Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt (Joachim Ernst Wilhelm Karl Albrecht Leopold Friedrich Moritz Erdmann; 11 January 1901 – 18 February 1947) was the last ruler of the Duchy of Anhalt, a state of the German Empire, from 13 September to 12 November 1918.
Thus Joachim Ernst was the last ruler of a constituent state within the German Empire to succeed to the throne before the abolition of the German monarchies in 1918, and the only German monarch to be born in the 20th century. His abdication ended the rule of the House of Ascania in central Germany, which had lasted since the 11th century.
Prince Joachim Ernst was born on 11 January 1901 in Dessau, the then capital of the small duchy of Anhalt in central Germany. He was the fourth child and eldest surviving son of Prince Eduard of Anhalt (1861âÂÂ1918) and Princess Louise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg (1873âÂÂ1953). His father was the third son of the then reigning Duke Friedrich I of Anhalt (1831âÂÂ1904) and his wife Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg (1838âÂÂ1908), and his mother was a daughter of Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg (1829âÂÂ1907) and his wife Princess Augusta of Saxe-Meiningen (1843âÂÂ1919).
He succeeded his father as Duke of Anhalt on 13 September 1918. However, due to his age, his uncle Prince Aribert of Anhalt was appointed regent. His brief reign came to an end on 12 November 1918, with his uncle abdicating in his name following the German revolution. As a result of this revolution, the monarchy of Anhalt was abolished along with the other monarchies of the German states, ending the House of Ascania's rule in central Germany, which had lasted for almost a millennium since the 11th century.
After 1918, the duchy of Anhalt became a republic as the Free State of Anhalt within the Weimar Republic. Today, it is part of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Ballenstedt Castle in the Harz Mountains remained in the possession of the ducal family as a private property. All of the duke's children were born there.
Joachim Ernst joined the ruling Nazi Party in 1939. Later he became a critic of Nazi rule, and in winter 1944 was arrested and spent three months in the Dachau concentration camp.
He welcomed the overthrow of Nazi rule, and remained in the Soviet occupation zone in Germany, believing that his record as an anti-Nazi would protect him. But to his surprise he was arrested on 31 August 1945 by the NKVD during a general round up of 'Junkers' or Prussian landed gentry. His entire 20,000 hectare estate was seized. He died in the NKVD special camp Nr. 2 (the former Buchenwald concentration camp) near Weimar on 18 February 1947.
Following his death, the headship of the Ducal House of Anhalt was disputed between his elder son, Prince Friedrich, and brother Prince Eugen.
In Ballenstedt Castle on 3 March 1927, Joachim Ernst married firstly Elisabeth Strickrodt (Plauen, 3 September 1903 â Berlin-Zehlendorf, 5 January 1971), a daughter of an opera singer. She was created Countess of Askanien, but they were divorced in 1929, without issue.
In Ballenstedt Castle on 15 October 1929, Joachim Ernst married secondly Editha "Edda" Charlotte Wilhelmine Marwitz von Stephani (Düsseldorf, 20 August 1905 â Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 22 February 1986), natural daughter of Wilhelm Horn by Irmgard Klara Franziska Marwitz. She married firstly in 1926 and divorced from and was adopted as an adult by Bertha von Stephani, reputedly for a payment of 10,000 marks, in order to improve her social standing. They had five children: