Karl-Günther von Hase

Training under Balduin Fischer, Otto Rubensohn and Arnold Bork is recorded. The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is journalism, television and diplomacy. Employment is recorded with ZDF. Positions recorded include ambassador of Germany to the United Kingdom and German Federal Government spokesperson. Distinctions recorded are Orden wider den tierischen Ernst, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and German Cross in Gold.

• Name — Karl-Günther von Hase • Office — German Ambassador to the United Kingdom • Term Start — 1970 • Term End — 1977 • Predecessor — Herbert Blankenhorn • Successor — Hans Hellmuth Ruete • Born — 15 December 1917 • Birthplace — Gut Wangern, Breslau, Silesia, Prussia, German Empire • Died — 9 May 2021 • Party — CDU • Relations — Karl Hase (great-grandfather) Paul von Hase (uncle) Dietrich Bonhoeffer (cousin) • Awards — * Grand Decoration of Austria • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross • Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany • Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order • Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George • Allegiance — Nazi Germany • Branch — German Army • Service Years — 1936–1945 • Rank — Major • Unit — 20th Panzer Division • Battles — World War II

Hase was born in Gut Wangern, Breslau, Silesia, Prussia, Germany (now Gmina Żórawina, Poland). His father, Günther von Hase (1881–1948) was a Prussian major and a police officer from 1920 to 1934, ending his career as a Oberst der Landespolizei and Stabschef in Berlin. His mother was Ina von Hase née Hicketier (1882–1972). He attended the humanistic Prinz-Heinrichs-Gymnasium in Berlin, completing with the Abitur in 1935. He entered a military career as a Fahnenjunker of the Artillerieregiment 19 Hannover / Celle, studying at the Kriegsschule Potsdam in 1936/37. Hase served in the Wehrmacht in World War II on fronts in Poland, France, Russia (where he was wounded in 1942), and Italy. He was a major in the Generalstab. After his uncle Paul von Hase participated in the 20 July plot and was executed, he was dismissed from the Generalstab and sent to Schneidemühl, now in Poland. Hase married Renate Stumpff, the daughter of Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff, on 13 February 1945 in a Ferntrauung (a wartime remote wedding), and they later had five daughters. He was a prisoner of war in Russia, returning in 1949. Hase attended a school for diplomats in Speyer in 1951, which at the time accepted students without a university background. Hase had his first job in the Foreign Office in 1952. In 1958, he became director of its press department, a secretary of state function. From 1961, he was head of the department West II, responsible for the NATO, defense, Great Britain, U.S., Central America and South America, and Africa south of the Sahara. Hase became director of the press and information office of the Federal Government (Presse- und Informationsamt der Bundesregierung) in 1962, serving as spokesman of the federal government (Regierungssprecher) under chancellors Adenauer, Erhard and Kiesinger. In 1967, he was elected as Intendant of the broadcaster Deutsche Welle, but he was requested by Kiesinger to not accept the position. Instead, he was secretary of state for the Ministry of Defense. In 1969 when a social-liberal coalition ruled, he returned to the foreign office. He served as an ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1977. Hase then became Director General (Intendant) of the ZDF, a German public-service television broadcaster, succeeding its first Intendant, Karl Holzamer. He had little experience with broadcasting, but was a compromise candidate because other candidates could not find a majority; Hase offered diplomatic skills and a vision for the future. He is credited with expanding collaboration with broadcasters internationally during his tenure. Series were begun at the time that have continued to this day, including heute-journal, Wetten, dass..?, and Politbarometer. He promoted technical innovations such as cable television, satellite television, and teletext. After his retirement, Hase lived with his wife in Bad Godesberg. He was honorary president of the German-English Society, and kept contact with military associations, the foreign office, the ZDF, and the federal press office. Hase turned 100 in December 2017 and died in May 2021 at the age of 103.