Rintelen Family Association

Organization I Coat of Arms I Family History I Rintelen I Renteln I Contact I Imprint  deutsch


Establishment and History of the Family Association


In 1921 the Rintelen Family Association was established by the retired Lieutenant-General Wilhelm v. Rintelen. According to its statutes, the Association was founded to cultivate a sense of family and a feeling of solidarity, to clarify and continue the family tree and genealogy, as well as to create institutions to support family members. In the 1975 version, the common interests of the families Rintelen, v. Rintelen and v. Renteln are recorded.

The members of the family Association are spread across Europe, North, Central and South America with the majority residing in Germany and Austria. Descendants of the founding father may be found across all continents.

Every two years, the Association invites the members and their families to a family reunion through the Family Council or rather its Chairman. These congregated members form the Family Assembly, the supreme decision-making body. Customarily, the family reunion takes place in locations that are relevant to the history of the family, for example Rinteln, Herford, Münster or Graz. Local and regional culture, family friendly topics, as well as a reception with dancing and a banquet encourage the sense of family and lets a weekend together every other year seem much too short to most participants.

The competence of a historian and the dedication, perseverance, and meticulousness of a genealogy researcher are united in the character of Wilhelm v. Rintelen (1855-1938), who in his chief occupation as an officer had very different assignments. His successors in the office of Family Council Chairmen, Dr. jur. Ludwig Rintelen and General d. Inf. Enno v. Rintelen, honored his legacy and successfully advocated for the continuation of the Family Association and of the genealogical table. The family is particularly grateful for the efforts of the fourth Chairman Prof. Dr. Paul Rintelen, and his son Dr. Jost Rintelen, who have provided the latest updates in genealogical documentation.

The Family Association pays highest respect to the Family Council member Brandt Sylvester Jean Kurt v. Renteln, deceased in 2011, who wrote the book “History of the Families of Renteln” (in German: „Geschichte der Familien von Renteln“ (Hamm / Westf. 2000, ISBN 3-8334-0868-5)) after decades of research.

Chairman since formation of the Association:

  • Generalleutnant a. D. Wilhelm v. Rintelen von 1921 bis 1938

  • Dr. jur. Ludwig Rintelen von 1938 bis 1955

  • General der Inf. a. D. Enno v. Rintelen von 1955 bis 1971

  • Prof. Dr. Paul Rintelen von 1971 bis 1979

  • Rechtsanwalt Helmut v. Rintelen von 1979 bis 2012

  • Gymnasiallehrer i. R. Viktor Rintelen seit 2012