Alexander von Dörnberg

[Tomi T]

I am seeking any information of Alexander Freiherr von Dörnberg, Chef des Protokolls.

Thank you in advance!
Tomi

[Michael Miller]

Here are some details on von Dörnberg's life and career.
Primary source is Hans-Jürgen Döcher, "SS und Auswärtiges Amt im Dritten Reich".

Best wishes,
~ Mike Miller
Axis Biographical Research



Dr. jur. Alexander Freiherr von Dörnberg
Gesandter I. Klasse / SS-Oberführer

Born: 17. Mar. 1901 in Darmstadt / Hessen.
Died:

NSDAP-Nr. 3 398 362 (Joined 1. Jan. 1934)
SS-Nr.: 293 224 (Joined 1938)

Promotions:
SS-Oberführer: 9. Nov. 1940
SS-Obersturmbannführer: 1939
SS-Sturmbannführer: 1938
SS-Hauptsturmführer: 1938

Career:
Attended Gymnasien in Freiburg i.B. and Zürich. Attended Odenwaldschule in Reichenberg and the Reformrealgymnasium in Kassel where he obtained his Abitur in 1919. Entered Reichswehr service, assigned to Husaren-Regiment Hessen-Homburg and Reiter-Regiment 11: 23. May 1919 - 1. Mar. 1920. Freikorps service in Zossen and Kassel: 1919 - 1920. Studied law at Universities of Heidelberg, Bonn, München, Frankfurt/Main, and Marburg/Lahn: Summer Semester 1920 - Summer Semester 1923. Passed jur. Referendarexamen: Winter Semester 1923. Employed as apprentice in firm of Schlubach, Thiemer & Co., Hamburg: Autumn 1924 - Autumn 1925. Promoted Dr. jur., University of Marburg/Lahn: Apr. 1925. Language and economics studies in Paris and Oxford: Autumn 1925; Spring and Summer 1926. Secretary to the German Botschafter (Ambassador) in Washington, D.C.: Autumn 1926 - Spring 1927. Entered Auswärtiges Amt as Attaché: Apr. 1927. Joined NSDAP: 1. Jan. 1934.
Attaché in German Embassy, Bucharest: Mar. 1930 - Sep. 1933. Attaché, then Legationssekretär in Reval (Tallinn, Estonia)(also held NSDAP post of Landesschulungsleiter in Estonia): Oct. 1933 - 1936. Assigned as Legationssekretüar in the Politische-Abteilung, Auswärtiges Amt: 1936 - 1937. Reichsheer training with [2.Kompanie?] / Ersatz-Bataillon 18: 15. May 1936 - 13. Jul. 1936. Reichsheer training with Kavallerie-Regiment 6: 30. Aug. 1937 - 25. Sep. 1937. Legationssekretär in London: 1937 - 1938 (under the Botschafter there, Joachim von Ribbentrop). Joined SS: 1938. Legationsrat in the Protokoll office, Auswärtiges Amt: Jul. 1938 - 1939. Chef des Protokols, Auswärtiges Amt: 1939 - 1945. Attached to Staff, Reichsführer-SS: (30. Jan. 1942) - (9. Nov. 1944).

Decorations & Awards:
Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse ohne Schwerter
Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Deutsches Roten Kreuzes Ehrenzeichen I. Stufe
Deutsche Olympia-Ehrenzeichen
Ehrendegen des RF SS
Totenkopfringer der SS

Notes:
* Son of Major Hans-Carl Freiherr von Dörnberg (died, 19__) and his wife Alice, née Freiin Schenck zu Schweinsberg.
* Married in Berlin on 16. Dec. 1928 to Gisela Herin, née Nackelöer, gen. Köbbinghof (born 22. May 1906 in Deutsch-Wilmersdorf. One son (Dirk-Dieter, born 8. May 1934 in Tallinn) and two daughters (Alexandra, born 3. Apr. 1937 and Cornelia, born 10. Aug. 1939 in Berlin).
* Foreign language proficiency: English and French.

[Wilfried Abenaschon]

Hello,
His tall figure is quite familiar to several of us. I haven't bothered to search for a pic though.
He's dead in 1983 by the way...
Was he an Ehrenführer ?
Willab

[Michael Miller]

Willab~

Thanks a lot for that year of death. Do you have the specific date, and maybe the place of death too?

He was "b.[beim] Stab RF SS"- attached to Staff of the Reichsführer-SS, which basically means his rank and SS position were honorary.

Yes, he's the very tall fellow with the moustache who appears in so many pictures, in the background of photos taken during the Munich agreement, etc.

[Wilfried Abenaschon]

Hello,
Sorry, I don't have these details...

By the way, you had different membership in the SS
-full SS membership : SS-Sturmbannführer
-honorary member : SS-Ehrensturmbannführer (SS-Sturmbannführer ad honorem)
-SS auxiliary : Sturmbannführer-SS (Sturmbannführer der SS) as far as I can remember, it was the case of the members of the Freiwilligen Divisionen der Waffen-SS
-member of the WSS without being a SS member: Waffen-Sturmbannführer

Willab

[Tomi T]

Mike & Wilfried!,

many thanks for the excellent information!

Tomi

[Requin Marteau]

Bonjour,

Dörnberg with a Zvonomir order (with or without Sword or Eichenlaub ?) under KVK-I.

Crdl
Thierry