Lorenz Adlon (; 29 May 1849 – 7 April 1921) was a German

caterer Catering is the business of providing food service at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio. History of catering The earliest account of major services b ...

gastronomer Gastronomy is the study of the relationship between food and culture, the art of preparing and serving rich or delicate and appetizing food, the cooking styles of particular regions, and the science of good eating. One who is well versed in gast ...

and

hotelier A hotel manager, hotelier, or lodging manager is a person who manages the operation of a hotel, motel, resort, or other lodging-related establishment. Management of a hotel operation includes, but is not limited to management of hotel staff, bu ...

Early life

Lorenz Adlon (baptized Laurenz) was born in

Mainz Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main (river), Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-we ...

as Laurenz, the sixth out of nine children of a Catholic

shoemaker Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand, often by groups of shoemakers, or cobblers (also known as '' cordwainers''). In the 18th century, dozens or even hundreds of masters, journeymen ...

, Jacob Adlon, and his wife Anna Maria Elisabeth (Schallot), an ''accoucheuse'' (midwife). His grandfather, Andreas Adlon, was a groom from the

Spessart Spessart is a ''Mittelgebirge'', a range of low wooded mountains, in the States of Bavaria and Hesse in Germany. It is bordered by the Vogelsberg, Rhön and Odenwald. The highest elevation is the Geiersberg at 586 metres above sea level. Etymo ...

region. He was trained as a cabinet maker, (German language translated) finishing an apprenticeship in 1872 at the nationally leading ''Bembé''

cabinet-making A cabinet is a case or cupboard with shelves and/or drawers for storing or displaying items. Some cabinets are stand alone while others are built in to a wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet. Cabinets are typically made of wood (s ...

workshop of Mainz. Indeed, Adlon would eventually request its services, for furnishing the future Hotel Adlon of Berlin.Lorenz Adlon - ADLON Holding GmbH
(German language translated)

Private life

Lorenz Adlon was married twice. His first wife was Susanne Wannsiedel (died 1878), the daughter of a hotel manager in Mainz, they had three boys and two girls from 1872 to 1877, including a daughter Anna Katharina and a son Ludwig Anton, who together, inherited the hotel after the death of Lorenz (two others died in childhood). Adlon married again, to Fanny Claus, a widow from a prosperous

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...

family, who died just short time after in 1893, in Berlin.

Mainz

Lorenz Adlon joined a fellow student, opening a

wine store A liquor store is a retail shop that predominantly sells prepackaged liquors – typically in bottles – usually intended to be consumed off the store's premises. Depending on region and local idiom, they may also be called an off-licence ( ...

together, for selling what was produced by the many regional vineyards. http://www.luise-berlin.de/bms/bmstxt99/9905porc.htm english] During those years, Adlon couldn't resist the appeal, often visiting the ''Holländische Hof'' hotel near the bank of the Rhine, there taking note of the German aristocracy and its culinary customs. Adlon also was an athletic person, andreportedlyhe once catered his whole team, in a profitable experience which particularly fueled Adlon's dream for a gastronomic career. Lorenz Adlon got earnestly interested for gastronomy after a trip to France; after returning from the Franco-Prussian War, Adlon so started working as an

inn Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway; before the advent of motorized transportation they also provided accommo ...

keeper, in 1872. In 1876, Adlon accomplished his first big job in Mainz, catering the crowds during a regional

shooting Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missiles can ...

contest. In 1878, Lorenz Adlon opened the ''Raimundigarten''

restaurant A restaurant is a business that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. Restaurants vary greatly in appearan ...

, a wooden building, built over an abandoned fortification of Mainz, at its northwest, over the bank of the

Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , so ...

