Albert Neuhaus
{{Short description|German politician and civil servant (1873-1948)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| birth_date = {{birth date|1873|07|09}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1948|04|29|1873|07|09|df=yes}}
| death_place = Wuppertal-Elberfeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, British occupation zone in Germany
| party = DNVP
| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 102-02063, Albert Neuhaus (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| smallimage =
| caption = Neuhaus in 1925.
| office = Reich Minister of Economics
| status =
| term_start = {{start date|1925|01|15}}
| term_end = {{end date|1925|10|26|df=yes}}
| president = Friedrich Ebert
Paul von Hindenburg
| chancellor = Hans Luther
| predecessor = Eduard Hamm
| successor = Rudolf Krohne (acting)
|alma_mater = University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
|occupation = Lawyer
}}
Albert Neuhaus (9 July 1873 - 29 April 1948) was a German politician and civil servant of the DNVP. He most notably served as Reich Minister of Economics in Hans Luther's cabinet from 15 January to 26 October 1925, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Rudolf Krohne.
Neuhaus was born into a family of Rhenish manufacturers, although his father had been residing in Scotland to run a business. He attended university studying in law, and eventually received his Doctor of Law degree from the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg in 1896. He then went into being a civil servant for the Prussian state government, and be 1909 became a Government Councillor. He reached his most senior civil servant position as a Ministerial Director and Real Senior Privy Councillor in 1918. Neuhaus left the government in 1920 he work in the private sector, which he would do until he was appointed minister.
A member of the nationalist party, DNVP, he was appointed Reich Minister of Economics in January 1925. During this time he criticized the German private industry for their spending of foreign capital, and largely spent his time responding to the previous hyperinflation. Notable laws passed during his tenure to achieve this was the Loan Liquidation Act and Bond Redemption Law. He eventually resigned in October 1925, as did two other members of the DNVP in Luther's cabinet. This was in response to the Locarno Treaties, which were sent to the Reichstag, but of which the DNVP declared unsatisfactory because they wished for no concessions to France. After he left, he spent the rest of his career in obscurity and died in 1948.
Early life
Albert Neuhaus was born on 9 July 1873 in Glasgow, Scotland,{{cite book |title=Der Grosse Brockhaus: Handbuch des Wissens |date=1932 |publisher=Brockhaus |page=304 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Der_Grosse_Brockhaus/m3xMAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Albert+Neuhaus+%229+juli+1873%22+glasgow&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%229+juli+1873%22+glasgow&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} into a family who were Rhenish manufacturers.{{cite book |last1=Vierhaus |first1=Rudolf |title=Menghin - Pötel |date=24 June 2011 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-094026-8 |page=412 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Menghin_P%C3%B6tel/F2hXVQJ1Gf8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221873%22&pg=PA412&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} His father had been residing in Scotland to set up a business. He attended a gymnasium in Neuwied. He then studied at Heidelberg University and later the University of Bonn,{{cite book |last1=Agstner |first1=Rudolf |title=1915/1916 |date=2014 |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |isbn=978-3-643-50602-3 |page=240 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/1915_1916/RPxEBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%22bonn%22+erlangen&pg=PA240&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} and joined the Corps Suevia Heidelberg, a student fraternity, in 1893. He graduated from the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg in 1896 as a Doctor of Law.{{cite book |last1=Facius |first1=Friedrich |last2=Absolon |first2=Rudolf |title=Wirtschaft und Staat: die Entwicklung der staatlichen Wirtschaftsverwaltung in Deutschland vom 17. Jahrhundert bis 1945 |date=1960 |publisher=H. Boldt |page=225 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Wirtschaft_und_Staat/w38TAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221896%22+erlangen&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221896%22+erlangen&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} After graduating, he was an advisor at the bank H. Albert de Bary & Co in Antwerp.
