Hans von Kanitz

Hans Wilhelm Alexander Graf von Kanitz-Podangen (17 April 1841 in Mednicken – 30 June 1913 in Podangen) was a German politician for German Conservative Party and Junker.^[1]

Life[edit]

Kanitz was born in Mednicken, in the Province of Prussia (now Drushnoye, Zelenogradsky District, Kaliningrad Oblast).^[2] In 1894 he proposed the Kanitz Plan: an import monopoly for grain, whereby all grain imports would be made on the government's account and resold on the home market at a price calculated from the average price of the last 40 years.^[3] If import prices were below this level, the profits would go into a reserve fund that would be used to subsidise imports when the price rose above the average.^[3] As grain prices at that time were lower than they had been for most of the previous 40 years, the effect of the Kanitz Plan would been considerable price rises.^[3]

The Chancellors Leo von Caprivi and Chlodwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst both opposed the scheme, with the latter condemning it as a dangerous step to socialism.^[3] August Bebel, the Chairman of the Social Democrats, replied that a policy to make one class wealthier at the nation's expense, especially at the expense of the working class, was anything but social.^[3]

The Kanitz Plan was adopted in modified form by the Nazis and by the Federal Republic.^[4]

From 1885 to 1913 Kanitz was member of Prussian House of Representatives. Kanitz was from 1890 to 1913 member of German Reichstag for German Conservative Party.

Notes[edit]