Erich Everth (born 3 July 187? in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
; died 22 June 1934 in
Leipzig
Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as wel ...
) was a German
art historian
Art history is the study of aesthetic objects and visual expression in historical and stylistic context. Traditionally, the discipline of art history emphasized painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and decorative arts; yet today ...
, journalist and scientist of newspaper and
cultivation. He was the first ordinary professor for
Journalism
Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (profes ...
in Germany and directed from 1926 to 1933 the Institute for Journalism at the University of Leipzig. Alongside
Otto Groth and
Emil Dovifat
Emil or Emile may refer to:
Literature
*''Emile, or On Education'' (1762), a treatise on education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
* ''Émile'' (novel) (1827), an autobiographical novel based on Émile de Girardin's early life
*''Emil and the Detective ...
Everth is one of the greatest German scientists for Journalism. With the
Rise to power of the
Nazis
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...
1933 he was forced to retire and died soon after in sickness and bitterness.
Life and work
Studies
Everth had remarkably many directions of interest. In 1898 he matriculated himself at the
Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität and studied
philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
and
law. Later he changed to philosophy,
art history
Art history is the study of aesthetic objects and visual expression in historical and stylistic context. Traditionally, the discipline of art history emphasized painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and decorative arts; yet today ...
and
psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...
. His most important teacher was
Max Dessoir
Maximilian Dessoir (8 February 1867 – 19 July 1947) was a German philosopher, psychologist and theorist of aesthetics.
Career
Dessoir was born in Berlin, into a German Jewish family, his parents being Ludwig Dessoir (1810-1874), "Germany's mo ...
, who was struggling with the concept of a new systematic Science of
Art
Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.
There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...
.
Everth received a
PhD PHD or PhD may refer to:
* Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), an academic qualification
Entertainment
* '' PhD: Phantasy Degree'', a Korean comic series
* ''Piled Higher and Deeper'', a web comic
* Ph.D. (band), a 1980s British group
** Ph.D. (Ph.D. albu ...
in 1909 at the philosophical department of the University of Leipzig by August Schmarsow and Johannes Volkelt.
Journalism
Everth then worked for different newspapers, such as the Rheinisch-Westfälische Zeitung or the Magdeburgische Zeitung.
After the break-out of
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
Everth was a soldier at the eastern front. Soon he gained a role as consultant in the press office of
Ober Ost and found time for publications again. In 1915 Everth published the pamphlet ''Von der Seele der Soldaten im Felde'' (About the soul of the soldier afield), which rapidly became one of the most dispersed texts under the German soldiers. No less than 20,000 brochures were printed in 4
editions
Edition may refer to:
* Edition (book), a bibliographical term for a substantially similar set of copies
* Edition (printmaking), a publishing term for a set print run
* Edition (textual criticism), a particular version of a text
* Edition Records ...
. In contrast to usual pamphlets full of
chauvinism
Chauvinism is the unreasonable belief in the superiority or dominance of one's own group or people, who are seen as strong and virtuous, while others are considered weak, unworthy, or inferior. It can be described as a form of extreme patriotis ...
and
heroism
A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''her ...
, Everth characterized the active soldier as a normal human being with problems and individual worries.
Hermann Hesse
Hermann Karl Hesse (; 2 July 1877 – 9 August 1962) was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include ''Demian'', ''Steppenwolf (novel), Steppenwolf'', ''Siddhartha (novel), Siddhartha'', and ''The Glass Bead Game'', ...
appreciated in a review exactly this fine psychological sight of Erich Everth.
After the war Everth worked in editorial departments of different newspapers, as there are the ''Leipziger Volkszeitung'', the ''Berliner „Telegraphen Union“'', the
Vossische Zeitung
The (''Voss's Newspaper'') was a nationally-known Berlin newspaper that represented the interests of the liberal middle class. It was also generally regarded as Germany's national newspaper of record. In the Berlin press it held a special role d ...
, the
Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
''Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung'' (often abbreviated to DAZ) was a German newspaper that appeared between 1861 and 1945.
Until 1918 the title of the paper was ''Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung''. Although Wilhelm Liebknecht, one of the founders ...
or the liberal
Berliner Tageblatt.
He published numerous articles on a wide spectrum of matters. He wrote essays or shorter texts on occasion. They confirm, what the political angle of the different editorial office already suggested: Everth had changed his political views from a monarchic-national to advocacy of
democracy
Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (" direct democracy"), or to choose gov ...
.
"Zeitungskunde": the first full professor
In November 1926, the 48-year-old art historian was appointed by
Karl Bücher
Karl Wilhelm Bücher (16 February 1847, Kirberg, Hesse – 12 November 1930, Leipzig, Saxony) was a German economist, one of the founders of non-market economics, and the founder of journalism as an academic discipline.
