Otto-Heinrich Drechsler
Otto-Heinrich Drechsler (1 April 1895 – 5 May 1945) was the General Commissioner of Latvia for the Nazi Germany's occupation regime (Reichskommissariat Ostland) during World War II. In this capacity, he played a role in setting up the Riga ghetto and was implicated in the extermination of the Latvian Jews. He committed suicide on 5 May 1945, after being captured by the British forces. Early life Drechsler became an officer cadet (Fahnenjunker) in the Lübeck infantry regiment of the German Army in 1914. He was severely wounded and lost a leg. He was mustered out of the Reichswehr in 1920. During the Weimar Republic Drechsler began the study of dentistry, and obtained the degree of Doctor of Dental Arts. In this time, he became a member of the Nordic Union. Nazi career In 1925 Drechsler joined the Nazi party; later, he became supervisor ("Oberstaffelführer") of an SA motor pool. From 1 August 1932 to 31 May 1933, Drechsler was Deputy Gauleiter for the party district Gau Mecklenburg-Lübeck. On 26 May 1933, Lübeck together with both Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz was placed under the authority of a National Governor (Reichsstatthalter) named Friedrich Hildebrandt. He assumed office in Lübeck on 8 June 1933