The son of humble parents, however, he had the opportunity to study at the universities of Jena and Bonn. He was a pilot during World War I and shot down in France in 1917. Captured, he was held prisoner of war for two years.

In 1925 he was deeply attracted by the NSDAP's nationalist discourse and was welcomed by his university status. He was named Gauleiter in South Rhineland, where he gained adherents to the National Socialist cause among former members of socialist and communist organizations, especially the unemployed. He continued to carry out his work following the new instructions of the party that required the agglutination of active workers.

He was Head of Organization of the NSDAP from November 1932 to May 1945.
When the German Labor Front was created in 1933 (Deutsche Arbeitsfront} (DAF), Robert Ley was appointed top leader of the new union whose aim was to increase productivity and show pride in New Germany.

He was responsible for the Force for Joy project (Kraft durch Freude), which promoted very cheap tourist trips, cruises, sporting and cultural events for German workers. He promoted pensions for older workers and many other benefits. He was a member of the Reichstag from 1932 to 1945.

Robert Ley said in a speech in 1938 the following: "On this earth I believe only in Adolf Hitler. I believe in a Supreme God who created me and who guides me and I firmly believe that this Supreme God sent Adolf Hitler to us" .

At the end of World War II, Robert Ley fled to Berchtesgaden but was captured on May 16, 1945 and prosecuted at the Nuremberg Trials. Accused of war crimes, he committed suicide before being tried.