The von Schirach family in the Third Reich

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Whilst Henry at Hoffman was studying at the University of Munich, she also helped Hitler out with the secretarial work. She also knew the Hitler inner circle. She met Baldon Shiraak, the then leader of the Nazi student union and probably the youngest member of Hitler's entourage for the first time in 1931. Hitler would have been pleased with the match. Henriette married Balder von Shiraak on the 31st of March 1932 in Munich with Adolf Hitler and Ernst acting as witnesses. Between 1933 and 1942, Henriette gave birth to four children, Angelica Benedicta, Klaus, Robert, and Richard. After their marriage, Henriet von Shiraak became a member of the Nazi party, membership number 26326. She did not exercise a function in the party apparatus. Her role was that of a good Nazi wife, that is to say, mother in bringing up four children. She identified herself with the goals of her husband, which sought control over the education system in the Reich.

[00:01:13]Balder von Shiraak was a big hit at the Nazi rallies in the Nuremberg rally of 1934. He appeared with Hitler rousing the Hitler youth audience and this was all filmed for Triumph of the Will, the propaganda film made by Laney Reefenste. During the campaign in Western Europe, her husband took part and he was awarded the Iron Cross before being recalled. He served with the fourth machine gun company of the gross deutsand infantry regiment. He got promoted from geer which is approximately equivalent to corporal to that of the left tenant. On the 8th of August 1940, Shurak succeeded Yseph Burkel as Gowiter and Reich Statala of the Reich Gao Vienna. This is roughly equivalent of a governor. So therefore it's a very powerful post.

[00:02:14]There were 23 such provinces which had ga lighter in Nazi German. Ysef Gerbles for example was the Gowiter of Berlin. When he took on this role he was replaced as Reich youth leader by Arur Axman. Although he retained his position as the Reich leader for youth education. On receiving the post, the whole family moved to the prestigious Vienna Hofberg. The whole time von Shiraak unlike most Giters remained a part of the Hitler inner circle. Here we can see him chumming up with Hitler and Gurin at the Burkov. And of course he was part of the ruling class too. Here we see him about to greet Hitler after the dictated return from the Munich conference to Berlin in October 1938. Hitler is shaking hands with Philip Bouah who was to lead the so-called euthanasia program the killing of people who were physically and mentally challenged. Next in line for a handshake is Von Sherak. Von Shiraak was an anti-semite although he tried to downplay this after the war and for that also please see the David Frost interview for which a link is given below. On the 15th of September 1942 Baldo von made a speech in which he said that the deportation of Jews was contributing to European culture. Jews from Vienna were deported to places like Isbita in Poland and from there to the death camp at Belett. Von Shiraak may or may not have known about the death camps, but in any case, he had to know that what was happening to the victims was not pleasant.