. Basically oriented for the tourism, it soon became a successful endeavor. Adlon then started exporting

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...

n ''

Pilsener Pilsner (also pilsener or simply pils) is a type of pale lager. It takes its name from the Bohemian city of Plzeň (german: Pilsen), where the world's first pale lager (now known as Pilsner Urquell) was produced in 1842 by Pilsner Urquell Bre ...

beer Beer is one of the oldest and the most widely consumed type of alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from ce ...

abroad, to both

The Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

and

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

Berlin

Late in the 1870s, Lorenz Adlon enthusiastically moved to

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 ...

, which was so attractive as the magnificent new capital of the ''

German Empire The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...

''. Once there, Adlon began in the business of selling wines. It became so successful, that Adlon's shop of the

Wilhelmstrasse Wilhelmstrasse (german: Wilhelmstraße, see ß) is a major thoroughfare in the central Mitte and Kreuzberg districts of Berlin, Germany. Until 1945, it was recognised as the centre of the government, first of the Kingdom of Prussia, later of t ...

would store three million bottles at some point; the value of the investment skyrocketed after a

vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselv ...

pest of the late 1910s, andin generalalso overmastering the German

inflation In economics, inflation is an increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation corresponds to a reductio ...

. Meanwhile, Lorenz Adlon kept managing the catering for international events, in 1881 for the festival of

gymnastics Gymnastics is a type of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, dedication and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, shou ...

Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...

(''Deutsches Turnfest''), in 1882 for the

Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...

n Trade exhibition, in 1883 for

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

World's Fair A world's fair, also known as a universal exhibition or an expo, is a large international exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of nations. These exhibitions vary in character and are held in different parts of the world at a specif ...

. By then, Lorenz Adlon was enjoying a prosperous financial period. Subsequently, Adlon started acquiring several restaurants, one after the other. He acquired the ''Mille Colonnes'' hotel, at the Rembrandtplein in

. By 1887, Adlon had already acquired a

café A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-ca ...

at the 62/63 on the patrician

Unter den Linden Unter den Linden (, "under the linden trees") is a boulevard in the central Mitte district of Berlin, the capital of Germany. Running from the City Palace to Brandenburg Gate, it is named after the linden (lime in England and Ireland, not re ...

boulevard of midtown Berlin, to Carl Hiller. In 1896, Lorenz Adlon together with two other businessmen, Hiller and Rudolf Dressel, managed the main restaurant facilities at the Neuer See, during the

Universal Exposition A world's fair, also known as a universal exhibition or an expo, is a large international exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of nations. These exhibitions vary in character and are held in different parts of the world at a specif ...

of Berlin ('' Gewerbe-Ausstellung''). During the event, Adlon got acquainted with the famous director of orchestra

Benjamin Bilse Benjamin Bilse (17 August 1816 – 13 July 1902) was a German conductor and composer. Bilse was born in Liegnitz (present-day Legnica) in the Prussian Silesia Province. He obtained a rich musical education, as at the Vienna Conservatory under v ...

, by whom Adlon got properly introduced to the high society of Berlin. Lorenz Adlon then took over Hiller's restaurant at 55

boulevard A boulevard is a type of broad avenue planted with rows of trees, or in parts of North America, any urban highway. Boulevards were originally circumferential roads following the line of former city walls. In American usage, boulevards may ...

. The place already was leading because of its French dishes, and during Adler's management, it became the most exclusive restaurant in Berlin; Adlon then was a recognized socialite. In 1898, Adlon entered into partnership with Teilhaber Klicks, acquiring the 195-room ''Hotel Continental'' on the ''Georgenstraße'', and so Adlon perfected his skills of

hotel management ''Hotel Management'' magazine is a trade publication produced by Questex, LLC. History and profile The magazine ''Hotel Management'' was established in New York in 1922 by Ahrens Publishers. It absorbed or merged with various other hotel manage ...

