Hans Osterwald

Hans Osterwald, ca.1946

Hans Osterwald (born June 10, 1889 in Samswegen , † February 16, 1967 in Wernigerode ) was a German educator and biologist . From November 1, 1946 to February 28, 1950, he was director of the Francke Foundations in Halle .

Career

Hans Osterwald was born as the youngest of the four children of the general manager Franz Osterwald (1854–1942) and his wife Emma, b. Schütte (1854–1925) was born in Samswegen near Wolmirstedt . Franz Osterwald cultivated a patriarchal family understanding. His way of life, which is deeply rooted in Prussian Protestantism and its virtues, honesty, tolerance, reliability, zeal for work, punctuality, order and diligence, carried over to his son.

In the elementary school in his hometown, Hans Osterwald received his first lessons from 1895 to 1903, which were continued for three years in the preparation institute in Weferlingen . A course of study that would have allowed him due to his achievements could not be financed and so he attended the teachers' college in Halberstadt (1906–1909), where he was trained as an elementary school teacher in biology, geography and philosophical propaedeutics .

There, Hans Osterwald took the first elementary school teacher examination. The examination committee proposed him, who had been exempted from the oral examination, for a teaching position in the Francke Foundations. There he took up his work on April 1, 1909 as an assistant teacher at the boys' middle school.

After he had passed the second elementary school teacher examination in Weißenfels in 1911, he was hired in 1913 as a “proper teacher” at the “German Schools of the Francke Foundations”.

During the First World War he was employed as a nurse from 1914 to 1916 and for a short time as a Landsturmmann . His war experience reinforced his attitude as a pacifist . Accordingly, Hans Osterwald joined the SPD in 1920 because he was convinced that with it he would be able to achieve his striving for equal treatment for all people, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, nationality and social origin and to prevent another war. He also found agreement with regard to his social endeavors to give protection and encouragement to the weakest in society . Kindergarten children and orphans should be given special care during his time as director of the Francke Foundations.

In 1921 he married Gertrud Seidelbach, in 1923 his only child was his son Rolf (March 25, 1923 in Halle an der Saale).

In addition to his professional activity, Hans Osterwald studied biology, geography, philosophy and education at the Martin Luther University in Halle with Professors Valentin Haecker , Ludwig Brüel , Karsten, Camill Montfort , Otto Schlüter , Adolf Schenck , Theodor Draw , Paul Menzer , Ernst Meumann and Max frischisen-Köhler . In 1922 he passed the compulsory supplementary examination for studying elementary school teachers with the rating “with distinction”. In the written examination he dealt with the following topics: 1) "Wegener's continental drift theory is to be tested against the animal-geographic facts" (Prof. Brüel) and 2) "Roux's position on the question of finality and causality in the natural philosophy of the organic" (Privy Councilor Pull). With this examination, Hans Osterwald received the qualification to teach in the main subjects biology and geography and in the additional subject philosophical propaedeutics.

In the period from 1926 to 1933 there was close cooperation with the Halle Health Department under the direction of Arnold Japha . In many scientific publications, Hans Osterwald dealt with mosquito control in the area of the city of Halle. The successful activity was put to an end in 1933 when Japha, who was of Jewish faith, was forced to retire.

Employment during the Nazi era

After his election as high school teacher was confirmed by the provincial school council in 1931, Hans Osterwald was appointed to the Latin secondary school of the Francke Foundations. Already after a year he had to “due to the decree of Mr. Preuss. Minister for Science, Art and Public Education ordered austerity measures ”. He left the Francke Foundations and in 1932/33 took a position as a primary school teacher at the Huttenschule in Halle and from 1933 to 1945 at the Torschule, a boys' secondary school, also located in Halle. The socialization in a conservative parental home, his pacifism, the intercourse within the family with Jewish intellectuals and business people in Halle as well as the social democratic party affiliation brought him in 1933 into opposition to the National Socialist regime. Therefore, after the seizure of power, there was a quick conflict with the new rulers, who took his long-standing membership in the SPD as an opportunity to threaten him with a transfer from school service on the basis of the law to restore the professional civil service.

