Ferdinand Philipp

Feibusch Ferdinand Philipp (born May 31, 1834 in Glückstadt ; † March 5, 1917 in Altona ) was a German lawyer and politician.

ancestors

The ancestors of the Philipp family had citizenship of Glückstadt from the middle of the 18th century. The first documented person was Abraham Philip in 1743, whose father was a protective Jew of the same name in Glückstadt.

Ferdinand Philipp was a son of the businessman Jacob Philipp (* 1792 in Glückstadt; † March 5, 1852 ibid) and his first wife Bertha (Betta), née Salomon (* May 11, 1809 in Stavenhagen ; † January 5, 1841 in Glückstadt) . The paternal grandfather was the manufactured goods dealer Isaak Salomon (born February 22, 1758 in Stavenhagen; † August 16, 1837 there). Jacob Philipp married Charlotte b. Beyfuss.

Childhood, adolescence and studies

Ferdinand Philipp had eight younger siblings. The father was only nominally a member of the Jewish community. Presumably because he did not want to upset his mother, who was living in the house, the children attended the school's Christian religion class. However, he did not have the children baptized, nor did he introduce them to the Jewish cult in any way. Ferdinand Philipp himself did not admit to any religion even as an adult. Since he did not want to be seen as opportunistic, he did not convert to Christianity, although this was associated with professional disadvantages for him.

From 1842 Philipp attended the high school in Glückstadt. Here he received a good education, obviously very good in the field of ancient languages. Even in old age he thanked his teachers, especially the headmaster Jürgen Friedrich Horn (1803–1880). In the fall of 1850 Philipp left high school and enrolled at the University of Kiel at the age of sixteen in October of the same year. During his law studies he lived in a room with his school friend Detlef Detlefsen . Philipp heard Roman law from Rudolf von Jhering , legal encyclopedia from Ernst Friedlieb and philosophy from Gustav Ferdinand Thaulow . Due to a prolonged eye disease, Philipp lived with an uncle in Hamburg for several months in the spring of 1851 . Here he was treated by a respected ophthalmologist.

Philipp's father died on New Year's Day 1852. He and a brother had run a business that was then liquidated. Philip's mother was now alone with nine children and had no fortune. A childless uncle from Hamburg took over the guardianship. He was a wealthy businessman who did not want to finance Philip's law studies. Relatives of his mother took care of this.

In April 1852 Philipp enrolled at the University of Heidelberg because a cousin was already studying there. In the summer semester he heard German private law from Achilles Renaud and constitutional law from Robert Mohl . He co-founded the “Bolleya” student association, in which students from Schleswig-Holstein formed the largest group. “Bolleya” existed for several years and, in contrast to other student corps, was organized quite casually; the meetings less formal.

In the winter semester of 1852/53, Philipp attended lectures on pandects with Karl Adolph von Vangerow , and the following summer he heard with Roderich Stintzing and Heinrich Marquardsen . For the winter semester of 1853/54 he moved to Berlin together with some fellow students from his student union. Here he met the art historian Friedrich Eggers , who introduced him to the city's cultural life. Eggers offered him access to the tunnel over the Spree . There Philipp made the acquaintance of Theodor Storm , Theodor Fontane , Franz Kugler and Adolph von Menzel . During this semester, Philipp hardly studied at all.

His guardian reprimanded Philipp for neglecting his studies, which he then had to continue and finish at the University of Kiel. He spent most of the time with Wilhelm von Planck , who from his point of view was particularly supportive. Philipp passed the exam with first character and distinction. He then went to Glückstadt and then worked for Samuel Heinrich Hall and the mayor Alexander Jacob of Destinon.

Act as a notary

Unbaptized, Philip had no opportunities to become a civil servant or a judge. Therefore, he intended to get a lawyer. He applied unsuccessfully in Altona , where the number of lawyers was limited and vacancies only appeared realistic several years later. So he initially stayed in Glückstadt for two months. Then he got a job as a secretary to the Pinneberger higher court attorney Julius Gülich (1805-1889). At the end of 1855 he moved his residence there.

Gülichs' law firm was not very successful. A secretary was actually superfluous; Gülich probably afforded it for reasons of prestige. In mid-1857, Philipp was admitted to the lower court lawyer in Pinneberg. Since he was not baptized, he did not receive the usual appointment, but only a concession. This was linked to the condition not to act in criminal or poor affairs, unless the poor person concerned expressly approves this. Around 1860 Philipp received a license as a notary.

Philipp did not acquire enough orders to be able to utilize his own office and therefore created briefs for other renowned and over-employed notaries. During this time he made the acquaintance of Christoph von Tiedemann , who later headed the German Reich Chancellery. Philipp worked for some time as his tutor. Von Tiedemann made contact with Otto von Bismarck . Philipp advised him from 1878 as a lawyer and notary in private matters.

Political commitment

Ludwig Nicolaus von Scheele again ran the Landdrostei in Pinneberg . Von Scheele was a former Danish minister whom a large part of the population rejected for this reason. Philipp was also considered to be German-minded, but did not embrace the people's hatred of von Scheele. Von Scheele had sympathy for Philipp. From around 1860, the conflicts between Germans and Danes in the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein intensified significantly. Philipp turned to German-minded dignitaries who raised the mood against the plans of the Eider Danes . He acted in particular in the circles around Ludwig Graf zu Reventlow . After the enthronement of King Christian IX. he refused to take the oath of homage again .

Philipp joined a committee that was planning a large popular assembly in Elmshorn . The proclamation of Frederick VIII of Schleswig-Holstein and homage should be made here. Philipp went to Hamburg with like-minded people, where they continued their activities. They hoped the refuge would provide protection from Danish soldiers or the police, who could have arrested them for treason.