Civil career
In 1901 he became an assessor for the Prussian state government in Düsseldorf.{{cite web |title=Kurzbiographien der Personen in den "Akten der Reichskanzlei, Weimarer Republik" |url=https://www.bundesarchiv.de/aktenreichskanzlei/1919-1933/0000/adr/adrmr/kap1_2/para2_29.html |website=www.bundesarchiv.de |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} By 1902 he was an unskilled worker in Berlin at the Prussian Ministry of Trade and Industry.{{cite book |title=50 [i.e. Fu nfzig] Jahre deutsches Wirtschaftsministerium |date=1967 |publisher=Pressestelle d. Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft |page=90 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/50_i_e_Fu_nfzig_Jahre_deutsches_Wirtscha/qcMdAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221903%22+Preu%C3%9Fisches+Ministerium+f%C3%BCr+Handel+und+Industrie&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221903%22+Preu%C3%9Fisches+Ministerium+f%C3%BCr+Handel+und+Industrie&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} In 1909 he was promoted to Government Councillor, in 1910 to Privy Councillor and Lecturer Councillor.{{cite book |last1=Weiss |first1=Max |title=Politisches Handwörterbuch (Führer-ABC) |date=1928 |publisher=Deutschnationale Schriftenvertriebsstelle |page=502 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Politisches_Handw%C3%B6rterbuch_F%C3%BChrer_ABC/BEcbAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221909%27+Regierungsrat&pg=PA502&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} In 1914 he became Privy Senior Government Councillor.{{cite book |last1=Hübener |first1=Erhard |title=Lebenskreise: Lehr- und Wanderjahre eines Ministerpräsidenten |date=1984 |publisher=Böhlau |isbn=978-3-412-05483-0 |page=392 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Lebenskreise/k_5nAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221914%22+Geheimer+Oberregierungsrat&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221914%22+Geheimer+Oberregierungsrat&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} Four years later he was promoted to Ministerial Director and Real Senior Privy Councillor.{{cite book |last1=Horkenbach |first1=Cuno |title=Das deutsche Reich von 1918 bis heute. mit sachlicher Unterstützung der Reichsbehörden: Berichtsheft |date=1931 |publisher=Verlag für Presse, Wirtschaft und Politik |page=720 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Das_deutsche_Reich_von_1918_bis_heute_mi/WacqAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221918%22+Ministerialdirektor&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221918%22+Ministerialdirektor&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} In 1920 he left civil service to work in the private sector, where he worked at until he was appointed minister.{{cite book |last1=Huber |first1=Ernst Rudolf |title=Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte seit 1789: Die Weimarer Reichsverfassung. [1. Aufl.]. 1981 |date=1978 |publisher=W. Kohlhammer |isbn=978-3-17-001056-7 |page=164 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Deutsche_Verfassungsgeschichte_seit_1789/g56FAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221920%22+Wirtschaft+t%C3%A4tig&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%221920%22+Wirtschaft+t%C3%A4tig&printsec=frontcover |access-date=6 February 2025 |language=de}} During this time he publicly commented on the debate of whether to keep German colonies by stating that they were necessary as space for German human settlement, a position he would continuously defend.{{cite book |last1=Fenske |first1=Reiner |title=Kolonialismus in der Weimarer Republik: Der "Deutsche Ostbund" und die "Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft" in den 1920er Jahren |date=2022 |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |isbn=978-3-643-14596-3 |page=187 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Kolonialismus_in_der_Weimarer_Republik/KKSEEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=neuhaus |access-date=7 February 2025 |language=de}}
= Reich Minister of Economics =
