Karl Schlau

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Karl Schlau
Karl Schlau.jpg
Born February 22nd Jul. / March 6,  1851 greg. (Riga)
Deceased March 26, 1919 (Riga)
Holiday March 26th ( Evangelical calendar of names )

Karl Schlau , also Carl , completely Carl Leberecht Eduard Schlau , in Latvian Karls Šlaus or Kārlis Šlavs , completely Kārlis Lēberehts Eduards Šlavs , (* February 22nd July / March 6th  1851 reg. In Riga , Livonia Governorate ; † March 26th 1919 in Riga) was a German-Baltic Evangelical Lutheran pastor in Latvia . He is considered an evangelical martyr .

The dates in this article are based on the Julian calendar for the period up to 1918 unless otherwise noted.

Life and family

Family and studies

Karl Schlau was a son of Leonhard Adolph Schlau and Caroline Amalie Marie Schlau. He was baptized in March 1851 in the Jacobi Church in Riga. His brothers were called Hermann and Wilhelm.

Dorpat University around 1860

Karl Schlau studied Protestant theology out of conviction at the Imperial University of Dorpat , the University of Göttingen and the University of Leipzig , and obtained the candidate degree in the second semester of 1875. In 1877 he received his doctorate from the University of Leipzig with a patristic dissertation on the Acts of Paul and Saint Thekla .

Pastors in Allasch and Wangasch

Wangasch Church

At the end of 1877, Johann von Blanckenhagen , the patron saint of the newly founded parish of Allasch and Wangasch , which had previously belonged to the church of Rodenpois , appointed Karl Schlau as pastor, with which he began his lifelong service for the long-suffering Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Livonia . On February 5, 1878, after the service, he was ordained in St. Jacob's Church in Riga.

On February 26th, Jul. / March 10,  1878 greg. , the Sunday Quinquagesimae , was his inauguration. The provost with his assistants and the church council led smartly through the large Latvian congregation to the altar. The date was significant as the first Sunday after the Peace of San Stefano and was celebrated as the first Passion Sunday . (Usually in the western churches the following Sunday is Invocavit as the first Passion Sunday , Quinquagesimae is usually the last Sunday of the pre- Passion time , see also Carnival .) Since the Passion for Christians corresponds to a peace agreement between God and mankind, the provost took his opening speech apart two reasons for peace. The opening words came from Jer 3,14-15  LUT : "Convert yourselves, you apostate children, says the Lord, for I will trust you in me and will take you - and will bring you to Zion, and will give you shepherds according to my heart who are to feed you with teaching and wisdom. ”With this he exhorted the congregation to welcome the new pastor well and the pastor to serve the congregation well. Schlau accepted the election and received the certificate of confirmation. The provost laid his hand on him ; the other ministers who had helped Smart prepare for his new office offered blessings.

Schlau conducted the subsequent Latvian service alone, followed by the German service. Since the requirements of both congregations were different, the provost for the German congregation gave him another word from the Bible, this time from 2 Cor 12:14  LUT : “I am not looking for yours, but you” to indicate what is clever look in the congregation to see how he can find it and what he can gain from it. Again the other clergy brought blessings to him. Schlau thanked the patron saint and the community and expressed his hope for a good cooperation. In his sermon his joy at taking office was evident. The celebration at the table of the manor dragged on into the evening.

On February 6, 1880, Karl Schlau married Brigitte Charlotte, b. Hoerschelmann (1852-1933). On February 13, 1883, his son Johannes Hans Leonhard Schlau († 1942) was born.

Pastor in Salis

In 1884 Karl Schlau became pastor in Salis . Also in 1884, Karl Schlau received his admission as a senior teacher in the subject of religion from the University of Dorpat. At first the conditions in his community were reasonably calm and peaceful, so that he was able to develop community and school life. His son Wilhelm Carl Emil Schlau († 1976) was born in Salis on March 11, 1886, followed by his daughter Anna Helene Mathilde Schlau (married Masing, † 1981) on December 8, 1887, and his son Otto Konrad Robert on October 18, 1889 Smart († 1919).

Provost of Wolmar

In 1890 Karl Schlau was appointed provost of the Wolmar district ( Valmiera in Latvia ).

On October 12, 1892, Karl Schlau's daughter Elisabeth Charlotte Kitty Julie Schlau (married Wonsiatsky, † 1973) was born in Salis.

With his appointment as provost, Schlaus began violent conflicts with the Russian Orthodox State Church , which grew out of his deep Evangelical Lutheran convictions; from now on he shared the difficult fate that was to come upon the Livonian pastors. On May 19, the delegation of the Rigas District Court tried him on the basis of Article 193 P. 1 of the Criminal Code in Wolmar. The offense consisted of knowingly performing Protestant church official acts on members of the Russian Orthodox Church. He was removed from office for eight months. At the end of September 1893 he was charged again with an identical offense.

