Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Born in Russia · Nationality German — Politics / regimes / war
Documented profile covering 7 controversies, including “Life sentence followed by release in 1957 on health grounds” and “Nuremberg trial: acquitted on count 1, convicted on counts 2, 3 and 4”.
Profile No. 2613 · Updated on 12 October 2026
§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology
Case · 6 documented stages
1946-1957
Funk was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released from Spandau prison in 1957 on health grounds and died in 1960.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1945-1946
The International Military Tribunal acquitted Funk on count 1 of conspiracy but found him guilty of crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity under counts 2, 3 and 4.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1942-1945
In 1942, Funk concluded an agreement with Himmler allowing the Reichsbank to receive gold, jewellery and foreign currency transferred by the SS. Property taken from exterminated victims — including dental gold and personal belongings — was subsequently deposited with or processed by the bank.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1940s
Under Funk's leadership, the Reichsbank established a revolving fund of 12 million Reichsmarks as credit for the SS to construct factories intended to employ concentration camp prisoners.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1938-1939
Having become Economics Minister and responsible for the wartime economy, Funk supervised arrangements related to financing a conflict. In a letter to Hitler dated 25 August 1939, he stated, among other things, that his plans for war financing, prices and wages and strengthening the Reichsbank had been completed.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1938-11
On 12 November 1938, Funk attended a meeting chaired by Göring on excluding Jews from the economy and proposed a decree prohibiting Jews from engaging in commercial activities, promulgated the same day. Three days later, he publicly justified eliminating Jews from economic life.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1931-1937
A former financial journalist, Funk joined the NSDAP in 1931, became Hitler's economic adviser, then government press chief and State Secretary at the Ministry of Propaganda in 1933. He also held important positions in Nazi bodies controlling the press, cinema, music and publishing.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.
As Reichsbank president from 1939, Funk was held responsible by the Tribunal for measures involving financial exploitation of occupied territories, including seizure of the Czechoslovak National Bank's gold reserves and liquidation of the Yugoslav National Bank. He also chaired the Continental Oil Company, which was responsible for exploiting eastern oil resources.
From 1943, Funk was a member of the Central Planning Board, which determined industry's overall labour needs and required Sauckel to supply workers, often deported from occupied territories.
No documented link with another published profile for now.
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