Ernst Kossmann
Encyclopedia
Ernst Heinrich Kossmann was a Dutch historian. He was professor of Modern History
at the University of Groningen
in the Netherlands. His magnum opus is The Low Countries. History of the Southern and Northern Netherlands.
became a writer; his younger brother Bernhard played the violin professionally. The Kossmann family was partly of Jewish descent and they came from Germany before they settled in Holland. Kossmann attended the Gymnasium Erasmianum
in Rotterdam. The Second World War
meant an interruption of his education. He was arrested during a razzia, was sent to concentration camp Vught, and had to work for two-and-a-half year in Germany, together with his twin brother Alfred. The latter wrote a novel, De nederlaag (The defeat), that was based on their experiences during the war. After the war he studied history at Leiden University
in the Netherlands. He graduated in 1950 and married the same year his fellow student Johanna Putto.
After their marriage the couple went to Paris. In 1954 Kossmann got his Ph.D. from Leiden University. Subject and title of his doctoral thesis was La Fronde
. In 1957 he went to London to lecture ‘Dutch History and Institutions’. In 1962 he became professor at the University College London
. In 1966 he became professor of Modern History at the University of Groningen. In 1981 he delivered his Huizinga Lecture
in the Pieterskerk
in Leiden. He died in Groningen.
Kossmann is considered a writer with a refined style, and an erudite scholar. His intellectual outlook is sceptical, ironical, detached. He has published several books in collaboration with his wife Johanna Kossmann-Putto.
Modern history
Modern history, or the modern era, describes the historical timeline after the Middle Ages. Modern history can be further broken down into the early modern period and the late modern period after the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution...
at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
in the Netherlands. His magnum opus is The Low Countries. History of the Southern and Northern Netherlands.
Life and work
Born in Leiden, Kossmann was the son of the erudite librarian F. H. Kossmann. He had two brothers. His twin brother AlfredAlfred Kossmann
Alfred Kossmann was a Dutch poet and prose writer. Kossmann and his brother Ernst Kossmann, a distinguished Dutch historian, were twins.-Biography:...
became a writer; his younger brother Bernhard played the violin professionally. The Kossmann family was partly of Jewish descent and they came from Germany before they settled in Holland. Kossmann attended the Gymnasium Erasmianum
Gymnasium Erasmianum
The Gymnasium Erasmianum is a school in Rotterdam .-History:Founded in 1328, it is the second oldest school in the Netherlands with recorded date of establishement...
in Rotterdam. The Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
meant an interruption of his education. He was arrested during a razzia, was sent to concentration camp Vught, and had to work for two-and-a-half year in Germany, together with his twin brother Alfred. The latter wrote a novel, De nederlaag (The defeat), that was based on their experiences during the war. After the war he studied history at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
in the Netherlands. He graduated in 1950 and married the same year his fellow student Johanna Putto.
After their marriage the couple went to Paris. In 1954 Kossmann got his Ph.D. from Leiden University. Subject and title of his doctoral thesis was La Fronde
Fronde
The Fronde was a civil war in France, occurring in the midst of the Franco-Spanish War, which had begun in 1635. The word fronde means sling, which Parisian mobs used to smash the windows of supporters of Cardinal Mazarin....
. In 1957 he went to London to lecture ‘Dutch History and Institutions’. In 1962 he became professor at the University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In 1966 he became professor of Modern History at the University of Groningen. In 1981 he delivered his Huizinga Lecture
Huizinga Lecture
The Huizinga Lecture is a prestigious annual lecture in the Netherlands about a subject in the domains of cultural history or philosophy. The lecture is in honour of Johan Huizinga, a distinguished Dutch historian who worked in the first half of the 20th century...
in the Pieterskerk
Pieterskerk, Leiden
The Pieterskerk is a late-Gothic church in Leiden dedicated to Saint Peter. It is best known today as the church of the Pilgrim Fathers where John Robinson was buried.-History:...
in Leiden. He died in Groningen.
Kossmann is considered a writer with a refined style, and an erudite scholar. His intellectual outlook is sceptical, ironical, detached. He has published several books in collaboration with his wife Johanna Kossmann-Putto.
Sources
- H.L. WesselingHenk WesselingHenk Wesseling was born in 1937 in The Hague, the Netherlands. He is Professor Emeritus of Contemporary History at Leiden University, and was former Rector of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study between 1995 and 2002.-Bibliography:...
, 'Ernst Heinrich Kossmann, Leiden 31 januari 1922 - Groningen 8 november 2003', Jaarboek van de Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde 2004, p. 106-125 (in Dutch). - File Ernst Kossmann in the Digital Library of Dutch Literature (DBNL), including online versions of some of his books.