Wilhelm Iwan
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Iwan, author, historian, and theologian lived from 1871 until 1958. As a historian, he documented the 19th century exodus from Germany (Prussia) to America and Australia by a group who sought religious freedom. In 1945 he fled from his homeland and lived the remainder of his life as a refugee in West Germany.
, on August 5, 1871, as the third of seven sons, to a master builder and goat farmer, Gottlieb Iwan.
He attended secondary school at Breslau and Hirschberg
and graduated valedictorian.
He then went on to study theology at Breslau and Halle.
His first congregation in Germany was also to be his last, as he worked for next 30 years as pastor of the local Lutheran church in the beautiful village of Nicolstadt (map , postcard picture) near Wahlstatt
. During this time he wrote several books about the "Old Lutheran emigration" (Auswanderung der Altlutheraner).
This book relates the story of the emigration of Prussian Lutherans to Australia during the period of 1830 to 1850.
A book of Australian stories based on his personal experiences and the experiences of his Australian acquaintances. This book was to be used as the basis for a movie starring Hans Albers
. What came of these plans is not known.
In this book he documents the emigration of Prussian Lutherans to America in the middle of the 19th century. He includes extensive emigrant lists which have become a valuable resource for genealogical research.
. There they lived under the sponsorship of a farmer by the name of Reichart. Iwan had to earn his keep but was also well treated for five years by the family.
At the age of 80, he succeeded in finding a new home in Wangen im Allgäu
where he died on May 27, 1958. He is buried together with his wife in the Saint Wolfgang
cemetery.
, the Wilhelm-Iwan-Ring in the suburb of Allermoehe, is named after him.
Early life
Wilhelm Friedrich Iwan was born in Falkenberg in the Prussian province of Upper SilesiaProvince of Upper Silesia
The Province of Upper Silesia was a province of the Free State of Prussia created in the aftermath of World War I. It comprised much of the region of Upper Silesia and was eventually divided into two administrative regions , Kattowitz and Oppeln...
, on August 5, 1871, as the third of seven sons, to a master builder and goat farmer, Gottlieb Iwan.
He attended secondary school at Breslau and Hirschberg
Jelenia Góra
----Jelenia Góra is a city in Lower Silesia, south-western Poland. The name of the city means "deer mountain" in Polish, Czech and German. It is close to the Krkonoše mountain range running along the Polish-Czech border – ski resorts such as Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba can be found...
and graduated valedictorian.
He then went on to study theology at Breslau and Halle.
Overseas Experience
Wilhelm Iwan lived as pastor of a German language speaking congregation in Charters Towers, Australia for nine years, in a church which was founded by German-Australian gold prospectors, and then for three years in Bariloche, Argentina. He documented these years in his journals, including accounts of his congregation and his personal experiences. As a collector, he assembled Australian pipes, boomerangs, snake skins, butterflies, glass cages with hummingbirds, cabin trunks full of furs and pelts, poison tipped arrows and stone weapons, tortoise shells, precious gems, and gold dust. He brought these collections to Silesia when he returned.Return to Germany
Iwan returned from a life of world travel to Germany in 1911 and soon settled into a new life. In 1912 he married Hedwig Koffmane the daughter of a well-respected Silesian theologian, and together they had five daughters.His first congregation in Germany was also to be his last, as he worked for next 30 years as pastor of the local Lutheran church in the beautiful village of Nicolstadt (map , postcard picture) near Wahlstatt
Legnickie Pole
Legnickie Pole is a village in Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Legnickie Pole. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
. During this time he wrote several books about the "Old Lutheran emigration" (Auswanderung der Altlutheraner).
Contributions as an Author and Historian
Books written:- "Um des Glaubens willen nach Australien"by Wilhelm Iwan[1931:Verlag des Luth.Buechervereins, Breslau]
This book relates the story of the emigration of Prussian Lutherans to Australia during the period of 1830 to 1850.
- "Das verfluchte Gold" by Wilhelm Iwan[1935:Nicolstadt];reprint by Adelheid Iwan [1991:Kiel]
A book of Australian stories based on his personal experiences and the experiences of his Australian acquaintances. This book was to be used as the basis for a movie starring Hans Albers
Hans Albers
Hans Philipp August Albers was a German actor and singer. He was the single biggest male movie star in Germany between 1930 and 1945 and one of the most popular German actors of the twentieth century.- Life and work :...
. What came of these plans is not known.
- "Die altlutherische Auswanderung um die Mitte des 19.Jahrhundersts,by Wilhelm Iwan,Band I,Band II [1943:Eichhornverlag Lothar Kallenberg Ludwigsburg]
In this book he documents the emigration of Prussian Lutherans to America in the middle of the 19th century. He includes extensive emigrant lists which have become a valuable resource for genealogical research.
Refugee
In 1939 he retired and moved to Breslau hoping for some peaceful years, but at the end of January 1945, towards the end of World War II, as the Russian army was moving into Silesia, he was forced to flee his city on foot taking his ailing wife and his children with him, pulling his luggage behind him on a small sled, leaving behind his books, manuscripts, collections, and property. After several stops, he and his family were fortunate in May 1945 to be taken aboard a hospital train, and made the dangerous journey to Lindau. From there, the refugee office sent them along with other displaced civilians to WohmbrechtsHergatz
Hergatz is a municipality in the district of Lindau in Bavaria in Germany. The contemporary town was formed from the former municipals of Wohmbrechts and Maria-Thann in the course of the municipal reform at the end of the 70s.-Geografie:...
. There they lived under the sponsorship of a farmer by the name of Reichart. Iwan had to earn his keep but was also well treated for five years by the family.
At the age of 80, he succeeded in finding a new home in Wangen im Allgäu
Wangen im Allgäu
Wangen im Allgäu is a historic city in southeast Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It lies north-east of Lake Constance in the Westallgäu. It is the second-largest city in the Ravensburg district and is a nexus for the surrounding communities...
where he died on May 27, 1958. He is buried together with his wife in the Saint Wolfgang
Sankt Wolfgang
Sankt Wolfgang is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
cemetery.
Places named after Wilhelm Iwan
A street in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, the Wilhelm-Iwan-Ring in the suburb of Allermoehe, is named after him.