Wilhelm Niklas (24 September 1887 – 12 April 1957) was a German academic and politician, who was the first minister of food, agriculture and forestry in Konrad Adenauer's first cabinet.[1]
Early life and education
Niklas was born in Traunstein, southern Bavaria, on 24 September 1887.[2][3] He studied law and political science for two semesters and then he studied agriculture and veterinary medicine.[2][3] He graduated from Technical University of Munich with a degree in veterinary medicine.[3] In 1914, he received a PhD in veterinary science with the thesis "The development of the Bavarian cattle insurance office in the first 15 years of its existence".[3]
Career
Niklas began his career at his alma mater as a research assistant and worked there until 1912.[3] Then he moved to state veterinary service.[3] He was the department chief for livestock breeding and animal products in the Bavarian ministry of agriculture from 1925 until 1935 when he was fired by the Nazis.[2] Then he dealt with the management of large estates, and bought and ran a farm in southern Bavaria.[2] He was a member of the Bavarian People's Party before 1933.[2] From 1945 to 1947 he was the state secretary at the Bavarian ministry of food, agriculture and forestry.[4] He was a member of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) which he joined in 1946.[2][5] From 1947 to 1949 he served as the deputy director of the department for food, agriculture and forestry at the united economic area.[4] He was also an academic[6] and became professor at the Veterinary Faculty of Munich University in 1947.[2]
From 1948 to 1949 he was the deputy director of the Bizonal food and agriculture administration.[2] He served as the minister of food, agriculture and forestry in the cabinet led by Konrad Adenauer.[5][7] Niklas was in office from 20 September 1949 to 20 October 1953.[8] He was replaced by Heinrich Lübke in the post.[8] In a May 1951 by-election in Bavaria he was elected to the Bundestag.[2]
Personal life and death
Niklas was a Catholic.[3] He died in Munich on 12 April 1957 due to complications following a car accident.[3]
Legacy
The federal ministry of agriculture has been awarding "Professor-Niklas-Medal” for his memory.[1][4] It is the highest award given by the ministry.[4]
^ abcdefghi"Niklas, Wilhelm". Elections and Political Parties in Germany, 1945–1952. Salisbury, NC: Documentary Publications. 1952. p. 25. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018.
^ abcdefghKarl-Ulrich Gelberg (1998). "Niklas, Wilhelm". Neue Deutsche Biographie 19 (in German). p. 260.
Speaker:Theodor Heuss until 12 September 1949; Hermann Schäfer until 10 January 1951; August-Martin Euler until 6 May 1952; Hermann Schäfer from 6 May 1952
Dorls (from 13 December 1950 WAV-Gast, from 17 January 1951 WAV, from 26 September 1951 Non-attached, am 23 October 1952 Mandatsaberkennung)
Frommhold (from 7 September 1949 Nationale Rechte, from 5 October 1950 Non-attached (DRP), from 26 March 1952 DP-Gast, from 11 February 1953 Non-attached)
Jaeger (from 29 February 1952)
Miessner (from 5 October 1950 FDP-Gast, from 20 December 1950 FDP)
Rößler (from 15 September 1949 Nationale Rechte, from 6 September 1950 Non-attached, from 13 December 1950 WAV-Gast, from 17 January 1951 WAV, from 26 September 1951 Non-attached, until 21 February 1952)
Thadden (from 15 September 1949 Nationale Rechte; 1950 DRP, from 20 April 1950 Non-attached)
Ott (Non-attached, from 4 May 1950 WAV-Gast, from 13 October 1950 BHE/DG, from 21 March 1952 Non-attached, from 26 March 1952 DP/DPB-Gast, from 26 June 1952 Non-attached)
