Harden, Maximilian |
| WRITER, JOURNALIST (GERMANY) |
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BORN 20 Oct 1861, Berlin - DIED 30 Oct 1927, Montana Vermala BIRTH NAME Witkowski, Isidor GRAVE LOCATION Berlin: Friedhof Heerstrasse, Trahkener Allee 1, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf (Feld 8-C-10 (Reg. 335) (Ehemaliges Ehrengrab)) |
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Maximilian Harden was born as Isidor Witkowski. He was the son of a Jewish silk merchant and after a family quarrel he changed his name. He converted from the Jewish to the Christian belief in 1878 and he published critical essays under te name Apostata. In 1892 he founded the magazine "Die Zukunft" ("The Future") that was known for it's revelations. He was a personal friend of Bismarck and attacked the latter's opponents. He accused Fürst Philipp von Eulenburg of homosexuality and a series of trials followed. Von Eulenberg was not convicted, but Harden's publications heavily damaged the reputation of the emperor and his court. During the First World War he wanted Germany to win, but he was opposed to the annexation of foreign territory. For his collection of essays "Krieg und Frieden" ("War and Peace") he received the Strindberg Prize. In 1919 he married his girlfriend Selma Aaron. Shortly after the murder of his friend Von Rathenau he was attacked as well. Harden was severely wounded, but he survived. In 1923 he moved to Switzerland, where he died in 1927. Related persons • visited Dohme, Emma • knew Dumont-Lindemann, Louise • criticized Gross, Jenny • wrote about Wagner, Siegfried • knew Wedekind, Frank |
| Images |
 The grave of Maximilian Harden at the Friedhof Heerstrasse, Berlin. Picture by Androom (13 Aug 2000) |
Sources • Oosthoek Encyclopedie, 1948 • Winkler Prins Encyclopedie (editie 1909), 1909 |
