Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer
Encyclopedia
Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer (September 4, 1894, in Ranshofen/Braunau am Inn
– December 27, 1957, in New York
) was a diplomat
, journalist
, doctor of laws and state.
land owner and member of the Upper Austria
n parliament Julius Wertheimer in Ranshofen near Braunau. His family had Jewish roots and so they fled Austria in 1938 because of the growing threat of the Nazi government.
During the first World War he got introduced to Marxist ideology and studied in Vienna
, Munich
and Heidelberg
after the war. He later developed a more and more pragmatic mental attitude and changed into a social democrat. He started to work as an editor in Hamburg
and until 1930 as a foreign correspondent for the social-democratic news paper Forward in London
. In this period he wrote his first book Portrait of the British Labour Party that became a bestseller, and he made first contact with Leopold Kohr
, a young journalist and economist from Salzburg
, later author of The Breakdown of Nations.
His book raised the awareness of the British government, who had a big influence on the League of Nations
. Because of that he got the chance to work as diplomat and supervisor of the League of Nations
for 10 years in Geneva
, beginning in 1930.
, where he worked at the American University
in Washington
as a professor. In addition he was employed as a consultant of the United States ministry for foreign affairs and supported the US government in the struggle against Hitler-Germany. There, he and his younger colleague Leopold Kohr began to criticize the National Socialist Germany through venues such as the New York Times.
, Egon Ranshofen began to work as executive, supervisor, and diplomat for the UNO
. His book “A Great Experiment in International Administration” had a substantial influence on the developing of the UNO.
Ranshofen-Wertheimer and Kohr also lobbied for an independent Austria. That the young second republic of Austria got a member of the UNO rather fast can be attributed to the engagement of Ranshofen-Wertheimer.
Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer is buried in the cemetery of the castle Ranshofen in his family grave.
manual”, will focused on the life of Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer.
The Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer Award (ERWA) was founded by the Society for Contemporary History in Braunau am Inn in the beginning of 2007.
Braunau am Inn
Braunau am Inn is a town in the Innviertel region of Upper Austria , the north-western state of Austria. It lies about 90 km west of Linz and about 60 km north of Salzburg, on the border with the German state of Bavaria. The population in 2001 was 16,372...
– December 27, 1957, in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) was a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, doctor of laws and state.
Early life
Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer was born as the son of the CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
land owner and member of the Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
n parliament Julius Wertheimer in Ranshofen near Braunau. His family had Jewish roots and so they fled Austria in 1938 because of the growing threat of the Nazi government.
During the first World War he got introduced to Marxist ideology and studied in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
after the war. He later developed a more and more pragmatic mental attitude and changed into a social democrat. He started to work as an editor in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and until 1930 as a foreign correspondent for the social-democratic news paper Forward in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In this period he wrote his first book Portrait of the British Labour Party that became a bestseller, and he made first contact with Leopold Kohr
Leopold Kohr
Leopold Kohr was an economist, jurist and political scientist known both for his opposition to the "cult of bigness" in social organization and as one of those who inspired the small is beautiful movement...
, a young journalist and economist from Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, later author of The Breakdown of Nations.
His book raised the awareness of the British government, who had a big influence on the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. Because of that he got the chance to work as diplomat and supervisor of the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
for 10 years in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, beginning in 1930.
United States of America
Because of the incidents in Europe he emigrated to AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he worked at the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as a professor. In addition he was employed as a consultant of the United States ministry for foreign affairs and supported the US government in the struggle against Hitler-Germany. There, he and his younger colleague Leopold Kohr began to criticize the National Socialist Germany through venues such as the New York Times.
Post-war period
Shortly after the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Egon Ranshofen began to work as executive, supervisor, and diplomat for the UNO
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. His book “A Great Experiment in International Administration” had a substantial influence on the developing of the UNO.
Ranshofen-Wertheimer and Kohr also lobbied for an independent Austria. That the young second republic of Austria got a member of the UNO rather fast can be attributed to the engagement of Ranshofen-Wertheimer.
Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer is buried in the cemetery of the castle Ranshofen in his family grave.
Reception
The 16th Braunau Contemporary History Days in September 2007, with the title “PeacemakersPeacemaking
Peacemaking is a form of conflict resolution which focuses on establishing equal power relationships that will be robust enough to forestall future conflict, and establishing some means of agreeing on ethical decisions within a community that has previously had conflict. In order to do so there...
manual”, will focused on the life of Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer.
The Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer Award (ERWA) was founded by the Society for Contemporary History in Braunau am Inn in the beginning of 2007.
Publications
- Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer, Victory is not enough. The strategy for a lasting peace. W.W. Norton & Company Publishers W.w. norton, New York,1942.
- Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer, The International Secretariat - A Great Experiment in International Administration. Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceCarnegie Endowment for International PeaceThe Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
, Washington 1945