After the federal execution against the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg and the invasion of the first federal troops in Altona , Philipp went back to Pinneberg on Christmas Eve 1863. Danish soldiers had already left the city. Philipp pointed out to von Scheele that an embassy from Hamburg would arrive on the following day who would forcefully remove him from the position of senior president in Altona. Following this warning, von Scheele fled Pinneberg that night. With this warning, Philipp thanked him for the fact that von Scheele had made it possible for him to flee to Hamburg from imminent imprisonment in November. At a meeting of the college of his town, Philip applied for an address to be sent to Frederick VIII. In addition, an application should be made to the Federal Commission for Scheeles to be removed from office. After negotiations with the Federal Commissioners Eduard Freiherr von Könneritz (1802–1875) and Carl Ferdinand Nieper , a corresponding decision followed. On December 31, 1863, Philipp spoke at the Kiel assembly of deputies from Schleswig-Holstein cities and towns. The delegates pledged their loyalty to Frederick VIII in the event of a conflict with the federal authorities. Philipp was very disappointed by the Augustenburger's answer. In his view, Peaceful VIII completely lacked the size and energy that he considered necessary to be a duke.

When Austrian and Prussian soldiers marched into the Duchy of Schleswig , Philip followed on foot. In the city of Schleswig he was one of the people who installed temporary officials to replace the Danes who had fled. Then he went back to Pinneberg.

Renewed work as a lawyer

After the end of the fighting, Philipp worked from March 1864 as an attorney at the Holstein court in Glückstadt. He now focused primarily on his job. On the weekends he devoted himself to politics in the sense of the Augustburg movement . He often traveled to Rendsburg on Sundays and stayed there regularly in a guest room with Wilhelm Hans Ahlmann . The governing body of the Schleswig-Holstein clubs and chaired by Wilhelm Eduard Wiggers was in Rendsburg .

In September 1867 Philipp moved his residence to Altona. After the wedding in 1872 he bought a small house there. In 1869 he moved into the Altona city council and remained a member for two terms. Here he was particularly involved in the poor commission. In the 1870s / 80s he represented Altona in the Schleswig-Holstein provincial parliament. The decisive factor for his move to Altona was that the Glückstadt High Court had been closed. In Altona there was also the administration of the Altona-Kieler Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft , for which he had often tried before the Glückstädter Higher Court. These proceedings now took place at the new Altona district court. The railway company employed Philipp as a syndic at this time. Another client was Wilhelm von Carstenn-Lichterfelde , whom he advised legally. For some time he therefore visited Berlin several times a year.

Works

When he was old, Philipp wrote down his "memoirs". He also put together a collection of minutes of conversations with Bismarck. He granted insights only to the closest circle; He rigorously refused publications. The publications appeared posthumously and are based on his estate. His memoirs are an interesting source for the history of everyday life in Glückstadt and Pinneberg, the life of the students in Kiel and the history of the Augustenburger.

Philip's minutes of conversations with Bismarck cover the years 1880 to 1896. They are important for biographical work on the late phase of the life of the former politician and statesman.

Political classification

Philipp repeatedly showed a conservative attitude, but did not think legitimistically like his teachers Planck and Ahlmann. He showed little sympathy for left-wing liberals like Franz Duncker . In his memoirs Philipp wrote that for him and his colleagues the princely law was only a means of liberation from the Danish rulers, who from a national point of view were considered foreign rulers.

Philip's political horizons were not limited to Schleswig-Holstein matters. He thought in terms of the German National Association . Probably because of his many years of work for Bismarck, he adored him euphorically. He therefore rejected Kaiser Wilhelm II's aspiration to become a great power. He did not adopt the widespread enthusiasm that arose when the war broke out.

family

Before Christmas 1872 Philipp married Edel Adelheid Aronheim (born June 4, 1853 in Braunschweig ; † July 19, 1895). Her father Adolph Aronheim worked as a lawyer, was active as a national liberal politician and was head of the Jewish community in Braunschweig. He was married to Rosalie, née Simon. The Philipp couple had two daughters and two sons. One son died of diphtheria at the age of twelve . The eldest daughter died six weeks before her mother.

The son Max (born February 3, 1876 in Altona; February 28, 1935 ibid) became higher regional judge and from 1929 director of the Altona regional court . On 27/28 1935 February he had to leave the civil service due to his Jewish origin.

Philip's wife had converted from Judaism. He baptized his children and received a Christian burial in 1880. According to the entry in the church book, he died “without religion”.

Honors

Philipp was appointed to the judiciary before 1880. In 1902 he was awarded the Prussian Red Eagle Order, 4th class.

Fonts

• Max Philipp (Ed.): Bismarck, confidential conversations: including about Wilhelm the Second recorded by his lawyer, Justizrat Ferdinand Philipp and issued from his estate , Carl Reissner, Dresden 1927

literature

• Hartwig Molzow: Philipp, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, pp. 395–399.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Hartwig Molzow: Philipp, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, p. 395.
2. ↑ Hartwig Molzow: Philip, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck . Volume 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, pp. 395–396.
3. ↑ ^{a b c d} Hartwig Molzow: Philipp, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, p. 396.
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Hartwig Molzow: Philipp, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, p. 397.
5. ↑ Hartwig Molzow: Philip, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, pp. 396–397.
6. ↑ Hartwig Molzow: Philip, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, pp. 397–398.
7. ↑ ^{a b c} Hartwig Molzow: Philipp, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, p. 398.
8. ↑ ^{a b c d} Hartwig Molzow: Philipp, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, p. 399.
9. ↑ Hartwig Molzow: Philip, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, pp. 398–399.
10. ↑ Hartwig Molzow: Philip, Ferdinand . in: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck , Vol. 13. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 2011, pp. 395 and 399.