Karl-Günther von Hase facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karl-Günther von Hase
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Karl-Günther von Hase in 1964
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| German Ambassador to the United Kingdom | |
| In office 1970–1977 |
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| Preceded by | Herbert Blankenhorn |
| Succeeded by | Hans Hellmuth Ruete |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 December 1917 Gut Wangern, Breslau, Silesia, Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 9 May 2021 (aged 103) |
| Political party | CDU |
| Relations | Karl Hase (great-grandfather) Paul von Hase (uncle) Dietrich Bonhoeffer (cousin) |
| Awards | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch/service | Wehrmacht |
| Years of service | 1936–1945 |
| Rank | Major im Generalstab |
| Unit | 20th Panzer Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Karl-Günther von Hase (born December 15, 1917 – died May 9, 2021) was an important German diplomat and government official. He worked as the main spokesperson for the German government under three different leaders. He also served as Germany's ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1977. Later, he became the head of ZDF, a major German public television channel, before he retired in 1982. He lived to be 103 years old.
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Early Life and Education
Karl-Günther von Hase was born in Gut Wangern, a place near Wrocław in what was then Germany. Today, this area is part of Poland. His father, Günther von Hase, was a military officer and later a police officer. His mother was Ina von Hase.
Karl-Günther went to a high school called Prinz-Heinrichs-Gymnasium in Berlin. He finished his studies there in 1935, earning his Abitur, which is like a high school diploma. After school, he decided to join the military. He began his training in 1936.
Military Service in World War II
Hase served in the German army during World War II. He fought on different fronts, including in Poland, France, Russia, and Italy. In 1942, he was injured while fighting in Russia. He held a high rank as a major in the General Staff, which meant he helped plan military operations.
His uncle, Paul von Hase, was involved in a secret plan to overthrow the government on July 20, 1944. Because of his uncle's actions, Karl-Günther was removed from his high-ranking position. He was then sent to a different location.
In February 1945, Karl-Günther married Renate Stumpff. They had five daughters together. After the war ended, he was a prisoner of war in Russia and returned home in 1949.
A Career in Diplomacy and Government
In 1951, Karl-Günther von Hase attended a special school for diplomats in Speyer. This school helped people become diplomats even if they didn't have a university degree.
His first job in the Foreign Office (Germany's department for international relations) was in 1952. By 1958, he was in charge of the press department there. This was an important role, similar to a secretary of state. From 1961, he led a department responsible for Germany's relationships with many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, and with organizations like NATO.
Government Spokesperson
In 1962, Hase became the director of the government's press and information office. This meant he was the official spokesperson for the German government. He explained the government's decisions and policies to the public. He served in this role under three different chancellors: Konrad Adenauer, Ludwig Erhard, and Kurt Georg Kiesinger.
In 1967, he was chosen to lead a broadcasting company called Deutsche Welle. However, Chancellor Kiesinger asked him to stay in government instead. So, he became a secretary of state for the Ministry of Defense. In 1969, he returned to the Foreign Office.
Ambassador to the United Kingdom
From 1970 to 1977, Karl-Günther von Hase served as Germany's ambassador to the United Kingdom. As an ambassador, he represented Germany and worked to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Leading a Television Broadcaster
After his time as ambassador, Hase became the Director General (head) of ZDF, a major public television broadcaster in Germany. He took over from the first head of ZDF, Karl Holzamer. Even though he didn't have much experience in television, he was chosen because he had strong diplomatic skills and a clear vision for the future of broadcasting.
During his time at ZDF, he helped expand cooperation with other broadcasters around the world. Many popular shows that are still on TV today began during his leadership, such as heute-journal, Wetten, dass..?, and Politbarometer. He also supported new technologies like cable television, satellite television, and teletext, which made TV more modern.
Later Life
After he retired, Karl-Günther von Hase lived with his wife in Bad Godesberg. He remained active, serving as the honorary president of the German-English Society. He also stayed in touch with military groups, the Foreign Office, ZDF, and the federal press office.
Karl-Günther von Hase turned 100 years old in December 2017. He passed away in May 2021 at the age of 103.
Awards and Honors
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (1940)
- 1st Class (1940)
- German Cross in Gold (1943)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (1945)
- Austrian Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star (1964)
- Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (1965)
- Orden wider den tierischen Ernst (1967)
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1972)
- Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1982)
- Honorary doctorate in Law from the University of Manchester
See also
In Spanish: Karl-Günther von Hase para niños
