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Moriz von Kuffner (30 January 1854 – 5 March 1939) was a
Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
-
Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...
industrialist,
art collector A private collection is a privately owned collection of works (usually artworks) or valuable items. In a museum or art gallery context, the term signifies that a certain work is not owned by that institution, but is on loan from an individual ...
,
mountaineer Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, an ...
and philanthropist. From the 1880s to the early 1910s he made a fortune in the
brewery A brewery or brewing company is a business that makes and sells beer. The place at which beer is commercially made is either called a brewery or a beerhouse, where distinct sets of brewing equipment are called plant. The commercial brewing of bee ...
business, and became a significant sponsor of Vienna's social and cultural life as well as a mentor of astronomy. Moriz von Kuffner was forced to sell his Austrian assets and to leave Vienna in 1938.


Industrialist and philanthropist

He was born in
Ottakring Ottakring () is the 16th District in the city of Vienna, Austria (german: 16. Bezirk, Ottakring). It is located west of the central districts, north of Penzing and south of Hernals. Ottakring has some heavily populated urban areas with many resid ...
,
Lower Austria Lower Austria (german: Niederösterreich; Austro-Bavarian: ''Niedaöstareich'', ''Niedaestareich'') is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Since 1986, the capital of Lower Austria has been Sankt P ...
(then a suburb of
Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...
, now a city district), the son of Ignaz Kuffner, member of a Jewish industrialist dynasty from Lundenburg, who (together with his cousin Jacob) had taken over the brewery in Ottakring in 1850. Ignaz Kuffner had been mayor of
Ottakring Ottakring () is the 16th District in the city of Vienna, Austria (german: 16. Bezirk, Ottakring). It is located west of the central districts, north of Penzing and south of Hernals. Ottakring has some heavily populated urban areas with many resid ...
from 1869 to 1876, and was elevated to minor Austrian nobility (''Edler von Kuffner'') in 1878. Moriz von Kuffner studied chemistry at the K.K. Polytechnisches Institut (the predecessor of the
Technical University of Vienna TU Wien (TUW; german: Technische Universität Wien; still known in English as the Vienna University of Technology from 1975–2014) is one of the major universities in Vienna, Austria. The university finds high international and domestic recogn ...
). When his father died in 1882, he upgraded and greatly extended the brewery he had inherited. In 1902 he transformed it into a joint stock company, with his cousins Wilhelm Kuffner and Karl Kuffner de Diószegh as partners. He was also president of the sugar refinery in Diószeg in western Slovakia and of the Steinbruck brewery in
Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...
; was among the largest owners of real estate in Vienna; owned significant collections of art, including many works by Albrecht Dürer; and was a founding member of the Musikverein. From 1900 to 1919, he was an executive director of the
Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien The Jewish Community of Vienna (Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien or IKG) is the body that represents Vienna's Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish community. Today, the IKG has around 10 000 members. Throughout history, it has represented almost all ...
. In addition, he was an enthusiastic and highly reputed alpinist who scaled most of the alpine summits of 4,000 m height and above, establishing new routes on the Eiger,
Mont Blanc Mont Blanc (french: Mont Blanc ; it, Monte Bianco , both meaning "white mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising above sea level. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus, and ...
,
Mont Pelvoux Mont Pelvoux () is a mountain in the Massif des Écrins in the French Alps. It stands in elevation. For many years, Mont Pelvoux was believed to be the tallest mountain in the region, since the taller Barre des Écrins The Barre des Écrins ...
,
Mont Maudit Mont Maudit (4,465 m) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in France and Italy. The French name literally means "Cursed Mountain". Until the end of the 18th century, Mont Blanc and its satellite peaks were collectively known in French as the '' ...
(on which the well-known Kuffner or Frontier ridge is named after him) and others. Moriz von Kuffner was so fascinated by astronomy that he sponsored the construction, equipment and operation of an observatory on some of his property on the slope of the
Gallitzinberg The Gallitzinberg (449 m) is a forested hill in the West of Austria's capital, Vienna. While it is relatively inconspicuous in the broader context of the Northeastern end of the Wienerwald mountain range, it is nevertheless remarkable because of i ...
, where at the time of its construction (1884–1892), the Wienerwald reached almost down into Ottakring. This
Kuffner observatory The Kuffner observatory is one of two telescope-equipped public astronomical observatories situated in Austria's capital, Vienna. It is situated in the West of the city's Ottakring district, on the slope of the Gallitzinberg at 302 m altitude. ...
is his most important surviving legacy. Kuffner named asteroids 242 Kriemhild and
243 Ida Ida, minor planet designation 243 Ida, is an asteroid in the Koronis family of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 29 September 1884 by Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa at Vienna Observatory and named after a nymph from Greek mythology. ...
, by courtesy of their discoverer Johann Palisa. In 1887, he had a representative residence (the Palais Kuffner) built in Ottakring. It quickly became an attraction for Viennese society, culture, and politics. World War I dealt a significant economic blow to the Kuffner family, and essentially ended the era of their sponsorship. Brewery product sales recovered only very slowly, and profits never returned to the levels seen during the "century of the brewers."


