Heinrich Pudor
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Pudor was a German Volkish-nationalist pundit and a pioneer of nudist culture in Germany. He took the pseudonyms Heinrich Scham and Ernst Deutsch.
Before his father's death, when he took over his position as leader of the conservatory, he travelled in France and Italy. His travel sketches were published in 1893 and 1895, establishing his reputation as a travel writer. He later published similar descriptions of Scandinavian countries. When inaugurated as head of the Dresden conservatory, he came to the decision only to teach German music. This was vehemently criticized by the teachers and the Dresden government; consequently, Pudor sold his interest the conservatory in June 1890.
With the proceeds, he founded his own publishing firm (in Munich, Berlin, and later New York), publishing only his own writings, mainly books of poetry and self-help wherein he advocated lifestyle reform. He moved to a villa in Loschwitz and married a Jewish woman, Susanne Jacobi in 1891, divorcing her seven years later. In 1892 his columns started to appear in the Dresden Weekly for Art and Culture. His family moved to London in 1893, shortly before the publication of his "Naked Men." "Rejoice in the Future" was the first German book about Naturism
. Pudor had adopted vegetarianism two years before his move to London, and this created many health problems for him. In the following years, he published many works on lifestyle as well as other themes (architecture, linguistics, social policy, and cultural studies).
In 1898 he tried in vain to re-establish himself as a painter, sculptor, and musician, travelling extensively through Europe and returning to Germany. In Berlin, he married Linda Prill (the marriage lasted until 1923). In 1907 he published his travel descriptions of Scandinavian countries, also moving in that year to Leipzig. In 1910, he discovered handicraft, and founded the " Protective Order for German Quality Work." (Schutzverband für deutsche Qualitätsarbeit) One year later he established the journal "Unfair Competition: Communications of the Association for the protection of German Quality Work." In 1906 he published a book on bisexuality
.
From 1912 onward, Pudor issued almost exclusively anti-Semitic writings, mostly self-published. A prelude to this was the book, "Germany for Germans." Next was "Preliminary work on Laws against the Jewish Settlement in Germany" and a publication, "Antisemitic Armor of the German People's Council" (in 1918 he also issued "True German: News from the German People's Council." The "People's Council" was probably a creation of Pudor's). The journal was banned in 1915, and and he renamed it the "Iron Ring" with issues continuing until 1923. Pudor's many publications irritated several politicians and lead to many appearances in court. After he threatened liberal politician Gustav Stresemann
with murder in his "Treacherous Foreign Policy" he was fined and imprisoned for a year on March 17, 1926.
because the magazine had continued to spread after the official ban.
After his imprisonment among socialists and communists, Pudor published many autobiographical writings in which he portrayed himself as a pioneer of the German nationalist movement. In 1943 he was again investigated for selling banned books (his older writings), but he died before the investigation was completed.
Life
He was born the sun of Friedrich Pudor, director of the Royal Conservatory in Dresden. Pudor initially studied music at the Dresden Kreuzschule and then at the conservatory. In 1886-87 he sudied physiological psychology, philosophy and art history at the University of Leipzig, the moved to the university in Heidelberg, where he researched Schopenhauer's metaphysics of music and ideas, graduating in 1889.Before his father's death, when he took over his position as leader of the conservatory, he travelled in France and Italy. His travel sketches were published in 1893 and 1895, establishing his reputation as a travel writer. He later published similar descriptions of Scandinavian countries. When inaugurated as head of the Dresden conservatory, he came to the decision only to teach German music. This was vehemently criticized by the teachers and the Dresden government; consequently, Pudor sold his interest the conservatory in June 1890.
With the proceeds, he founded his own publishing firm (in Munich, Berlin, and later New York), publishing only his own writings, mainly books of poetry and self-help wherein he advocated lifestyle reform. He moved to a villa in Loschwitz and married a Jewish woman, Susanne Jacobi in 1891, divorcing her seven years later. In 1892 his columns started to appear in the Dresden Weekly for Art and Culture. His family moved to London in 1893, shortly before the publication of his "Naked Men." "Rejoice in the Future" was the first German book about Naturism
Naturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
. Pudor had adopted vegetarianism two years before his move to London, and this created many health problems for him. In the following years, he published many works on lifestyle as well as other themes (architecture, linguistics, social policy, and cultural studies).
In 1898 he tried in vain to re-establish himself as a painter, sculptor, and musician, travelling extensively through Europe and returning to Germany. In Berlin, he married Linda Prill (the marriage lasted until 1923). In 1907 he published his travel descriptions of Scandinavian countries, also moving in that year to Leipzig. In 1910, he discovered handicraft, and founded the " Protective Order for German Quality Work." (Schutzverband für deutsche Qualitätsarbeit) One year later he established the journal "Unfair Competition: Communications of the Association for the protection of German Quality Work." In 1906 he published a book on bisexuality
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
.
From 1912 onward, Pudor issued almost exclusively anti-Semitic writings, mostly self-published. A prelude to this was the book, "Germany for Germans." Next was "Preliminary work on Laws against the Jewish Settlement in Germany" and a publication, "Antisemitic Armor of the German People's Council" (in 1918 he also issued "True German: News from the German People's Council." The "People's Council" was probably a creation of Pudor's). The journal was banned in 1915, and and he renamed it the "Iron Ring" with issues continuing until 1923. Pudor's many publications irritated several politicians and lead to many appearances in court. After he threatened liberal politician Gustav Stresemann
Gustav Stresemann
was a German politician and statesman who served as Chancellor and Foreign Minister during the Weimar Republic. He was co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926.Stresemann's politics defy easy categorization...
with murder in his "Treacherous Foreign Policy" he was fined and imprisoned for a year on March 17, 1926.
Nazi Period
In September 1933 Pudor's magazine, "Swastika" was banned for having criticized the leadership cult around Hitler in the Nazi party. He also mourned their "toleration" of Jews (!) and attacked the new Nazi leaders' origins and lifestyle (including Hitler and Goebbels). From November 14, 1933 to July 5, 1934 he was placed in protective custodyProtective custody
Protective custody is a type of imprisonment to protect a prisoner from harm, either from outside sources or other prisoners. Many administrators believe the level of violence, or the underlying threat of violence within prisoners, is a chief factor causing the need for PC units...
because the magazine had continued to spread after the official ban.
After his imprisonment among socialists and communists, Pudor published many autobiographical writings in which he portrayed himself as a pioneer of the German nationalist movement. In 1943 he was again investigated for selling banned books (his older writings), but he died before the investigation was completed.