Ernst Bernheim
Encyclopedia
Ernst Bernheim was a German
historian, best known for an influential Lehrbuch der historischen Methode (1889) on historical method
.
as a son of merchant Louis Bernheim (later changed to Ludwig Berheim, born 7 December 1815 in Fürstenberg
) and Emma Simon (born 15 April 1834 in Kolberg), who since 1834 lived in Hamburg
. On 16 April 1884 he married Amalie ("Emma") Henriette Jessen (born 18 September 1861 in Hamburg, died 9 July 1945 in Greifswald). They had a daughter and three sons.
in 22 September 1868. From 1868 to 1872 he studied history in Berlin
, Heidelberg
, and Straßburg
. He graduated with the grades Dr. phil
and Dr jur. in Straßburg (1873, supervised by Georg Waitz
), and Dr habil
in Göttingen
(1874/75, supervised by Julius Weizsäcker
). Thereafter, he taught history at the University of Göttingen and at the University of Bonn
. In 1883, he was called to the University of Greifswald, Institute for History, where he held the positions of an "außerordentlicher Professor" ("Privatdozent") since 1883, and "ordentlicher Professor" since 1889. In 1899, he was elected Rektor of the university. His eremitation was in 1921.
. In 1933 he was forbidden to lecture, and an appeal to Hitler
to regain this permission was not successful. On 4 December 1935, with the implementation of the Nuremberg Laws
, Berheim lost German citizenship. An appeal to Hitler to regain citizenship, which was backed by a number of scientists from the University of Greifswald was successful - Bernheim was assigned "temporary citizenship" on 12 January 1938, thus avoiding deportation in 1940. Yet, just weeks before his death, the deaf-mute fosterchild of the family, Hetti Meyer, was deported to Theresienstadt and killed. Hetti was raised from her birth by Bernheim and his wife Emma, a special education teacher. From 1939 onwards, Nazi scientists systematically besmirched Berheim's scientific work, which was only appreciated again in post-war Germany. Bernheim died on 3 March 1942 in Greifswald. His former colleagues managed to circumvent Nazi orders and get his urn buried in the town's graveyard on July 23, 1943, but an obituary was not permitted.
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...
historian, best known for an influential Lehrbuch der historischen Methode (1889) on historical method
Historical method
Historical method comprises the techniques and guidelines by which historians use primary sources and other evidence to research and then to write histories in the form of accounts of the past. The question of the nature, and even the possibility, of a sound historical method is raised in the...
.
Family
He was born in HamburgHamburg
-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...
as a son of merchant Louis Bernheim (later changed to Ludwig Berheim, born 7 December 1815 in Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg and can refer to the following.- Historical states :* Fürstenberg , county * Fürstenberg-Baar, county * Fürstenberg-Blumberg, county...
) and Emma Simon (born 15 April 1834 in Kolberg), who since 1834 lived 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...
. On 16 April 1884 he married Amalie ("Emma") Henriette Jessen (born 18 September 1861 in Hamburg, died 9 July 1945 in Greifswald). They had a daughter and three sons.
Career
Ernst attended the Johanneum since Easter, 1862, and graduated with AbiturAbitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in 22 September 1868. From 1868 to 1872 he studied history in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 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...
, and Straßburg
Strasburg
-Places:*Strasbourg, a city in Alsace *Straßburg, Austria, in Carinthia*Strasburg, Germany, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania*the former name of Brodnica, became Polish after World War I*Strassburg, the German name for Aiud, Alba...
. He graduated with the grades Dr. phil
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
and Dr jur. in Straßburg (1873, supervised by Georg Waitz
Georg Waitz
Georg Waitz was a German historian and politician.He was born at Flensburg, in the duchy of Schleswig and educated at the Flensburg gymnasium and the universities of Kiel and Berlin...
), and Dr habil
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
(1874/75, supervised by Julius Weizsäcker
Julius Weizsäcker
Julius Ludwig Friedrich Weizsäcker was a German historian. He was specialized on medieval history and early modern history. A member of the noble Weizsäcker family, his brother was the Protestant theologian Karl Heinrich Weizsäcker....
). Thereafter, he taught history at the University of Göttingen and at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
. In 1883, he was called to the University of Greifswald, Institute for History, where he held the positions of an "außerordentlicher Professor" ("Privatdozent") since 1883, and "ordentlicher Professor" since 1889. In 1899, he was elected Rektor of the university. His eremitation was in 1921.
Nazi era
Due to his Jewish descent, Bernheim was subject to repressions during the Nazi eraNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. In 1933 he was forbidden to lecture, and an appeal to Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
to regain this permission was not successful. On 4 December 1935, with the implementation of the Nuremberg Laws
Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 were antisemitic laws in Nazi Germany introduced at the annual Nuremberg Rally of the Nazi Party. After the takeover of power in 1933 by Hitler, Nazism became an official ideology incorporating scientific racism and antisemitism...
, Berheim lost German citizenship. An appeal to Hitler to regain citizenship, which was backed by a number of scientists from the University of Greifswald was successful - Bernheim was assigned "temporary citizenship" on 12 January 1938, thus avoiding deportation in 1940. Yet, just weeks before his death, the deaf-mute fosterchild of the family, Hetti Meyer, was deported to Theresienstadt and killed. Hetti was raised from her birth by Bernheim and his wife Emma, a special education teacher. From 1939 onwards, Nazi scientists systematically besmirched Berheim's scientific work, which was only appreciated again in post-war Germany. Bernheim died on 3 March 1942 in Greifswald. His former colleagues managed to circumvent Nazi orders and get his urn buried in the town's graveyard on July 23, 1943, but an obituary was not permitted.