Hans Benz

Hans Benz (born September 1, 1921 in Neckarbischofsheim ; † November 5, 1984 in Rohrbach am Gießhübel ) was a German homeland researcher . He was a member of numerous local homeland associations in the Kraichgau and was one of the founders of the Kraichgau homeland association in 1972 , which he also chaired from 1982 until his death in 1984.

Life

He was born in Neckarbischofsheim and attended school there. He then studied civil engineering and took part as a direction finder in World War II . After the war he worked as a graduate engineer for construction companies.

His professional activity led him to examine the building fabric in countless old buildings, which made him a profound expert on historical buildings. His research results in architectural monuments include u. a. the uncovering of previously unknown wall paintings in the old castle in Neckarbischofsheim. His other research areas included field names, the Reformation and outstanding personalities in his hometown Neckarbischofsheim. He has reported on his research results since the 1950s in the Heimatbote , in various commemorative publications, in the Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung and from the 1970s in the Kraichgau yearbooks .

Even more than research, he endeavored to network the regional home associations, of which he was a large number. He was one of the main initiators who decided to found the Kraichgau Heimatverein in Neckarbischofsheim in February 1972 , which was supposed to unite members from the entire region between the Odenwald and the northern Black Forest. Benz was initially an advisory board member, and from 1976 a member of the editorial staff and secretary. As the successor to Heinz Teichert (1906–1991), he was chairman of the association from 1982 until his death in 1984. He sought contact with the local folk associations in the area and created the principle of “membership on both sides”, which established a lively exchange of ideas and literature. He organized countless working conferences and roundtables to intensify local research and held hundreds of excursions, guided tours and lectures. He also brought about the creation of the working group Heimatpflege Nordbaden under the leadership of the District President in order to be able to carry out the Landesheimattage more effectively. Finally, he also created the illustration of Steinsberg Castle , which adorns the cover of the Kraichgau yearbooks of the Kraichgau homeland association.

Benz was also a member of the Heidelberg Metzler Circle, an association of family researchers, which he took over as head after Albert Metzler's death.

In St. Ilgen , where Benz spent the last years of his life, he founded the local history museum, organized traditional events and got involved in the integration of displaced people.

For his diverse services he was awarded the Medal of Honor of the Baden-Württemberg Working Group at the Landesheimattage in Heilbronn in 1981 and the Federal Cross of Merit on ribbon in 1982.

literature

• Roland Heinzmann and Heinz Teichert: Hans Benz † A life for the Kraichgau. In: Kraichgau. Contributions to landscape and local research. Volume 9, 1985, pp. 8-11.

Web links

• leo-bw.de