Hans Frank

Reichsleiter Hans Frank
Frank in 1939
Governor-General of the General Government
In office 26 October 1939 – 19 January 1945
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Reichsminister without portfolio
In office 19 December 1934 – 30 April 1945
Chancellor	Adolf Hitler
President of the Academy for German Law
In office 2 October 1933 – 20 August 1942
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Otto Georg Thierack
Bavarian Minister of Justice
In office 18 April 1933 – 4 December 1934
Preceded by	Heinrich Spangenberger
Personal details
Born	Hans Michael Frank (1900-05-23)23 May 1900 Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, German Empire
Died	16 October 1946(1946-10-16) (aged 46) Nuremberg, Bavaria, Allied-occupied Germany
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Political party	Nazi Party
Other political affiliations	German Workers' Party (DAP)
Spouse	Brigitte Herbst ​ (m. 1925)​
Children	5, including Niklas
Alma mater	University of Munich University of Kiel
Profession	Lawyer
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	German Empire
Branch/service	Imperial German Army
Battles/wars	World War I
Criminal conviction
Criminal status	Executed
Conviction(s)	War crimes Crimes against humanity
Trial	Nuremberg trials
Criminal penalty	Death
Details
Span of crimes	8 October 1939 – 19 January 1945
Target(s)	Polish civilians Polish Jews

Hans Michael Frank (23 May 1900 – 16 October 1946) was a German politician, war criminal, and lawyer who served as head of the General Government in German-occupied Poland during the Second World War.

Frank was an early member of the German Workers' Party (DAP), the precursor of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). He took part in the failed Beer Hall Putsch, and later became Adolf Hitler's personal legal adviser as well as the lawyer of the NSDAP. In June 1933, he was named as a Reichsleiter (Reich Leader) of the party. In December 1934, Frank joined the Hitler Cabinet as a Reichsminister without portfolio.

After the German invasion of Poland in 1939, Frank was appointed Governor-General of the occupied Polish territories. During his tenure, he instituted a reign of terror against the civilian population and became directly involved in the mass murder of Jews.^[1] He engaged in the use of forced labour and oversaw four of the extermination camps. Frank remained head of the General Government until its collapse in early 1945. During that time, over 4 million people were murdered under his jurisdiction.

After the war, Frank was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg trials. He was sentenced to death and executed by hanging in October 1946.