FRANK, HANS

FRANK, HANS (1900–1946), jurist and politician; founded the League of National Socialist German Jurists. Born in Karlsruhe, he volunteered for the army in the final year of World War I. Service with the Epp Freikorps* in early 1919 was followed by memberships in such nationalist circles as the Thule Society* and the German Workers' Party. He began studies the same year in law and economics. After participating in the failed Beerhall Putsch,* Frank fled Germany. He returned incognito to Kiel in 1924 and managed to complete a doctorate in law. He lived clandestinely until he reappeared in 1926 as a partner in a Munich law firm. He was soon engaged as an attorney in various cases involving the Nazis— he represented the NSDAP more than 2,400 times before 1933—and rejoined the Party in 1927, becoming Hitler's* official judicial expert. In 1928 he founded the League of German Jurists, the NSDAP's first professional organization. His attempt to leave the Party in 1929 to pursue further studies was foiled by Hitler's personal appeal. He was named head of the NSDAP's new Justice Section in 1930 and was also elected to the Reichstag,* where he headed the justice* committee. Upon seizing power in January 1933, Hitler named Frank Bavarian Justice Minister and Reichskommissar for Judicial Standardization. Once all justice administration had reverted from the La¨nder to the Reich government, Frank became Minister without Portfolio. War brought his appointment as civil administrator for occupied Poland* (the Generalgouvernement). In 1946 he was condemned to death for war crimes and crimes against humanity.