Hermann Ludwig, 2nd Duke of Trachenburg Count Alexander
Father
Prince Hermann Anton von Hatzfeldt-Trachenberg
Mother
Marie von Nimptsch
Hermann Anton Leo Karl, Prince of Hatzfeldt, Duke of Trachenberg (German: Hermann Fürst[a] von Hatzfeldt, Herzog[b] zu Trachenberg; 4 February 1848 – 14 January 1933) was a German nobleman, member of the House of Hatzfeld, civil servant and politician. He represented the Deutsche Reichspartei in the Reichstag for a number of years.[1]
Portrait of Prince von Hatzfeldt, by Fritz Erler, 1904
Hatzfeldt entered the Prussian judicial service before serving as a cavalry major in the Franco-Prussian War from 1870 to 1871. His elder half-brother died during the Battle of Amiens in November 1870.[3]
During World War I, Hatzfeldt was a candidate for Governor-General of occupied Poland; however, Hans Hartwig von Beseler was chosen instead. In opposition to Paul von Hindenburg and General Erich Ludendorff, he campaigned for a negotiated peace with the Entente Powers. In the years 1919 to 1921 he was the representative of the Reich government for voting in Upper Silesia. He devoted the last years of his life to charitable work in the Order of Malta.[9]
Awards and honours
On 18 January 1901, Kaiser Wilhelm II awarded him the Order of the Black Eagle on the 200th anniversary of its foundation. Hatzfeldt's numerous awards included the highest Saxon orders including the Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta. In 1884 he became an honorary citizen of Bojanowo (near Trachenberg), and of Breslau and Königshütte in 1903.
Countess Huberta (Washington, D.C., 18 October 1916 – 22 June 2014); married Count Hermann von Saurma-Jeltsch (1906–1999)
Countess Nathalie (Berlin, 14 February 1918 – Vienna, 21 June 2004); she was adopted by Tschirschky family.
Count Karl Heinrich (Berlin, 21 February 1921 – Essen, 17 February 1970); married Heyka Zeglat (1923–1997)
Prince Edmund von Hatzfeldt, 3rd Duke of Trachenberg (Amsterdam, 18 November 1923 – Cologne, 2 July 1997); married Baroness Sophie Spies von Büllesheim (1927–2013)
Count Friedrich (Trachenberg, 22 October 1928 – Cologne, 19 March 2006); married Baroness Maria Helene von Münchhausen (* 1933)
Count Alexander von Hatzfeldt zu Trachenberg (Berlin, 10 February 1877 – Schönstein Castle in Wissen, 27 November 1953), who in 1904 married Viscountess Hanna Aoki-Rhade (1879–1953),[13] the only daughter of Elisabeth von Rhade and Aoki Shūzō, a Japanese diplomat who served as Foreign Minister during the Meiji era.[14]
Countess Hissa (Pommerswitz, 26 February 1906 – Salzburg, 4 June 1985); married Count Erwin von Neipperg (1897–1957)
Prince von Hatzfeldt died at Trachenberg on 14 January 1933.
Fishing interest
From 1892 to 1919 he was the third President of the German Fishing Association. Prince Hatzfeldt was particularly interested in the development of Silesian pond farming and his property around Trachenberg was known for its exemplary fish farming.
Honours
He received the following orders and decorations:[15]