. In 1889 Lorenz Adlon acquired his first hotel, the Mille Colonnes, on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam.biography of Lorenz Adlon
(German language translated) In 1899, Lorenz Adlon leased the until then decadent two terraces of the

zoo A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes. The term ''zoological garden'' refers to zoo ...

of Mainz. Revamped by Adlon, the place started serving famous international treats, highlighting the ''

Bouillabaisse Bouillabaisse (; oc, bolhabaissa, bullabessa ) is a traditional Provençal fish stew originating in the port city of Marseille. The French and English form ''bouillabaisse'' comes from the Provençal Occitan word ''bolhabaissa'', a compound ...

'' specialty; daily yielding 6,000 Goldmarks, it once hosted William II, whose ensuing friendship meant Adlon's definitive belonging into the German

high society High society, sometimes simply society, is the behavior and lifestyle of people with the highest levels of wealth and social status. It includes their related affiliations, social events and practices. Upscale social clubs were open to men based ...

Hotel Adlon

*See main article:

Hotel Adlon The Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is a luxury hotel in Berlin, Germany. It is on Unter den Linden, the main boulevard in the central Mitte district, at the corner with Pariser Platz, directly opposite the Brandenburg Gate. The original Hotel Adlon ...

Shortly after the turn of the century, Lorenz Adlon agreed with the young emperor William II, who disliked his own very traditional town palace, to establish a hotel in the town. By 1905, Adlon had invested all he owned, 2 million

marks Marks may refer to: Business * Mark's, a Canadian retail chain * Marks & Spencer, a British retail chain * Collective trade marks, trademarks owned by an organisation for the benefit of its members * Marks & Co, the inspiration for the novel ...

(ℳ), for the ambitious ℳ17 million project. Adlon managed the process, acquiring several available properties round the 1

just besides the Brandenburg Gate, despite the protests of many Berliners. The

opened on 23 October 1907. Emperor William inaugurated it, praising on that occasion the hotel's beauty being even superior to his own Royal Palace, he patronized it regularly for his unofficial residence. At the heart of Berlin, the Adlon Hotel became the centre of the social life in the city. Before 1914, the aristocracy of all Europe was fond for gathering in it; thensharing the same area with the most important embassiesthe hotel hosted a series of international meetings, relevant to the historical development of the

First World War 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 ...

. However, after the war the supportive German monarchy was deposed, and so the magnificence of the Adlon Hotel started to dim.

Death

20160529 14995 DSC04147 Erbbegräbnis Lorenz Adlon

After the war, Lorenz Adlon remained reluctant about acknowledging the dethronement of the monarch. He refused to remove the monarch's bronze bust from the fireplace room when the emperor had already left for Holland and Philipp Scheidemann had proclaimed the republic. He refused driving through the Brandenburg Gate by the central line, which had once been reserved for the German nobility. In 1918 and 1921, he approached the middle vehicle lane in the attempt to cross the Pariser Platz. The central passage of the Brandenburg Gate was originally reserved for the emperor and therefore rarely frequented. In Adlon's mind, it had remained a safe traffic island. Adlon had suffered a severe street accident in 1918 and in 1921, at the same place, Adlon suffered a second, fatal accident, being hit by a car. (http://www.spiegel.de/einestages/100-jahre-hotel-adlon-a-948049.html english])

Ludwig Anton "Louis Adlon, Sr."

His son Ludwig Anton, born on 3 October 1874 (he called himself "Louis"), had five children with his first wife Tilly. After almost 15 years of marriage, he met a hotel guest, a dancer, the German-American Hedwig Leythen (1889-1967), called Hedda, at a New Year's Eve party in the

, left his wife and children, and in 1922 he married her. It was one of the biggest scandals of Berlin in the 1920s. Tilly moved with her daughter Elisabeth, then two, to the south of Germany, while the other children Susanne (mother of

Percy Adlon Paul Rudolf Parsifal "Percy" Adlon (; born 1 June 1935) is a German director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his film ''Bagdad Cafe''. He is associated with the New German Cinema movement (ca. 1965–1985), and has been noted f ...

