Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
March 13, 2024
Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (German: Friedrich Franz Erbgroßherzog von Mecklenburg-Schwerin; 22 April 1910 – 31 July 2001) was the heir apparent to the throne of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and a member of the Waffen-SS.
Upon the promulgation of the Weimar Constitution on 11 August 1919, altogether then abolished were titles of sovereigns, such as emperor/empress, king/queen, grand duke/grand duchess, etc. However, former titles shared and inherited by all members of the family were retained but incorporated into the surname. He therefore became known as Friedrich Franz Herzog von Mecklenburg-Schwerin (or Friedrich Franz, The Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin) de facto since the establishment of the Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Post monarchyedit
In May 1931 against the will of his father,[1] Friedrich Franz joined the SS and by 1936 he had been promoted to the rank of Hauptsturmführer (Captain).[2]
He was posted to Denmark during World War II where he worked at the German embassy as a personal aide to Werner Best.[2] He spent the summer months of 1944 serving with the Waffen-SS tank corps.[2]
In May 1943, a family council was called by the Grand Ducal family and Friedrich Franz was passed over as heir in favour of his younger brother Duke Christian Louis, who would instead inherit the family property.[1]
Friedrich Franz married Karin Elisabeth von Schaper (1920–2012), the daughter of Walter von Schaper and his wife Baroness Louise von Münchhausen, on 11 June 1941 at Schloß Wiligrad, near the Lake Schwerin. They divorced on 22 September 1967, but remarried a decade later in Glücksburg on 27 April 1977.[3]
Ancestryedit
Ancestors of Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
friedrich, franz, hereditary, grand, duke, mecklenburg, schwerin, german, friedrich, franz, erbgroßherzog, mecklenburg, schwerin, april, 1910, july, 2001, heir, apparent, throne, mecklenburg, schwerin, member, waffen, friedrich, franzhereditary, grand, duke, m. Friedrich Franz Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin German Friedrich Franz Erbgrossherzog von Mecklenburg Schwerin 22 April 1910 31 July 2001 was the heir apparent to the throne of Mecklenburg Schwerin and a member of the Waffen SS Friedrich FranzHereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg SchwerinHead of the House of Mecklenburg SchwerinPeriod17 November 1945 31 July 2001PredecessorFrederick Francis IVSuccessorBorwin Duke of MecklenburgBorn 1910 04 22 22 April 1910Schwerin Mecklenburg Schwerin GermanyDied31 July 2001 2001 07 31 aged 91 Hamburg GermanySpouseKarin Elisabeth von Schaper m 1941 div 1967 wbr amp m 1977 2001 his death NamesFreidrich Franz Michael Wilhelm Nikolaus Franz Joseph Ernst August HansHouseHouse of Mecklenburg SchwerinFatherFrederick Francis IV Grand Duke of Mecklenburg SchwerinMotherPrincess Alexandra of Hanover Contents 1 Early life 2 Post monarchy 3 Ancestry 4 Notes 5 SourcesEarly life edit nbsp Friedrich Franz in c 1918He was born in Schwerin the eldest child of the reigning Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin Frederick Francis IV and his wife Princess Alexandra of Hanover a daughter of Crown Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover a first cousin once removed of Queen Victoria and Princess Thyra of Denmark the youngest daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark Following the defeat of the German Empire in World War I his father abdicated on 14 November 1918 He did not succeed to the throne as the Grand Duchy was replaced with the Free State of Mecklenburg Schwerin Upon the promulgation of the Weimar Constitution on 11 August 1919 altogether then abolished were titles of sovereigns such as emperor empress king queen grand duke grand duchess etc However former titles shared and inherited by all members of the family were retained but incorporated into the surname He therefore became known as Friedrich Franz Herzog von Mecklenburg Schwerin or Friedrich Franz The Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin de facto since the establishment of the Free State of Mecklenburg Schwerin Post monarchy editIn May 1931 against the will of his father 1 Friedrich Franz joined the SS and by 1936 he had been promoted to the rank of Hauptsturmfuhrer Captain 2 He was posted to Denmark during World War II where he worked at the German embassy as a personal aide to Werner Best 2 He spent the summer months of 1944 serving with the Waffen SS tank corps 2 In May 1943 a family council was called by the Grand Ducal family and Friedrich Franz was passed over as heir in favour of his younger brother Duke Christian Louis who would instead inherit the family property 1 Friedrich Franz married Karin Elisabeth von Schaper 1920 2012 the daughter of Walter von Schaper and his wife Baroness Louise von Munchhausen on 11 June 1941 at Schloss Wiligrad near the Lake Schwerin They divorced on 22 September 1967 but remarried a decade later in Glucksburg on 27 April 1977 3 Ancestry editAncestors of Friedrich Franz Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin8 Frederick Francis II Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin4 Frederick Francis III Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin9 Princess Augusta Reuss of Kostritz2 Frederick Francis IV Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin10 Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia5 Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia11 Princess Cecilie of Baden1 Frederick Francis Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin12 George V of Hanover6 Ernest Augustus Crown Prince of Hanover13 Princess Marie of Saxe Altenburg3 Princess Alexandra of Hanover14 Christian IX of Denmark7 Princess Thyra of Denmark15 Princess Louise of Hesse KasselNotes edit a b Petropoulos Jonathan Royals and the Reich The Princes Von Hessen in Nazi Germany p 72 a b c Royals and the Reich The Princes Von Hessen in Nazi Germany p 99 L Allemagne Dynastique Tome VI Bade Mecklembourg p 253 Sources editPetropoulos Jonathan 2006 Royals and the Reich The Princes Von Hessen in Nazi Germany Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 516133 5 Huberty Michel Alain Giraud F et B Magdelaine 1945 L Allemagne Dynastique Tome VI Bade Mecklembourg ISBN 978 2 901138 06 8 Friedrich Franz Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg SchwerinHouse of Mecklenburg SchwerinCadet branch of the House of MecklenburgBorn 22 April 1910 Died 31 July 2001Titles in pretencePreceded byFriedrich Franz IV TITULAR Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin17 November 1945 31 July 2001Reason for succession failure Grand Duchy abolished in 1918 Succeeded byBorwin Duke of Mecklenburg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Friedrich Franz Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin amp oldid 1205414532, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
