German Hermann

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Brunswick originals (from left to right): Rechen-August , German Hermann, Tea-Uncle and Harp-Agnes .

The German Hermann , whose real name was Julius Skasa (born April 21, 1852 in Koblenz , † February 16, 1927 in Braunschweig ), was one of several city ​​originals in Braunschweig at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. His "trademark" was a uniform skirt overflowing with medals, decorations and ribbons , which he wore in public.

Life

Participant in the war 1870/71

Julius Skasa was one of four children of the Koblenz chief customs inspector Wilhelm Skasa. After an apprenticeship as an umbrella maker , he attended the NCO school in Jülich , then joined the 44th Hanseatic Infantry Regiment in Lübeck and took part in the Franco-German War at the age of 18 . For his participation in the Battle of Sedan he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class and was promoted to Sergeant . After the death of a soldier for whom Skasa was allegedly responsible, he was discharged from the army, whereupon his father expelled him. A circumstance that Julius Skasa probably never got over.

In Braunschweig

After coming to Braunschweig in 1875, he settled in the city and married a Polish woman. Three girls were born to you. He earned the family's livelihood as a scissors grinder and umbrella maker.

"German Hermann"

The information as to when the civilian Skasa, described as “polite” and “lovable”, finally began to appear in public in uniform and hung with countless medals and decorations is contradicting itself. For example, one of his granddaughters claimed that he only started doing it after the death of his wife in 1924 - that is, barely three years before his own death - and did not want to pay homage to militarism or the end of the Wilhelmine era , but rather it was ridiculous in its militaristic exaggeration do. According to another source, Skasa is said to have begun to appear in public in uniform and with an increasing number of decorations draped in the 1890s. The resulting negative sensation ultimately led to his being admitted to the Königslutter sanatorium for the purpose of examining his mental state . Since he was classified as "harmless", Skasa was released.

In addition to this quirk , the "German Hermann" collected cigar stubs and cigarette butts all over the city center in the last years of his life after the death of his wife. He brought these home to Friesenstrasse 72, cleaned and dried them, then packed them in small packages and gave them away to pensioners - mostly war invalids .

Afterlife

Schoduvel 2011: A car on the old town market (in the background the old town hall ) with the four most famous Brunswick town originals : (from left to right) Rechen-August, German Hermann, Harfen-Agnes and the tea uncle.

Together with Harfen-Agnes , Rechen-August and Tee-Unkel , the “German Hermann” is one of the most famous originals of the city of Braunschweig - even today.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Günter KP Starke: Man, be bright. Brunswick originals, who they were and how they lived…. Braunschweig 1987, p. 59.
  2. ↑ Günter KP Starke: Man, be bright. Brunswick originals, who they were and how they lived…. Braunschweig 1987, p. 63.
  3. ↑ Karlwalther Rohmann: Encounters within Braunschweig's walls. Braunschweig 1980, p. 206.
  4. ↑ Günter KP Starke: Man, be bright. Braunschweig originals, who they were and how they lived ... , Braunschweig 1987, p. 60
  5. ↑ Günter KP Starke: Man, be bright. Brunswick originals, who they were and how they lived…. Braunschweig 1987, p. 61.
  6. ↑ Günter KP Starke: Man, be bright. Brunswick originals, who they were and how they lived…. Braunschweig 1987, p. 66.
personal data
SURNAME German Hermann
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Skasa, Julius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Brunswick city original
DATE OF BIRTH April 21, 1852
PLACE OF BIRTH Koblenz
DATE OF DEATH February 16, 1927
Place of death Braunschweig