Hans Freimark

Hans Freimark (born January 21, 1881 in Berlin ; † May 9, 1945 in Söcking , Bavaria ) was a German publisher and author.

biography

Nothing is known about the youth of Hans Freimark. In 1905, after self-taught studies , he published his first brochure under the title “The Meaning of Uranism”, in which he tried to clarify and explain “Uranism” (the term for homosexuality at the time ). The Charlottenburg doctor and sex therapist Magnus Hirschfeld (1868-1935) was impressed by this study. He describes Freimark as "autodidact in the best sense of high ability and almost mediumistic intuition, also one of the many who strikingly refute the arrogant conceit of academics through their performance". Hirschfeld put him in 1907 as a secretary in the "Scientific-Humanitarian Committee" he founded.

Freimark lived in Mittel- Schreiberhau in the Giant Mountains (today Szklarska Poręba in Poland) until mid-March 1907 . Then he moved to Berlin-Charlottenburg . From 1910 Hans Freimark lived in Handschuhsheim near Heidelberg and from 1912 back in Berlin.

In 1917 Hans Freimark was one of the signatories of the "Declaration of Peace by German Protestants", which was initiated by socially active Christian pacifists. The "Loose Association of Evangelical Peace Friends" emerged from this declaration of peace. From 1924 Freimark probably lived in Bavaria.

Hans Freimark is said to have poisoned himself in Söcking on May 9, 1945 .

Works

Hans Freimark dealt with esoteric, occult and sex science topics. In 1906 he published a study in Hirschfeld's “ Yearbook for Sexual Intermediate Levels ” under the title: “ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky - a female Ahasver ”. In connection with his studies, he corresponded with Dr. Wilhelm Hübbe-Schleiden (1846–1916), who was elected the first President of the “Theosophical Society Germania” in 1884 and was editor of the occult journal “Sphinx”. Hübbe-Schleiden said that Freimark “the solution to the riddle of the personality of HPB was essentially correct”. Freimark also brought out the publication "Mediumistische Kunst".

Freimark wrote for the publishing house of the "Harmonium", a magazine for house music, two brochures with the title "Bunte Lieder" (poetry with a philosophical touch) and "Other and Third" (sketches and studies on questions of art, religion and philosophy).

He is also said to have published under the pseudonyms Fried Sassen and Hans Sassen.

In 1909 he wrote: "The abnormal male and female figures in the memoirs of the Margravine of Bayreuth: A Contribution to the Moral History of the 18th Century" and "Tolstoy as Character".

Freimark wrote historical novels and biographies and later tried to reach a larger reading public with his book on palmistry : "How do I interpret my fate from the shape and lines of my hand?"

He acted as the editor of esoteric classics: G. Th. Fechner “The Book of Life After Death” and Justinus Kerner “The Revelations of the Seer of Prevorst”. He published in Hugo Erdmann's "Allgemeine Observer", "Der Türmer, monthly for mind and spirit", as well as in parapsychological magazines such as "Psyche". Together with Dr. HH Kritzinger and Dr. In the 1920s, Sünner took over the editorial management of the journal “Psychische Studien” founded by Alexander Aksakow.

Occultism and sexuality

Hans Freimark dealt scientifically with sexuality . His main work on this is: "Occultism and Sexuality". With this, he presents a detailed and extensive study that reveals the occult forces of sexuality. The evidence and examples from mythology, superstition, popular belief, traditional tradition, philosophy and, above all, the broad field of occult and magical research clearly show this. He creates a picture of the occult - because hidden - sides of sexuality, whereby it is important for him to come to terms with this phenomenon precisely and without prejudice. Among other things, Freimark deals with the sexuality of priests, sexual mysticism, sexual magic, witchcraft and sexual-occult folk customs.

Freimark writes: “The people as a whole have not yet risen from the physical to the mental and spiritual, as far as they appreciate the customs according to their most genuine meaning. If, on the other hand, they are only followed traditionally, the focus is on the individual who contrasts his duties with regard to physical reproduction with the rights of the soul. "

Other works in this context: “Sexual Life of Africans”, published in the series “The Sexual Life of Primitive Peoples” (Volume II) and “The Erotic Element in Occultism”.