This prompted Hans Osterwald to apply for his retirement on August 18, 1933. If the punishment transfer was not implemented because of the objection of the school councils not yet belonging to the NSDAP , the district president issued a written "serious" warning to now act with "inner willingness and all zeal in the interests of the new government". “In a special way supervision” was announced for his service activities and a report from the school council was requested at the end of the year. Until the end of the war, Hans Osterwald continued to teach at the Tor Middle School in Halle.

He did not take part in the Second World War, but in 1944 he was ordered to the so-called Volkssturm . Throughout the war, even during the victorious marches, Hans Osterwald was firmly convinced of the ultimate defeat of the Nazi regime. For him this was not just a question of the military balance of power, but rather a question of morality.

Director of the Francke Foundations 1946–1950

Hans Osterwald saw the end of Hitler's rule in 1945 as an opportunity for a real democratic new beginning. For this he made all his strength available from the start. He rejoined the SPD on July 1, 1945. In addition, he was appointed to the committee of anti-fascist teachers and became a member of the working group of social democratic teachers. On August 1, 1945, he was given the management of the gate school in Halle, then on October 1, 1945, he received a teaching position at the Christian-Thomasius-School and on January 1, 1946 at the Friedrich-Engels-School , both grammar schools in Halle . At the latter he was also head of biology in seminars I and II. The highlight of his pedagogical career was his appointment as senior director . On November 1, 1946, he was appointed director of the Francke Foundations and director of the August-Hermann-Francke-Oberschule.

The new director began his inauguration address with the programmatic words:

“My newly appointed employees and I thank you for the honor we have received through our appointment to leading positions within the Francke Foundations. We know that the task we have been given is no less than honor. This task is made easier for us because we can build on a great tradition. But let's not forget: tradition is a bridge, nothing less, but nothing more either. Tradition should connect, but it must not bind. Tradition only has value if it leads to the creation of a new tradition. For me, following on from tradition does not mean working in the spirit of August Hermann Francke, because the spirit of a great man unfortunately only ever means what one has subsequently distilled out of his writings. But the Goethe saying applies to this: 'For what is called the spirit of the times, that is fundamentally the gentlemen's own spirit, in which the times are reflected.' I intend to work in the spirit of Francke's personality. August Hermann Francke saw the need of his time, and he tackled where it seemed most necessary to him: in the education of the youth, the youth of both sexes, of all ages and of all class, and - let's think of his work in the service of the mission - regardless of race. We, too, are convinced that one of the most important tasks of today must be to rebuild by educating the young. "

Until the founding of the GDR in October 1949, the Soviet occupation zone had to build an anti-fascist-democratic order. The school reform was also subordinate to this goal. The new director could identify with the terms anti-fascist and democratic, and this gave him the strength to tackle the difficult problems at hand.

The external conditions already made the work very difficult. The bombing raid in Easter 1945 caused great damage to the foundations. One wing of the Latina building was completely destroyed and the roof of the boys' high school was badly damaged. Two of the three gyms and the sports grounds were completely destroyed. The Great Assembly Hall was badly damaged by a direct hit. Half of the Francke House and the neighboring building each collapsed. Refugees and offices were housed in all boarding schools, so housing for them had to be found in the city.

The buildings of the high school for boys and the girls' lyceum were used as disease hospitals. Curricula and textbooks first had to be reworked. Many teaching materials were damaged by the aftermath of the war and could not be replaced so quickly, even getting a copybook was extremely difficult. It was difficult to get the food needed to feed the boarding school students and, in the winter months, coal for schools and boarding schools.

The personnel difficulties were just as great. Almost all teachers in the Francke Foundations were also members of the NSDAP. The particularly strict standards in the so-called denazification process in the Soviet Zone, which were tightened several times, led to the immediate dismissal of most of the teachers. Even if some of the vacancies could be professionally filled by refugees, some noticeable gaps remained. In addition, in those years some teachers moved their residence to the western occupation zones.

Above all, the school and boarding school rooms could only be released in a short period of time through the involvement of the organs of the Soviet occupying power entrusted with control and guidance. These were Wladimir Gall , German teacher and university lecturer, who was employed as a cultural officer for Halle, and Major D. Rosenbaum, who was responsible for the university as a cultural officer. Both were aware of the importance of the Francke Foundations.

