German Freethinkers League
Encyclopedia
The German Freethinkers League ('Deutscher Freidenkerbund') was an organisation founded in 1881 by the materialist philosopher, and physician
Ludwig Büchner
, to oppose the power of the state churches in Germany. Its aim was to provide a public meeting-ground and forum for materialist and atheist
thinkers in Germany.
By 1885 the group had 5,000 members. The first organization of its sort founded in Germany, by 1930 the German Freethinkers League had a membership numbering some 500,000. The League was closed down in the spring of 1933, when Hitler
outlawed all atheistic and freethinking
groups in Germany. Freethinkers Hall, the national headquarters of the League, was then converted to a bureau advising the public on church matters.
Among the League's chairmen was Max Sievers
, whom the Nazis executed by guillotine in 1944.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
Ludwig Büchner
Ludwig Büchner
Friedrich Karl Christian Ludwig Büchner was a German philosopher, physiologist and physician who became one of the exponents of 19th century scientific materialism.Büchner was born at Darmstadt, Germany, on 29 March 1824...
, to oppose the power of the state churches in Germany. Its aim was to provide a public meeting-ground and forum for materialist and atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
thinkers in Germany.
By 1885 the group had 5,000 members. The first organization of its sort founded in Germany, by 1930 the German Freethinkers League had a membership numbering some 500,000. The League was closed down in the spring of 1933, when Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
outlawed all atheistic and freethinking
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
groups in Germany. Freethinkers Hall, the national headquarters of the League, was then converted to a bureau advising the public on church matters.
Among the League's chairmen was Max Sievers
Max Sievers
Max Sievers was chairman of the German Freethinkers League, writer and active communist.-Politics:...
, whom the Nazis executed by guillotine in 1944.