Edwin Bechstein

Edwin Bechstein
Born1859 (1859)[1]
German Confederation
Died15 September 1934(1934-09-15) (aged 74–75)
Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Nazi Germany
NationalityGerman
Occupation(s)Piano maker, businessman
Known forFinancial supporter of Adolf Hitler
SpouseHelene Bechstein
Signature

Edwin Bechstein (1859 – 15 September 1934) was a German piano maker and businessman and early supporter of Adolf Hitler. He was the son of Carl Bechstein and was the owner of the C. Bechstein piano company from 1900 to 1923 when it became a limited company. A later restructuring in 1934 put his wife Helene Bechstein as majority shareholder. He died on 15 September 1934 and received a state funeral attended by Hitler and other Nazi Party officials.

Early career

Bechstein was born in 1859 as the oldest of three brothers, Carl Jr., and Johannes, sons of the piano maker Carl Bechstein.[2] He took over the company from his father in 1900 following Carl's death. He spent most of his time working in the firm's London operations and influenced the design of the Bechstein Theatre (later renamed Wigmore Hall) in London. Whilst in London he met Helene Capito, whom he would marry.[1] During the First World War, Bechstein left the United Kingdom in 1914 with the company's assets being seized as enemy property in 1916 under the Trading With The Enemy Amendment Act 1916.[3][4] In 1923, C. Bechstein became a limited company with all three brothers on the board.[5] In 1926, Bechstein was behind the opening of a new showroom on Berlin's Kurfürstendamm.[5]

Hitler

In 1921, Edwin met Hitler and lent him the Bechstein's home as a Berlin residence.[6] The Bechsteins supported Hitler and the NSDAP and gave him financial contributions with Edwin specifically helping to fund the publication of the Nazi Völkischer Beobachter newspaper.[6] Following his release from prison after the Beer Hall Putsch, Helene had been teaching Hitler table manners and Edwin introduced him into German high society.[7][8] In 1923 Edwin, Helene and Dietrich Eckart took Hitler to visit Siegfried Wagner and introduced them.[8] At the time, Bechstein was the guardian of Wagner's daughter Winifred and responsible for her education.[9] Reportedly Siegfried Wagner regarded Hitler as a "fraud and an upstart" for appearing before him in a traditional Bavarian checked shirt and leather shorts.[8]

Much of the money Bechstein gave to Hitler was undocumented with the only recorded transaction being when Bechstein guaranteed Hitler for a loan of RM26,000 for a new car.[6] However, due to his closeness with Hitler and the Nazis, Bechstein was ejected from the board of C. Bechstein because of negative press coverage about it impacting the company.[6] Though Edwin retained shares, his close family took control in 1934 when a company restructuring made Helene the majority shareholder.[5] Hitler also resided at Bechstein's apartment on 29 January 1933 on his last day as a private citizen before becoming Chancellor of Germany.[10]

Death

Helene and Hitler at Edwin's state funeral

Bechstein died on 15 September 1934 in Berchtesgaden. Hitler gave him a state funeral in Berlin, attending personally along with other high ranking Nazi officials.[10] He was buried in Friedhof II der Sophiengemeinde Berlin though his grave was later lost.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b D'Almedia, Fabrice (2008). High Society in the Third Reich. Polity. p. 18. ISBN 9780745643113.
  2. ^ "1900-1914 • Bechstein-Tradition". C. Bechstein. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2021 – via Google Webcache.
  3. ^ "9" (PDF). Wigmore Street. University College London. pp. 31–33. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Page 5631 | Issue 29613". London Gazette. 6 June 1916. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Carl Bechstein History" (PDF). MArks on Pianos. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ a b c d Whetton, Cris (2005). "9". Hitler's Fortune. Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 9781783035038.
  7. ^ "Lesen Sie zeit.de mit Werbung oder im PUR-Abo. Sie haben die Wahl" (in German). Zeit.de. 20 January 2002. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Tyson, Joseph (2008). Hitler's Mentor: Dietrich Eckart, His Life, Times, & Milieu. Universe. p. 335. ISBN 9780595508877.
  9. ^ Knopp, Guido (2003). Hitler's Women. Psychology Press. p. 164. ISBN 9780415947305.
  10. ^ a b c Klee, Ernst (2007). Das Kulturlexikon zum Dritten Reich. Wer war was vor und nach 1945 (in German). Frankfurt am Main: S. Fischer Verlag. p. 36. ISBN 978-3-10-039326-5.