Biography
Early life ...
to be the first ordinary professor of the newly created chair for "Zeitungskunde" at the
University of Leipzig
Leipzig University (german: Universität Leipzig), in Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and the second-oldest university (by consecutive years of existence) in Germany. The university was founded on 2 Decemb ...
. His concern was the methodological basement of the new academic discipline. Everth defined Zeitungskunde/
Journalism
Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (profes ...
as a discipline of integration without a special method. In fact it is for him possible to use different methods from other disciplines in various combinations.
He restricted the object of "Zeitungskunde" to the newspaper, that means every printed periodical press.
This press meets in Everths opinion not only economic but equally social needs in public life. The press is more than just a usual earning company but at least in parts has its own spirit and is partially a piece of art itself.
As a result of the university's affiliation with state ideology during the Nazi era, the institute saw significant personnel and content changes, and Erich Everth, the former head and a proponent of a free press, was ousted and replaced by regime loyalist Hans A. Münster.
Fight against Nazism
When the
Nazis
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...
rose to power in 1933 all the newspapers of the Nazis celebrated in capital letters. But the national press was celebrating as well, the German
media proprietor Alfred Hugenberg himself was the leader of the
DNVP, a party that was supporting the Nazis.
In this concert of like-minded there were few who intoned other melodies. And even less, that know how these concertos can end. To those belonged Everth, „a man of the more inconvenient sort, who was concerned for the
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic News media, media, especially publication, published materials, should be conside ...
at first – a concern that should cost him his career and honour and probably even his will to live“ (Arnulf Kutsch). The reclusive worker Everth now takes a firm stand and shows that he is not going to stay inside the
ivory tower
An ivory tower is a metaphorical place—or an atmosphere—where people are happily cut off from the rest of the world in favor of their own pursuits, usually mental and esoteric ones. From the 19th century, it has been used to designate an e ...
of
Academic elitism
Elitism is the belief or notion that individuals who form an elite—a select group of people perceived as having an intrinsic quality, high intellect, wealth, power, notability, special skills, or experience—are more likely to be construc ...
due to the incidents.
The Congress „Das Freie Wort“ (The Free Word)
On the very last, from liberal und lefts-democratic politicians organised public event in central Berlin, the congress „Das Freie Wort“ (The Free Word) on 19 February 1933, Everth held a strong pleading in favor of the freedom of the press. He joined
Alfred Kantorowicz
Alfred may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
*''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series
* ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne
* ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák
*"Alfred (Interlu ...
in the opinion, that „there are times, when the free word has to be defended not only with words, but with deeds.“
At this demonstration, where one could hear the call for
freedom of thought
Freedom of thought (also called freedom of conscience) is the freedom of an individual to hold or consider a fact, viewpoint, or thought, independent of others' viewpoints.
Overview
Every person attempts to have a cognitive proficiency by ...
for a last time, between 1000 and 2000 democratic or at least anti-Nazi minded
intellectuals
An intellectual is a person who engages in critical thinking
Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgement. The subject is complex; several different definitions exist, ...
participated, for instance
Käthe Kollwitz
Käthe Kollwitz ( born as Schmidt; 8 July 1867 – 22 April 1945) was a German artist who worked with painting, printmaking (including etching, lithography and woodcuts) and sculpture. Her most famous art cycles, including ''The Weavers'' and ''T ...
,
Max Brauer
Max Julius Friedrich Brauer (3 September 1887 – 2 February 1973) was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the first elected First Mayor of Hamburg after World War II.
Life
In 1923, Brauer was mayor of the independe ...
,
Willi Münzenberg
Wilhelm "Willi" Münzenberg (14 August 1889, Erfurt, Germany – June 1940, Saint-Marcellin, France) was a German Communist political activist and publisher. Münzenberg was the first head of the Young Communist International in 1919–20 and est ...
,
Adolf Grimme,
Ferdinand Tönnies
Ferdinand Tönnies (; 26 July 1855 – 9 April 1936) was a German sociologist, economist, and philosopher. He was a significant contributor to sociological theory and field studies, best known for distinguishing between two types of social gro ...
and
Heinrich Mann.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein ( ; ; 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory ...
composed a public appeal for attendance on 6 February.
Before normal termination the demonstration was ended by
SA violently. A few days later, on the other side of the plaza, the
Reichstag was ablaze and the hereupon enforced
Reichstag Fire Decree nullified many of the key
civil liberties
Civil liberties are guarantees and freedoms that governments commit not to abridge, either by constitution, legislation, or judicial interpretation, without due process. Though the scope of the term differs between countries, civil liberties may ...
of German citizens.
Unsubstantiated dismissal
Political investigations against Everth were initiated then. A short period of time later he got a letter from the Saxon Ministry of Education, which stated that Everths attitude was "in no way compatible with the requirements that must be made to an academic teacher in the new state." On 29 April 1933, Everth was dismissed for supposedly "un-german" attitude. An explanatory statement that must have been especially devastating for the
germanophile Everth. But he was the only one of the whole academic guild that had the courage to criticize the emergency regulations and the press policy of the Nazis.
