Braunschweig's foundation in memory of February 6, 1794

Braunschweig's Foundation in memory of February 6, 1794 , usually only briefly called Braunschweig's Foundation , was created on the occasion of the return of Duke Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (1735–1806) from the first coalition war against the French Revolutionary Army and in honor of Braunschweiger Citizens launched.

history

The Seven Years' War had led to impoverishment and indebtedness in the Braunschweig region, so the citizens of Braunschweig decided to donate the money earmarked for the return celebrations to a new foundation that was supposed to alleviate future hardship. Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand was greeted with jubilation, but without the usual festivities such as fireworks or free beer. A citizens' delegation - "Ducal Highness subordinate loyal servants", as it was called at the time - proposed to the sovereign the establishment of the foundation, which the duke not only approved, but also supported himself.

Funding and activities to date

The starting capital was 10,200 thalers. The interest income from this sum (increased by donations and inheritances) is distributed annually on February 6th to the needy all over the Braunschweig region.

Braunschweig's foundation in memory of February 6, 1794 has since survived all the catastrophes in German history from Napoleon's conquest of Germany to the time of National Socialism . This institution, which is considered indissoluble, was and is looked after by eleven conservators, who must be citizens of Braunschweig. Most of the time, the foundation acted deliberately in silence and has only been going public for a few years, for example through charity dinners (which takes place every two years on February 6th) to raise additional donations.

The current board of trustees includes Henning Borek, Anke Kaphammel, Folkhard Isermeyer, Ulrich Hauswaldt, Ernst Heimbs, Hanns-Heinrich Kehr, Ulrich Nehring, Justus Perschmann Jan-Dietrich Radmacher, Christof Sievers, and Klaus Schuberth.

Risk of confusion

The foundation should not be confused with a second Braunschweig foundation with a similar name, the Braunschweig Foundation , which was only founded in 1934 and whose purpose is to promote the Technical University of Braunschweig , the Braunschweig State Theater and the Braunschweigisches Landesmuseum ; This foundation lost its legal independence on January 1, 2005, and its assets became part of the Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz foundation .

literature

• Gerd Biegel : February 6, 1794 - Duke Carl Wilhelm Ferdinand's return from France and the history of the Braunschweig Foundation , Braunschweig: Braunschweigisches Landesmuseum, 1994. 173 pp. ISBN 3-927939-21-8
• NN: Festschrift for the centenary of the Braunschweig Foundation to commemorate February 6, 1794 on February 6, 1894 , Braunschweig 1894

Web links

• Foundation website
• Article in the Braunschweiger Zeitung dated February 8, 2006 about the foundation's work today (subscription access subject to a fee).

Individual evidence

1. ^ The Conservators of the Foundation , accessed on March 7, 2016
2. ↑ Braunschweig Foundation sub-fund and establishment of the Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz Foundation . Both in: www.sbk-bs.de . Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz Foundation , accessed and received on September 10, 2017.