Peter Surava

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Peter Surava (born April 25, 1912 in Zurich ; † November 23, 1995 in Oberrieden ), born Hans Werner Hirsch , was a Swiss journalist . He has also published under various pseudonyms . It was only in 1995 after the film to a wider audience He called himself Surava by Erich Schmid known based on his eponymous 1991 book.

Life

After a commercial apprenticeship and various occupations, Peter Surava became a journalist for the newspaper Die Nation in Bern in the late 1930s . Between 1940 and 1944 he was editor-in-chief of this paper, which like no other during the Second World War critically accompanied the policy of the Federal Council . His work was characterized by a bitter struggle against press censorship , which he recognized as a great danger to the free speech and democracy. The nation reported bluntly on the conditions in Germany, especially the persecution and extermination of Jews, and criticized Switzerland's refugee policy . Together with Charles Ferdinand Vaucher and Max Sulzbacher , he published the literary-satirical newspaper Der Grüne Heinrich . He was in close contact with Group 33 , some of which also worked for the magazine.

His name change to Hirsch-Surava , which took place officially in 1941, was later opposed by the Surava municipality under pressure from his former political opponents , and the federal court forbade him to continue using his name. At the same time he lost his livelihood as a journalist and - as a result - his social and psychological identity. As Ernst Steiger , James Walker or Thomas Quinton, he has published his own, foreign and translated works on the subject of life reform and positive thinking at Oesch-Verlag and as editor-in-chief of the magazine Bewusster Leben since the 1950s .

After he had received his state security documents in the course of the so-called Fichen Affair , the 79-year-old author published his autobiographical book He was called Peter Surava - now under the name Peter Hirsch . Erich Schmid filmed his biography in 1995. The film He called himself Surava attracted considerable attention and contributed significantly to the discussion about Switzerland's role in World War II. At the premiere of the film on the 30th Solothurn Film Festival, Federal Councilor Ruth Dreifuss rehabilitated it with a speech, and Federal Councilor Flavio Cotti recommended the film as teaching material for schools.

Awards

  • In 1995 Peter Hirsch-Surava was made an honorary citizen of the Surava community.
  • In 1995 he received the Fischhof Prize , which is awarded by the “ Foundation against Racism and Anti-Semitism ” (GRA) and the “Society for Minorities in Switzerland (GMS)” in recognition of his courage, his upright attitude and his willingness to make sacrifices in a difficult time .

Works

As Peter Surava

  • Diary of a ski instructor . Oprecht, Zurich 1940
  • Lucretia. Cheerful and contemplative stories . AZ press, Aarau 1942
  • Arrest in morals . AZ press, Aarau 1943
  • Walter Krebs - man and painter . Benteli, Bern 1943
  • A brave woman . With photos by Paul Senn . The Nation (from the series The Unknown Switzerland ), Bern 1944

As Ernst Steiger

  • July 40 . Time piece, 1941
  • The happiness of the prime. The art of growing older consciously, healthily and happily . Public Health Publishing House, Zurich 1974
  • On the way to oneself. 52 weekly meditations . Public Health Publishing House, Zurich 1976; Kugler, Oberwil 1986
  • The Lord's Prayer . A meditation in enamel pictures by Silvia Magnin. Leben Verlag, Vaduz 1976
  • Reading book for animal lovers . Public Health Publishing House, Zurich 1977
  • Xenos in Rhodes . Leben Verlag, Vaduz 1978
  • Fate and stages of life in the light of the later years . Kugler, Oberwil 1985
  • What to do with psychosocial stress, heart disease, high blood pressure ... The practical guide for everyone. Causes, symptoms and natural treatment options (with Heinz Joho). Public health publisher, Zurich 1990

As James Walker

  • Man and money. How to cope with your money problems . Oesch, Thalwil 1954
  • Personality and career. Guide to successful personal and professional development . Oesch, Thalwil 1955

Autobiography

  • Peter Hirsch: He called himself Peter Surava . Rothenhäusler, Stäfa 1991

Editing

  • Hans Mühlestein : v. Step up against Stalin! Defense letter against the prohibition of his edition of the speeches, addresses and daily orders of Stalin including Stalin biography (ed. V. Peter Surava). Literature distribution of the PdA , Zurich 1945
  • The Bible masters your life . Biblical wisdom, collected, compiled and introduced by Thomas Quinton. Oesch, Thalwil 1959

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ BGE 72 II 145 of May 24, 1946
  2. ↑ Fischhof Prize. Foundation against Racism and Anti-Semitism (GRA), accessed on August 13, 2010 .
personal data
SURNAME Surava, Peter
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hirsch, Hans Werner (maiden name); Hirsch, Peter; Steiger, Ernst; Walker, James; Quinton, Thomas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss journalist
DATE OF BIRTH April 25, 1912
PLACE OF BIRTH Zurich
DATE OF DEATH November 23, 1995
Place of death Oberrieden