Hans Zehrer
Encyclopedia
Hans Zehrer was a German journalist
. He edited a leading right-wing journal, Die Tat
, and founded the Tat Circle.
official. In 1917 Zehrer enlisted as a soldier and remained so after the First World War. He took part in the Kapp Putsch
of 1920.
Zehrer studied at Berlin University before becoming a journalist. From 1923 till 1929 he was editor of the paper the Vossische Zeitung
. His political thinking was influenced by Arthur Moeller van den Bruck
; he also admired Vilfredo Pareto
and Henri de Man
. He became an editor of Die Tat
in 1930, which under his direction saw its circulation grow dramatically. To prevent coming under control of the NSDAP, Zehrer introduced a varied group of writers to the magazine, like Gregor Strasser
and Kurt von Schleicher
.
With Hitler in power in 1934 (Strasser and Schleischer being murdered in the Night of the Long Knives
) Zehrer relinquished himself from editorial duties (Zehrer was married to a Jewish woman until 1938) and retired to the island Sylt
. Zehrer returned to Berlin and became the manager of the Stalling
publishing house in 1938.
From 1943 to 1945 Zehrer was a soldier in the Luftwaffe
, but saw no active service. In 1946 he briefly worked for the then British controlled Die Welt
. He was chief editor of the Sonntagsblatte from 1948 to 1953, after which he became chief editor at Die Welt (taken over by Axel Springer
in that year). He also was a columnist for the Bild-Zeitung
.
He died in Berlin.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He edited a leading right-wing journal, Die Tat
Die Tat
Die Tat was a monthly publication of politics and culture. It was founded in April 1909 and its publisher was Eugen Diederichs from Jena. From 1939 until 1944 Die Tat was continued as Das XX. Jahrhundert.-1909-1912:...
, and founded the Tat Circle.
Biography
Zehrer was born in Berlin to a postalPostal
Postal may refer to:* Mail, the postal service* The Postal Service, a band* "Going postal", the U.S. slang phrase meaning a killing spree* Going Postal, a 2004 Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett...
official. In 1917 Zehrer enlisted as a soldier and remained so after the First World War. He took part in the Kapp Putsch
Kapp Putsch
The Kapp Putsch — or more accurately the Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch — was a 1920 coup attempt during the German Revolution of 1918–1919 aimed at overthrowing the Weimar Republic...
of 1920.
Zehrer studied at Berlin University before becoming a journalist. From 1923 till 1929 he was editor of the paper the Vossische Zeitung
Vossische Zeitung
The Vossische Zeitung was the well known liberal German newspaper that was published in Berlin . Its predecessor was founded in 1704...
. His political thinking was influenced by Arthur Moeller van den Bruck
Arthur Moeller van den Bruck
Arthur Moeller van den Bruck was a German cultural historian and writer, best known for his controversial book Das Dritte Reich...
; he also admired Vilfredo Pareto
Vilfredo Pareto
Vilfredo Federico Damaso Pareto , born Wilfried Fritz Pareto, was an Italian engineer, sociologist, economist, political scientist and philosopher. He made several important contributions to economics, particularly in the study of income distribution and in the analysis of individuals' choices....
and Henri de Man
Henri de Man
Henri De Man was one of the leading Belgian socialist theoreticians of his period, who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II...
. He became an editor of Die Tat
Die Tat
Die Tat was a monthly publication of politics and culture. It was founded in April 1909 and its publisher was Eugen Diederichs from Jena. From 1939 until 1944 Die Tat was continued as Das XX. Jahrhundert.-1909-1912:...
in 1930, which under his direction saw its circulation grow dramatically. To prevent coming under control of the NSDAP, Zehrer introduced a varied group of writers to the magazine, like Gregor Strasser
Gregor Strasser
Gregor Strasser was a politician of the National Socialist German Workers Party...
and Kurt von Schleicher
Kurt von Schleicher
Kurt von Schleicher was a German general and the last Chancellor of Germany during the era of the Weimar Republic. Seventeen months after his resignation, he was assassinated by order of his successor, Adolf Hitler, in the Night of the Long Knives....
.
With Hitler in power in 1934 (Strasser and Schleischer being murdered in the Night of the Long Knives
Night of the Long Knives
The Night of the Long Knives , sometimes called "Operation Hummingbird " or in Germany the "Röhm-Putsch," was a purge that took place in Nazi Germany between June 30 and July 2, 1934, when the Nazi regime carried out a series of political murders...
) Zehrer relinquished himself from editorial duties (Zehrer was married to a Jewish woman until 1938) and retired to the island Sylt
Sylt
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...
. Zehrer returned to Berlin and became the manager of the Stalling
Stalling
See Stall for related topics.Stalling can refer to:* Stalling , obstruction of the flow of play while leading in a timed game...
publishing house in 1938.
From 1943 to 1945 Zehrer was a soldier in the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, but saw no active service. In 1946 he briefly worked for the then British controlled Die Welt
Die Welt
Die Welt is a German national daily newspaper published by the Axel Springer AG company.It was founded in Hamburg in 1946 by the British occupying forces, aiming to provide a "quality newspaper" modelled on The Times...
. He was chief editor of the Sonntagsblatte from 1948 to 1953, after which he became chief editor at Die Welt (taken over by Axel Springer
Axel Springer
Axel Springer , was a German journalist and the founder and owner of the Axel Springer AG publishing company.-Early life:...
in that year). He also was a columnist for the Bild-Zeitung
Bild-Zeitung
The Bild is a German tabloid published by Axel Springer AG. The paper is published from Monday to Saturday, while on Sundays, Bild am Sonntag is published instead, which has a different style and its own editors...
.
He died in Berlin.
External links
- Hans Zehrer as a Neoconservative Elite Theorist by Walter Struve, The American Historical Review, Vol. 70, No. 4 (Jul., 1965), pp. 1035–1057.