Otto Wiedfeldt

His Excellency
Otto Wiedfeldt
Dr. Otto Wiedfeldt, 1922
German Ambassador to the United States
In office
1922–1925
Preceded byKarl Lang
(as Chargé d'Affaires)
Succeeded byAdolf Georg von Maltzan
Personal details
Born
Otto Karl Ludwig Wiedfeldt

(1871-08-16)16 August 1871
Badel, Altmark, Germany
Died5 July 1926(1926-07-05) (aged 54)
Essen, Germany
Spouse
Anna Bley
​
​
(m. 1896; died 1926)​
ChildrenHermann Joachim Wiedfeldt
Parent(s)Auguste Friederike Bley
Karl Otto Wiedfeldt
Alma materUniversity of Leipzig

Otto Karl Ludwig Wiedfeldt (16 August 1871 – 5 July 1926) was a German industrialist, statistician, politician and diplomat.

Early life

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Wiedfeldt was born on 16 August 1871 in Thüritz (today known as Badel) in Altmark, Germany.[1] He was the son of Auguste Friederike (née Bley) Wiedfeldt and Karl Otto Wiedfeldt (1841–1915),[2] a successful manufacturer.[3] He was educated at the Gymnasium in Bernburg and Salzwedel before studying economics in Berlin (at the Studium der Nationalökonomie), later receiving his doctorate from the University of Leipzig.[4]

Career

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Dr. Wiedfeldt and Dr. Wilhelm Solf, the German ambassador to Japan, 1922

After graduation from university, Wiedfeldt was employed by the Statistical Office of the Ministry of the Interior. He later went to Japan as a representative of large German firms and acted as a commercial advisor to the Japanese Government. He served as a member of the Administrative Board of Essen for many years.[5] In 1908, he was appointed to a post within the Ministry of the Interior,[3] and was responsible for drafting the 1911 Reich social insurance code (German: Reichsversicherungsordnung).[6]

From 1911 to 1914 he served as manager of the South Manchurian Railroad Company. After returning from Japan in 1914, he spent several months in the United States, learning about American manufacturing methods. At the beginning of World War I in July 1914, he joined the Reich's Wirtschafts Amt. where he became head of the Imperial Grain Office (German: Reichsgetreidestelle), developing a bread rationing program.[7]

In 1918, following the end of the War, he was appointed director of Krupp's, tasked with transforming the company's Essen works from a weapons manufacturer to peace time production.[8] Wiedfeldt, a vocal opponent of reparations,[9] served in this role until he was appointed to be the German Ambassador to the United States.[3]

Ambassador to the United States

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Dr. Otto Weidfeldt, Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber, and Dr. H.H. Dieckhoff, 1923

Upon America's entry into World War I in April 1917, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson immediately severed diplomatic relations with Germany and the country returned Ambassador Count Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff's passports. Following the end of the War, full diplomatic relations weren't restored until Wiedfeldt was installed as the new German Ambassador to the United States, presenting his letters of credence to President Warren G. Harding in May 1922.[10] In his presentation, Wiedfeldt referred to himself as the Ambassador of the German Empire while Harding referred to Germany as the Republic of Germany.[10] While Ambassador, he negotiated a trade treaty[11] between Germany and the United States.[12][13] In August 1923, he inspected the Albert Ballin, which was Germany's largest merchant marine ship, before it sailed to Hamburg from New York.[14]

During his tenure as ambassador, the Foreign Office had to deny his resignation several times, including in December 1923,[15][a] and February 1924 following his decision to leave the flag at the German Embassy at full-mast, rather than lowering it to half-mast upon the death of former President Wilson.[17][18] Criticism of his decision led to further speculation of his recall before the announcement in August 1924 that he would officially retire on September 15, 1924.[19][b] Nevertheless, his retirement was postponed and he stayed in his post,[21] reportedly at the request of the German government until after the 1924 presidential election in America.[22][23]

Later life

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On January 31, 1925, he left his post, handing over leadership of the embassy to Counsellor Hans-Heinrich Dieckhoff, before he was officially succeeded by Baron Adolf Georg von Maltzan in February.[24][25] As was often speculated,[26][27][28] following his retirement from the diplomatic service, he returned to Krupp's to help modernize the company, especially related to implementation of the Dawes Plan.[3] He left the company for health reasons in May 1926, only to die two months later in July 1926.[4]

Personal life

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Ambassador Wiedfeldt, his wife, and son, 1922

In 1896, Wiedfeldt married public school teacher Anna Bley (1867–1930),[2] a daughter of Dr. Gustave Bley of Bernburg.[29][30] He owned a large country place in Mecklenburg.[19] Together, they were the parents of a son:

  • Hermann Joachim Wiedfeldt (b. c. 1898), who directed Krupp's farming operations, 150,000 acres in the Don district of Ukraine,[31] which became part of Russia.[32]

