Jochen Klepper
Encyclopedia
Jochen Klepper was a German
writer, poet and journalist.
, Silesia
, the son of a Lutheran minister. He originally studied theology
at the University of Breslau, but dropped out to become a radio journalist in Berlin
before being ostracized by the Nazi Party for his marriage to Johanna Stein, a Jewish widow with two daughters. He was fired from his work with Berliner Funk in June 1933, and was later fired from Ullstein Publishing House in September 1935. He had written favourably about a Prussian king and the stark differences to the current government. The book became very popular and by March 1937, he had lost his license to publish his largely Christian
works from the state literary office. He appealed this with a letter to Joseph Goebbels
, signing his protest with a Heil Hitler, and the case was ceded.
In December 1940, he was drafted by the German Army — perhaps a bureaucratic mistake since citizens married to Jews were not to be drafted. His wife however had been baptized and they had a church wedding ceremony in 1938. While Klepper did not see combat, he served in a supply unit for forces through Bulgaria
, Poland
and Russia
before being discharged in 1942 to tend to his wife.
On December 11, 1942, after Adolf Eichmann
refused a visa
for the couple's second daughter, the three of them committed suicide
by turning on a gas valve - Jochen writing in his journal just before they died: Tonight we die together. Over us stands in the last moments the image of the blessed Christ who surrounds us. With this view we end our lives. After their death, the diary was given by Jochen's sister Hildegard, to the Allied trial against Adolf Eichmann
where it was used as evidence against him (Session 51).
", appeared in 1956, contains a selection from the diaries of Klepper.
Klepper wrote many church songs and they are used in today's evangelical song books.
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...
writer, poet and journalist.
Life
Klepper was born in Beuthen an der Oder (Bytom Odrzański)Bytom Odrzanski
Bytom Odrzański is a town on the Oder river in western Poland, in Nowa Sól County of Lubusz Voivodeship.-History:Archaeological findings from the Stone Age and Bronze Age around Bytom suggest a early settlement. A Slavic gród is mentioned in 1005...
, Silesia
Province of Silesia
The Province of Silesia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919.-Geography:The territory comprised the bulk of the former Bohemian crown land of Silesia and the County of Kladsko, which King Frederick the Great had conquered from the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th...
, the son of a Lutheran minister. He originally studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Breslau, but dropped out to become a radio journalist 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...
before being ostracized by the Nazi Party for his marriage to Johanna Stein, a Jewish widow with two daughters. He was fired from his work with Berliner Funk in June 1933, and was later fired from Ullstein Publishing House in September 1935. He had written favourably about a Prussian king and the stark differences to the current government. The book became very popular and by March 1937, he had lost his license to publish his largely Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
works from the state literary office. He appealed this with a letter to Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism...
, signing his protest with a Heil Hitler, and the case was ceded.
In December 1940, he was drafted by the German Army — perhaps a bureaucratic mistake since citizens married to Jews were not to be drafted. His wife however had been baptized and they had a church wedding ceremony in 1938. While Klepper did not see combat, he served in a supply unit for forces through Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and 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...
before being discharged in 1942 to tend to his wife.
On December 11, 1942, after Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Otto Eichmann was a German Nazi and SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of the major organizers of the Holocaust...
refused a visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
for the couple's second daughter, the three of them committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by turning on a gas valve - Jochen writing in his journal just before they died: Tonight we die together. Over us stands in the last moments the image of the blessed Christ who surrounds us. With this view we end our lives. After their death, the diary was given by Jochen's sister Hildegard, to the Allied trial against Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Otto Eichmann was a German Nazi and SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of the major organizers of the Holocaust...
where it was used as evidence against him (Session 51).
Diary
The book "In the Shadow of Your WingsIn the Shadow of Your Wings
The book In the Shadow of Your Wings contains well-chosen diary recordings which Jochen Klepper wrote down in the time from April, 1932 to 10 December 1942...
", appeared in 1956, contains a selection from the diaries of Klepper.
Klepper wrote many church songs and they are used in today's evangelical song books.