Von Aretin was born into the noble household of Aretin and was the son of
Erwein Freiherr von Aretin (1887–1952), chief editor for the prominent
Münchner Neueste Nachrichten newspaper, and Countess Maria Anna von Belcredi (1888–1968). He was the eldest of three brothers: Sebastian (1921–1945), the historian
Karl Otmar (1923–2014), and the Jesuit
Richard Freiherr von Aretin (1926–2006). He was also the cousin of
Annette von Aretin and the great-great-great-nephew of the renowned Bavarian historian and librarian
Johann Christoph Freiherr von Aretin. After completing his secondary education exams at the
Wilhelmsgymnasium in Munich he studied law in Munich and
Prague. From 1941 until 1946 he was in exile in
Iceland owing to the events of World War II. In 1946 he first became a member of the CSU. In spring of 1947 he, alongside
Anton Donhauser and other members and functionaries, left the CSU for the Bavaria Party. This was due to disappointment with the Schäffer-Hundhammer-wing of the CSU not having been able to implement enough policies focused upon Bavaria-centric issues. Within the same year he became the regional chairman of the Bavaria Party in
Niederbayern. From 1949 until 1953 von Aretin was a member of the German Parliament, in which he represented the Bayern Party. From 14 December 1951 the Bayern Party would go on to form the
Föderalistische Union faction with the
Centre Party (Germany). He was later a member of the
Landtag of Bavaria from 1950 until 2 May 1951, in which he represented the locality of
Vilshofen an der Donau. From 1954 until his sudden death, he worked for
Aldersbach brewery and supposedly contributed to their success. In 1969 he married the Austrian Johanna Colloredo-Mansfeld (1923–2010). ==See also==