August Perk
Encyclopedia
August Perk was a German Resistance fighter against the National Socialism. His briefly friendship with Erich Maria Remarque
had influence on Remarques world-famous novel "All Quiet on the Western Front
". August Perk is the grandfather of Johnny de Brest.
, Germany
. At the Age of 17 August Perk served as a soldier in World War I
in Russia
and France
.
It came to a fateful encounter, when Erich Maria Remarque
(who became later world-famous) worked as a teacher in August Perk's hometown Lohne. Perk and Remarque had a brief friendship. Remarque described this time later in his novel "The Road Back
" (1931). August Perk told Erich Maria Remarque of his experiences in World War I
and many of these stories appeared in Remarque's Antiwar Novel "All Quiet on the Western Front
".
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung: Was August Perk Schreckliches als Soldat im Ersten Weltkrieg erlebte, hat der weltbekannte Schriftsteller Erich Maria Remarque (1898-1970) in seinem Buch „Im Westen nichts Neues“ verarbeitet. Das Werk wurde in über 50 Sprachen übersetzt und gilt mit geschätzten Verkaufszahlen zwischen 15 und 20 Millionen als eines der meistgelesenen Bücher in der ganzen Welt (What August Perk experienced terrible as a Soldier in World War I, reprocessed the famous Writer Erich Maria Remarque (1898-1970) for his Book "All Quiet on the Western Front". The work was translated into over 50 languages and is regarded with estimated sales numbers between 15 and 20 million as one of the most widely read books in the world)
Perk's vocation Learnt as a Blacksmith- and Locksmith-Boss changed after a time of self-employment, when he moved over to Nordhorn
(Germany), where he worked for the Textile Company "Rawe & Co.". In 1940 August Perk married Johanna Meyer, they had two children, Maria (1941) and Heinrich (1942–1965).
Early on there were serious conflicts between August Perk and the National Socialists. After a bodily injury, August Perk's parents sued the Nazi Perpetrators and won the Trial. In 1934 the new Nazi Rulers condemned the faithful Catholic August Perk for political reasons to six months imprisonment, which was repealed for retention. Years later (in Nordhorn), on April 14, 1943, the Gestapo
arrested August Perk as a result of denunciation
by neighbors and work colleagues.
On August 11, 1943, August Perk was convicted by the Higher Regional Court in Hamm
(Germany) to two years in prison camp for "undermining military morale". August Perk survived the inhuman imprisonment in the notorious Prison Camp Wolfenbüttel (Germany) after the Liberation by the Allies
only a few days and died on May 12, 1945.
In addition to a political Debate, whether or not to be named a Street in Lohne as a remembrance to August Perk after his name: Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung: SPD lässt nicht locker: Straße nach August Perk benennen ("The Socialist Party demands: Street Name after August Perk"), there are several Memorial Places in Lohne and Nordhorn which also remembers of the Fate of August Perk, such as the Memorial to the Victims of the First and Second World War near Jenny Holzer
's "Black Garden" in Nordhorn, Photographs at the The Town Museum (Stadtmuseum) in Nordhorn and a Memorial-Stone (so-called "Stolperstein" or "Stumbling Block"), the small Copper Plaques, in the Pavement in Front of Houses of which the (mostly Jewish) Residents were murdered by the Nazis, mention the name, date of birth and place (mostly a concentration camp) and date of death. In many other German cities memorials also can be found. There are already many thousands of these plaques, and their number is still growing. The city of Nordhorn published a brochure and documenation of Gunter Demnig
's Stolperstein in Nordhorn: "Mentioned by Name ... Stumbling Blocks in Nordhorn, Documentation of the City of Nordhorn".
Erich Maria Remarque
Erich Maria Remarque was a German author, best known for his novel All Quiet on the Western Front.-Life and work:...
had influence on Remarques world-famous novel "All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I. The book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental stress during the war, and the detachment from civilian life felt by many of these soldiers upon returning home from the front.The...
". August Perk is the grandfather of Johnny de Brest.
Biography
August Perk was born as the son of a merchant family based in LohneLohne
Lohne can refer to several places in Europe:*in Germany:**Lohne, Germany, in the Vechta district in western Lower Saxony.**Lohne is the larger part of the town of Wietmarschen, also in western Lower Saxony, in Grafschaft Bentheim county...
, 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...
. At the Age of 17 August Perk served as a soldier in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It came to a fateful encounter, when Erich Maria Remarque
Erich Maria Remarque
Erich Maria Remarque was a German author, best known for his novel All Quiet on the Western Front.-Life and work:...
