Paul Schiemann
Encyclopedia
Paul Schiemann was a Baltic German
journalist
, editor
and politician
who was known for his commitment to minority rights.
Schiemann was born in Mitau
in Courland
, then part of the Russian Empire
. He grew up in Estonia
, was educated in Germany, and served his army training in Lithuania
. He came from a wealthy and conservative family (his uncle Theodor Schiemann, was a prominent supporter and historian to the German Empire
), but his own political views were very liberal, and "made him an equally ardent opponent of both German National Socialism
and of Soviet socialism
."
During World War I
Schiemann fought in the Russian army, although his brother fought for the German army
. During the build up to the war, he was strongly against it, but was quoted as saying "War can only be objected to during times of peace". After the war he moved from theatrical journalism to political journalism, and later formed his own party, called the CGBP. This was often referred to as "Schiemann's Party" and was famed for practising 'above party' politics, most notably his constant fight for minority rights in post-war Latvia
, particularly education.
During the build up to World War II
, Schiemann came under pressure from Baltic German society to abandon his uncompromising defense of the minorities, in particular the Jews. Schiemann dismissed this, and was one of the few voices in power that argued for the rights of Jews. This led to him having some quite vocal critics in Baltic German society.
Schiemann suffered from tuberculosis
throughout the 1930s, and frequently visited Davos
to recover. He started to refuse to cover the politics of Germany as a protest, and as a result the readership of his newspaper started to decline. However, a few years after that decision, he started to cover German politics by writing anti-Nazi articles. During the late 1930s he was quite unwell, but with war looming and minority rights becoming worse, he refused to leave his country - and campaigned for other Baltic Germans to remain, where he felt their country needed them.
During the occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany
, Schiemann was confined to his house. It was surprising that he did not suffer a worse fate. Some theorize that this was perhaps due to his political opponents still holding him in high regard - but more likely his drastically failing health had much to do with it.
During the last two years of his life, and despite him suffering from severe tuberculosis, Schiemann hid a young Jewish girl called Valentina Freimane in his house. She credits him with saving her life, saying that she probably would not be around today if it were not for him. Schiemann died in Riga
shortly before the Soviet Red Army
took control of Latvia for the second time.
Baltic German
The Baltic Germans were mostly ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today form the countries of Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic German population never made up more than 10% of the total. They formed the social, commercial, political and cultural élite in...
journalist
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...
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who was known for his commitment to minority rights.
Schiemann was born in Mitau
Jelgava
-Sports:The city's main football team, FK Jelgava, plays in the Latvian Higher League and won the 2009/2010 Latvian Football Cup.- Notable people :*August Johann Gottfried Bielenstein - linguist, folklorist, ethnographer...
in Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
, then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. He grew up in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, was educated in Germany, and served his army training in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. He came from a wealthy and conservative family (his uncle Theodor Schiemann, was a prominent supporter and historian to the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
), but his own political views were very liberal, and "made him an equally ardent opponent of both German National Socialism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and of Soviet socialism
Marxism-Leninism
Marxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
."
During 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...
Schiemann fought in the Russian army, although his brother fought for the German army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
. During the build up to the war, he was strongly against it, but was quoted as saying "War can only be objected to during times of peace". After the war he moved from theatrical journalism to political journalism, and later formed his own party, called the CGBP. This was often referred to as "Schiemann's Party" and was famed for practising 'above party' politics, most notably his constant fight for minority rights in post-war Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, particularly education.
During the build up to 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...
, Schiemann came under pressure from Baltic German society to abandon his uncompromising defense of the minorities, in particular the Jews. Schiemann dismissed this, and was one of the few voices in power that argued for the rights of Jews. This led to him having some quite vocal critics in Baltic German society.
Schiemann suffered from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
throughout the 1930s, and frequently visited Davos
Davos
Davos is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of 11,248 . Davos is located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range...
to recover. He started to refuse to cover the politics of Germany as a protest, and as a result the readership of his newspaper started to decline. However, a few years after that decision, he started to cover German politics by writing anti-Nazi articles. During the late 1930s he was quite unwell, but with war looming and minority rights becoming worse, he refused to leave his country - and campaigned for other Baltic Germans to remain, where he felt their country needed them.
During the occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany was completed on July 10, 1941 by Germany's armed forces. Latvia became a part of Nazi Germany's Reichskommissariat Ostland — the Province General of Latvia...
, Schiemann was confined to his house. It was surprising that he did not suffer a worse fate. Some theorize that this was perhaps due to his political opponents still holding him in high regard - but more likely his drastically failing health had much to do with it.
During the last two years of his life, and despite him suffering from severe tuberculosis, Schiemann hid a young Jewish girl called Valentina Freimane in his house. She credits him with saving her life, saying that she probably would not be around today if it were not for him. Schiemann died in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
shortly before the Soviet Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
took control of Latvia for the second time.