Adolf Tortilowicz von Batocki-Friebe

Max Johann Otto Adolf Tortilowicz von Batocki-Friebe, usually known as Adolf von Batocki-Friebe (31 July 1868 – 22 May 1944), was a German noble, lawyer and politician, and belonged to a noble Lithuanian family. Batocki-Friebe was born at Gut Bledau, Cranz near Königsberg, East Prussia. First World War roles He served as Governor of East Prussia (1 October, 1914–1916 and 1918–1919), member of the Prussian House of Lords (1910–1918). He was also President of the Reichsernährungsamt (Imperial Nutrition Office) (1916–1917). The onset of the war led to an initial wave of refugees fleeing those areas that the Imperial German Army felt could not be effectively defended. This led to a humanitarian crisis which the authorities hoped to mitigate by setting up the War Aid Commission (Kriegshilfskommission). At their first plenary held on 12 October 1914, Batocki outlined his approach: "The most difficult work that we face in the East after our final victory will not be the work of restoring the economic damage. It will not be anything that can be achieved with money. It will lie rather in strengthening and firming up our population. Only when that succeeds can East Prussia fulfill its task as a stronghold of Germandom." He was a Knight of Justice of the Order of Saint John.