Germany's Other Side: The Tale of Hans Schemm

For the most part, I choose to focus on what is scenic, historical, cultural, and deliciously gastronomic about Germany.  However, for those of us who are German, it is unavoidable that the past catches up to us occasionally if we know much about our ancestors, especially those who lived during the "Hitler years".  My own German family, at least on my mother's side, suffered much because of World War II.  I don't know everything about them, but I know my grandmother - and my great grandparents along with 9 children - had to flee from their beautiful homeland of East Prussia because the Russians were taking over the territory brutally and barbarically.  My father lost his father on the Russian front when he was about 8 years old.  My great-uncle spent many years in a prison camp in Siberia (and lived to tell about it!).

I am sure there are things I don't know - and don't want to know.  I have had glimpses of relatives who embraced the Nazi party and joined its ranks.  I don't want to glorify that in any way ... and yet, there are facts about that time that can provide a glimpse into German life of that mostly awful time period.

I have copies of the pages of a Frauenkalender (women's calendar) from 1942 that show how the Nazi propaganda was spread among the German people.  A quote from the week of March 1-7, 1942, is loosely translated OUR RESPONSIBILITY:  The bodily and psychological carrier of the family is the mother.  The foundation of her thinking and will must be racial pride.  An aged wise man said:  "Give me better mothers and I give you a better world."  The fortune of the world lies anchored in the nursery. 

This quote is credited to Hans Schemm.  Herr Schemm was a teacher, a chemist and a Nazi. As early as 1923, after he met Adolf Hitler on September 30, his loyalties were to the National Socialists for whom he grounded a National Socialist Teacher's Federation.  He was clearly antidemocratic, anti-Jewish, and anti-communistic.  He used his influence through newspaper articles and teaching to spread his Nazi message and gain support for the party.  He was rewarded with a seat in the Reichstag and was made a SA Gruppenführer and Gauleiter (provincial governor under Hitler).    Hans Schemm's influence ended when he succumbed to his injuries following an aircraft crash on March 5, 1935, a date which the calendar page above commemorates.  He was honored by having numerous halls, schools, and streets named after him.

photo source

(The legend of the above coin says, "haltet einander die Treue" which means

"Hold true to one another.")

If you are a student of history, you know that the Nazis wanted large - and strong - families.  Mothers of pure Aryan background were of highest value and almost considered "breeders".  Children were esteemed.  Hans Schemm said, "Those who have the youth on their side control the future."  Ironically, as far as Wikipedia states, Hans Schemm only had one son, born in 1917, perhaps because he contracted tuberculosis during World War I and was unable to father more children.

This too is part of German history ... Looking back, we now know the entire story, how seemingly innocent and sweet calendar pictures of a mother and baby were actually used to promote a dangerous, tyrannical, and racist regime, which affected millions of people very, very adversely.  I feel it should be mentioned - out of interest - out of historical context - and so that we may learn to never allow such atrocities to creep into our world again.

What's in a Name?

I love old pictures ... and I especially love old photographs of my ancestors.  Today I came across this picture of my my great-grandparents.  My great-grandfather Gustav was a constable in East Prussia, in a small town called Peitschendorf.  Above is his 2nd wife and 6 of their 9 children.  You can read more about this area and my family's story if you click on this link.

Anyway, I began to think of the names of the people in my German family from generations ago.  My great-grandparents were Gustav and Wilhelmine (Gustav's first wife was named Anna).  They had many children who were half-siblings to my Oma, who was named Hildegard Anna.  These names are just so typical German - and I love the combinations and wonder why each name was chosen:  was it just a name the parents liked?  Was this child named after someone?  Was the name to honor someone famous or from history?!  Here is a list of my Oma's siblings:  

Friedrich-Karl

Ingetraut

Irmtraut

Christel

Günter

Helmut

Heinz-Joachim

Rosemarie

Renate

Ernst-Georg

Below is a photo of my great-grandparents on my Opa's side.  They were "city folks" - living in the city of Frankfurt.  I wish I recognized the bridge behind them in this picture - I really have no idea where this picture was taken.  It almost appears as if the family was on holiday.  

These are my great-grandparents Konrad and Margarethe.  They are with 4 of their 5 daughters; they also had 2 sons (one of which was my Opa, Wilhelm).   Their other children were:

Paul

Elisabeth

Johanna (Hanni)

Helene (Leni)

Maria (Ria)

Margot 

There are so many more beautiful names of people on the German side of the family - my own mother is named Heidelinde (Heidi for short, of course).  What are some of your favorite German names - or what names come to mind when you think of "typical German"?