Esoteric Studies

Freimark conducted intensive esoteric studies and attended appropriate circles and groups. Spiritism, theosophy and anthroposophy became his preferred research areas. But he did not appreciate the term esoteric , in which he saw bad, secretive occultism . He saw his own spiritual endeavors as "theosophical" in the traditional sense.

Freimark also attended lectures by Rudolf Steiner and made an unflattering verdict ("[...] old women who sleep during the lectures, but always nod in approval in the final sentences"). Numerous writings result from his research: “Secret Doctrine and Secret Science”, “The Back of the Table ” or “Modern Theosophists and their Theosophy”. In it he deals with new thought systems, Mazdaznan and Christian Science .

Nevertheless Freimark distanced itself more and more from contemporary "esoteric" currents. He took the view that true theosophy knew no secrecy or personal claims to power. “The occult movement. An educational pamphlet ”clearly shows Freimark's negative attitude.

Publications (selection)

• The meaning of uranism . Rudolf Uhlig, Leipzig.
• Helena Petrovna Blavatsky - a female Ahasver . In: Verlag Max Spohr, Leipzig 1906 (8th year), pp. 525-564.
• The abnormal men and women in the memoirs of the Margravine of Bayreuth: A Contribution to the Moral History of the 18th Century . Barsdorf, Berlin 1909.
• Tolstoy as a character . JF Bergmann, Wiesbaden 1909.
• Occultism and sexuality. Contributions to the cultural history of the past and present . Leipziger Verlag, 1909. - AAGW, Sinzheim 2003. ISBN 978-3-937592-02-2 .
• The sex life of Africans. Leipziger Verlag, Leipzig 1911.
• The table back. Its historical development and its meaning . Johannes Baum Verlag Pfullingen in the series Die Occkulte Welt 21/22.
• Modern theosophists and their theosophy . Wilhelm Heims, Leipzig 1912.
• Paths and detours to theosophy . Wilhelm Heims, Leipzig 1912.
• The occult movement. An educational pamphlet . Wilhelm Heims, Leipzig 1912
• Secret Doctrine and Secret Science . Wilhelm Heims, Leipzig 1913.
• The revolution as a psychological mass phenomenon . Munich 1920.
• How do I interpret my fate from the shape and lines of my hand? W. Vobach, Berlin, Leipzig, 3rd edition 1921.
• The erotic element in the occult . Johannes Baum Verlag, Pfullingen 1922.

literature

• HT Hakl: Hans Freimark, an observer of the occult scene from 1900–1930 . Preface for: Occultism and Sexuality. Contributions to the cultural history of the past and present. AAGW, Sinzheim 2003. ISBN 978-3-937592-02-2 .
• Magnus Hirschfeld: From then to now: History of a homosexual movement 1897–1922 . Verlag Rosa Winkel, Berlin 1986. ISBN 3-921495-61-X .
• Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöllers: Man for man . Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt / Main 2001. ISBN 3-518-39766-4 .
• German Literaturlexikon, Volume V . Francke, Bern 1978. Hans Freimark is mentioned on page 551; also bibliography of his works. ISBN 978-3-907820-00-1 .

Web links

• Literature by and about Hans Freimark in the catalog of the German National Library

Individual evidence

1. ↑ See: Ulrich Peter: "Origin and history of the League of Religious Socialists in Berlin 1919–1933." FU Berlin, 1989.
2. ↑ These are nineteen letters from Freimark and a reply from Hübbe-Schleiden, which extend over the period from 1907 to 1914 and have been preserved in the Lower Saxony State and University Library in Göttingen.
3. ↑ Published in the series “Contributions to the History of Modern Mysticism and Magic” as issue No. 2.
4. ↑ Wilfried Eymer: Eymers Pseudonym Lexikon . Kirschbaum, Bonn 1997
5. ↑ In: series border questions of nerve and soul life. In 1920 he published his study "The Revolution as a Psychological Mass Appearance" there.
6. ^ So the life stories of Catherine I and Marie Antoinette . Published by Richard Bong Verlag in Berlin.
7. ^ Occultism and Sexuality. Contributions to the cultural history of the past and present . AAGW, Sinzheim 2003. ISBN 978-3-937592-02-2