Bernard Wieman

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Bernard Wieman ( Bernard Johann Florenz Wieman , born May 31, 1872 in Osnabrück , † February 10, 1940 in Osnabrück) was a German writer .

Life

family

Bernard Wieman comes from a respected Osnabrück family that is still based there today. He was born as the youngest of 6 siblings (Ernst * March 6, 1858, Rudolf * June 27, 1858, Anna * November 26, 1861, Agnes * October 24, 1864, Carl * August 2, 1866 and Bernard).

His father is the trained tanner Carl Phillip Wieman (* November 20, 1827 - January 31, 1908), who had achieved some prosperity as a respected Osnabrück merchant. So wore z. B. Wiemansche ships named Osnabrück over the seas. The family's estate was at number 3 Süsterstrasse. Bernard Wieman's mother, Anna, was named Thüssing († 1902).

The Wieman family has been in Osnabrück since 1746. Senator Franz Mathias Wieman (* 1774) with Albrecht Pagenstecher and Sanitary Councilor Droop d. J. to the hospital commission, later (1848) he is mentioned as police director.

Childhood and youth

Little information is available about Bernard Wieman's childhood. Some of it can be found in Johannes Kirschweng's biography, others in his partly autobiographical novel “Melodie einerfreund”. He spends the first part of his life in the old, formerly Moltkeschen Adelshof on Süsterstrasse No. 3.

In 1875 the family built a new modern house in keeping with their status, but in 1877 they moved to the newly acquired house at Johannisstrasse 90, directly opposite the Johanniskirche. This house became the center of the Wieman family until it was destroyed by British bombs on March 25, 1945 (one week before the British invaded). It was later transferred to the CP Wieman Foundation, which is still in existence today, and the oldest son in each case had the right to live here. Mathias Wieman , the well-known actor and nephew of Bernard Wiemans, is also at home here from time to time.

In 1878 Bernard started school and in 1882 switched to the Carolinum grammar school (Osnabrück) , to which he remained lifelong. Here he met Franz Hecker , Rudolf Gosling and the later privy councilor Schneider. They become permanent friends and form a string quartet while they are still in high school in order to indulge their love for music. This ensemble, later called the “Hecker Quartet” in a different composition and expanded by additional players, stayed together for decades and only came to an end long after Wieman's death because the actors were getting too old to make music. The later painter and graphic artist Franz Hecker immortalized this quartet in an etching that he only dedicated to his friends. Wieman sets the quartet a suitable monument in his book "Melody of a Friendship", which contains autobiographical elements.

In 1892, Bernard Wieman took his matriculation examination one year late due to illness. But then he decides against music and in favor of studying law.

Education

String quartet from Berlin students around 1893, on the cello Bernard Wieman

Wieman begins his studies in Lausanne and studies in the first semester with Professors Erman, Roguin, Jaquemot, Rossier and Duperrais.

He then moved to Leipzig for two semesters to work with Professors Kuntze, Ad. Schmidt, Rudolph Sohm , Karl Binding and books to be heard.

This is followed by a semester in Berlin with Professors Gierke, Brunner, Gneist, Treitschke and Oertmann.

He chooses an unusual place to study for the fifth semester. He studied with Professors Kirkpatrick, Macintosh and Littlejohn in Edinburgh, before finally completing his studies in Göttingen with Professors Ziebarth, Merkel, Regelsberger, Frenssdorf and von Bar.

In all places of study he quickly made contacts through music. He plays in an orchestra in Lausanne and his time in Leipzig, the city of Johann Sebastian Bach , is shaped by music. He diligently attends the concerts of the Gewandhaus Orchestra and plays in a quartet that is being formed among students. Here, after a detailed consultation with one of his friends, the final decision is made not to turn music into a profession.

In Berlin there is also a quartet with fellow Swiss students. With its capital city flair, Berlin also contributes to perfecting Wieman's personality.

Bernard Wieman took the first state examination in law on September 28, 1895 at the Higher Regional Court in Celle, also because of an illness at the second attempt.

He then wrote his doctoral thesis in Göttingen. He passed the doctoral examination on May 1, 1896 (topic of the dissertation: killing on demand).

Before the start of the legal preparatory service, there is now a lot of travel activity. He travels to Greece and southern France, undertakes (under a pseudonym) a concert tour to Scotland with friends Edmund Schüler and Erich Gosling and travels to Rome with his parents. Most of these trips are later reflected in his literary work.

