Hesse-Nassau

The Province of Hesse-Nassau (German: Provinz Hessen-Nassau) was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1868 to 1918, then a province of the Free State of Prussia until 1944.

Province of Hesse-Nassau
Provinz Hessen-Nassau
Province of Prussia
1868–1944
Flag
Coat of arms

The Province of Hesse-Nassau (red), within the Kingdom of Prussia, within the German Empire
CapitalKassel
Area 
• 1905
15,699.3 km2 (6,061.5 sq mi)
• 1939
16,845 km2 (6,504 sq mi)
Population 
• 1905
2070076
• 1939
2688922
History 
1868
• Disestablished
1944
Political subdivisionsKassel
Wiesbaden
Preceded by		Succeeded by
Electorate of Hesse
Duchy of Nassau
Free City of Frankfurt
Province of Kurhessen
Province of Nassau
Today part of Germany

Hesse-Nassau was created as a consequence of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 by combining the previously independent Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel), the Duchy of Nassau, the Free City of Frankfurt, areas gained from the Kingdom of Bavaria, and areas gained from the Grand Duchy of Hesse (including part of the former Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg from Hesse-Darmstadt; ). These regions were combined to form the province Hesse-Nassau in 1868 with its capital in Kassel and redivided into two administrative regions: Kassel and Wiesbaden. The largest part of the province surrounded the province of Upper Hesse in the People's State of Hesse.

On 1 April 1929, the Free State of Waldeck became a part of Hesse-Nassau after a popular vote and became part of the Kassel administrative region.

In 1935, the Nazi government abolished (de facto) all states, so the provinces held little meaning. Effective 1 July 1944, Hesse-Nassau was split into the provinces of Kurhessen (capital in Kassel) and Nassau (capital in Wiesbaden). In 1945, after the end of World War II, these two provinces were merged and combined with the neighbouring Hesse-Darmstadt to form the northern and western part of the newly founded state of Hesse. Parts of Nassau were also moved into the Rhineland-Palatinate.

Oberpräsidents

The Oberpräsident (or "High Commissioner") was the chief administrator of a Prussian province, appointed by the King on the advice of the Prussian Minister for the Interior. The Oberpräsident administered the province with the assistance of a Prussian government-appointed provincial council.

  • 1867–1871: Eduard von Moeller
  • 1872–1875: Ludwig von Bodelschwingh
  • 1876–1881: August von Ende
  • 1881–1892: Botho zu Eulenburg
  • 1892–1898: Eduard von Magdeburg
  • 1898–1903: Robert von Zedlitz-Trützschler
  • 1903–1907: Ludwig von Windheim
  • 1907–1917: Wilhelm Hengstenberg
  • 1917–1919: August von Trott zu Solz
  • 1919–1930: Rudolf Schwander
  • 1930–1932: August Haas (SDP)
  • 1932–1933: Ernst von Hülsen
  • 1933–1943: Philipp von Hessen (NSDAP)
  • 1943–1944: Ernst Beckmann (NSDAP)

Insignia

The flag of Hesse-Nassau is identical to that of the Netherlands. The Dutch royal house originates from the Duchy of Nassau.

The coat of arms is split into three parts, each part showing the coats of arms for the three entities that formed Hesse-Nassau:

  • a crowned, silver/red-striped lion on a blue background (Electorate of Hesse)
  • a crowned, golden lion on a blue field strewn with billets (Duchy of Nassau)
  • a silver eagle with golden talons on a red background (Free City of Frankfurt)
Hesse-Nassau in 1905

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