Johann Becker | |
---|---|
Reichswirtschaftsminister (Economy), Weimar Republic | |
In office 22 November 1922 – 12 August 1923 |
|
President | Friedrich Ebert |
Chancellor | Wilhelm Cuno |
Preceded by | Robert Schmidt |
Succeeded by | Hans von Raumer |
Personal details | |
Born |
Ludwigshöhe, Grand Duchy of Hesse |
3 February 1869
Died | 17 October 1951 Ludwigshöhe, West Germany |
(aged 82)
Political party | German People's Party |
Spouse(s) | Johanna Caroline Hartmann |
Profession | Lawyer, politician |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Johann Becker (3 February 1869 – 17 October 1951) was a German lawyer and politician of the German People's Party. From January 1916 to November 1918 he served as finance minister of the Grand Duchy of Hesse. He was elected a member of the Weimar National Assembly in 1919. He continued to serve as a delegate in the Reichstag until 1930. In 1922/1923 he was Minister of Economics, under Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno, during the onset of hyperinflation.
Johann Baptist (also: Johannes) Becker was born on 3 February 1869 at Ludwigshöhe in the Grand Duchy of Hesse (present-day Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany). His father, Franz Becker, was a builder and winemaker from a peasant family. His mother was Elisabetha, née Schaad.
Becker married Johanna Caroline Hartmann on 4 September 1895 at Gießen. They had one daughter.
He studied at Gießen, Leipzig, Munich and Berlin. He then joined the civil service of the Grand Duchy of Hesse where he advanced rapidly. From January 1916 to November 1918, he was the Hessian minister of finance. His achievements in Hesse included the reform of the tax system (1899) which eliminated the Realsteuern and brought the system into line with that of Prussia. He also was the main inspiration behind the reform of the Hessian communal tax system (1911). In addition, Becker was very interested in the set-up and running of the railway system.
In 1919, he was elected to the Weimar National Assembly, the new republic's constituent assembly. From 1920 to 1930, Becker was a member of the Reichstag for the German People's Party (DVP). He was also member of the board of directors of the Rheinische Stahlwerke Duisburg-Meiderich.