Karl Hans Bühner

Karl Hans Bühner (born September 19, 1904 in Schwäbisch Gmünd , † August 4, 1978 in Spraitbach ) was a member of the Swabian poet circle around August Lämmle and Georg Schmückle . The group of poets founded in 1938 placed local poets with different backgrounds in the service of National Socialist interests. The patron was Reichsstadthalter Wilhelm Murr .

Childhood and studies

Bühner's father was a Wagner. After graduating from high school in 1923, Bühner began studying electrical engineering at the Technical University of Stuttgart , initially far removed from the writing profession. During his studies in Stuttgart he attended evening lectures by the literary historian Theodor Meyer and became increasingly enthusiastic about literature. In 1926 he won a university competition with the work Hermann Hesse and Gottfried Keller: a study . The work was also his first publication. The success of his work and the contacts he had made in the literary world prompted Karl Hans Bühner to devote himself entirely to his passion. In the winter semester of 1928/29 he enrolled at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Tübingen . He studied during the crisis of the late twenties and the rise of National Socialism .

In National Socialism

After completing his studies at the University of Tübingen, Bühner became an editor at the Stuttgart NS-Kurier . He came to terms with the new political system and rose over time as an editor. Increasingly, he placed himself in the service of National Socialist propaganda. In his works he increasingly referred to the Nazi ideology .

Poetic self-image

Bühner saw himself and literature in general committed to a clear task. Poetry should equip and prepare people for the challenges ahead. As early as 1937 he conjured an end to the "quiet times" and a "struggle for existence".

“His (the poet's) task is: To artistically grasp the Nordic-Germanic world in its German form, means: to give to the present what is needed by all Germans in the huge struggle for existence in the world. Because the quiet times in Europe are over for a while. Only a people with a unified political will, willing to never allow their claim to a place in the sun to be denied and to assert their moral and biological downfall - only such a people can prove their virtue and the abundance of their future possibilities. ”- Bühner in 1937 "For the time being, the most beautiful task of poetry is: [...] to portray the probation of the new German man and the National Socialist attitude ..." - Bühner in 1937

Topics in Bühner's work

In addition to heroic death or the classic Nazi enemy images, there are few anti-Semitic tendencies in Bühner's works. However, the small quantity says nothing about the content of the existing quotations.

“ As a result, two decades later, Bolshevism emerges as an Asian doctrine […] . One can sense that such a doctrine has no national self-growth, and its hint of schematic artificiality suggests an author who despises the people and inhumane: the Jewish spirit . "- Bühner 1944." [...] We proudly hear in the daily report [... ] Since we are almost ashamed of your victim, […] ”- Bühner 1941

As it turns out, Bühner promoted a glorification of the soldiers and their actions in everyday newspapers. The scope and impact of his poems on these topics were clear to him.

Publications

The most effective and far-reaching work of Bühner was probably the volume of poetry published in 1939 on the 50th birthday of Adolf Hitler : “The Führer - Poems for Adolf Hitler”. The content is less interesting for the person Karl Hans Bühner, but more the fact of the editor. Bühner combined 40 poems in the volume, u. a. also by many members of the Swabian poets' circle. In the afterword Bühner writes about the aim of the work:

“With this composition, all poems had to be excluded from the outset that only indirectly, indirectly or purposefully captured the figure of Adolf Hitler. […] …; because many poets were unable to contribute to this strictly formulated topic, which excluded some valuable poems. ”- Bühner 1939.

As the publisher, Bühner did not want to see a differentiated representation of Hitler; he wanted unconditional praise and a clear commitment. Another book published in 1940 is entitled: "Zeitgedanken - About Spirit and Life". It is a collection of various texts and articles, some of which Bühners had already published in magazines. The work is much more focused on the author than the above volume of poetry. Nevertheless, Karl Hans Bühner never tires of taking up narrative patterns that are already familiar to us in this work.

“ The sun sign above our heads perks us up. We are in the thunderstorm of war. Despite death and tears, we are fearless, as befitted the Germans. Because we trust the young life of our young people . ”- Bühner 1940.