), Lorenz and the twins Carl and Louis (junior) were sent to boarding school and later all four emigrated to America. His son Louis continued managing the hotel until it was burned down by Soviet troops in 1945. Solveig Grothe on 2007-10-21 in

Spiegel Online ''Der Spiegel (online)'' is a German news website. Before the renaming in January 2020, the website's name was ''Spiegel Online'' (short ''SPON''). It was founded in 1994 as the online offshoot of the German news magazine, ''Der Spiegel'', wit ...

writes that on April 21, 1945, the first explosions hit the ''Unter den Linden'' and the hotel stopped and the Adlon became a hospital for a short time. Grothe quotes Hedda : "On the night of May 2, Russian tanks rattled through the Brandenburg Gate, and at eight o'clock in the morning the first Russian soldiers appeared in the Adlon. (...) The disaster began, however, when a troop of Red Army soldiers in search of valuables discovered the wine cellar,..." Solveig Grothe on 2007-10-21 in

writes that one of the Russians threw his burning cigarette into the

wood wool Wood wool, known primarily as excelsior in North America, is a product made of wood slivers cut from logs. It is mainly used in packaging, for cooling pads in home evaporative cooling systems known as swamp coolers, for erosion control mats, and ...

, which was stored in the wine cellar for packaging, flames spread from the cellar, but slow enough to be able to bring the wounded to safety. His wife Hedda Adlon relates in her autobiography that Louis himself was taken by the Soviets and shot, after they mistook him for a General, because a servant had called him by his title of "Generaldirektor". Solveig Grothe on 2007-10-21 in

writes that Louis survived the end of the war for only a few days. He was picked up by the Russians for interrogation, and he collapsed on his way home and died. Louis Adlon died in May 1945 in a ditch near

Velten Velten is a town in the Oberhavel district of Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 10 km southwest of Oranienburg, and 24 km northwest of Berlin. History In 1905 Velten had 38 stove factories that delivered 100,000 tiled stoves to Berl ...

. Hedda Adlon lived with her sister in

Halensee Halensee () is a ''locality'' (''Ortsteil'') of Berlin in the district (''Bezirk'') of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. Halensee was established as a villa and tenement settlement in about 1880, in the suburb of Wilmersdorf, which became part of Great ...

, died on January 6, 1967. Berlin newspapers never published their deaths. Great-grandson

, a German film and television director, created the film '' In der glanzvollen Welt des Hotel Adlon'' in 1996 about the history of the hotel.

References

External links

* http://www.cosmopolis.ch/reisen/berlin/lorenz_adlon.htm biography of Lorenz Adlon] (German language translated) * http://www.rp-online.de/panorama/fernsehen/die-wahre-geschichte-des-adlon-aid-1.3128152 Berlin Hotel: The true story of the Adlon] (German language translated) * http://www.spiegel.de/einestages/100-jahre-hotel-adlon-a-948049.html Hotel Adlon Germany's first address] (German language translated) * https://web.archive.org/web/20120320031949/http://www.swr.de/100-groessten-rheinland-pfaelzer/kandidaten/-/id=2616472/nid=2616472/did=2462960/14hlahi/index.html Lorenz Adlon (65th) - 100 greatest from rhineland-palatinate] (German language translated)

Südwestrundfunk Südwestrundfunk (SWR; ''Southwest Broadcasting'') is a regional public broadcasting corporation serving the southwest of Germany , specifically the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The corporation has main offices ...

* http://adloninteraktiv.zdf.de/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Adlon, Lorenz 1849 births 1921 deaths

Lorenz Lorenz is an originally German name derived from the Roman surname Laurentius, which means "from Laurentum". Given name People with the given name Lorenz include: * Prince Lorenz of Belgium (born 1955), member of the Belgian royal family by h ...

Businesspeople from Berlin German hoteliers German restaurateurs Businesspeople from Mainz People from Rhenish Hesse