Gerhard Graf von Kanitz

Gerhard Theodor Alexander Graf von Kanitz (9 April 1884 – 13 June 1949) was a German politician of the German National People's Party (DNVP) and the German People's Party (DVP). He was a member of several Prussian and German Parliaments and served as Weimar Germany's Minister of Food and Agriculture from 1923 to 1926

Biography

Kanitz was born in Podangen, East Prussia (current-day Podągi, Poland), the son of the conservative politician Hans von Kanitz. He attended the Wilhelmgymnasium in Königsberg and served in the 3rd (East Prussian) Cuirassiers "Count Wrangel". Kanitz took over his family estate at Podangen after his father's death in 1913

Following his service in World War I he became chairman of the agricultural association in the district of Preußisch Holland (Pasłęk) and member of the provisional German economic council . He joined the DNVP after the German Revolution of 1918–1919 but left the party in 1923; later on he joined the German People's Party (DVP).