Christian Frank (local history researcher)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christian Frank (born May 26, 1867 in Günzburg ; † July 8, 1942 in Kaufbeuren ) was a German priest , homeland researcher , editor , but also a pioneer of euthanasia .

Board at the former headquarters of "Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl-Dr. Christian Frank Memorial Foundation “Kemptener Straße 18, Kaufbeuren

biography

Christian Frank was born in Günzburg, Am Stadtberg as the son of master glazier Franz Frank and his wife Franziska, born Nusser, born. After elementary school, Frank went to the Günzburg Progymnasium, then to the Royal College in Neuburg an der Donau , which he completed on August 1, 1886. Until 1889 he studied Catholic theology in Dillingen on the Danube . In 1890 he moved to Munich for two years, where, in addition to studying theology with Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl , he attended lectures on cultural history, folklore and history.

On July 25, 1891, Frank was ordained a priest in Munich . He took up his first position as chaplain in September 1891 in Kettershausen . From 1893 to 1894 he worked as a parish vicar in Niederraunau near Krumbach for almost a year before he took over the position of chaplain at the Kaufbeuren sanatorium with the Irsee branch hospital in 1894 , which he held until his death in 1942. Christian Frank was buried in Günzburg.

Act

Frank was one of the most outstanding pioneers of the Heimat movement in the 19th century. In 1899 he founded the second Bavarian association for the promotion of local history in Kaufbeuren ("Home Association"), which grew rapidly and promoted regional and folklore interests beyond the borders of the Allgäu . His magazine "Deutsche Gaue", also founded in 1899, soon had over 5000 subscribers. In the course of his life, Frank himself published 39 volumes and 136 special editions, in which he primarily published his own research, especially on topics from early history, Roman roads, Celtic walls, Viereckschanzen, Hochäcker, Frankish imperial churches and imperial courts.

Christian Frank's estate is held by the “Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl-Dr. Christian Frank-Gedächtnis-Stiftung ", which was set up in 1944 by Meinrad Weikmann to" promote local research in the sense of the life's work of Dr. Christian Frank ”and is now based in Munich at the General Directorate of the Bavarian State Archives .

Awards

Frank was the holder of the Prince Regent Luitpold Medal and was honored with the King Ludwig Cross and the Prussian Cross of Merit for services to the homeland during the First World War . On January 1, 1926, he was made an honorary citizen of the city of Kaufbeuren.

Reception as a pioneer of National Socialism and euthanasia

Sources that came to light during book research on a work on the Nazi era in Kaufbeuren show, according to historian Martina Steber, "that Frank was considered an 'unequivocal National Socialist ' and must be understood as a pioneer of euthanasia". The historians refer primarily to the forewords written by Frank for the magazine "Deutsche Gaue", which he edited.

“Since the turn of the century, his thinking became increasingly radical and finally integrated biological, racial hygienic and racial anthropological thought patterns. Frank's anti-liberalism and anti-socialism made him take a clear stand against the Weimar Republic and happily welcome the National Socialist takeover. "

- Martina Steber

After further research, the Kaufbeur city council decided unanimously in May 2015 to rename the “Kurat-Frank-Straße”. It is now called Heilig-Kreuz-Straße.

literature

Web links

Commons : Christian Frank  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Foundation directory - Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl- Dr. Christian Frank Memorial Foundation. Retrieved July 17, 2020 .
  2. ↑ City council wants clarity about curate Frank. March 27, 2015, accessed July 17, 2020 .
  3. ↑ Curate Frank moves into twilight. March 23, 2015, accessed July 17, 2020 .
  4. ^ Institute for Contemporary History: Völkischer Geistlicher. May 22, 2015, accessed July 18, 2020 .
  5. ↑ City Council: National Socialism: Kaufbeuren has the street renamed. Retrieved July 17, 2020 .
  6. ↑ City Council Kaufbeuren: Decision of the City Council taken in public session - street naming; Renaming of Kurat-Frank-Straße. City of Kaufbeuren, September 2, 2015, accessed on June 20, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Frank, Christian
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German priest and homeland researcher
DATE OF BIRTH May 26, 1867
PLACE OF BIRTH Gunzburg
DATE OF DEATH July 8, 1942
Place of death Kaufbeuren