Brüning, Heinrich, born on 26-11-1885 in Münster, Niedersachsen. 
Brüning was born into a middle class family, the son of a wine merchant and received a sound education. Brüning lost his father when he was one year old and thus his elder brother Hermann Joseph played a major part in his upbringing. Although brought up as a devout Catholic, Brüning was also influenced by Lutheranism’s concept of duty, since the Münster region was home to both Catholics, who formed a majority, and Prussian-influenced Protestants. Brüning studied history in Munich, Strasbourg and London where he carried out research into British railways. Historian Friedrich Meinecke 
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, one of his professors at Strasbourg, had a major influence on Brüning. Meinecke died old age 91, on 06-02-1954, in Berlin. Brüning got a doctorate in economics and in World War I got a commission into the Machine Gun Corps. In 1918, he won the Iron Cross First Class. 
Heinrich rose to Leutnant in Infantry Regiment No. 30, “Werder Graf” 
, and company commander by the end of the war. Despite having been elected to a soldiers council after the 1918 armistice Brüning did not approve of the German Revolution of 1918-1919 which ended with the establishment of the Weimar Republic. He entered politics after the war and joined the Centre Party. In 1924, he was elected to the Reichstag. His rise up the ranks was very rapid as he gained a very good reputation for his knowledge of economics and more important, solving economic problems. In March 1930, President Paul von Hindenburg, 
as the Weimar Constitution allowed appointed Brüning Chancellor. Brüning feared that people would take to the streets and that this would play into the hands of the Nazis. Brüning remained in power but now persuaded a more nationalistic foreign policy in an effort to please the growing shift to the right in German politics. Brüning’s economic policies proved to be ineffective and with Germany’s unemployment rate continuing to grow the country’s president, Paul von Hindenburg, advised by Kurt Schleicher 
forced him to resign in May, 1932, and he was replaced as chancellor by Franz “Fränzchen” von Papen
Brüning was born into a middle class family, the son of a wine merchant and received a sound education. Brüning lost his father when he was one year old and thus his elder brother Hermann Joseph played a major part in his upbringing. Although brought up as a devout Catholic, Brüning was also influenced by Lutheranism’s concept of duty, since the Münster region was home to both Catholics, who formed a majority, and Prussian-influenced Protestants. Brüning studied history in Munich, Strasbourg and London where he carried out research into British railways. Historian Friedrich Meinecke , one of his professors at Strasbourg, had a major influence on Brüning. Meinecke died old age 91, on 06-02-1954, in Berlin. Brüning got a doctorate in economics and in World War I got a commission into the Machine Gun Corps. In 1918, he won the Iron Cross First Class. Heinrich rose to Leutnant in Infantry Regiment No. 30, “Werder Graf” , and company commander by the end of the war. Despite having been elected to a soldiers council after the 1918 armistice Brüning did not approve of the German Revolution of 1918-1919 which ended with the establishment of the Weimar Republic. He entered politics after the war and joined the Centre Party. In 1924, he was elected to the Reichstag. His rise up the ranks was very rapid as he gained a very good reputation for his knowledge of economics and more important, solving economic problems. In March 1930, President Paul von Hindenburg, as the Weimar Constitution allowed appointed Brüning Chancellor. Brüning feared that people would take to the streets and that this would play into the hands of the Nazis. Brüning remained in power but now persuaded a more nationalistic foreign policy in an effort to please the growing shift to the right in German politics. Brüning’s economic policies proved to be ineffective and with Germany’s unemployment rate continuing to grow the country’s president, Paul von Hindenburg, advised by Kurt Schleicher forced him to resign in May, 1932, and he was replaced as chancellor by Franz “Fränzchen” von Papen
When Adolf Hitler (did you know) (see Alois) (see William Patrick Hitler) and the Nazi Party gained power in 1933 Brüning left Germany to Holland and from there made his way to America as he emigrated to the United States. Brüning was appointed as professor of political science at Harvard University (1937-1951).Death and burial ground of Brüning, Heinrich.
He also worked at the University of Cologne (1951-55) before returning to the United States.
French Prime Minister Pierre Jean Marie Laval(left) and Foreign Minister Aristide Briand in Berlin in September 1931. Between the two Heinrich Brüning.Pierre Laval was the son of an innkeeper and horse merchant in Châteldon, a village in the north of the Puy-de-Dôme department. Laval who was Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs several times. On 22-10-1940, Laval had a conversation with Adolf Hitler 
in Montoire-sur-le-Loir. Two days later he organized a Hitler-Pétain meeting at the same place. 