He then completed his legal preparatory service in Hann.-Münden, Osnabrück and Berlin and completed it in 1901 with the assessor examination.

Göttingen muse almanac

Cover picture of the Göttingen Muses Almanac for 1898

During his studies in Göttingen, Wieman made many new friends, some of whom remained in contact for life. These include:

  • Curt Abel-Musgrave (1860–1938), chemist, physician, journalist, educator, writer, publicist and translator.
  • Carl von Arnswaldt (1869–1897), lawyer and writer, the leader and, after Beate E. Schücking (the daughter of Levin Ludwig Schücking), the only real poet in the group, died while studying in Berlin.
  • Engelbert von Kerckerinck zur Borg (1872–1933), Münster nobleman, later a member of the Reichstag at the center.
  • Carl Mönckeberg (1873–1939), lawyer and writer, son of the Hamburg mayor Johann Georg Mönckeberg (1839–1908).
  • Kuno Graf von Hardenberg (1871–1938), court marshal in Hessen-Darmstadt (literary pseudonym "Luthard"), freemason.
  • Börries von Münchhausen (1874–1945), writer, later probably the best-known among college friends.
  • As well as the three grandchildren of Levin Schücking (also a former student of the Carolinum) from Sögel, who found his place in literary history not only through his close connection to Annette von Droste-Hülshoff , namely
  • Walther Schücking (1875–1935), law professor in Kiel, member of the National Assembly, member of the Reichstag, first German judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
  • Levin Ludwig Schücking (1878–1964), poet, literary scholar, Shakespeare researcher (lecturer and professor in Jena, Breslau, Leipzig).
  • Lothar Engelbert Schücking (1873–1943), temporarily senator in Osnabrück and later mayor in Husum, then lawyer. He caused a sensation with his administration-critical publication "The reaction in the internal administration of Prussia", which led to his removal from office in Husum.

In addition to studying, this group deals with poetry. They awaken the “ Göttingen Musenalmanach ”, first published in 1774, to new life and publish their first works together with other Göttingen students. Some later became very well known (e.g. Agnes Miegel , Börries von Münchhausen ).

The editors of the Göttingen Musenalmanach were successively Carl von Arnswaldt and, after his death, Börries von Münchhausen . Levin Ludwig Schücking was responsible for the 1900 edition .

For Wieman a new passion begins: literature. His first publication occurred during the Göttingen period. It appears in the Göttingen Musenalmanach from 1896 (“Sketches and Prose”) and ties in with his stay in Scotland.

Wieman reports on his friends in the foreword to his verse tale "Die Rote Erde". The contact is also attested by Börries von Münchhausen in his autobiographical memoir "Happy Weeks with Friends" (1925). Münchhausen is later, along with others (e.g. Max Planck ), a guest in Wieman's house in Osnabrück.

Levin Ludwig Schücking also reports in his (later) letters about the Göttingen Circle and about his occasional contacts with Wieman in Osnabrück.

Börries von Münchhausen also mentions Agnes Miegel , Lulu von Strauss and Torney , Carl Bulcke and Ludwig Finckh as belonging to this group.

Literary work

Personal dedication in "Justice"

As a lawyer, he becomes unsure whether this is the right profession for him. At times, medicine seems to him to be a better way of helping people. This resulted in a stay in Munich to study medicine, but this consideration was not implemented. He remains a lawyer.

However, the stay in Munich leads to his first book. “He moved with his muse” it says and is written quickly and with a light hand according to his self-testimony. The illustrations are by Franz Hecker .

In 1902 his mother dies.

Wieman begins his legal practice, which initially took him to commissions in Emden and Melle and then as a civil judge to Osnabrück.

His book “He drew with his muse” shows that part of his legal work in Bramsche took place in the Malgarten monastery.

During this time he went on a trip to Bosnia with his friend Edmund Schüler (who later became the first human resources manager of the Foreign Office in Berlin during the Weimar Republic), which is reflected in his book "Bosnisches Tagebuch".

In 1908 the father dies.

