Astrid Gräfin von Hardenberg
Encyclopedia
Astrid Gräfin von Hardenberg (b. May 5, 1925 in Potsdam
, Germany
) is the daughter of the opponent to the national socialist regime Carl-Hans Graf von Hardenberg
and of Renate von der Schulenburg.
In 1942 Astrid von Hardenberg started studying at the Berlin State School
but was forced to interrupt her studies in 1943, in order to work as Red Cross nurse in different hospitals, among which the military hospital in Rosenheim
. In July 1944 the family mansion was confiscated because of the family's involvement in the July 20 plot
against Hitler.
She worked till 1990 for the European Commission
in Brussels
.
After the German reunification
, Friedrich Karl Graf von Hardenberg requested the restitution of the family property as Carl-Hans von Hardenberg's son and legal heir. Because of his old age, he bequethed the property to his sister Astrid von Hardenberg and his nephew Gebhard von Hardenberg. The request was approved in 1993 and the von Hardenberg family took possession
of the Neuhardenberg estate in 1996.
The mansion and the park were sold to the Deutscher Sparkassen und Giroverband
who started the restoration the following year. The mansion's park was redesigned and the memorial for Frederick II of Prussia
was also rehabilitated. Die new owner developed the mansion as an international cultural center and created the "Schloss Neuhardenberg Foundation".
The von Hardenberg family kept the Lietzen
commandry
(Komturei) and the Neuhardenberg estate.
In 1998 Astrid von Hardenberg created the Carl-Hans von Hardenberg Foundation in memory of her father. The foundation promotes the education of young people from the Märkisch-Oderland
Kreis
(district) and from the neighboring areas, including those beyond the German-Polish border. Die foundation promotes social involvement and creativity
of young people. The foundation emphasizes Christian orientation of youth activities and cross-border exchanges of young people. Astrid von Hardenberg is chairperson of the foundation and her niece, Amelie Gräfin von Hardenberg is member of the board of curator
s.
In 1901, the "Rosen Tantau" [Rosarium] named a rose cultivar
in her honor. It received the gold medal
at the International Rose Competition in Rome
, 2002
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) is the daughter of the opponent to the national socialist regime Carl-Hans Graf von Hardenberg
Carl-Hans Graf von Hardenberg
Carl-Hans Graf von Hardenberg was a German politician and landowner.Carl-Hans Graf von Hardenberg was born in Glogau Silesia, Germany . He was part of the nobility of Lower Saxony and entered the German army. In 1914 he married Renate von der Schulenburg. He was wounded several times during...
and of Renate von der Schulenburg.
In 1942 Astrid von Hardenberg started studying at the Berlin State School
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
but was forced to interrupt her studies in 1943, in order to work as Red Cross nurse in different hospitals, among which the military hospital in Rosenheim
Rosenheim
Rosenheim is a town in Bavaria at the confluence of the rivers Inn and Mangfall. It is seat of administration of the district of Rosenheim, but is not a part of it.-Geography:...
. In July 1944 the family mansion was confiscated because of the family's involvement in the July 20 plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
against Hitler.
She worked till 1990 for the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
After the German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
, Friedrich Karl Graf von Hardenberg requested the restitution of the family property as Carl-Hans von Hardenberg's son and legal heir. Because of his old age, he bequethed the property to his sister Astrid von Hardenberg and his nephew Gebhard von Hardenberg. The request was approved in 1993 and the von Hardenberg family took possession
Title (property)
Title is a legal term for a bundle of rights in a piece of property in which a party may own either a legal interest or an equitable interest. The rights in the bundle may be separated and held by different parties. It may also refer to a formal document that serves as evidence of ownership...
of the Neuhardenberg estate in 1996.
The mansion and the park were sold to the Deutscher Sparkassen und Giroverband
German public banks
The German banking system is structured in three different pillars, totally separated from each other.Was Banken leisten publisher: Bundesverband deutscher Banken, Berlin 2010, P.15.; accessed: 13.06.2011 They typically differ in their legal form and the ownershipPrivate Banks, represented by banks...
who started the restoration the following year. The mansion's park was redesigned and the memorial for Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
was also rehabilitated. Die new owner developed the mansion as an international cultural center and created the "Schloss Neuhardenberg Foundation".
The von Hardenberg family kept the Lietzen
Lietzen
Lietzen is a municipality in the district Märkisch-Oderland, in Brandenburg, Germany....
commandry
Commandry (feudalism)
Commandry , or commandery , was the smallest division of the European landed estate or manor under the control of a commendator, or commander, of an order of knights...
(Komturei) and the Neuhardenberg estate.
In 1998 Astrid von Hardenberg created the Carl-Hans von Hardenberg Foundation in memory of her father. The foundation promotes the education of young people from the Märkisch-Oderland
Märkisch-Oderland
Märkisch-Oderland is a Landkreis in the eastern part of Brandenburg, Germany. Neighboring are the district Barnim, the country Poland, the district-free city Frankfurt , the district Oder-Spree and the Bundesland Berlin...
Kreis
Districts of Germany
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....
(district) and from the neighboring areas, including those beyond the German-Polish border. Die foundation promotes social involvement and creativity
Creativity
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
of young people. The foundation emphasizes Christian orientation of youth activities and cross-border exchanges of young people. Astrid von Hardenberg is chairperson of the foundation and her niece, Amelie Gräfin von Hardenberg is member of the board of curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
s.
In 1901, the "Rosen Tantau" [Rosarium] named a rose cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
in her honor. It received the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the International Rose Competition in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 2002