One of the most important symbolic and political tasks in this difficult time was the organization of the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the Francke Foundations on July 23 and 24, 1948. Given the continued difficult conditions in the post-war period, quarters and rooms had to be organized, festive programs, speeches, events and concerts prepared and food provided. Thanks to the great commitment of all those involved, the 250th anniversary was a success that reached far beyond the region. It made it clear to the general public that the Francke Foundations had overcome the difficult first post-war years. However, they had to give up their independence. On September 20, 1946, the legal personality of the Francke Foundations was abolished by an ordinance of the Presidium of the Province of Saxony and incorporated into the Martin Luther University.

The personal union of the two director posts was retained. Like his predecessors, the directors Walther Michaelis and Max Dorn, Hans Osterwald was also director of the Francke Foundations and the August Hermann Francke High School, which also included the boarding schools that were merged. In his tireless work, the director had succeeded in stabilizing the situation in the educational and administrative areas of the Francke Foundations, in forming the teaching staff from the most diverse areas into a college and in the student body, which had been brought together from four independent foundation schools, to create a new school community that looked with pride both on the weighty past of the centuries-old institution and on what has now been achieved. Plans for the future were already being made, culminating in new, modern boarding school buildings in the orphanage and replacing the old barrack-like and structurally difficult-to-maintain half-timbered buildings. Even a large public outdoor pool was part of the plans. This development earned Hans Osterwald the admiration and affection of the teachers and students.

In retrospect, the beginning of the SED dictatorship turns out to be a turning point for the development just described. Hans Osterwald had to experience that, with his consistent advocacy of equal opportunities for all children, regardless of social origin and religious affiliation, he increasingly got into ideological contradictions to the politics of the party.

Ideological disputes, especially between FDJ and church representatives, which poisoned the personal climate, disrupted the necessary concentration on the lessons. This development was exacerbated by the fact that party cadres of the university began to exert direct political and ideological influence on the students. The resulting tensions spread to the administrative area and led to blockades in the approval of material projects.

Hans Osterwald realized that he was faced with the question of either implementing every measure demanded by him without contradiction, which in his eyes was tantamount to a breach of trust in colleagues and students, or resigning from his offices. He used his health, which was under constant strain, as a reason for a transfer. This application was approved without delay. He left the foundations on February 28, 1950.

Teaching activity in Wernigerode from 1950

In his inaugural address on November 16, 1946 at the Francke Foundations, he said: “As a young teacher, I started my educational work at the Francke Foundations. I wish I could also decide on it in the Francke Foundations. ”He wasn't allowed to. On March 1, 1950, Hans Osterwald began his work in Wernigerode.

Although Hans Osterwald felt at home as a biologist and geographer in the Harz region, he never got over his forced departure from the Francke Foundations. He was not forgotten, if only because he was visited by many of his friends, colleagues and students in his house on the Wernigeröder Oberpfarrkirchhof . Whole school classes took their hiking days as an opportunity to meet their former director. Many a visit was a farewell forever, as the route continued across the Ecker and the inner-German border towards the Federal Republic.

Hans Osterwald was also consistent in the last years of his life. He only entered the Francke Foundations to visit his family. In addition, after his involuntary departure from the Francke Foundations, he announced his resignation from the SED. As in Halle, August Hermann Francke's picture hung on the wall above his desk in Wernigerode. The former director of the Francke Foundations died on February 16, 1967.

Works

About the spread of Anopheles in the area of Halle. Announcement from the Natural Research Society in Halle 1918
About the occurrence of Streptocephalus auritus Koch in Germany. Zoological Yearbook, Systematics Department 1919
Anopheles and malaria in Halle. Supplements to the Archives for Ship and Tropical Hygiene, Vol. 23, 1919
Is malaria likely to spread further in Germany or not? German Medical Weekly 1919
About three rarer crustaceans from the Halle area. Zoological scoreboard 1920
One year of Anopheles observation. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Dept. 1920, Vol. 85
Morphological genetic investigation and examination of culicid larvae Part II. Archive for Natural History 1921.
The problem of eel migration in the light of Wegner's theory of displacement. Look around 1928.
The mosquito control of the city of Halle. The practical disinfector, 20th year 1928.
For the 250th anniversary of the Francke Foundations. In: Die neue Schule, 3 (1948), No. 15, pp. 491–492.

literature

Rolf Osterwald: Hans Osterwald. Director of the Francke Foundations 1946–1950. In: Francke-Blätter, Heft 3/2001, pp. 61–68.
L. Herbst: The dangerous young community. In: Francke-Blätter Heft 2/2000, pp. 73–76.