Dr Wiedfeldt died of leukemia on 5 July 1926 in Essen "after a long siege of blood metastasis".[3][33] He was buried in the Meisenburg cemetery in Essen-Bredeney.[4]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ In December 1923, Baroness de Cartier de Marchienne (née Marie E. Dow), the American-born wife of Baron Emile de Cartier de Marchienne, the Belgian Ambassador to the United States, refused to be seated next to Dr. Otto Wiedfeldt at a diplomatic dinner given by the President and Mrs. Coolidge at the White House.[16]
  2. ^ Reportedly, he asked Wilhelmstrasse (the Foreign Office) what observance the German Embassy should follow upon former President Woodrow Wilson's death in February 1924. Without specific guidance from Berlin (as they felt Wilson was, by then, only a private citizen), Wiedfeldt, in a "strictly personal capacity", decided to only fly the flag at half-mast during his funeral.[20] This decision was felt by many to be disrespectful.[19]
Sources
  1. ^ "Kurzbiographien der Personen in den "Akten der Reichskanzlei, Weimarer Republik" | Wiedfeldt, Otto (Karl Ludwig)". www.bundesarchiv.de (in German). German Federal Archives. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Hansen, Eckhard; Tennstedt, Florian (2010). Biographisches Lexikon zur Geschichte der deutschen Sozialpolitik 1871 bis 1945 (in German). Kassel University Press GmbH. p. 172. ISBN 978-3-86219-039-3. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Times, Wireless To Tile New York (6 July 1926). "DR. WIEDFELDT DIES; EX-GERMAN ENVOY; Quit at Washington After Criticism for Ignoring Wilson's Death in Flag Episode". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Meiji-Portraits – WIEDFELDT Otto Carl Ludwig 1871 – 1926". meiji-portraits.de. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. ^ Hård, Mikael; Misa, Thomas J. (2008). Urban Machinery: Inside Modern European Cities. MIT Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-262-08369-0. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  6. ^ Streeck, Wolfgang; Yamamura, Kozo (2005). The Origins of Nonliberal Capitalism: Germany and Japan in Comparison. Cornell University Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-8014-8983-9. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Otto Carl Ludwig Wiedfeldt". oag.jp (in German). OAG – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens (Tokyo). Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  8. ^ James, Harold (26 February 2012). Krupp: A History of the Legendary German Firm. Princeton University Press. pp. 148–149, 153–155, 251. ISBN 978-1-4008-4186-8. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  9. ^ Maier, Charles S. (27 October 2015). Recasting Bourgeois Europe: Stabilization in France, Germany, and Italy in the Decade after World War I. Princeton University Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-4008-7370-8. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b Times, Special to The New York (26 May 1922). "HARDING RECEIVES NEW GERMAN ENVOY; Dr. Otto Wiedfeldt Presents Credentials as Successor to von Bernstorff. FULL RELATIONS RESUMED Ambassador Refers to Germany as "Empire," While Harding Calls It "Republic." Speaks of Germany as Empire. Hopes to Promote Good Relations". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights", U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany
  12. ^ States, United (1922). Treaty Series. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  13. ^ "WIEDFELDT FEARS FAMINE IN GERMANY; Thousands Will Starve and Freeze to Death This Winter, Says the Ambassador". The New York Times. 27 October 1923. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  14. ^ "GERMANY: The Precursor". Time. 6 August 1923. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  15. ^ Times, Wireless To the New York (5 December 1923). "Deny Wiedfeldt Has Resigned". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  16. ^ Times, Special to The New York (30 December 1923). "REFUSED BERLIN ENVOY AS HER DINNER ESCORT; Wife of Belgian Ambassador Caused Change at White House Diplomatic Dinner". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  17. ^ Times, Special to The New York (14 February 1924). "Denies Wiedfeldt Resigned". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Berlin Hears Wiedfeldt Will Return". The New York Times. April 11, 1924. p. 17. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Times, Special to The New York (14 August 1924). "Ambassador Wiedfeldt to Retire Sept. 15; Dr. Wilhelm Cuno Likely to Succeed Him". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  20. ^ "SHIFTING THE BLAME TO GERMAN ENVOY; Berlin Foreign Office Blames Wiedfeldt for the Incident of Flag". The New York Times. 9 February 1924. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  21. ^ "GERMAN ENVOY REMAINS.; Wiedfeldt's Resignation Is Indefinitely Postponed". The New York Times. 14 September 1924. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  22. ^ "ASKS WIEDFELDT TO STAY.; Berlin Won't Name New Envoy Here Till After Presidential Election". The New York Times. 24 September 1924. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  23. ^ "WIEDFELDT MAY RESIGN.; Essen Hears German Envoy Will Soon Return to Krupp's". The New York Times. 7 November 1924. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  24. ^ "GERMANY: Ambassador to U. S." Time. 22 December 1924.
  25. ^ "VON MALTZAN NAMED GERMAN AMBASSADOR; Under-Secretary of Berlin Foreign Office Gets Appointment to Washington Post". The New York Times. 11 December 1924. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  26. ^ "SAY KRUPPS WANT WIEDFELDT RECALLED; Need Present Envoy Here for Be Director of the Big Steel Plant". The New York Times. 23 May 1923. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  27. ^ "KRUPPS WANT ENVOY BACK AS A DIRECTOR; Washington Embassy Scouts the Report – Say Wiedfeldt Would Be Arrested". The New York Times. 24 May 1923. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  28. ^ "WIEDFELDT ANXIOUS TO REJOIN KRUPPS; German Friends Sure He Will Not Return to Washington From September Holiday". The New York Times. 16 August 1924. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  29. ^ "The Spur". The Spur. Angus Company: 44. 1922. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  30. ^ Beiträge zur Geschichte von Stadt und Stift Essen (in German). 1962. p. 16. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  31. ^ Torke, Hans Joachim; Himka, John Paul (25 June 1994). German-Ukrainian Relations in Historical Perspective. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-920862-91-9. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  32. ^ "POST FOR YOUNG WIEDFELDT; Ambassador's Son Will Direct Krupp Farming Operations in Russia". The New York Times. 24 July 1923. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  33. ^ "BERLIN PRAISES WIEDFELDT. The Newspapers Vie With Each Other in Sympathetic Comment". The New York Times. July 6, 1926. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
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