born July 31, 1884, Schneidemühl, Ger.
died Feb. 2, 1945, Berlin
German politician.
He served as second mayor of Königsberg (192030) and mayor of Leipzig (193037). A member of the rightist German National People's Party , he had to resign as mayor of Leipzig when his relations with the Nazi Party deteriorated. He collaborated with conservative generals led by Ludwig Beck against Hitler, after whose overthrow Goerdeler was to become chancellor. When the July Plot failed in 1944, he went into hiding, but was soon arrested by the Gestapo in Poland and hanged.