Gayl, Wilhelm Freiherr von

(1879-1945)

   politician; Franz von Papen's* Interior Minister. Born in Koïnigsberg to a Prussian general, he studied law before joining East Prussia's* Siedlungsgesellschaft (Land Settlement So-ciety) in 1904; he sat with the society's executive during 1909-1932. Although he was urbane and talented, he was driven by a nativism that inspired his vision of settling German farmers* to secure East Prussia against a feared influx of Slavs. After World War I, during which he served with the eastern command, he joined the Soldiers' Council in Kowno (Lithuania). He represented East Prus-sia at the Paris Peace Conference and went to Allenstein in 1920 as German Commissioner for the plebiscite that left East Prussia entirely within the Reich. He then represented the DNVP in the Prussian Staatsrat and Reichsrat.

   Gayl joined the Stahlhelm* and in 1921 founded an East Prussian Wehrver-band with links to Organisation Escherich. In 1923 he sponsored Ludendorff's* idea of an authoritarian directory. When Friedrich Ebert* died in 1925, he tried to force Hans von Seeckt's* presidential candidacy on the DNVP. His opposi-tion to the sale of bankrupt Junker* estates solidified his ties to President Hin-denburg* during the depression.* While he was serving in 1932 as Interior Minister, his role was crucial in Papen's coup against the Prussian regime.

   Although Gayl favored an authoritarian regime, he renounced politics when Hitler* seized power. Surviving Germany's 1945 defeat by a few months, he lived long enough to witness the forfeiture of his beloved East Prussia.

   REFERENCES:Benz and Graml, Biographisches Lexikon; Diehl, Paramilitary Politics; Eyck, History of the Weimar Republic, vol. 2; Orlow, Weimar Prussia, 1925-1933; Taddey, Lexikon.