Wieman gets his first job as a magistrate in Alfeld . He is now professionally established and one of the social leaders of the small district. There is a close personal bond, which includes the families, especially with the district administrator of the Alfeld district, Max Burchard. In his greatest work, "Melody of a Friendship", he makes him the main character and his alter ego. In Alfeld, he first developed his great cultural commitment to the community in which he lived. The music is again the mainstay.

Having become known through the two literary publications that have taken place so far, extensive contacts with well-known personalities of that time arise in the following years. Wilhelm Raabe , Hermann Hesse , Joseph Bernhart and Ludwig Finckh are among them and some have remained friends for many years.

In “Melody of a Friendship” he also mentions a contact with Detlev von Liliencron .

While contact with Raabe came about only loosely, possibly only by letter, Wieman was close friends with Hesse and Finckh. Mutual visits took place and letters were exchanged. Among other things, a weekend in Gaienhofen, Hesse's residence at the time, is occupied with Hesse, Finckh and Hugo Ball .

The friendship with Joseph Bernhart was much closer and more personal. He got to know him through both collaborations in the Catholic cultural magazine " Hochland (Zeitschrift) ", which is published by the Kösel publishing house in Kempten.

Joseph Bernhart later visits Bernard Wieman in Alfeld and stays for a full four weeks instead of the planned one day. He experienced Wieman in his creative circle and became acquainted with friends around Wieman, including District Administrator Burchard (author: The City Archives in Stadthagen as a source for population history, 1927), who can be found as Sebastian in Wieman's novel “Melody of a Friendship” . Burchard is married to a sister of Walter Gropius . Wieman thus came into contact with Gropius and his Berlin family, but without realizing its future importance, although he was able to build one of his first buildings ( Fagus factory ) in Alfeld .

The friendship continues in a long correspondence and further mutual visits. Wieman announced to Bernhart his intention to retire from civil service altogether in order to concentrate on his literary work. Bernhart advises against it and backs this up with a large number of freelance writers who want a state office (Hesse, Friedrich Hebbel et al.). Even after Wieman's death, Joseph Bernhart remained connected to the family and in correspondence with Wieman's widow.

In 1914 he finally returned to Osnabrück as a district judge for three years, and then accepted a war representation as a public prosecutor in Kiel. For health reasons he cannot take part in the war, but is involved in the care of wounded soldiers, e. B. in the Marienhospital.

Cultural engagement

After the suicide of his fiancée Erna Vaihinger (* 1895 - † 1918, daughter of the Kiel philosophy professor Hans Vaihinger ), Wieman fell seriously ill and was unable to carry out his office for a long time. He went to Heidelberg to convalesce and did not return to Osnabrück as a magistrate until April 1921.

When he returned to his hometown, he worked hard in his cultural interests of music, literature and history.

Together with the city superintendent Lic. Ernst Rolffs, he brought the Philosophical Society into being, which, however, was not granted long-term existence. The Dürerbund seems to have existed a little longer, which he founded together with Siegfried Jaffé, Ludwig Schirmeyer , Pastor Hans Bodensiek, Senator Lothar Engelbert Schücking and antiquarian Jean Barmé.

New publications and the founding of the castle association in 1927 are further results of this flight into the muses.

The foundation of the castle association serves to maintain the Osnabrück castle. This palace, which was built in the 17th century as a residence for the Osnabrück Prince-Bishop Ernst August (Hanover) , Duke of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and his wife Sophie von der Pfalz (daughter of the " Winter King " of Bohemia ), was only inhabited by the builder for ten years. As a result, it was used for different purposes, increasingly in need of restoration due to the unclear ownership situation and threatened to decay. The Schlossverein was founded on October 31, 1927 on the initiative of the then District President Sonnenschein, with the aim of restoring the Osnabrück Castle. Wieman is elected chairman and, together with the factory owner Gerhard Schoeller, drives the renovation of the Osnabrück Castle. On April 1, 1931, the castle was restored as planned and can be used by the citizens of Osnabrück.

Wieman is similarly involved in the Musikverein, in which he acts as secretary. Together with H. Tiemann from the Osnabrück Teachers' Choir, he was responsible for the publication of the commemorative publication on the occasion of the First Lower Saxony Music Festival in Osnabrück in 1924.

Following the founding of the castle association, he undertook the longest journey of his life to Brazil. This journey finds its literary expression. The book is called "Contemplative Journey to Brazil".