The verdict of May 19 was upheld in March 1894 by the St. Petersburg court. The impeachment was scheduled for a total of one year. An imperial manifesto dated November 14, 1894 ensured that the condemnation was overturned by the court in August 1895. After that there were always differences with the rural population. German-Baltic circles later attributed this to Russian officials who allegedly incited the population. However, he did not have his entire church against him.

Karl Schlau's daughter Brigitte Auguste Marie Schlau was born on October 25, 1895, and his son Hermann Werner Franz Schlau († 1945) on August 31, 1897.

In addition to his spiritual activity, Karl Schlau, like Pastor Karl Schilling , murdered in 1905, was provost Ludwig Zimmermann , murdered in 1906, clergymen Hans Bielenstein , Alexander Bernewitz , Xaver Marnitz , Arnold von Rutkowski , Paul Fromhold-Treu , Christoph Strautmann , who were executed by Bolsheviks in 1919 , Eberhard Savary , Eugen Scheuermann and Wilhelm Gilbert and, like the pastors Gustav Cleemann and Erwin Gross , who died as a result of their imprisonment with the Bolsheviks, full members of the Latvian-Literary Society , which was dedicated to the study of the Latvian language, folklore and culture . This society was mainly supported by German-Baltic pastors and intellectuals. For the Latvians themselves, a higher education was hardly available at the time of the imperial Russian rule.

Karl Schlau tried to mediate between Latvians and Baltic Germans by encouraging them to do community and home work together. This project was not successful. He attracted nationalist hatred, which caused him great difficulty. There were even repeated attempts at murder, including a planned bomb attack on his pastorate. Even during the Russian Revolution from 1905 to 1906 , he continued to work, even though he was to be shot several times.

In 1913, Schlau was awarded the pectoral cross.

During the First World War he was banished to the interior of Russia as a German Baltic for three years; his son's service in the Russian army did nothing to change that. In 1917 Karl Schlau served as a pastor in Ustjug .

On April 27, 1917, Karl Schlau became the grandfather of a grandson who later became known as a sociologist and university professor: Wilfried Schlau was born to his son Wilhelm Carl Emil Schlau .

In 1918, at the end of the war, after the peace of Brest-Litowsk , Karl Schlau was able to return to Salis. Even after the Russian victory and the withdrawal of the German troops, he stayed with his community.

The Bolshevik (oil painting by Boris Kustodijew ; 1920)

During the Latvian War of Independence , in January 1919, his son Otto Konrad Robert Schlau was arrested by the Bolsheviks , who had taken power in Riga, and deported to St. Petersburg because of his father's anti-revolutionary attitude . After the Bolsheviks came to power in the Baltic States, Karl Schlau stayed with his community, although he knew that this was tantamount to a death sentence. Another assassination attempt on him in the forest did nothing to change that.

captivity

Several days after his son's arrest, shortly after he learned that he had died in prison, on January 27, 1919, Karl Schlau was also arrested along with other community members. He was first taken to Wolmar, then imprisoned in Riga Central Prison. Even in prison, where he happily welcomed a young pastor and found several members of the Salis parish, namely the church leader, the doctor, the parish elder, the miller, the forest ranger and many Latvian farmers, Schlau was still doing pastoral work and holding devotions . He wrote to his family:

“I am now a prison minister. Christianity gains strength in this time. "

The other prisoners welcomed him because they saw him as someone who could give them strength. He already had white hair but was in good general condition. He managed to make detention easier for his fellow prisoners. The external conditions were extremely unsuitable; the cell was dark, dirty, infested with vermin and barred with iron; the staff's dealings with the prisoners were rough; the prisoners had to starve and at this time of year, given the high geographical latitude, spent very long nights in the dark.

In a letter from his prison cell, Schlau expressed hope

"... that Germans and Latvians are finally forged together in this hot forge."

He further wrote:

"We cellmates all form a true commune of faith, love and cleanliness."

“In common prayer one strengthens oneself, the scant food is shared. We are all in good spirits and like to suffer. "

"We know we are in God's hands."

"You command your way - I tell myself every day."

The division of property described by Schlau also referred to intellectual things such as literature. You read together or individually works like England by Steffen, the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri or the Iliad by Homer and then discussed them. Communist literature was also included.

Executions of other prisoners

A so-called flying court visited each cell of the prison on March 19. The prisoners were briefly interrogated by two young, almost illiterate communists.

