Max Amann

Max Amann (November 24 1891 - March 30 1957) was a Nazi official with the honorary rank of SS-Obergruppenführer, politician and journalist.

Amann was born in Munich on November 24 1891; during World War I he was Adolf Hitler's Sergeant; he became chairman of the German Nazi party in 1922 and president of the Reichspressekammer (Reich Media Chamber) in 1933. He also led the publishing company Eher-Verlag, which, among other things, published the SS magazine Das Schwarze Korps and Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf.

During the Third Reich, he was the largest newspaper baron in Germany and made enormous profits off Nazism. In this role, he established Nazi control over the industry and gradually closed down those newspapers that did not fully support Hitler's regime.

However, as a party official, Amann lacked talent, being a poor speaker and debater. In addition, his handwriting was illegible, thus his deputy, Rolf Rienhardt, performed these duties for him.

Arrested by Allied troops after the war, Amann was found guilty of being a Hauptschuldiger (Prominent Guilty Party) and sentenced to ten years in a labour camp on September 8 1948, but was released in 1953. He also lost his property and pension rights and died in poverty on March 30 1957 in Munich.

Perhaps Amann's sole memorable achievement was persuading Hitler to retitle his first book from Four and a Half Years (of Struggle) against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice to Mein Kampf.