Under Wieman's direction, the Schlossverein organizes a diverse cultural program that takes place in the newly acquired premises. So speaks z. B. the physics Nobel laureate Max Planck in Osnabrück Castle. Like many other guest speakers, he lived in Wieman's private home during his stay in Osnabrück.

In 1927 (first concert September 6, 1927) the Hecker Quartet met in Osnabrück. It makes music in different compositions, sometimes with guest players and not always as a quartet until 1944 (last concert February 11, 1944).

Wieman's participation in the circle of friends that formed around the entrepreneurial couple Schoeller of the Felix Schoeller Group must also be mentioned . Agnes Schoeller (1861–1945) and her son Gerhard have captured their memories of Wieman.

In his private life, happiness finds Wieman again. He met Ingeborg Schoenijahn from Hanover and married her in June 1930 in Hanover.

A daughter was born to the couple in 1931, named after Bernard Wieman's sister Agnes. She inherits her father's love of music and became a violinist who is known far beyond the Osnabrück region (Agnes Wieman-Charpentier - * June 9, 1931; † May 6, 2018).

In 1933 Wieman retires. He now has leisure to work on his works. The result is a series of publications at short intervals.

Grave site of the Wieman family on the 4th Johannesfriedhof in Osnabrück

In 1939 he was reactivated due to the events of the war and took up a position as magistrate in Fürstenau and Freren. He does not hold this position for long. The inadequate working conditions caused by the war strained his strength excessively.

Bernard Wieman died on February 10, 1940 in his home in Osnabrück.

He is buried on the family grave of the 4th Johannisfriedhof in Osnabrück. His friend Johannes Kirschweng gives the funeral oration . The urn of his former fiancée Erna Vaihinger is also buried there. Later, his wife and nephew, the well-known UFA star Mathias Wieman and his wife Erika Meingast are also buried there.

As far as known, obituaries by Johannes Kirschweng, Ludwig Kugler, Wilhelm Fredemann and Joseph Bernhart (Hochland) appear.

Works

  • 1896 - Inaugural dissertation "Killing on Demand". Pressure d. Univ.-Buchdruckerei W. Fr. Kästner, Göttingen. 47 pp.
  • 1896 - Sketches and prose (memories from Scotland) (pp. 67–83 and Idyll. Sketch, pp. 127–134). In: Göttinger Musenalmanach. Ed. V. Göttingen students. Dieterich'sche Verlagbuchhandlung, Göttingen.
  • 1898 - From the red earth. A character study. In: Göttinger Musenalmanach. Ed. V. Börries of Munchausen. Publisher L. Horstmann. Göttingen (pp. 38-56). Revised ad T. Rote Erde. A story of verse. Osnabrück 1926. Printed by FE Haag in Melle. 48 p. Title drawing by Justus Haarmann.
  • 1905 - He moved in with his muse. Publishing house of Jos. Kösel'schen Buchhandlung, Kempten, Munich, 178 pp. Buchschmuck by Franz Hecker (2nd to 3rd thousand 1907; 4th to 7th thousand 1924 at Verlag Kösel-Pustet, Kempten, Munich).
  • 1908 - Bosnian diary. Publishing house of Jos. Kösel'schen Buchhandlung, Kempten, Munich, 231 S. With photos at the beginning of the book. Drawings in the text by Hans Volkert, Munich.
  • 1909 - On the way of life. Novella. Jos. Kösel Verlag, Kempten, Munich. 66 pp.
  • 1922 - love and death. (Poems) Verlag Eugen Salzer, Heilbronn a. Neckar. N. p.
  • 1926 - Ring of Life. A symphony. Osnabrück. Printed by FE Haag, Melle, 131 S. Title drawing a. Edge strips by Justus Haarmann. (Changed new edition by Verlag Karl Alber, Munich 1940. 114 pp.).
  • 1924 - Hg .: First Lower Saxony Music Festival in Osnabrück to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Musikverein and the 50th anniversary of the teachers' choir under the protectorate of the Mayor of Osnabrück Rissmüller (= Festschrift Musikverein). Printed by FE Haag, Melle. 172 p. Book equipment Justus Haarmann.
  • 1928 - memories of the school chapel. In: Schola Carolina, No. 4, pp. 10-14. Reprinted in: Schola Carolina. Festschrift on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Carolinger Chapel. Verlag A. Fromm, Osnabrück 1959, pp. 8-12.
  • 1929 - Contemplative trip to Brazil. Rainer Wunderlich Verlag, Tübingen. 166 p. Cover draft v. G. Ruth.
  • 1929 - The Osnabrück Castle and its builders. In: The beautiful Teutoburg Forest, Vol. 3/1929, pp. 10-12.
  • 1930 - The former shoemaker Carlchen Ruppert, friend of life, wishes a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year through his biographer. Print Meinders & Elstermann, Osnabrück, 16 p. New edition (private print, approx. 100 copies) o. O., o. J. (approx. 1980). With 2 original etchings by Ruth Stahl.
  • 1930 - The Carlskommers from back then. In: Schola Carolina, No. 9/1930. Osnabrück. Pp. 2-4.
  • 1930 (presumably) - From a journey through the Danube to Vienna. A letter. Special print for friends. OO, no year 8 p. Included in the collection "The golden car", ed. by Ludwig Bäte (1940)
  • 1931 - Pictures from life in Osnabrück Castle. In: Festschrift on the occasion of the restoration of the former prince-bishop's palace in Osnabrück, ed. from the castle association. Printed by Meinders & Elstermann, Osnabrück, pp. 51–57.
  • 1934 - Three girls and a fairy tale. Narrative. Hausen publishing company, Saarlouis. 56 pp.
  • 1936 - From Dalmatia and six kisses. Novel rhapsody. Publisher Anton Pustet, Salzburg, Leipzig. 211 p. Dust jacket by Ernst Dombrowski.
  • 1936 - Small selection from the writings of Justus Möser to encourage people to read it for themselves. Published on the occasion of the Möserwoche in Osnabrück (October 17–24, 36). Pressure and Meinders & Elstermann publishing house, Osnabrück. With four illustrations, 127 p.
  • 1937 - Justice. Narrative. Publisher Anton Pustet, Salzburg, Leipzig. 112 pp. Protective cover by Fritz Kredel .
  • 1939 - Melody of a Friendship. Novel. Verlag Anton Pustet, Graz (4th edition 1943), 290 p. With text illustrations by Hubert Berke .

