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Adolf II, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe

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Adolf II
Portrait circa 1917
Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
Reign29 April 1911 – 15 November 1918
PredecessorGeorge
SuccessorMonarchy abolished
Born(1883-02-23)23 February 1883
Stadthagen, Schaumburg-Lippe
Died26 March 1936(1936-03-26) (aged 53)
Zumpango, Mexico (plane crash)
SpouseEllen Bischoff-Korthaus
Names
Adolf Bernhard
HouseSchaumburg-Lippe
FatherPrince Georg
MotherPrincess Marie Anne of Saxe-Altenburg

Adolf II (23 February 1883 – 26 March 1936) was the last ruler of the small Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe in northwestern Germany from 29 April 1911 until his abdication on 15 November 1918.

Adolf was the eldest son of Georg, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe, and succeeded his father as prince on 29 April 1911. His short reign came to an end seven years later when he was forced to abdicate on 15 November 1918 following the German revolution. He and his wife were both killed in a plane crash in Mexico on 26 March 1936. As he had no children, Adolf was succeeded as head of the House of Schaumburg-Lippe by his younger brother Wolrad.

Biography

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Early life

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Adolf as Hereditary Prince in 1910.

Adolf was born in Stadthagen, the only other town in the principality apart from the capital Bückeburg, to the then hereditary Prince Georg (1846–1911) and Princess Marie Anne of Saxe-Altenburg (1864–1918).[1] He was born during the reign of his grandfather Prince Adolf I, and became heir apparent to Schaumburg-Lippe at the age of 10 on 8 May 1893 following the death of his grandfather, and the accession of his father. In 1904, while studying at the University of Bonn, he became a member of the German Student Corps Corps Borussia Bonn.

Reign

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Prince Adolf II in hunting attire.

Upon the death of Prince George on 29 April 1911, Adolf succeeded his father as prince of Schaumburg-Lippe at the age of 28.[1] During his reign he developed the spa of Bad Eilsen and was responsible for many buildings there.

He was forced to abdicate on 15 November 1918 following the German revolution: the principality became the Free State of Schaumburg-Lippe. Adolf was exiled to Brioni in Istria.

Marriage and death

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Adolf married the actress Elisabeth Franziska (Ellen) Bischoff-Korthaus (1894–1936, previously married to Prince Eberwyn, son of Alexis, Prince of Bentheim and Steinfurt) in Berlin on 10 January 1920.[1]

They were both killed in a plane crash in Zumpango, Mexico, on 26 March 1936, while flying from Mexico City to Guatemala City[citation needed] in a Ford Trimotor airplane.[citation needed] The New York Times from 27 March 1936 reported that it was the worst Mexican air crash. All fourteen people on board the airplane, ten tourists from Europe and four crew members, died when the plane crashed between two volcanos. His youngest brother Prince Friedrich Christian of Schaumburg-Lippe, who served as an adjutant to Joseph Goebbels, spoke out against letting Ellen be buried in Bückeburger Mausoleum next to her husband, because she was not of "Aryan origin".

As he had no children, Adolf was succeeded as head of the House of Schaumburg-Lippe by his younger brother Prince Wolrad.[1]

Ancestry

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh, ed. (1977). Burke's Royal Families of the World. Vol. 1. London, UK: Burke's Peerage Ltd. p. 277.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adolphus II, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe.
Adolf II, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
Born: February 23 1883 Died: March 26 1936
German royalty
Preceded by Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
1911–1918 		Monarchy abolished
Titles in pretence
Monarchy abolished — TITULAR —
Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
1918–1936 		Succeeded by
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