Benno von Arent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benno von Arent
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| Born | 19 July 1898 Görlitz, Province of Silesia, German Empire
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| Died | 14 October 1956 (aged 58) |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Architect Stage designer |
| Political party | Nazi Party |
Benno von Arent (born July 19, 1898 – died October 14, 1956) was a German architect, artist, and designer. He was also a member of the Nazi Party and the SS, a powerful organization within Nazi Germany.
Early Life and Beginnings
Benno von Arent was born in Görlitz, Germany, on July 19, 1898. His father and grandfather were both military officers.
He fought in World War I. After the war, he joined groups of former soldiers called the Freikorps and the Reichswehr. During a time when many people couldn't find jobs, he worked in different roles, including selling cars. He also taught himself how to be an architect. In 1923, he started working as a designer for theaters in Berlin. He also joined a group that had strong German nationalist and anti-Jewish ideas.
Career in Nazi Germany
In 1931, Benno von Arent joined the SS. The next year, in 1932, he joined the Nazi Party. He helped create a group for artists who supported the Nazi ideas. This group was later renamed the "Fellowship of German Artists."
In 1936, Adolf Hitler personally chose Arent for special projects. He was given the title "Reich Stage Designer." This meant he was the main designer for big events and stage shows. Hitler thought he was a great designer. Arent's designs were often very grand and realistic.
He also designed street decorations for large parades. He even designed the special uniforms for diplomats working for the Foreign Ministry. In 1937, he was given the title of professor. Besides his party work, Arent continued to work as an architect. One of his most famous designs was the Berlin House of the German Labour Front, a large building for a workers' organization. Just before World War II, he was briefly in charge of fashion for the German government.
Wartime and Later Years
During World War II, Arent was part of the staff of Heinrich Himmler, a very powerful Nazi leader. In 1941, he was involved in some difficult events during the war near Minsk. In 1944, he fought in the Waffen-SS, which was the military branch of the SS. He was promoted to a high rank called SS-Oberführer.
Near the end of the war, he was captured by Soviet forces. He was released in 1953. In 1956, a process began in Berlin to determine his involvement with the Nazi regime. Benno von Arent died in Bonn, West Germany, shortly after this process started.
See also
- Nazism and cinema
