| Joachim Ernst | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Joachim Ernst in 1918 | |||||
| Duke of Anhalt | |||||
| Reign | 13 September 1918 – 12 November 1918 | ||||
| Predecessor | Eduard | ||||
| Successor | Monarchy abolished | ||||
| Born | (1901-01-11)11 January 1901 Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt | ||||
| Died | 18 February 1947(1947-02-18) (aged 46) NKVD special camp Nr. 2, Weimar, Allied-occupied Germany | ||||
| Spouse |
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| Issue |
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| House | Ascania | ||||
| Father | Eduard, Duke of Anhalt | ||||
| Mother | Princess Louise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg | ||||
Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt (11 January 1901 – 18 February 1947) was the last ruler of the Duchy of Anhalt.
Biography
He was born in Dessau, the son of Duke Eduard of Anhalt (1861–1918) and Princess Louise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg (1873–1953), the daughter of Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg.
He succeeded his father as Duke of Anhalt on 13 September 1918. However, due to his age, his uncle Prince Aribert of Anhalt was appointed regent. His brief reign came to an end on 12 November 1918, with his uncle abdicating in his name following the German revolution. The duchy became the Free State of Anhalt and is today part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Thus Joachim Ernst was the last ruler of a constituent state within the German Empire to succeed to the throne, and the only German monarch to be born in the 20th century.
Joachim Ernst joined the ruling Nazi Party in 1939. Later he became a critic of Nazi rule, and in winter 1944 was arrested and spent three months in the Dachau concentration camp. He welcomed the overthrow of Nazi rule, and remained in the Soviet occupation zone in Germany, believing that his record as an anti-Nazi would protect him, but on 31 August 1945 he was arrested by the NKVD during a general round up of 'Junkers' or Prussian landed gentry. His entire 20,000 hectare estate was seized. He died in the NKVD special camp Nr. 2 (the former Buchenwald concentration camp) near Weimar Germany..
Following his death, the headship of the Ducal House of Anhalt was disputed between his elder son, Prince Friedrich, and brother Prince Eugen.
Marriages and children
In Ballenstedt Castle on 3 March 1927, Joachim Ernst married firstly Elisabeth Strickrodt (Plauen, 3 September 1903 – Berlin-Zehlendorf, 5 January 1971), a daughter of an opera singer. She was created Countess of Askanien, but they were divorced in 1929, without issue.
In Ballenstedt Castle on 15 October 1929, Joachim Ernst married secondly Editha "Edda" Charlotte Wilhelmine Marwitz von Stephani (Düsseldorf, 20 August 1905 – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 22 February 1986), natural daughter of Wilhelm Horn by Irmgard Klara Franziska Marwitz. She married firstly in 1926 and divorced from Maximilian, Edler von Rogister and was adopted as an adult by Bertha von Stephani, reputedly for a payment of 10,000 marks, in order to improve her social standing. They had five children:
- Marie Antoinette Elisabeth Alexandra Irmgard Edda Charlotte (14 July 1930 – 22 March 1993), married firstly 1957 (div. 1968) Karl-Heinz Guttmann and had one son, and married secondly 1974 (div. 1976) Max Riederer.
- Joachim Ernst Guttmann (b. 1963), who married in 2006 Bettina Pahn. They had one child:
- Leonhardt Held (b. 31 July 2008)
- Joachim Ernst Guttmann (b. 1963), who married in 2006 Bettina Pahn. They had one child:
- Anna Luise Marie Friederike Elisabeth Alice (26 March 1933 – 1 November 2003), married 1966 (div. 1970) Thomas Birch (b. 27 September 1927, New York City, USA). They have one son:
- James Anhalt-Birch (b. 12 April 1968, New York City, USA).
- Leopold Friedrich Franz Sieghard Hubertus Erdmann (11 April 1938 – 9 October 1963).
- Edda Adelheid Antoinette Emma Elisabeth (born 30 January 1940), married 1974 Albert Darboven.
- Eduard Julius Ernst August Erdmann (born 3 December 1941), married 1980 (div. 2014) Corinne Krönlein.
Honours and awards
Dynastic honours
Sovereign Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Ducal Order of Albert the Bear.
Gallery
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Joachim Ernst in May 1918
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Elisabeth Strickrodt in August 1929
Ancestry
| Ancestors of Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt |
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References
- Bundesarchiv R 9361-IX KARTEI/560575
- Hoyer, Katja (2024). Beyond the Wall, East Germany, 1949-1990. London: Penguin. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0-141-99934-0.
- Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh, ed. (1977). Burke's Royal Families of the World, 1st edition. London: Burke's Peerage. pp. 195–196. ISBN 0-85011-023-8.
- Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels: Furstliche Hauser Band III. C. A. Starke Verlag. 1955. p. 3.
- Burke's Royal Families of the World, Europe and Latin America
- "Adel: Eheskandale im Hause Anhalt". Mitteldeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2016-05-10.
External links
- House of Anhalt-Askanien Archived 2009-09-29 at the Wayback Machine (in German)
| Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt House of AscaniaBorn: 11 January 1901 Died: 18 February 1947 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byEduard | Duke of Anhalt 13 September – 12 November 1918 |
VacantMonarchy abolished |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded byEduard | Grand Master of the Order of Albert the Bear 13 September 1918 – 18 February 1947 |
Succeeded byFriedrich |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Loss of title Republic declared |
— TITULAR — Duke of Anhalt 12 November 1918 - 18 February 1947 |
Succeeded byFriedrich |
| Final hereditary rulers of the states of the German Empire | |
|---|---|
| Emperor | |
| Kings | |
| Grand dukes | |
| Dukes | |
| Principalities | |
- 1901 births
- 1947 deaths
- People from Dessau-Roßlau
- People from the Duchy of Anhalt
- House of Ascania
- Dukes of Anhalt
- German people of French descent
- Royalty in the Nazi Party
- German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union
- People who died in NKVD special camp Nr. 2
- Nazis who died in prison custody
- Pretenders
- Monarchs who abdicated