Everths
forced retirement followed by 30 September 1933, although the investigation had revealed no justiciable evidence against him.
Disease and end
At the time of the forced retirement Everth was already seriously ill. Further resistance was therefore impossible for him.
Everth, who had drawn all his life to the events underlying spiritual connections, who always focused more on the whole as to the little detail, must have been suffering particularly hard under the ever growing National Socialist "movement" and her brown aesthetics.
The dignified psychological observation, and the interdisciplinary view were Everths concern and talent. From this grew its
Weltanschauung as well as the basic idea of his scientific theory. His sense of order had nothing in common with the designers and heralds of a
Third Reich.
While the Nazis distinguished themselves on the streets by rampaging hordes of SA and in communication policy by
censorship
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...
and rushing
propaganda
Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...
, Everth fought to the last with all his might. But it remained existentially incomprehensible for him, who now directed the fate of the German nation, especially since he had no illusions about their future under
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
s rule. The cause of his illness and fast death are therefore definitely also to find in that social development of Germany. Everth himself noted this fact in one of his last letters.
Erich Everth died on 22 June 1934 in Leipzig.
Tribute
Since 2003 Leipzig's Media Foundation awards a scholarship named after Everth that so far has been used within the Department of Communication and Media Studies at the
University of Leipzig
Leipzig University (german: Universität Leipzig), in Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and the second-oldest university (by consecutive years of existence) in Germany. The university was founded on 2 Decemb ...
.
References
Sources
Writings
*''Männer der Zeit'', Faber, Magdeburg 1915 (zuerst in der Magdeburgischen Zeitung, 1915)
*''Von der Seele des Soldaten im Felde. Bemerkungen eines Kriegsteilnehmers'', Diederichs, Jena 1915
*''Das innere Deutschland nach dem Kriege'', Diederichs, Jena 1916
*''Conrad Ferdinand Meyer. Dichtung und Persönlichkeit'', Sibyllen-Verlag, Dresden 1924
*''Die Kunst der Erzählung'', in: Zeitschrift für Ästhetik und allgemeine Kunstwissenschaft, Bd. IX, Enke, Stuttgart 1925
*''Volkelts ästhetische Grundgestalten'', Eduard Pfeiffer, Leipzig 1926
*''Zeitungskunde und Universität. Antrittsvorlesung, gehalten am 20. November 1926'', Gustav Fischer, Jena 1927
*''Die Zeitung im Dienst der Öffentlichkeit. Eine begriffliche Grundlegung'', in: Archiv für Buchgewerbe und Gebrauchsgraphik, 1928
*''Das Studium der Zeitungskunde an der Universität Leipzig'', A. Lorenz, Leipzig 1928 (2. Auflage 1933)
*''Die Öffentlichkeit in der Außenpolitik von Karl V. bis Napoleon''. Gustav Fischer, Jena 1931
Literature
*Stefanie Averbeck: ''Erich Everth: Theorie der Öffentlichkeit und Interessen''. In: Großbothener Vorträge III. edition lumière, Bremen 2002
*Hans Bohrmann, Arnulf Kutsch: ''Pressegeschichte und Pressetheorie. Erich Everth 1878–1934''. in: Publizistik 24 (1979), S. 386–403
*Erik Koenen: ''Ein „einsamer“ Wissenschaftler? Erich Everth und das Leipziger Institut für Zeitungskunde zwischen 1926 und 1933. Ein Beitrag zur Bedeutung des Biographischen für die Geschichte der Zeitungswissenschaft''. In: Medien & Zeit, 20. Jg. 2005, Heft 1, S. 38–50
*Erik Koenen: ''Journalismus als soziale Form gedacht. Zum 70. Todestag von Erich Everth''. In: Journal Universität Leipzig. Mitteilungen und Berichte für die Angehörigen und Freunde der Universität, Jg. 2004, Heft 4 (Juli), S. 28
*Roland Lambrecht: ''Politische Entlassungen der NS-Zeit.'' Leipzig,
Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, 2006.
*Arnulf Kutsch: ''Von der unbequemen Sorte''. In: message 2/2002
*Sylvia Werther, Thomas Lietz, Erik Koenen: ''Das Aus für das freie Wort. Die nationalsozialistische „Machtergreifung“ im Institut für Zeitungskunde''. In: Journal Universität Leipzig. Mitteilungen und Berichte für die Angehörigen und Freunde der Universität Leipzig, Jg. 2003, Heft 7 (Dezember), S. 37–38
External links
*
Erich Everthin the
* https://web.archive.org/web/20071008125322/http://www.exil-archiv.de/html/biografien/everth.htm
Essay über den Medienstandort Leipzig
{{DEFAULTSORT:Everth, Erich
German art historians
1934 deaths
Year of birth uncertain
German male non-fiction writers
Berliner Tageblatt people