Neuhaus was appointed Reich Minister of Economics on 15 January 1925 in the Hans Luther.{{cite book |last1=Amt |first1=Germany Auswärtiges |title=Akten zur deutschen auswärtigen Politik, 1918-1945: 1925-1933 v. 1, pt. 1-2; 2, pt. 1-2; 3-19, 21 |date=1967 |publisher=Impr. nationale |page=517 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Akten_zur_deutschen_ausw%C3%A4rtigen_Politik/g7hmAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Albert+Neuhaus+%2215+januar+1925%22+luther&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%2215+januar+1925%22+luther&printsec=frontcover |access-date=7 February 2025 |language=de}} He was a member of the DNVP.{{cite book |last1=Spaulding |first1=Robert Mark |title=Osthandel and Ostpolitik: German Foreign Trade Policies in Eastern Europe from Bismarck to Adenauer |date=1 June 1997 |publisher=Berghahn Books |isbn=978-1-80073-494-4 |page=122 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Osthandel_and_Ostpolitik/H-9BEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Albert+Neuhaus+%22DNVP%22&pg=PA122&printsec=frontcover |access-date=7 February 2025 |language=en}}
He criticized the German private industry for spending foreign capital from the United States on advertising and other social activities instead of using it to increase production, and he also urged for more agricultural production to lessen purchases of food from abroad.{{cite news |title=Official Attacks German Spending |work=Washington Evening Star|date=25 July 1925}} During his term, prices dropped in the second quarter of 1925 due to compromise legislation for investors, who expected partial compensation because of mark debt, which existed due to hyperinflation.{{cite book |last1=Sargent |first1=Thomas J. |last2=Hall |first2=George |last3=Ellison |first3=Martin |last4=Scott |first4=Andrew |last5=James |first5=Harold |last6=Dabla-Norris |first6=Era |last7=Broeck |first7=Mark De |last8=End |first8=Nicolas |last9=Marinkov |first9=Marina |last10=Gaspar |first10=Vitor |title=Debt and Entanglements Between the Wars |publisher=International Monetary Fund |isbn=978-1-5135-1179-5 |url=https://www.elibrary.imf.org/display/book/9781513511795/ch006.xml |access-date=7 February 2025 |language=en |chapter=Chapter 6: Germany in the Interbellum: Camouflaging Sovereign Debt}} The Loan Liquidation Act was also passed, which qualified 73 billion reichsmarks Reich debt for conversion to 1.8 billion reichsmarks loan liquidation debt. Another important law passed during his time as minister was the Bond Redemption Law on 16 July which stipulated what German Reich bonds issued in the old Reich currency could be exchanged for German Reich loan redemption debt.{{cite web |last1=Amt |first1=Auswärtiges |title=Old Bonds and Currencies |url=https://www.germany.info/us-en/german-reichs-mark-920636 |website=www.germany.info |access-date=7 February 2025 |language=en}}
He officially resigned on 26 October 1925.{{cite news |title=Luther Will Fill Up Gaps In Cabinet |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/tags/?pc=25924&psi=28&pci=7&pt=25091&pf=albert&pl=neuhaus&ob=1/ |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=Sarasota Daily Times |agency=Associated Press |date=27 October 1925}} The reason for his resignation was due to the Locarno Treaties, which was sent to the Reichstag, but of which the DNVP declared unsatisfactory because they wished for no concessions to France.{{cite news |title=What The World Is Doing |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/tags/?pc=25534&psi=171&pci=2&pt=30359&pf=albert&pl=neuhaus&ob=1/ |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=Saint Johns Daily Globe Newspaper |date=25 November 1925}}
Personal life
File:Albert Neuhaus - Reformierter Friedhof Hochstraße.JPG
He had a brother named Charles.{{cite news |title=Unser Reichswirtschaftsminister, Wirklicher Geheimer Oberregierungsrat Dr. Ernst Neuhaus, feiert am 9. Juli seinen 52. Geburtstag |url=https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/newspaper/item/SQPKXSHA2PXV37LBORPBOY4H7PEPM7B5?query=%22Albert+Neuhaus%22&lang=en&fromDay=17&fromMonth=1&fromYear=1925&toDay=1&toMonth=10&toYear=1925&hit=1&issuepage=6 |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=Harburger Tageblatt |date=7 July 1925}} His wife was the daughter of Dr. Dittmar Finkler, a physician and professor.
= Death =
Neuhaus died on 29 April 1948 in Wuppertal-Elberfeld.