Manfred Wittich
Manfred Wittich , (born February 5, 1851 in Greiz ; † July 9, 1902 in Leipzig ) was a German writer , journalist and literary historian .
Life
origin
Manfred Wittich was the eldest son of the painter and court photographer Hermann Wittich. His father was close to the dynasty of that time, he gave the two princes lessons in drawing. Highly educated in the literary field and well versed in the classical languages, he planted a keen interest in these sciences in his son from an early age. Wittich could already read at the age of five. He read German sagas and fairy tales: Hauff, Andersen, Bechstein, Grimm.
Wittich's conspicuous mental disposition, his talent for languages that showed up early on, perhaps also a little parental pride and the further fact that the old princess herself advised Wittich's father and promised her support, prompted Manfred to study.
Training, studies
First, Manfred attended primary school in Greiz. In 1862 he came to the secondary school in Zittau. He stayed with his uncle Theodor Wittich, who was the forest manager there. A paradise of freedom from the forest began to open up to him, and he has often asserted that the strength and health inherent in his physical human being had its origin there. But because of ill-considered youth pranks, he so aroused the anger of his uncle that he had to put together his little rag and say goodbye to the rampant freedom of the forest. His parents took him to the boarding school of the free school teacher Fabian in Zwickau. The strictest restriction of any free expression of will exercised there stood in sharp contrast to the freedom that had just been abandoned. There he went through the most unhappy time, the saddest period of his young life.
Manfred was confirmed in Greiz in 1865. After the confirmation, Wittich returned to school in Zwickau for a few years, where he lived with a room boy with an organ builder family.
In 1869 he came to Schleiz high school, which he attended until his high school diploma. Wittich left Schleiz after taking his high school diploma in 1872 to begin his university studies in Leipzig and to prepare for higher schools, mainly philology, German studies and history. But he also turned his attention to other scientific subjects, such as ethnology, economics, etc.
family
In 1879 he met the kindergarten teacher Anna Rothe in Dresden, whom he married in 1887. A year later his son Wolfgang was born, whom he named after the old master Goethe , whom he dearly admired . Eight years later in 1895, his daughter Hilde was born.
Act
The social events of the time particularly captivated him, and under socialism a new star of hope dawned on him, a world full of new omnipotent ideas. The acquaintance with Julius Motteler , Wilhelm Liebknecht , August Bebel and other leaders of the social democracy brought him closer to the labor movement, for which he advocated verbally and in writing as a student. It was primarily Liebknecht who initiated him into the work for the oppressed proletariat, and Wittich's ideally disposed character soon became fiery for the cause of the people. His German teacher at the university, Professor Hildebrand, almost became a second father. As a well-meaning friend, Hildebrand often warned him against overly devoting himself to political matters. The student Wittich took part in popular assemblies and declared: “Like Wittich every decent, educated person must be a social democrat!” Of course, he made the state career impossible for himself, which later became clear to him when he passed the state examination for the Subject to teaching at high schools.
In 1878 Wittich went to Dresden with letters of recommendation from Hildebrand, who was still attached to him, where he first had to look for a living. There he held the teaching position for Greek, Latin, history and German, first at the private institute of Mrs. Pastor Thieme, later at the Kraus'sche School, which at that time had a good reputation. The head of the Kraus'sche Schule, director Jordan, had received a nice package of files about the "dangerous" studios Wittich from Leipzig, but he valued Wittich's educational power and his proficient knowledge so highly that he spoke about these "dark Points ”ignored, and only indicated to him not to agitate in class. Wittich was happy to obey this instruction, but he was all the more eager to work in the workers 'education associations and other workers' organizations.
In 1884 the Kraus'sche Institut had passed into other hands, and Wittich had to give up his position at it. From this time on he devoted himself exclusively to writing and agitation. Through the omnipotence of his speech and the heart-winning personality, he carried his listeners away with enthusiasm everywhere. A warm interest in popular education, as well as a pronounced pedagogical ability, made him recognize the profession as a speaker and folk teacher as the most correct and as the most desirable for himself. In his lectures, which increased a hundredfold over time, he strived for the same goal as in his literary work: to emancipate male and female workers, to raise their level of education, to open up the treasures of literature and art to their understanding, and to make them more mature for the ideals of socialism. He remained true to this goal until death.