(who became later world-famous) worked as a teacher in August Perk's hometown Lohne. Perk and Remarque had a brief friendship. Remarque described this time later in his novel "The Road Back
The Road Back
The Road Back is a novel by German author Erich Maria Remarque. The novel was first serialized in the German newspaper Vossische Zeitung between December 1930 and January 1931, and published in book form in April 1931. It details the experience of young men in Germany who have returned from the...
" (1931). August Perk told Erich Maria Remarque of his experiences in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and many of these stories appeared in Remarque's Antiwar Novel "All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I. The book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental stress during the war, and the detachment from civilian life felt by many of these soldiers upon returning home from the front.The...
".
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung: Was August Perk Schreckliches als Soldat im Ersten Weltkrieg erlebte, hat der weltbekannte Schriftsteller Erich Maria Remarque (1898-1970) in seinem Buch „Im Westen nichts Neues“ verarbeitet. Das Werk wurde in über 50 Sprachen übersetzt und gilt mit geschätzten Verkaufszahlen zwischen 15 und 20 Millionen als eines der meistgelesenen Bücher in der ganzen Welt (What August Perk experienced terrible as a Soldier in World War I, reprocessed the famous Writer Erich Maria Remarque (1898-1970) for his Book "All Quiet on the Western Front". The work was translated into over 50 languages and is regarded with estimated sales numbers between 15 and 20 million as one of the most widely read books in the world)
Perk's vocation Learnt as a Blacksmith- and Locksmith-Boss changed after a time of self-employment, when he moved over to Nordhorn
Nordhorn
Nordhorn is the district seat of Grafschaft Bentheim in Lower Saxony's southwesternmost corner near the border with the Netherlands and the boundary with North Rhine-Westphalia.- Name's origin :...
(Germany), where he worked for the Textile Company "Rawe & Co.". In 1940 August Perk married Johanna Meyer, they had two children, Maria (1941) and Heinrich (1942–1965).
Early on there were serious conflicts between August Perk and the National Socialists. After a bodily injury, August Perk's parents sued the Nazi Perpetrators and won the Trial. In 1934 the new Nazi Rulers condemned the faithful Catholic August Perk for political reasons to six months imprisonment, which was repealed for retention. Years later (in Nordhorn), on April 14, 1943, the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
arrested August Perk as a result of denunciation
Denunciation
Denunciation or abrogation refers to the announcement of a treaty's termination. Some treaties contain a termination clause that specifies that the treaty will terminate if a certain number of nations denounce the treaty...
by neighbors and work colleagues.
On August 11, 1943, August Perk was convicted by the Higher Regional Court in Hamm
Hamm
Hamm is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany. It is located in the northeastern part of the Ruhr area. As of December 2003 its population was 180,849. The city is situated between the A1 motorway and A2 motorway...
(Germany) to two years in prison camp for "undermining military morale". August Perk survived the inhuman imprisonment in the notorious Prison Camp Wolfenbüttel (Germany) after the Liberation by the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
only a few days and died on May 12, 1945.
In addition to a political Debate, whether or not to be named a Street in Lohne as a remembrance to August Perk after his name: Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung: SPD lässt nicht locker: Straße nach August Perk benennen ("The Socialist Party demands: Street Name after August Perk"), there are several Memorial Places in Lohne and Nordhorn which also remembers of the Fate of August Perk, such as the Memorial to the Victims of the First and Second World War near Jenny Holzer
Jenny Holzer
Jenny Holzer is an American conceptual artist. Holzer lives and works in Hoosick Falls, New York.-Education:...
's "Black Garden" in Nordhorn, Photographs at the The Town Museum (Stadtmuseum) in Nordhorn and a Memorial-Stone (so-called "Stolperstein" or "Stumbling Block"), the small Copper Plaques, in the Pavement in Front of Houses of which the (mostly Jewish) Residents were murdered by the Nazis, mention the name, date of birth and place (mostly a concentration camp) and date of death. In many other German cities memorials also can be found. There are already many thousands of these plaques, and their number is still growing. The city of Nordhorn published a brochure and documenation of Gunter Demnig
Gunter Demnig
Gunter Demnig is a German artist. He is best known for his "Stolperstein" memorials to the victims of Nazi persecution and oppression in Nazi Germany.- Biography :...
's Stolperstein in Nordhorn: "Mentioned by Name ... Stumbling Blocks in Nordhorn, Documentation of the City of Nordhorn".