Wilhelm Waetzoldt (21 February 1880 in Hamburg – 5 January 1945) was a German art historian, professor of art history in Halle, Geheimer Oberregierungsrat in the Prussian Ministry of Culture and from 1927 to 1933 general director of the Berlin State Museums. Life Waetzoldt's father was the philologist and pedagogue Stephan Waetzoldt (1849–1904). He was educated at different schools in Berlin, Magdeburg and Hamburg. In 1899, he passed his Abitur at the in Magdeburg. He then began studying art history, philosophy and literary history in Berlin and Magdeburg. He finished his studies in 1903 with a dissertation on Friedrich Hebbel. From 1908 to 1909, Waetzoldt worked as an assistant at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz. The knowledge and impressions gained in Italy were reflected in later publications. He took positions at the Warburg Institute (1909–1911) and the National Museums in Berlin (1911–1912). In 1912, he was appointed professor of modern art history at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. During World War I, Waetzoldt served on the Western Front in the rank of a lieutenant and took part in the Battle of Soissons. He was wounded twice and was awarded the Iron Cross II classe. In 1916, due to his war wound, he was transferred to the Landwehr and was able to continue his teaching activities in Halle. In 1920 Waetzoldt was appointed Lecturer Councillor in the and in 1927 he was finally appointed General Director of the Staatliche Museen Berlin. During his term of office the new building of the Pergamonmuseums. In 1929 he was appointed Senator of the Prussian Academy of Arts. He was also an honorary professor at the University of Berlin. With the Machtergreifung by the Nazis in 1933 he was removed from office. He was charged with financial irregularities, the promotion of modern art and the support and employment of Jews. His successor was Otto Kümmel. Waetzoldt was able to dispel the accusation of financial irregularities. He rejected in vain the responsibility for the Nationalgalerie's acquisition policy, in particular the acquisition of paintings by Emil Nolde. Waetzoldt was later offered the opportunity to regain his posts in connection with his entry into the Nazi Party, which he refused. However, in September 1933 he became a member of the National Socialist Motor Corps. Against the will of the Rectorate of the University of Halle, Waetzoldt was appointed Full Professor of Art History at the Faculty of Philosophy