Web links

Documents in the private estate of Rolf Osterwald

Individual evidence

↑ The curriculum vitae of the principal studies director Hans Osterwald, private estate of Dr. Rolf Osterwald, Halle on the Saale.
↑ On the spread of Anopheles in the area around Halle, communication from the Natural Research Society Halle 1918; On the occurrence of Streptocephalus auritus Koch in Germany, Zoological Yearbook, Systematics Department 1919; Anopheles and Malaria in Halle, supplements to the archive for ship and tropical hygiene, vol. 23, 1919; Is malaria likely to spread further in Germany or not ?, Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 1919; About three rarer crustaceans from the area around Halle, Zoologischer Anzeiger 1920; One year observation of Anopheles, Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie Abt. 1920, Vol. 85; Morphological genetic investigation and examination of culicid larvae Part II, Archive for Natural History 1921; The problem of eel migration in the light of Wegner's displacement theory, Umschau 1928; The mosquito control of the city of Halle, The practical disinfector, 20th year 1928.
↑ Magdeburg October 17, 1933, Provincial School College in the Province of Saxony, subject: austerity measures, number II 21782, on behalf of Rohrer to Hans Osterwald, Rolf Osterwald's private estate, Halle an der Saale.
↑ Merseburg, August 15, 1933, the district president [without name] to Hans Osterwald, private estate of Rolf Osterwald, Halle an der Saale.
^ Application for retirement, Halle Saale, August 18, 1933, Hans Osterwald to the district president in Merseburg [no name], private estate of Rolf Osterwald, Halle an der Saale.
^ ^A ^b Rejection of the application for retirement by the district president in Merseburg, September 30, 1933 to Hans Osterwald, private estate of Rolf Osterwald, Halle an der Saale.
↑ Memoirs of the son Dr. Rolf Osterwald.
^ Certificate of appointment dated November 1, 1946 by the President of the Province of Saxony Dr. Erhard Hübener , Rolf Osterwald's private estate, Halle an der Saale.
^ Address by Hans Osterwald on the occasion of his inauguration as director of the Francke Foundations held on November 16, 1946 in the auditorium of the Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, quoted in: Osterwald: Hans Osterwald. Director of the Francke Foundations 1946–1950. In: Francke-Blätter, Heft 3/2001, pp. 65f.
↑ See general: Melanie Fabel-Lamla: Professionalisierungspfade Ostdeutscher Lehrer. Biographical courses and professionalization in the double modernization process. Halle / Saale 2004.
↑ Halle an der Saale, November 9, 1946, implementation of the ordinance of the President of the Province of Saxony of September 20, 1946, printed in the Ordinance Gazette for the Province of Saxony of October 12, 1946, number 41.
^ Hans Osterwald: On the 250th anniversary of the Francke Foundations. In: Die neue Schule, 3 (1948), No. 15, pp. 491–492.
↑ L. Herbst: The dangerous young community. In: Francke-Blätter Heft 2/2000, pp. 73–76.
^ Hans Herbert Becker: Contemporary witness of the 20th century. A German university professor reports from his life in freedom and bondage. Dortmund 2002, p. 23f; on the political-ideological side and the blockade of the university administration cf. the unpublished manuscript of the government director Alexander Delhaes “The structural change of the Francke Foundations from 1698–1946”, pp. 20f., in the private estate of Dr. Rolf Osterwald, Halle on the Saale.
↑ State government of Saxony-Anhalt, Minister for National Education, Art and Science, February 15, 1950 to the headmaster of the high school Hans Osterwald, correspondence of the transfer application from the August Hermann Francke high school to the high school in Wernigerode, private estate of Rolf Osterwald, Halle the hall.
↑ Address by Hans Osterwald on the occasion of his inauguration as director of the Francke Foundations held on November 16, 1946 in the auditorium of the Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, quoted in: Osterwald: Hans Osterwald, p. 67.

personal data
SURNAME	Osterwald, Hans
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German educator and biologist
DATE OF BIRTH	June 10, 1889
PLACE OF BIRTH	Samswegen
DATE OF DEATH	February 16, 1967
Place of death	Wernigerode

[1] The curriculum vitae of the principal studies director Hans Osterwald, private estate of Dr. Rolf Osterwald, Halle on the Saale.