literature

  • Johannes Kirschweng : Bernard Wieman. Saat und Harvest (= creative Low German, 7th vol.). Osnabrück no year (1942).
  • Ilsetraut Lindemann: From Abeken to Windhorst. City history in street names. Osnabrück 1972
  • Joseph Bernhart : Memoirs 1881–1930 , ed. by Manfred Weitlauff , Weißenhorn 1992
  • Rainer Drewes / Herbert Holstein: Bernard Wieman (1872–1940) - writer from Osnabrück. A biographical approach. in: Osnabrücker Mitteilungen 2005 (Volume 110). Messages from the Association for History and Regional Studies of Osnabrück. Osnabrück 2005. ISSN  0474-8158
  • Rainer Drewes / Herbert Holstein: He moved with his Muse I , in: Heimat-Jahrbuch 2007 of the KHB-Osnabrück Land eV Osnabrück 2007. ISSN  1618-5757
  • Rainer Drewes / Herbert Holstein: He moved with his Muse II , in: Heimat-Jahrbuch 2008 of the KHB-Osnabrück Land eV Osnabrück 2008. ISSN  1618-5757
  • Rainer Drewes / Herbert Holstein: The "Hecker" Quartet (1919–1944) - a contribution to the biography of the painter Franz Hecker. in: Heimat-Jahrbuch 2005 of the KHB-Osnabrück Land eV, Osnabrück 2005, ISSN  1618-5757
  • Börries von Münchhausen : Happy week with friends. Stuttgart, Berlin, 1922 (1925)
  • Beate E. Schücking (Ed.): Your eyes over every verse that I wrote. Correspondence 1897–1945. Börries von Münchhausen; Levin Ludwig Schücking. Oldenburg: Igel-Verlag literature. 2001. ISBN 3-89621-127-7
  • R. Drewes (Ed.): "Faithful as always - your Bernard Wieman: On the relationship between two writers - Bernard Wieman - Hermann Hesse's correspondence", in: Hermann-Hesse-Jahrbuch 5, Verlag Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg, 2012

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Epe (Bramsche) / Malgarten District Court . GenWiki Verein für Computergenealogie e. V. July 20, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2019.