Neurath, Baron Konstantin von (1873-1956)

German politician and diplomat. In 1939 he became Reichsprotektor (governor) of Bohemia and Moravia, and set up an administration similar to that in Germany, but he was considered too lenient by Hitler and was recalled in 1941. He was tried at Nürnberg as a war criminal in 1946 and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, but died before his release.

Neurath was born in Tübingen and educated in Berlin. He was ambassador to Italy in 1922 and to Britain in 1931. He was German minister of foreign affairs 1932-38 and president of the Privy Council from 1938. He advised Hitler to withdraw from the disarmament conference under the League of Nations and played an important part in Hitler's decision to reoccupy the Rhineland.