In 1888 he and his friend Emanuel Wurm founded the entertainment paper “Der Volksfreund”, which unfortunately had to be closed again after the first year for various reasons. With this, however, Wittich's hope of a satisfactory job and existence was once again buried. During this time Wittich wrote various brochures: "People and Literature", "The Fairy Tale", "The Folk Song" - three literary-historical treatises; also: “Goethe and Love”, a study introducing Goethe's poems, and “Ulrich von Hutten”, a Reformation festival. His "History of Older German Literature" and the "History of the Latest Times" in the "People's Library" published by Liebknecht also fall within this period. Wittich was only offered a secure income when the Leipzig comrades appointed him to the editorial office of “Voter” in 1890. In 1894 the “voter” was enlarged significantly and converted into the “ Leipziger Volkszeitung ”. Unfortunately, differences and misunderstandings soon arose between Wittich and the new editor-in-chief Dr. Bruno Schönlank , who prompted Wittich to leave the editorial office voluntarily in order to make his way through as a "free lance". - In tireless work, but struggling with the misery of existence, Wittich spent the remaining years of his life until he finally succumbed to a severe nervous ailment, worn out by struggle and worries.
The writings that Wittich left behind include: "Hans Sachs", "Occasional poems and prologues for workers' festivals" and "The art of speech". But he has also written countless articles, essays and reviews of historical, political, economic, literary and art history content in the most diverse party papers. Through diligent, honest work and selfless work inspired by idealism, through his truthfulness and faithfulness to political convictions, Wittich has secured an honorable memory in thousands of hearts. From the "songs of a traveling pupil" - as he called the expressions of his innermost feelings of love and friendship, put into poetic forms, and which are compiled from his estate - it is less the well-known folk man who speaks, but the poetically tender man of mind Manfred Wittich. His intention was not to reap the laurels of the poet - as he also pronounces it in the appropriation - but following the urge of his heart, he sang what sounded painfully gloomy or cheering in him; sang it in his own way, following the motto: "Everybody creates his household needs for songs today."
Works
- Ulrich von Hutten: A Reformation Festival Manfred Wittich. - Leipzig: E. Thiele in Comm., 1887
- Goethe and love: Study for the introduction to Goethe's poems Manfred Wittich. - Dresden: Schoenfeld & Harnisch, 1888 digital
- Recent history Manfred Wittich, Bruno Geiser 1888
- History of older German literature Manfred Wittich 1889
- Occasional poems and prologues for workers' parties: Dedicated to the German workers Manfred Wittich. - 2nd, through and presumably edition - Munich: Ernst, 1894
- Contain also: wink for speaker Manfred Wittich. - 1894
- Hans Sachs: a reminder sheet for the working people on the 400th birthday of the folk poet Manfred Wittich. - Nuremberg: Wörlein, 1894
- The art of speech Manfred Wittich 1901/1910
- Songs of a traveling student: along with e. Youth portrait and e. Biography d. Author Manfred Wittich. - Leipzig: Leipz. Buchdr. in Komm., 1904 ISBN 9780543625830 .
- Ulrich von Hutten: historical. Game Manfred Wittich. - Berlin: Forward, 1911
literature
- The morning's first blush Early socialist German literature 1860–1918 Leipzig, Reclam jun., 1982 pp. 109f, 448, 452
- Lexicon of German-Language Writers from the Beginnings to the Present Volume 2 / LZ, pp. 477–478
- Labor movement and literature 1860 - 1914 Ursula Münchow 1981 pp. 113, 114, 117, 124, 125, 563
- Text editions on early socialist literature in Germany Volume III - From the beginnings of socialist drama I - by Ursula Münchow, Akademie-Verlag Berlin 1987, pp. 119ff., 199f., 208f.
- History of German-language literature 1870–1900 from the founding of the Empire to the turn of the century by Peter Sprengel 1998 pp. 434–435
- History of German literature from 1830 to the beginning of the 19th century Volk and Knowledge Volkseigener Verlag Berlin 1975 pp. 953, 955
- Leipzig, the cradle of the German labor movement Wolfgang Schröder 2010 pp. 383, 393, 396f., 407f.
Web links
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Wittich, Manfred |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German writer, journalist and literary historian |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 5, 1851 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Greiz |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 9, 1902 |
| Place of death | Leipzig |