Hermann Hummel
Encyclopedia
Hermann Hummel was a German
chemist
and politician
in the Republic of Baden
. He was a member of the DDP.
in the Grand Duchy of Baden
. He studied astronomy, chemistry, mathematics and philosophy at the universities of Heidelberg, Freiburg im Breisgau
, and Strasbourg
. He simultaneously completed a degree in engineering at the Technical University of Karlsruhe. He later became a chemistry teacher at a high school in Karlsruhe and thus began his teaching career. In 1906, Hummel moved up to teach chemistry at a secondary school in Karlsruhe. It was not long after this that he began to put his knowledge of chemistry to practical use. From 1912 to 1914, he worked in a paint factory, Electra Werke GmbH.
At the outbreak of the First World War, he joined as a war volunteer in the field artillery regiment No. 27. He continued to serve as a lieutenant of the reserve from 1915 until 1917. During this time, he participated in fighting on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. From 1917 until the end of the war, he worked in the inspection of Air Force troops.
. He served as one of the directors and a member of the supervisory board of the company. Subsequently he participated in the construction of IG Farben
in Frankfurt am Main, in whose supervisory board he also participated. In addition, he was a member of the supervisory board of the August Horch
automobile plants in Zwickau GmbH and was a member of the Economic Policy Committee of the National Association of German Industry.
By 1930, Hummel was the sole shareholder of Imprimatur GmbH
and tried to financially support the opposition newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung
against the propaganda machine of the Nazi Party and Joseph Goebbels
. In addition to his activities in the economy, he was a member of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of Sciences, the Society of Friends of the Technical University of Karlsruhe and the Institute of Social Studies at the Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg. In 1939, he emigrated to the United States
, but he returned to Germany in 1951 and settled down in the Rhineland
, where he lived until his death in Krefeld
the following year at the age of 78.
in 1918, Hummel first served as Deputy Minister for Military Affairs. On April 1, 1919, he was appointed Minister of Culture and Teaching.
On November 23, 1921, Hummel led a coalition of the SPD
, the Centre, and the DDP. The coalition collapsed on November 23, 1922.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
chemist
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 politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the Republic of Baden
Republic of Baden
The Republic of Baden was a state of Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic, formed after the abolition of the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1918...
. He was a member of the DDP.
Early life and career
Hummel was born in LahrLahr
Lahr is a city in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany, approximately 38 km north of Freiburg in Breisgau and 100 km south of Karlsruhe...
in the Grand Duchy of Baden
Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden was a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.-History:...
. He studied astronomy, chemistry, mathematics and philosophy at the universities of Heidelberg, Freiburg im Breisgau
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
, and Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
. He simultaneously completed a degree in engineering at the Technical University of Karlsruhe. He later became a chemistry teacher at a high school in Karlsruhe and thus began his teaching career. In 1906, Hummel moved up to teach chemistry at a secondary school in Karlsruhe. It was not long after this that he began to put his knowledge of chemistry to practical use. From 1912 to 1914, he worked in a paint factory, Electra Werke GmbH.
At the outbreak of the First World War, he joined as a war volunteer in the field artillery regiment No. 27. He continued to serve as a lieutenant of the reserve from 1915 until 1917. During this time, he participated in fighting on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. From 1917 until the end of the war, he worked in the inspection of Air Force troops.
Chemist and businessman
In late 1922, Hummel joined the administration of the Badische Anilin and Soda FabrikBASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
. He served as one of the directors and a member of the supervisory board of the company. Subsequently he participated in the construction of IG Farben
IG Farben
I.G. Farbenindustrie AG was a German chemical industry conglomerate. Its name is taken from Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie AG . The company was formed in 1925 from a number of major companies that had been working together closely since World War I...
in Frankfurt am Main, in whose supervisory board he also participated. In addition, he was a member of the supervisory board of the August Horch
August Horch
August Horch was a German engineer and automobile pioneer, the founder of the manufacturing giant which would eventually become Audi.-Beginnings:...
automobile plants in Zwickau GmbH and was a member of the Economic Policy Committee of the National Association of German Industry.
By 1930, Hummel was the sole shareholder of Imprimatur GmbH
Imprimatur GmbH
The Imprimatur GmbH was a company which owned the Frankfurt newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung from 1930 until it was shut down in 1943. During the period that FZ was owned by the Imprimatur, the prestigious newspaper was in financial distress situations and brought the company heavy losses.The...
and tried to financially support the opposition newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung
Frankfurter Zeitung
The Frankfurter Zeitung was a German language newspaper that appeared from 1856 to 1943. It emerged from a market letter that was published in Frankfurt...
against the propaganda machine of the Nazi Party and Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism...
. In addition to his activities in the economy, he was a member of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of Sciences, the Society of Friends of the Technical University of Karlsruhe and the Institute of Social Studies at the Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg. In 1939, he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but he returned to Germany in 1951 and settled down in the Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
, where he lived until his death in Krefeld
Krefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
the following year at the age of 78.
State President of Baden
Upon the proclamation of the Republic of BadenRepublic of Baden
The Republic of Baden was a state of Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic, formed after the abolition of the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1918...
in 1918, Hummel first served as Deputy Minister for Military Affairs. On April 1, 1919, he was appointed Minister of Culture and Teaching.
On November 23, 1921, Hummel led a coalition of the SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
, the Centre, and the DDP. The coalition collapsed on November 23, 1922.