in accordance to a tradition he had established himself whereby each officeholder would voluntarily resign after holding the office for fifteen years. It has since come to be known as the "Weintraub rule", named in honour of the party's founder.


As minister-president, Weintraub initially presided over the post-war economic boom following the {{wp|First World War}}, before later overseeing a major financial crisis caused by the {{wp|Great Depression}} in 1929. Around that same time, the growing ideology of {{wp|Nazism}} in the neighbouring {{wp|Weimar Republic}} became an issue of concern for Weintraub, a moderate conservative, whom subsequently took great effort in rooting out, as well as preventing the {{wp|Nazi}} ideology from ever taking hold in {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}, while at the same time, greatly promoting efforts to alleviate the general population's hardships caused by the {{wp|Great Depression}}. Then, in November 1939, Weintraub voluntarily resigned from his position after fifteen years in power, although his resignation came at a rather difficult time, given that in September 1939, the {{wp|United Kingdom}}, and therefore, {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} itself, had entered into a state of war against {{wp|Nazi Germany}} following the latter's invasion of {{wp|Poland}}. Consequently, throughout the following wartime years, despite not holding office anymore, Weintraub actively served as a leading resistance icon and figure against {{wp|German}} forces, a role that would ultimately solidify his status as a hugely popular figure in {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}. Then, throughout the following {{wp|Cold War}} period, Weintraub was also an active critic and a proponent of hawkish policies against {{wp|Soviet}}-inspired {{wp|communism}}, which he famously described in one speech as "{{wp|Nazism}} in red clothing that is an undeniable danger and threat to the existence and sovereignty of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}}".
As minister-president, Weintraub initially presided over the post-war economic boom following the {{wp|First World War}} before later overseeing a major financial crisis caused by the {{wp|Great Depression}} in 1929. Around that same time, the growing ideology of {{wp|Nazism}} in the neighbouring {{wp|Weimar Republic}} became an issue of concern for Weintraub, a moderate conservative, who subsequently took great effort in rooting out as well as preventing the {{wp|Nazi}} ideology from ever taking hold in {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} while at the same time greatly promoting efforts to alleviate the general population's hardships caused by the {{wp|Great Depression}}. Around November 1939, Weintraub voluntarily resigned from his position but continued to retain significant influence especially during the {{wp|Second World War}} and the subsequent {{wp|Cold War}} conflict with Weintraub being a prominent anti-communist voice who routinely condemned the {{wp|Soviet Union}}.  


On 22 May 1981, at the age of 105, Weintraub passed away at his home from natural causes, making him the longest-lived minister-president of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} and the only one to have reached beyond the age of 100.
On 22 May 1981, at the age of 105, Weintraub died from natural causes, making him the longest-lived minister-president of {{wp|Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover}} and the only one to have reached beyond the age of 100.

Revision as of 15:43, 3 November 2023

The Right Honourable
Anton Weintraub
MHP
Portrait of Ernst Bassermann.jpg
Minister-President of Hanover
In office
20 November 1924 – 20 November 1939
MonarchFrederick
DeputyJonas Hahnemann
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byBruno Lindauer
Leader of the Hanoverian Union Party
In office
5 December 1924 – 20 November 1939
DeputyJonas Hahnemann
Succeeded byBruno Lindauer
Member of the Hanoverian Parliament
for Lehrte
In office
20 November 1924 – 20 November 1939
Succeeded byEmanuel Mann
Personal details
Born
Anton Schmidt Weintraub

(1876-03-10)March 10, 1876
Goslar, Kingdom of Hanover
DiedMay 22, 1981(1981-05-22) (aged 105)
King Frederick City, Hanover
Political partyHanoverian Union Party
SpouseMadia Thimig
Children3

Anton Schmidt Weintraub (10 March 1876 - 22 May 1981) was a Hanoverian politician and banker who served as the first minister-president of Hanover and was the founding leader of the Hanoverian Union Party from 1924 to 1939. A hugely popular figure in modern-day Hanover, Weintraub is widely regarded by many Hanoverians for his successful efforts in establishing an elected government for Hanover, as well as for his founding of the Hanoverian Union Party, which would come to dominate Hanoverian politics in the decades following his retirement.

The only son of a German banking family in Hanover, Weintraub, a promising and fairly successful banker in his family's tradition, first rose to prominence as one of the founding members of the Democratic Movement for Hanover, a group of Hanoverian activists and thinkers concerned with modernisation and reform of the administration of Hanover which, by the early 20th century, had begun to be seen by large sectors of society as outdated and archaic given that the kingdom's administrative leader, known as a viceroy, was an unelected position. In 1907, following the death of the group's founder Patrik Rosenhain, Weintraub was subsequently elected as the group's new leader, allowing him to further advance the group's cause which became more and more noticeable and popular following the end of World War I during which post-war tensions had thrown the future of Hanover into doubt. Eventually, on November 1924, following Hanover's formal incorporation into the United Kingdom as an autonomous constituent country as a result of the passage of the Kingdom of Hanover Act 1924, in the country's first state elections, Weintraub was elected as the country's first minister-president, a role which he held from 1924 until 1939 before voluntarily stepping down in accordance to a tradition he had established himself whereby each officeholder would voluntarily resign after holding the office for fifteen years. It has since come to be known as the "Weintraub rule", named in honour of the party's founder.

As minister-president, Weintraub initially presided over the post-war economic boom following the First World War before later overseeing a major financial crisis caused by the Great Depression in 1929. Around that same time, the growing ideology of Nazism in the neighbouring Weimar Republic became an issue of concern for Weintraub, a moderate conservative, who subsequently took great effort in rooting out as well as preventing the Nazi ideology from ever taking hold in Hanover while at the same time greatly promoting efforts to alleviate the general population's hardships caused by the Great Depression. Around November 1939, Weintraub voluntarily resigned from his position but continued to retain significant influence especially during the Second World War and the subsequent Cold War conflict with Weintraub being a prominent anti-communist voice who routinely condemned the Soviet Union.

On 22 May 1981, at the age of 105, Weintraub died from natural causes, making him the longest-lived minister-president of Hanover and the only one to have reached beyond the age of 100.

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