Robert Havemann
Encyclopedia
Robert Havemann was a chemist
, and an East German dissident
.
He studied chemistry in Berlin
and Munich
from 1929 to 1933, and then later received a doctorate in physical chemistry from the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
.
Prof. Dr. Havemann joined the Communist Party of Germany
(KPD) in 1932 and was one of the founders of the resistance group, European Union
. It was in connection with this group that he was arrested by the Gestapo
in 1943. He received a death sentence
, but his death sentence was continually postponed because of the intervention of former colleagues, who insisted Havemann was as important as his work on chemical weapons had been and that he was still needed to explain the research. His execution was postponed so many times, he was able to survive until the Brandenburg-Görden Prison
was liberated by the Red Army
.
After the war, he became head of administration in the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for physical Chemistry and Elektrochemistry in Berlin, but in 1948 he was dismissed from this position due to political pressure from the American authorities in West Berlin
. He continued his scientific work in the institute until he got barred from his laboratory in January 1950.
He then became a professor of physical chemistry at the Humboldt University in East Berlin
. He became a member of the Volkskammer
in 1950 and won one of the GDR's national prizes in 1959.
In 1963 he lectured on 'Scientific Aspects of Philosophical Problems' (published as 'Dialectic without Dogmatism—Natural Sciences against Communistic Ideology') and was expelled from the ruling Socialist Unity Party
and dismissed from the University—officially because he gave an interview to a newspaper from West Germany.
His son Florian Havemann
(born 12 January 1952 in East Berlin
) fled to West Germany
in 1971.
He continued his work as a socialist critic and was put under house arrest
in 1976, at his home in the village of Grünheide
. This continued until his death in 1982, after a long time suffering from lung disease.
In 1989 he was politically rehabilitated
by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.
In 2005, Havemann was awarded the title Righteous among the Nations
by the Israeli Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem
.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, and an East German dissident
Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
.
He studied chemistry 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...
and 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...
from 1929 to 1933, and then later received a doctorate in physical chemistry from the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
The Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of Science was a German scientific institution established in 1911. It was implicated in Nazi science, and after the Second World War was wound up and its functions replaced by the Max Planck Society...
.
Prof. Dr. Havemann joined the Communist Party of Germany
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
(KPD) in 1932 and was one of the founders of the resistance group, European Union
European Union (resistance group)
The original European Union was an antifascist resistance group during Germany's Nazi era, which formed around Anneliese and Georg Groscurth and Robert Havemann. Other important members were Herbert Richter and Paul Rentsch....
. It was in connection with this group that he was arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
in 1943. He received a death sentence
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
, but his death sentence was continually postponed because of the intervention of former colleagues, who insisted Havemann was as important as his work on chemical weapons had been and that he was still needed to explain the research. His execution was postponed so many times, he was able to survive until the Brandenburg-Görden Prison
Brandenburg-Görden Prison
Brandenburg-Görden Prison is located on Anton-Saefkow-Allee in the Görden section of Brandenburg an der Havel. Erected between 1927 and 1935, it was built to be the most secure and modern prison in Europe. It was a Zuchthaus for inmates with lengthy or life sentences at hard labor, as well as...
was liberated by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
.
After the war, he became head of administration in the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for physical Chemistry and Elektrochemistry in Berlin, but in 1948 he was dismissed from this position due to political pressure from the American authorities in West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
. He continued his scientific work in the institute until he got barred from his laboratory in January 1950.
He then became a professor of physical chemistry at the Humboldt University in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
. He became a member of the Volkskammer
Volkskammer
The People's Chamber was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic . From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on 18 March 1990, all members of the Volkskammer were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , called the National Front...
in 1950 and won one of the GDR's national prizes in 1959.
In 1963 he lectured on 'Scientific Aspects of Philosophical Problems' (published as 'Dialectic without Dogmatism—Natural Sciences against Communistic Ideology') and was expelled from the ruling Socialist Unity Party
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
and dismissed from the University—officially because he gave an interview to a newspaper from West Germany.
His son Florian Havemann
Florian Havemann
Florian Havemann is the son of East German dissident Robert Havemann. He is a German writer, painter and composer. He is also a judge at the State Constitutional Court of Brandenburg....
(born 12 January 1952 in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
) fled to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
in 1971.
He continued his work as a socialist critic and was put under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
in 1976, at his home in the village of Grünheide
Grünheide
Grünheide is a municipality in the Oder-Spree district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated south-east of Berlin.-Division of the town:Grünheide consists of the following districts:...
. This continued until his death in 1982, after a long time suffering from lung disease.
In 1989 he was politically rehabilitated
Political rehabilitation
Political rehabilitation is the process by which a member of a political organization or government who has fallen into disgrace, is restored to public life. It is usually applied to leaders or other prominent individuals who regain their prominence after a period in which they have no influence or...
by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.
In 2005, Havemann was awarded the title Righteous among the Nations
Righteous Among the Nations
Righteous among the Nations of the world's nations"), also translated as Righteous Gentiles is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis....
by the Israeli Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 through the Yad Vashem Law passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament....
.
External links
- Official website of the award winning film The Burning Wall
- Hartmut Jäckel. "Der Dissident der aus der Kälte kam" ("The dissident who came out from the cold") Die Welt (March 10, 2010). Retrieved March 18, 2010