Johannes Rickers

Johannes Claus Christian Rickers (born February 10, 1893 in Altona-Ottensen , † January 24, 1965 in Wilster ) was a pastor and researcher on local history and farmhouses.

Life

Johannes Rickers was a son of the Hamburg main teacher and author Heinrich Rickers (1864–1928). His mother Helene, née Stelling (1861–1917), was the daughter of a farmer from Ivenfleth .

Johannes Rickers visited the Christianeum in Altona . He then studied theology and philology at universities in Tübingen , Berlin , Leipzig and Kiel . During the First World War he fought as a soldier from late 1914 to late 1918. He then continued his studies at the University of Kiel and finished it in autumn 1919 with the first theological exam. He then attended the seminary in Preetz until autumn 1920 and then received a position as teaching vicar at the Diakonissenanstalt Altona.

St. Georg in Krummendiek

In autumn 1921 Rickers passed the second theological exam. He then worked as an assistant chaplain at the Altona Diakonissenanstalt and in Blankenese . In addition, he studied German folklore and antiquity, Low German and Dutch German studies, philosophy and history for three years at the University of Hamburg . On July 25, 1923, he married Helene Aurelie Dorothee Lübcke, with whom he had no children. He then took over the pastor at St. Georg in Krummendiek .

Rickers loved the North German language, in which he wrote many lyrical poems. He also gave sermons in Low German. He took over the chairmanship of the association for local research and folk culture in the Wilstermarsch . He died in Wilster in January 1965.

Working as a researcher

Johannes Rickers conducted extensive research on farm and town houses in the marshes. He often traveled to the Netherlands and Denmark for study purposes. His second focus was the Dutch question, which was related to it. He knew how to look at existing sources critically and work out hidden connections. In addition to these areas, Rickers dealt with several other topics: He researched the history of the dyke system , dealt with dialects and the meaning of the term "Koog". He also researched subsidence areas in northern Germany, the history of the Elbe marshes and tiles. As a member of the working group for German house research , farmhouse shapes in the Geest were also part of his area of ​​interest.

Rickers wrote many essays and lectured. He used self-made high-quality black and white and color photos. He lectured on folklore and geography in adult education centers, local associations and at the University of Hamburg. He also offered guided tours through the Elbmarschen. In the field of research on North German farmhouses, he was considered an internationally recognized expert who exchanged extensive scientific information with domestic and foreign researchers. He conducted a large part of the correspondence with scientists from the Netherlands.

literature

• Paul Holtorf: Rickers, Johannes . In: Schleswig-Holstein Biographical Lexicon . Volume 1. Karl Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 1970, pp. 231-233