Otto Gessler

Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1968-100-04A, Otto Karl Ge%C3%9Fler

Otto Gessler (6 February 1875 – 24 March 1955) was a German politician and member of the German Democratic Party (DDP). He served as the Minister of Defence of the Weimar Republic from 1920 to 1928.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Otto Gessler was born in Ludwigsburg, Kingdom of Württemberg, on 6 February 1875. He studied law at the University of Tübingen and the University of Leipzig, where he earned his doctorate in law.

Political Career[edit | edit source]

Gessler began his political career as a member of the National Liberal Party. After the end of World War I, he joined the newly formed German Democratic Party (DDP). In 1919, he was appointed as the mayor of Nuremberg, a position he held until 1920.

Minister of Defence[edit | edit source]

In 1920, Gessler was appointed as the Minister of Defence in the cabinet of Chancellor Constantin Fehrenbach. He played a crucial role in the reorganization of the Reichswehr, the military organization of the Weimar Republic, following the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.

Gessler's tenure as Minister of Defence was marked by efforts to maintain the stability and integrity of the Reichswehr during a period of political and economic turmoil. He was instrumental in suppressing various uprisings and maintaining order during the Kapp Putsch and the Ruhr Uprising.

Later Career and Retirement[edit | edit source]

After resigning from his position as Minister of Defence in 1928, Gessler continued to be active in politics and public service. He served as the president of the German Red Cross from 1933 to 1945. Following World War II, he was briefly detained by the Allied forces but was released without charges.