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Carl von OssietzkyGerman journalist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 1935.
Date of Birth: 03.10.1889
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Journalistic Beginnings:
- Anti-War Activism and Journalism
- Leadership at the German Peace Society:
- International Editor of "Berliner Volkszeitung":
- Investigative Journalism and Political Engagement
- Editor-in-Chief of "Die Weltbühne":
- Continued Anti-Rearmament Campaign:
- Imprisonment and Nobel Peace Prize
- Arrest and Incarceration in Concentration Camps:
- Nomination and Award of the Nobel Peace Prize:
- Aftermath and Legacy
- Death and Recognition:
Early Life and Career
Birth and Education:- Karl von Ossietzky was born into a family of Polish-German descent in Hamburg, Germany.
- His stepfather, Gustav Walther, a prominent social democrat, played a significant role in shaping his worldview.
- Ossietzky completed his schooling at the age of 17 and became a clerk in his hometown.
Journalistic Beginnings:
- His journalistic career took off when he published his first article in the Democratic Union's newspaper "Das Freie Volk."
- Despite poor health, he was drafted into the Bavarian sapper unit during World War I.
Anti-War Activism and Journalism
Pacifist Beliefs:- During his time in the war, he became a staunch pacifist, believing in the futility of violence.
Leadership at the German Peace Society:
- After the war, he returned to Hamburg and headed the local branch of the German Peace Society.
- He launched a newspaper, "Der Wegweiser," but it faced funding challenges.
International Editor of "Berliner Volkszeitung":
- In 1920, he became the secretary of the Berlin branch of the German Peace Society.
- He published the "Mitteilungsblatt" and wrote for the monthly magazine "Monisten Monatshefte" under the pseudonym "Thomas Mürner."
- His political activism led him to take on the role of international editor at "Berliner Volkszeitung," an anti-war, democratic, and non-partisan newspaper.
Investigative Journalism and Political Engagement
Exposing the German Reichswehr's Militarization:- In 1926, Siegfried Jacobsohn, founder and editor of "Die Weltbühne," commissioned Ossietzky to investigate the secret remilitarization of the German Reichswehr.
Editor-in-Chief of "Die Weltbühne":
- After Jacobsohn's sudden death in 1926, Ossietzky became editor-in-chief of "Die Weltbühne."
- In 1927, the magazine published an article exposing the Weimar government's support for paramilitary organizations. Ossietzky was sentenced to imprisonment for defamation.
Continued Anti-Rearmament Campaign:
- Undeterred by imprisonment, he continued his campaign against Germany's rearmament.
- In 1929, he published an article exposing violations of the Versailles Treaty in German aviation, leading to his arrest for breach of military secrecy.
Imprisonment and Nobel Peace Prize
Sentencing under Nazi Regime:- In 1931, following the National Socialists' victory in the Reichstag elections, he was sentenced to 18 months in Spandau prison.
- However, under the Christmas amnesty in 1932, he was released after 7 months.
Arrest and Incarceration in Concentration Camps:
- The Nazi era brought intensified persecution of democrats. After the Reichstag fire in 1933, Ossietzky was arrested and held in concentration camps.
Nomination and Award of the Nobel Peace Prize:
- In 1934, Ossietzky was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by various organizations and prominent German exiles.
- Due to a late application, he was awarded the prize in 1936. The award was a global condemnation of Nazi policies.
Aftermath and Legacy
Controversy surrounding Nobel Acceptance:- The Nazi government refused to allow any German to accept a Nobel Prize.
- Germany demanded that Norway annul the decision, but Norway refused.
- Ossietzky's health deteriorated in prison, and he was held under strict surveillance.
Death and Recognition:
- Ossietzky passed away in a Berlin hospital on May 4, 1938.- After World War II, a street in Berlin was named in his honor.
Publications
- Schriften: Vols I, II. Berlin: Aufbau, 1966.