Arbitration Chamber Proceedings

It was not until 1944 that its indispensable status was lifted and Bühner had to go to the Eastern Front . He did not return from Soviet captivity until 1948. Logically, he filled out his ruling chamber registration form in April 1948. As a homecomer, however, he fell under the homecoming amnesty. He did not have to face a detailed examination of his works. Despite his role as a supporter during and for National Socialism, Bühner did not see himself exposed to any thorough, but only formal denazification. His two books mentioned ended up on the list of literature to be discarded .

post war period

After his return from captivity, Bühner moved into his parents' house (today Volksbank Gmünd) in Schwäbisch Gmünd . Basically, Bühner turned away from the profession of editor and from 1951 became advertising manager and later purchasing manager in industry. In 1969 he retired in Spraitbach near Gmünd. His work as a writer became a weekly column in the Rems newspaper and an article in the Gmünder Einhorn. The themes of the post-war period were contemplations of other poets, nature and home. Even after the war it did not reach a large audience.

literature

• Dominik Schäffer: Karl Hans Bühner , In: Stephan Molitor (Hrsg.): The Swabian circle of poets from 1938 and its denazification. Publication accompanying the exhibition at the Ludwigsburg State Archives from June 5 to September 6. W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2019, ISBN 978-3-17-036527-8 , pp. 21-25.
• Ulrich Müller: Karl Hans Bühner , In: Unterm Stein 15 - Spraitbacher Authors , Foundation for Literary Research in East Wuerttemberg (Ed.), Schwäbisch Gmünd 2010, pp. 12-19.

Web links

• Karl Hans Bühner , Spraitbach authors on spraitbach.de
• Karl Hans Bühner on leo-bw.de

Remarks

1. ↑ Bühner's records on leo-bw.de, accessed on September 6, 2019.
2. ↑ Stephan Molitor: For the introduction . In: Stephan Molitor (Ed.): The Swabian Poet Circle of 1938 and its denazification. Publication accompanying the exhibition at the Ludwigsburg State Archives from June 5 to September 6, 2019 . 1st edition. W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2019, ISBN 978-3-17-036527-8 , pp. 7-10 .
3. ↑ ^{a b} Ulrich Müller: Karl Hans Bühner . In: Stiftung Literaturforschung Ostwürttemberg (Ed.): Unterm Stein . 15 - Spraitbach authors. Schwäbisch Gmünd 2010, p. 12-19 .
4. ^ Karl Hans Bühner: Encounters with Hermann Hesse . In: unicorn . No. 56 , 1962, pp. 352 .
5. ^ Karl Hans Bühner: Hermann Hesse and Gottfried Keller a study . A. Bonz 'heirs, Stuttgart 1927.
6. ↑ Karl Hans Bühner's student files in the archives of the University of Tübingen, signature: UAT 364/3513.
7. ↑ For the salary development see: Spruchkammerakte Karl Hans Bühner, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Dept. Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, EL 902/7 Bü 2093.
8. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Dominik Schäffer: Karl Hans Bühner . In: Stefan Molitor (Ed.): The Swabian Poet Circle of 1938 and its denazification. Publication accompanying the exhibition at the Ludwigsburg State Archives from June 5 to September 6 . W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2019, ISBN 978-3-17-036527-8 , pp. 21-25 .
9. ↑ ^{a b} Karl Hans Bühner: Poetry from Strength and Faith - Present-day questions in our literature . In: The literature - monthly for lovers of literature . tape 40 , 1937, pp. 203-205 .
10. ^ Karl Hans Bühner: The Demon of the Steppe - The Bolshevik uprising against European culture . In: Revaler Zeitung . Sunday June 25, 1944.
11. ^ Karl Hans Bühner: Feldpostbrief . In: Südostdeutsche Tageszeitung (German organ in Romania) . Sunday August 24, 1941.
12. ^ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg Germany: Embarrassing poetry. Retrieved September 4, 2019 . 
13. ↑ Karl Hans Bühner: The Führer - Poems for Adolf Hitler . Truckenmüller, Stuttgart 1939.
14. ↑ Karl Hans Bühner: Zeitgedanken - To spirit and life . Truckenmüller, Stuttgart 1940.
15. ↑ Spruchkammer Act Karlhans Bühner, State Archives Ludwigsburg State Archive of Baden-Württemberg, Abt., EL 902/7 Bu 2,093th
16. ^ Letter B, List of literature to be discarded. Published by the German Administration for Public Education in the Soviet Occupation Zone. Preliminary edition as of April 1, 1946 (Berlin: Zentralverlag, 1946). Retrieved September 4, 2019 .