Wilhelm Marr

Friedrich Wilhelm Adolph Marr (born the November 16th 1819 with Magdeburg - died the July 17th 1904 with Hamburg) was a German journalist who, in the political context of the 19th century, forged the concept of Antisémitisme.

Biography

Left Democrat and anarchist

Wilhelm Marr was born in Magdeburg in Germany. He is the only son of the actor and Director Heinrich Marr and of Henriette Catharina born Becherer. From 1825, he attends the elementary elementary school with Hanover then the college (" Realschule") with Brunswick. It follows then a commercial formation to Hamburg and Bremen, moves in 1839 in his/her father employed with the " Burgtheater" of Vienna in Austria and works like commercial employee in Jewish companies.

In 1841, it goes to Zurich and become acquainted with the poet Georg Herwegh (1817-1875), of Julius Fröbel (1805-1893) (future founder of the democratic party and future representing of this party at the Parliament of Frankfurt) and of August Adolf Follen, all emigrated political republicans and opponents of left. These meetings are determining in its life. It publishes the collection of poetries Freie Trabanten and is expelled of Zurich in 1843 for " agitation communiste". He lives then with Lausanne and returns in contact with Hermann Döleke and Julius Standau, which both had created the " Léman-Bund" , a secret organization of " young people allemands" who soon became an instrument of personal capacity. (The movement of the " young people allemands" is a literary movement of opposition which supports in first half of the 19th century the democracy).

Marr turns to the Anarchisme and the Athéisme, founds the secret Union of the Swiss workers and publishes the atheistic review and hégelienne Blätter der Gegenwart für social Leben (" Sheets of the present for the life sociale") (1844/45). It founds also the " Publisher of the bookstore allemande" who does not publish however that only one book " Cathechism of a republican of the avenir". In July 1845, it is expelled of Lausanne and publishes the following year a test Das junge Deutschland in der Schweiz (" The Germany young person in Suisse") its most known test in which its attitude shows through basically antilibérale and its anarchism.

Political journalist

In 1845 it is established in Hamburg and becomes political journalist; it founds the satirical and humorous review Mephistopheles (1847/48-1852). It belongs then to the extreme left of the Party radical-democrat and in 1848 is elected appointed with Francfort-sur-le-Main. For the first time it polemizes against the emancipation of the Jews which it justifies by his aversion for liberalism. Noting the failure of its design of a German State which would be republican, he becomes an energetic defender of a German State under Prussian hegemony.

Anti-semitism of parade

In 1852, disappointed political behaviors of its contemporaries, it goes successively to Übersee to Bavaria then to the Costa Rica where it makes trade to earn its living. Unfruitful, it returns to Hamburg and works again in the sector of journalism. In 1854, he marries Georgine Johanna Bertha Callenbach, whose father broke with the Judaism; they separate in 1873. Marr is with the direction of l" Union démocratique" and since 1861/62 representative with the municipality of Hamburg. His political radicalism persisting and his article anti-semite in the Courier year der Weser in a 1862, in which it attacks the president of the municipality of Hamburg Gabriel Riesser, liberal Jew defender of the emancipation of the Jews involves the end of his political mandates. He writes then Die Nessel (1864), the Beobachter year DER Elba (1865/66), the Sunday newspaper Der Kosmopolit (1866) and becomes editor association of the Berliner Post (1869/71); he also contributes to the Weimarische Zeitung (1874/75). He also writes articles for the Gartenlaube .

In 1874, Marr marries Helene Sophia Emma Maria Behrend, who is Jewish. Their harmonious relation takes quickly fine with the death of his wife the same year. In 1875, the third wife of Marr is Jenny Therese Kornick, separate, who is partly of Jewish ascent and which gives him a son. In 1877, the couple separates.

The concept of Anti-semitism

In 1879 Marr in Berlin its test publishes polemizes anti-semite Der Sieg of Judenthums über das Germanenthum (" Victory of the judeity over the germanité") who places it at the point of the defense of the anti-semitism. The same year, it founds the " League antisémite" the lifespan will be short and also publishes until 1880, its official body Die neue deutsche Wacht (" The new guard allemande"). It thus introduces the term anti-semitism into the political discourse of the company of its time. He pleads for an eviction of all the Jews towards Palestine. The last words are " Finished Germaniae! " (End of Germanic).

Its fourth and last wife are Clara Maria Kelch, which is resulting from a hard family of Hamburg. As Marr agitator has a great echo, as politician, it fails. In 1890, politically turned sour and in bad health, it takes refuge in its private life and polemic still with its pupil Theodor Fritsch whom it accuses of “anti-semitism of counter”.

In 1904, on July 17th, Wilhelm Marr dies in Hamburg.

External bonds

“anti-semitism”: genesis of the term and common significance
Article on the anti-semitism
" Der Sieg of Judenthums über das Germanenthum" (text with format pdf)

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