The following night the doors to the long prison corridor suddenly opened. It was spoken out loud in confusion. Neighboring cells were also opened. Names were called that were known to the prisoners. What to expect was clear; the prisoners waited with great tension. Footsteps approached. Now the door to Karl Schlau's cell opened too. Three of his cellmates were named. They could be said goodbye with a tight handshake and a friendly blessing. Then they stepped out of the darkness of the cell into the light of the corridor. The door closed loudly behind them. Karl Schlau and the remaining cellmates prayed for those who were deported, including those from the other cells, which were now executed. The night seemed endless to the prisoners.

Karl Schlau wrote the next morning:

“We held prayers and scriptures several times. We are no longer allowed to sing. "

“I think my life is lived out too. I want to die, but it's hard to part with you. God commanded! God puts a burden on us, but He also helps. Do not be afraid! I have redeemed you. God bless them who were shot. Strengthen us too, if this walk is to be determined to death. "

"We strengthen ourselves with Psalm 31 (Help me quickly, be a strong rock for me. I command my spirit into your hands. They counsel against me and think of taking my life. But I hope in you and say: You are mine God, my time is in your hands. "

“We refresh ourselves with Isa. 38, 17: You have taken my soul warmly, you throw all my sins back behind you. "

And on March 21:

“My ways are higher than your ways. God leads us a difficult way, but blessed, even if it is strange. "

Then he said goodbye to his family, friends, church elders, the congregation in Salis, his colleagues and the wives of the executed.

Last days

On March 23, he wrote:

“On March 21, I thought that I would be led to death. That's why my letter. I'll send it to you anyway. You never know now if you will see each other again. Everything is in the hands of our faithful God. Sometimes I think it would be good if I too were forcibly dismissed now; then no one would be a burden in old age. But I would like to see you all again and say goodbye to all of you with warm thanks. My songs now are: 'How God leads me', ' Who only lets God rule ' and 'Wonderful beginning, wonderful end'. Let my corpse rest. It will be difficult to pick them out from the mass grave. The earth is everywhere of the Lord. "

He could go on for a while. A Latvian farmer in his community gave Karl a cunning balls of a pound of butter, where he found a note on which was written: " Samson's strength and Jacob blessing!" (Compare Ri 16.1 to 31  LUT and 1 Mos 35,11 -12  LUT .) This should prove to be true: under all the burdens, Schlau did not collapse. He radiated a strong faith and had surrendered to his fate, which apparently gave him great strength. So he was able to continue to write to the wives of the executed, telling them about the last days of these fellow prisoners' lives, conveying their farewell greetings and comforting the women with Christian hope. His mind kept moving and he tore his fellow prisoners out of their numbness. He worked with the Bible and the hymn book every day. He also read the devotional book Rest a little by his young colleague Erhard Doebler . Doebler had written this book while in exile in Samara . Cleverly continued to study the existing books, especially the walks and changes of Ernst Moritz Arndt :

“I learn from the Freiherr vom Stein; who says: 'I've already lost my luggage three times in my life.' You have to get used to throwing it behind you. Because we have to die, we should be brave. "

Smart's demeanor could also be described as brave, but he also expressed the desire to go on living:

“I am ready to die such a death. I would have liked to save you having to take this heavy impression with you for life. "

He wished he could continue to serve and help his community if he was delivered.

execution

On the morning of March 26, 1919, Karl Schlau wrote to his relatives:

“Today 115 prisoners were sent to Wolmar. Herr Bindemann (owner of the Arrende) and I were left alone in our room. We're supposed to go to the chamber where Pastor Hassmann is, where 25 stayed. We don't know what our lagging behind means. We hope for God's help. Some believe that we will be set free earlier than those sent to Wolmar, others that we will have a harder time. "

and further:

“We have just moved to Pastor Haßmann's cell at around ½3. We found the 74 year old Mr. von Hohenhausen. He should also be sent to Wolmar, but is too weak. A typhus sufferer was also left behind. "

At this point it became apparent to the shooting brought out of his cell. He had to cancel the letter he was writing. His last written words to his relatives, which he was just able to write in large letters underneath, were:

“I'm being shot.

God keep you!
P. Hassmann and Bindemann
get shot with me.
God be gracious to us!
Your brother and father. "

One of the prison guards reported that Schlau had said goodbye to the guards that he wanted them to leave their lives as calmly as he does now. They then wiped some secret tears from their eyes. A Red Army soldier is said to have insulted them as "cowards".

The Kaiserwald at the beginning of the 20th century

Schlau, Haßmann and Bindemann were brought out of prison with 45 other prisoners to be shot. Since the prison was high, Schlau was able to take a farewell look at his hometown, which was illuminated by the evening sun. The prisoners had to get into a very large car manned by heavily armed Red Army soldiers. They were driven out of town at high speed through empty streets. The car stopped in the Kaiserwald , in the area where the new cemetery was being laid out. There the prisoners were tied to pine trees and their graves were dug. Karl Schlau prayed for the other prisoners until the bullets killed him.