Mountaineering

During the 1880s and 1890s, Moriz von Kuffner became one of the leading mountaineers in Austria. As a keen and recognised alpinist, he conquered most of the Alpine four-thousanders, blazing new routes, some of which were later named after him, like the Kuffer Ridge (''Kuffnergrat'') on Mont Maudit and the Kuffner Pillar (''Kuffnerpfeiler'') on the Piz Palü.see Katja Fischer: ''Jüdische Kunstsammlungen in Wien vor 1938 am Beispiel der Familie Kuffner''p. 35 He was accompanied on most of his expeditions by
mountain guide A mountain guide is a specially trained and experienced professional mountaineer who is certified by local authorities or mountain guide associations. They are considered to be high-level experts in mountaineering, and are hired to instruct or ...
s,
Alexander Burgener Alexander Burgener Alexander Burgener (10 January 1845, Saas Fee – 8 July 1910, near the Berglihütte) was a Swiss mountain guide and the first ascentionist of many mountains and new routes in the western Alps during the silver age of alpinis ...
, J. M. Biner (also Biener), J. Furrer, A. Kalbermatten, Cl. Perren, Christian Ranggetiner, E. Rubesoir, J. P. Ruppen and Martin Schocher.see Ferrari D'Occhieppo–Hösch: ''Kuffner Moritz von'' Selection of first ascents: * 1883 Piz Glüscheint in the Bernina Group; * 8 August 1884 Teufelshorn in the Northwest Ridge (''Nordwestgrat'') of the
Großglockner The Grossglockner (german: Großglockner ; or just ''Glockner'') is, at 3,798 metres above the Adriatic (12,461 ft), the highest mountain in Austria and the highest mountain in the Alps east of the Brenner Pass. It is part of the larger Gloc ...
und Glocknerhorn with Christian Ranggetiner and E. Rubesoier (Teufelshorn) * 1885 Eiger in the
Bernese Oberland The Bernese Oberland ( en, Bernese Highlands, german: Berner Oberland; gsw, Bärner Oberland; french: Oberland bernois), the highest and southernmost part of the canton of Bern, is one of the canton's five administrative regions (in which context ...
, 1st descent along the Northeast Ridge by rappel at some "steps" (''Nordostgrat'', ''Mittellegigrat''); * 1885 Laquinhorn (Lagginhorn) via the great spur on the east side; * 1887
Mont Blanc Mont Blanc (french: Mont Blanc ; it, Monte Bianco , both meaning "white mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising above sea level. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus, and ...
from Géant Glacier up the eastern side of
Mont Maudit Mont Maudit (4,465 m) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in France and Italy. The French name literally means "Cursed Mountain". Until the end of the 18th century, Mont Blanc and its satellite peaks were collectively known in French as the '' ...
; * 1887 Aiguille des Glaciers East-Southeast Ridge (''Ostsüdostgrat'') in the southwestern
Mont Blanc Group The Mont Blanc massif (french: Massif du Mont-Blanc; it, Massiccio del Monte Bianco) is a mountain range in the Alps, located mostly in France and Italy, but also straddling Switzerland at its northeastern end. It contains eleven major indepe ...
* 1888
Mont Pelvoux Mont Pelvoux () is a mountain in the Massif des Écrins in the French Alps. It stands in elevation. For many years, Mont Pelvoux was believed to be the tallest mountain in the region, since the taller Barre des Écrins The Barre des Écrins ...
over the western part of the northeast flank in the Dauphiné * 15 July 1890 Portjengrat / Pizzo d'Andolla over the East Ridge (''Ostgrat'', ''Grenzgrat'') in the Weißmies Group (eastern Wallis Alps) with Alexander Burgener and J.P.Ruppen * 1899 East Summit of
Piz Palü Piz Palü is a mountain in the Bernina Range of the Alps, located between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large glaciated massif composed of three main summits, on a ridge running from west to east. The main (and central) summit is 3,900 metres ...
in the
Bernina Group The Bernina Range is a mountain range in the Alps of eastern Switzerland and northern Italy. It is considered to be part of the Rhaetian Alps within the Central Eastern Alps. It is one of the highest ranges of the Alps, covered with many glaciers ...
over the eastern North Face pillar (Kuffner pillar)