On November 9 he also met Hermann Goering. Laval did everything he could to show his goodwill to the Nazis. For example, he donated French participation in important copper mines in Yugoslavia.
in Montoire-sur-le-Loir. Two days later he organized a Hitler-Pétain meeting at the same place. On November 9 he also met Hermann Goering. Laval did everything he could to show his goodwill to the Nazis. For example, he donated French participation in important copper mines in Yugoslavia.To please the Nazis, Laval was prepared to use the French police to organize deportations of Jews in occupied territory. The first deportations had already begun before his return to power. Police chief René Bousquet, 
appointed by Laval, worked intensively with the German police services.In June 1942, the Gestapo demanded police assistance for the mass gathering of Jews in the Paris region. Laval agreed, on the condition that the Jews of French nationality would be left alone. However, he was against the Gestapo’s intention not to deport children under the age of 16. With a “humanitarian intention”, he demanded that the children not be separated from their parents. The result was the roundup of the Vélodrome d’Hiver, in which 13,000 Jews – including children – were rounded up by the French police. 
Almost all of them would die in Auschwitz. Laval would later say that he sacrificed the foreign Jews to save the French Jews.
appointed by Laval, worked intensively with the German police services.In June 1942, the Gestapo demanded police assistance for the mass gathering of Jews in the Paris region. Laval agreed, on the condition that the Jews of French nationality would be left alone. However, he was against the Gestapo’s intention not to deport children under the age of 16. With a “humanitarian intention”, he demanded that the children not be separated from their parents. The result was the roundup of the Vélodrome d’Hiver, in which 13,000 Jews – including children – were rounded up by the French police. Almost all of them would die in Auschwitz. Laval would later say that he sacrificed the foreign Jews to save the French Jews.From October 5 to 9, 1945, Laval himself appeared before the Special Supreme Court 
on charges of high treason and conspiracy against state security. Laval did not appear to realize the seriousness of the allegations. He was convinced that he could justify himself and even counted on a political comeback. But the voluminous file he had compiled in the months before his arrest had been stolen from him, and the preliminary investigation was closed prematurely. The government wanted Laval to be tried before the elections that were due to take place in October. His lawyers asked in vain for more time.Hatred against him erupted at the trial. During the hearing, some jurors cursed and threatened him. Laval himself was hardly given the floor and the whole matter was dealt with at a trot. Ultimately, he refused to attend the trial and forbade his lawyers to enter a plea.Laval was found guilty and sentenced to death, “national unworthiness” and confiscation of his property. He refused to ask for a pardon but did insist on a new trial. Although even the then Minister of Justice would later acknowledge that he had not received a fair trial, his request was rejected. No one doubted his guilt, which was very serious.On the morning of his execution, on October 15, 1945, Laval attempted suicide in his cell in Fresnes prison by taking a capsule of cyanide. He had written in a suicide letter that he did not want to die by French bullets. However, when he was found, he was still alive. After a gastric lavage he had more or less recovered. Because he was able to stand upright, he was taken to the execution pole and shot.
on charges of high treason and conspiracy against state security. Laval did not appear to realize the seriousness of the allegations. He was convinced that he could justify himself and even counted on a political comeback. But the voluminous file he had compiled in the months before his arrest had been stolen from him, and the preliminary investigation was closed prematurely. The government wanted Laval to be tried before the elections that were due to take place in October. His lawyers asked in vain for more time.Hatred against him erupted at the trial. During the hearing, some jurors cursed and threatened him. Laval himself was hardly given the floor and the whole matter was dealt with at a trot. Ultimately, he refused to attend the trial and forbade his lawyers to enter a plea.Laval was found guilty and sentenced to death, “national unworthiness” and confiscation of his property. He refused to ask for a pardon but did insist on a new trial. Although even the then Minister of Justice would later acknowledge that he had not received a fair trial, his request was rejected. No one doubted his guilt, which was very serious.On the morning of his execution, on October 15, 1945, Laval attempted suicide in his cell in Fresnes prison by taking a capsule of cyanide. He had written in a suicide letter that he did not want to die by French bullets. However, when he was found, he was still alive. After a gastric lavage he had more or less recovered. Because he was able to stand upright, he was taken to the execution pole and shot.
Heinrich Brüning died in Norwich, Vermont, on 30-03-1970 at the old age of 84. He is buried on the Zentralfriedhof in Münster and close by are the graves of two WWII Generalleutnant der Flieger, Chef der Luftwaffe Adminstratie, Hans Sommer and Generalmajor der Artillerie, Chef der Psychologische Testbüro VI, Theobald von Hülst.
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