Rathenau, Walther, 1867-1922

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German industrialist, social theorist, and statesman. Son of Emil Rathenau (1838-1915), founder of the German public utilities company Allgemeine Elektrizitätsgesellschaft (A.E.G.), Walther Rathenau (1867-1922) succeeded to the presidency of this corporation on his father’s death. He directed the distribution of raw materials in World War I and became minister of reconstruction (1921) and later foreign minister (1922). He represented Germany at the Cannes and Genoa reparations conferences and negotiated the Treaty of Rapallo with Russia. He was assassinated by nationalist and anti-Semitic fanatics, who opposed his attempts to fulfill reparations obligations.

From the guide to the Walther Rathenau Collection, 1894-1983, (Leo Baeck Institute Archives)

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Person

Birth 1867-09-29

Death 1922-06-24

Male

Germans

German

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SNAC ID: 52684344