Forced emigration and death

The year 1938 was disastrous for the 84-year-old Moriz von Kuffner in multiple ways. In January his wife Elsa and then in February his eldest son Ignaz died, and he himself fell ill. Moreover, after the ''
Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, en, Annexation of Austria), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich on 13 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a " Greater Germany ...
'' of Austria to the Third Reich the Kuffner family was subjected to the full range of harassments and physical threats which the newly empowered National Socialists could mount against Jewish industrialists. On 13 March 1938, Moriz averted a forceful attempt by a Sturmabteilung to take over the brewery only by placing his single non-Jewish executive - the laboratory director - formally in charge of the company. In a desperate attempt to salvage whatever he could before the family had to leave Vienna, Moriz' son Stephan Kuffner negotiated the sale of the brewery to an "Aryan" industrialist for 14 million Schilling. Although this was much more than Jewish proprietors of comparable assets had to settle for, it represented only a fraction of the brewery's actual valuation at this time. The government approved the transaction on 6 June 1938 and immediately fined the new owner, Gustav Harmer, a penalty tax of 3 million Reichsmark for "attempts to disguise Jewish property." With the assistance of a fellow alpinist Moriz von Kuffner - an already very old and very ill man - obtained an immigration permit for Switzerland. He had to pay the ''Reichsfluchtsteuer'' (the emigration tax), amounting to 3 million Reichsmark. Kuffner died on 5 March 1939 in Zürich's
Hirslanden Hirslanden is a quarter in the district 7 in Zürich. It was formerly a municipality of its own, having been incorporated into Zürich in 1893. The quarter has a population of 6,859 distributed on an area of . Hirslanden is located on the west ...
clinic and was interred at the Rehalp cemetery in the
Weinegg Weinegg is a quarter in District 8 of Zürich. Geography and demographics Weinegg was formerly a part of Riesbach municipality, which was incorporated into Zürich in 1893. The quarter has a population of 4,951 distributed on an area of 1.72 km ...
district.


Post-war restitution

The modalities of compensation which were negotiated with Kuffner's heirs after World War II have been cited as a positive example for the restitution of Jewish assets that were expropriated under the rule of National Socialism in Austria. The owners of the Ottakring brewery made contact with the Kuffner family as soon as 1945. In August 1950, an agreement was reached under which Moriz' seven entitled heirs received $440,000; Stephan Kuffner received
Schwechat Schwechat () is a town southeast of Vienna known for the Vienna International Airport and Schwechater beer. The city is home to the refineries of the Austrian national oil company OMV. Geography Schwechat is named after the river Schwechat, wh ...
brewery stock worth one million Austrian Schillings. In return, the Kuffner family waived their rights to the Palais Kuffner. Those parts of the confiscated Kuffner library which had been incorporated into the
Austrian National Library The Austrian National Library (german: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek) is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. The library is located in the Neue Burg Wing of the Hofburg in center of V ...
were restituted by the state.


The Kuffner foundation

In 1960, Stephan Kuffner established the Moriz und Elsa von Kuffner foundation in Switzerland.Schellenberg C. Die Moriz und Elsa von Kuffner-Stiftung. Nov. 30, 1999
Online PDF
(German) Accessed: 2009-05-31
Archived
/ref> It supports collaborative projects in remote Swiss mountain areas and
nurse education Nurse education consists of the theoretical and practical training provided to nurses with the purpose to prepare them for their duties as nursing care professionals. This education is provided to student nurses by experienced nurses and other med ...
.


Honors

In 2006, the main-belt asteroid 12568 Kuffner was named in honor of Moriz von Kuffner's sponsorship of astronomy.


Notes


Literature

* Darthé, M. ''Ottakringer - Eine Unternehmensgeschichte unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Eigentümerverhältnisse''. LIT Verlag, Wien 2007. * Fischer, Katja. ''Jüdische Kunstsammlungen in Wien vor 1938 am Beispiel der Familie Kuffner''. Universität Wien. M.Sc. Thesis, August 200
Online PDF
(German) Accessed 2009-05-3
Archived
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuffner, Moriz Von 1854 births 1939 deaths Austrian businesspeople Philanthropists from Vienna Austrian art collectors Austrian mountain climbers Jewish emigrants from Austria after the Anschluss Austrian refugees Edlers of Austria People from Ottakring TU Wien alumni