Otto Hoetzsch
Encyclopedia
Otto Hoetzsch was a German
academic and politician. Son of a plumber, he studied history, economics and history of art in Leipzig
, starting in 1895. In 1899 he obtained a PhD
, worked for several newspapers and was active in the Alldeutscher Verband and favoured the creation of a German Navy
. In 1905 he passed the exam as an interpreter in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, French, English, Italian and Dutch. Between 1906 and 1913 he taught in the Prussian Royal Academy in Posen
. In 1913 he became Professor
for Eastern European history in Berlin
.
He started his political career as a member of the Prussia
n constitutional assembly. In 1918 he joined the DNVP (German National People's Party
), and was a member of the Reichstag
in 1920, 1924 and 1928. In 1922 he helped negotiate the Treaty of Rapallo
with the new Soviet Union
, as an interpreter. He felt that this would also lead to an international rehabilitation of Germany after the Great War.
He greatly admired President Hindenburg
, whom he also entertained at dinner in his home.
Between 1923 and 1934 he repeatedly travelled to the Soviet Union and founded the Journal "Osteuropa" (Eastern Europe) which still exists. In 1928 he went on an extensive lecturing tour through the USA. Back in Berlin he maintained contacts with Russian emigrants.
Although he was a German nationalist (like many of his contemporaries in 1914 he had enthusistically welcomed the outbreak of World War I
), the Nazis considered him a Bolshevik
. Consequently he resigned from the Reichstag in 1932 and was forced to retire in 1935.
After World War II
, he once more became a Professor of history in Berlin, this time with Soviet approval. He published extensively on Russian and American History and was widely recognized in both East and West Germany.
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...
academic and politician. Son of a plumber, he studied history, economics and history of art in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, starting in 1895. In 1899 he obtained a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, worked for several newspapers and was active in the Alldeutscher Verband and favoured the creation of a German Navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
. In 1905 he passed the exam as an interpreter in Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, French, English, Italian and Dutch. Between 1906 and 1913 he taught in the Prussian Royal Academy in Posen
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
. In 1913 he became Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
for Eastern European history 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...
.
He started his political career as a member of the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n constitutional assembly. In 1918 he joined the DNVP (German National People's Party
German National People's Party
The German National People's Party was a national conservative party in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the NSDAP it was the main nationalist party in Weimar Germany composed of nationalists, reactionary monarchists, völkisch, and antisemitic elements, and...
), and was a member of the Reichstag
Reichstag (Weimar Republic)
The Reichstag was the parliament of Weimar Republic .German constitution commentators consider only the Reichstag and now the Bundestag the German parliament. Another organ deals with legislation too: in 1867-1918 the Bundesrat, in 1919–1933 the Reichsrat and from 1949 on the Bundesrat...
in 1920, 1924 and 1928. In 1922 he helped negotiate the Treaty of Rapallo
Treaty of Rapallo
Following World War I there were two Treaties of Rapallo, both named after Rapallo, a resort on the Ligurian coast of Italy:* Treaty of Rapallo, 1920, an agreement between Italy and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes for the independence of the state of Fiume and Italian renunciation...
with the new Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, as an interpreter. He felt that this would also lead to an international rehabilitation of Germany after the Great War.
He greatly admired President Hindenburg
Paul von Hindenburg
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg , known universally as Paul von Hindenburg was a Prussian-German field marshal, statesman, and politician, and served as the second President of Germany from 1925 to 1934....
, whom he also entertained at dinner in his home.
Between 1923 and 1934 he repeatedly travelled to the Soviet Union and founded the Journal "Osteuropa" (Eastern Europe) which still exists. In 1928 he went on an extensive lecturing tour through the USA. Back in Berlin he maintained contacts with Russian emigrants.
Although he was a German nationalist (like many of his contemporaries in 1914 he had enthusistically welcomed the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
), the Nazis considered him a Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
. Consequently he resigned from the Reichstag in 1932 and was forced to retire in 1935.
After World War II
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...
, he once more became a Professor of history in Berlin, this time with Soviet approval. He published extensively on Russian and American History and was widely recognized in both East and West Germany.