Renée Schwarzenbach-Wille
Encyclopedia
Renée Schwarzenbach-Wille (born 1883 in Thun
, Switzerland
; died 1959 in Konstanz
) was a Swiss photographer.
She lived an intensive life without compromise. She was a passionate horsewoman, photographer (which she first became interested in at the age of 14) and music-lover—in particular of Wagner. After her marriage she chronicled the family life on their country estate in a detailed photographic diary—at her death she had filled 64 photo-albums. Although she devoted herself to her husband and family she also had a long-term affair with the German opera singer Emmy Krüger
.
Although she documented her short life, she had a difficult relationship with her second daughter Annemarie
, writer, photographer, traveller and drug-addict, partly due to her (Renée's) controversial right-wing views.
Renée held political sympathies towards Germany, whether the Kaiser, Hitler or Adenauer was in power. During her many stays in Munich with her mistress, she saw the rise of Nazism as a way of overcoming the humiliating Treaty of Versailles
. After World War 2 she helped out those Germans who had fled to Switzerland to escape the Allies
.
Thun
Thun is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern in Switzerland with about 42,136 inhabitants , as of 1 January 2006....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
; died 1959 in Konstanz
Konstanz
Konstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
) was a Swiss photographer.
Life
Renée Schwarzenbach was the daughter of Swiss General Ulrich Wille and Clara Countess Bismarck, which meant she was a granddaughter of Count Friedrich Wilhelm Bismarck (1783-1860), the famous German soldier, writer and diplomat. Her father was head of the Swiss army during World War 1. In 1904 she married Alfred Schwarzenbach, a wealthy businessman in the silk industry. They had five children.She lived an intensive life without compromise. She was a passionate horsewoman, photographer (which she first became interested in at the age of 14) and music-lover—in particular of Wagner. After her marriage she chronicled the family life on their country estate in a detailed photographic diary—at her death she had filled 64 photo-albums. Although she devoted herself to her husband and family she also had a long-term affair with the German opera singer Emmy Krüger
Emmy Krüger
Emmy Krüger was a German operatic soprano. She notably portrayed the title role in the world premiere of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Violanta at the National Theatre Munich in 1916. In 1917 she created the role of Silla in the premiere of Hans Pfitzner's Palestrina at the Prinzregententheater...
.
Although she documented her short life, she had a difficult relationship with her second daughter Annemarie
Annemarie Schwarzenbach
Annemarie Schwarzenbach was a Swiss writer, journalist, photographer and traveler.- Life :Annemarie was born in Bocken, near Zurich, Switzerland...
, writer, photographer, traveller and drug-addict, partly due to her (Renée's) controversial right-wing views.
Renée held political sympathies towards Germany, whether the Kaiser, Hitler or Adenauer was in power. During her many stays in Munich with her mistress, she saw the rise of Nazism as a way of overcoming the humiliating Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
. After World War 2 she helped out those Germans who had fled to Switzerland to escape the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
.