After the execution of Schlaus and his companions, the aforementioned Red Army man is said to have said to the prison guards:

"I shot the friendly old man first to save him the sight of all the terrible things."

Subsequent events and afterlife

On May 22nd, 1919, Riga was captured by the Baltic State Army and German troops. Schlau's body was exhumed and buried on August 14, 1919 in the Jakobi cemetery in Riga. The grave slab was marked with Ps 31,6  LUT : “I command my spirit into your hands, you have redeemed me, you faithful God.” At the burial, Ps 101,6  LUT was quoted: “My eyes see the faithful in the land that they live with me. "

On March 5, 1920, another well-known grandson Karl Schlaus was born, Karl-Otto Schlau , like Wilfried Schlau a son Wilhelm Carl Emil Schlaus, well-known as an administrative lawyer, ministerial official and author of works on Baltic history.

In memory of Schlau and other Baltic martyrs, the Riga Martyrs Stone (memorial stone "For our martyrs") was erected next to the New Chapel in the Great Cemetery in Riga on May 22, 1920, the first anniversary of the conquest of Riga by the Baltic State Armed Forces. inaugurated.

On Tuesday, May 22nd, 1923, the fourth anniversary of the conquest, Pastor D. Oskar Schabert read a biography of Schlau at 8:30 am in St. Gertrudheim in Riga. Tickets were issued for donations for the Gustav Adolph cash register.

In May 1924 Schabert's brief biography of Karl Schlau was published as the first issue of the series “Treu dem Evangelium; Images of Martyrs from the Protestant Church ”, which was presented by Dean Dr. Friedrich Ulmer was published in Dinkelsbühl (see chapter "Literature").

Remembrance day

Karl Schlau's day of remembrance in the Evangelical Name Calendar is March 26th .

Before the introduction of the official name calendar, the day of remembrance was already listed in:

  • Jörg Erb : The Cloud of the Witnesses , Kassel 1951/1963, Vol. 4, pp. 508-520

Fonts

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Calendar reform by the Bolsheviks on February 1st July. / February 14,  1918 greg. , Declaration of independence of Latvia on November 5th jul. / November 18,  1918 greg.
  2. ↑ Baptized. in Rigasche Stadtblätter , No. 10, March 8, 1851, online at Schlau Karl | issueType: P
  3. ↑ To the daily chronicle. in the Rigaschen city sheets , No. 9, March 4, 1876, online at Schlau Karl | issueType: P
  4. ↑ In the St. Jakobikirche in the Rigaschen Zeitung , No. 30, February 6, 1878, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  5. ↑ To the daily chronicle. in the Rigaschen city sheets , No. 8, February 23, 1878, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  6. ^ The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia. 1914. ( Memento of April 24, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
  7. ^ February 26th in Allasch in the Rigaschen Zeitung , No. 60, March 14th 1878, online under Schlau | issueType: P
  8. ↑ From the University of Dorpat. in the Rigaschen Zeitung , No. 211, September 11, 1884, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  9. ↑ The delegation of the Rigas District Court in the Düna-Zeitung , No. 103, May 10, 1893, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  10. ↑ Domestic. in the Libauschen Zeitung , No. 105, May 12, 1893, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  11. ↑ Wolmar. Pastoral processes. in the Libauschen Zeitung , No. 211, September 18, 1893, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  12. ^ Pastor's Trials. in the Düna-Zeitung , No. 67, March 25, 1894, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  13. ↑ Inland in the Rigaschen Rundschau , No. 193, August 26, 1895, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  14. ^ List of members of the Latvian Literary Society from 1901 ( Memento from September 1, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  15. ↑ Domestic. Awards. in the Rigaschen Zeitung , No. 85, April 16, 1913, online at Karl Schlau | issueType: P
  16. ↑ Twenty years ago. in Evangelium und Osten: Russian Evangelical Press Service , No. 5, May 1, 1939, online at Marnitz | issueType: P
  17. ↑ Old St. Gertrud Church. in the Rigaschen Rundschau , No. 105, May 18, 1923, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  18. ↑ Church services. in the Rigaschen Rundschau , No. 106, May 19, 1923, online at Schlau | issueType: P
  19. ↑ From the book table. Faithful to the Gospel. in the Rigaschen Rundschau , No. 99, May 3, 1924, online at Schlau | issueType: P
personal data
SURNAME Smart, Karl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Smart, Carl; Schlau, Carl Leberecht Eduard; Šlaus, Karls (Latvian); Šlavs, Kārlis (Latvian); Šlavs, Kārlis Lēberehts Eduards (Latvian)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Pastor and martyr in Latvia
DATE OF BIRTH March 6, 1851
PLACE OF BIRTH Riga
DATE OF DEATH March 26, 1919
Place of death Riga