Wissenswertes

Political party member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei , abbreviated to NSDAP).

Appointed to edit the Nazi newspaper 'Westdeutsche Beobachter'.

Fathered five children.

Was Reich Commissioner for Social House-Building from 1941 to 1945.

Was in charge of 'Strength through Joy' (Kraft durch Freude), a movement which played a major part in the lives of all German civilians.

Head of the German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront, DAF) from 1933 to 1945.

On April 21st, he left for southern Bavaria where he expected to be joined by Adolf Hitler at the 'National Redoubt'. Here in the German Alps, Ley expected both he and Hitler to make a last stand. It never happened and on May 16th 1945 Ley was arrested by men from the US 101st Airborne Division.

A chemist by profession.

1920 saw him employed by the I.G. Farben chemical conglomerate.

Joined the NSDAP in 1923 and was appointed Gauleiter [A party leader of a regional area branch of the Nazi Party] of the South Rhineland in 1925.

A pilot in World War I and shot down over France.

In 1932 Ley replaced Gregor Strasser as Chief of Organization of the NSDAP [Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei].

Tried before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and sentenced to death; but managed to hang himself before his execution.