Wilhelm Haas

Wilhelm Haas (4 September 1896 – 11 January 1981) was a German diplomat. He served during the Weimar Republic, was dismissed during the Nazi era due to his wife's Jewish heritage, and later became a prominent ambassador for the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). His ambassadorships included posts in Turkey, the Soviet Union, and Japan.

Early life and education Wilhelm Haas was born in Bremen on 4 September 1896, the son of a merchant from an Evangelical (Protestant) family. He attended the Neues Gymnasium in Bremen. From August 1914 to January 1919, he served as a soldier in World War I, reaching the rank of Leutnant (Lieutenant).

After the war, Haas studied Law at the University of Marburg and the University of Freiburg. He completed an internship at a shipping company and passed the first state law examination (Referendarexamen) in 1921. He earned his doctorate in law in 1922.

Despite this, Haas was appointed Commercial Attaché and head of the economic department at the German embassy in Tokyo in 1934, under Ambassador Herbert von Dirksen. However, he faced increasing antisemitic hostility from Nazi Party members within the embassy, particularly targeting his wife. Pressure from these elements led to his forced retirement from the diplomatic service in 1937.

World War II Through the intervention of Herbert von Dirksen, Haas secured a position as a representative for IG Farben in Peking, which was then part of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. This allowed him and his family to remain in China during World War II.

Haas received several honors: Grand Cross of Merit with Star (Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz mit Stern) of the Federal Republic of Germany (1954). Order of the Rising Sun, First Class, from Japan upon his departure in 1961.

The city of Bremen named a street after him, Wilhelm-Haas-Straße, in the St. Magnus district where he lived.

Wilhelm Haas died in Bremen on 11 January 1981.

Writings Haas, Wilhelm (1969). Beitrag zur Geschichte der Entstehung des Auswärtigen Dienstes der Bundesrepublik Deutschland [Contribution to the History of the Formation of the Foreign Service of the Federal Republic of Germany]. Introduction by the Foreign Office. Bremen: Private printing (financed by the Foreign Office). (Cited in: )