​​Carlton House Terraces were built around the 1820 to 1830’s, and shortly after this Number 9 became the official residence of the Prussian Ambassador. It became known as Prussia House until the outbreak of the First World War. In 1920, after the end of the First World War, it was once again used by ambassadors and officials. 

​Leopold von Hoesch took up residence here around 1932, representing the Weimar Republic. He was described as an old fashioned diplomat, and it is said he did much for Anglo-German relations throughout the early 30’s and that he was respected. In 1933 the Weimar Republic ended, and he now represented the Third Reich under Adolf Hitler.  

​It was said that Von Hoesch did not support the Nazi Regime and that the Anglo-German relationship became very strained. In February 1934, Von Hoesch’s dog, Giro, died. It was claimed that it had bitten through electrical wires in the garden and was electrocuted. Giro was buried in the garden and his grave was marked with this headstone. 

​In 1936, at this location, Von Hoesch died of a stroke. He was given a state funeral in keeping with international diplomatic protocol.  

​The funeral cortege departed from the bottom of the steps on The Mall and was led by the Grenadier Guards. He was given a 19 gun salute in St James’s park as he made his way to the coast and a Royal Navy destroyer ‘HMS Scout’, before returning to Germany. 

​Archive photographs of the event are available which show the ceremony, Von Hoesch’s coffin draped in a Nazi Flag. Many German members of staff on the Ambassadors House terrace can be seen showing Nazi salutes towards his coffin. 

​This is a dark reminder of the very troubled times in the 1930’s that would lead to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. 

​Von Hoesch was replaced by Joachim von Ribbentrop, who at the end of the Second World War was found guilty of war crimes and hanged. He only  held residence in Charlton House Terrace until 1936.