[2] On the spread of Anopheles in the area around Halle, communication from the Natural Research Society Halle 1918; On the occurrence of Streptocephalus auritus Koch in Germany, Zoological Yearbook, Systematics Department 1919; Anopheles and Malaria in Halle, supplements to the archive for ship and tropical hygiene, vol. 23, 1919; Is malaria likely to spread further in Germany or not ?, Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 1919; About three rarer crustaceans from the area around Halle, Zoologischer Anzeiger 1920; One year observation of Anopheles, Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie Abt. 1920, Vol. 85; Morphological genetic investigation and examination of culicid larvae Part II, Archive for Natural History 1921; The problem of eel migration in the light of Wegner's displacement theory, Umschau 1928; The mosquito control of the city of Halle, The practical disinfector, 20th year 1928.

[3] Magdeburg October 17, 1933, Provincial School College in the Province of Saxony, subject: austerity measures, number II 21782, on behalf of Rohrer to Hans Osterwald, Rolf Osterwald's private estate, Halle an der Saale.

[4] Merseburg, August 15, 1933, the district president [without name] to Hans Osterwald, private estate of Rolf Osterwald, Halle an der Saale.

[5] Application for retirement, Halle Saale, August 18, 1933, Hans Osterwald to the district president in Merseburg [no name], private estate of Rolf Osterwald, Halle an der Saale.

[0:-6] A ^b Rejection of the application for retirement by the district president in Merseburg, September 30, 1933 to Hans Osterwald, private estate of Rolf Osterwald, Halle an der Saale.

[7] Memoirs of the son Dr. Rolf Osterwald.

[8] Certificate of appointment dated November 1, 1946 by the President of the Province of Saxony Dr. Erhard Hübener , Rolf Osterwald's private estate, Halle an der Saale.

[9] Address by Hans Osterwald on the occasion of his inauguration as director of the Francke Foundations held on November 16, 1946 in the auditorium of the Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, quoted in: Osterwald: Hans Osterwald. Director of the Francke Foundations 1946–1950. In: Francke-Blätter, Heft 3/2001, pp. 65f.

[10] See general: Melanie Fabel-Lamla: Professionalisierungspfade Ostdeutscher Lehrer. Biographical courses and professionalization in the double modernization process. Halle / Saale 2004.

[11] Halle an der Saale, November 9, 1946, implementation of the ordinance of the President of the Province of Saxony of September 20, 1946, printed in the Ordinance Gazette for the Province of Saxony of October 12, 1946, number 41.

[12] Hans Osterwald: On the 250th anniversary of the Francke Foundations. In: Die neue Schule, 3 (1948), No. 15, pp. 491–492.

[13] L. Herbst: The dangerous young community. In: Francke-Blätter Heft 2/2000, pp. 73–76.

[14] Hans Herbert Becker: Contemporary witness of the 20th century. A German university professor reports from his life in freedom and bondage. Dortmund 2002, p. 23f; on the political-ideological side and the blockade of the university administration cf. the unpublished manuscript of the government director Alexander Delhaes “The structural change of the Francke Foundations from 1698–1946”, pp. 20f., in the private estate of Dr. Rolf Osterwald, Halle on the Saale.

[15] State government of Saxony-Anhalt, Minister for National Education, Art and Science, February 15, 1950 to the headmaster of the high school Hans Osterwald, correspondence of the transfer application from the August Hermann Francke high school to the high school in Wernigerode, private estate of Rolf Osterwald, Halle the hall.

[16] Address by Hans Osterwald on the occasion of his inauguration as director of the Francke Foundations held on November 16, 1946 in the auditorium of the Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, quoted in: Osterwald: Hans Osterwald, p. 67.