Dominik, Hans |
| NOVELIST, ENGINEER (GERMANY) |
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BORN 15 Nov 1872, Zwickau, Sachsen - DIED 9 Dec 1945, Berlin GRAVE LOCATION Berlin: Städtischer Friedhof Zehlendorf, Onkel-Tom-Straße 30 (Feld 009-83 (ehemaliges Ehrengrab)) |
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Hans Dominik was the author of utopian science fiction novels. He was the son of the journalist and publisher Friedrich Wilhelm Dominik and his wife Hedwig Mügge. During his studies at a gymnasium in Gotha Hans met Kurd Laßwitz, who taught mathematics and physics, but also wrote utopian novels and short stories. From 1893 onwards he studied at the Technischen Hochschule in Berlin, where he specialised in railway technology. As a student he went to America, where he worked for a while. Back in Germany he abandoned his studies and became a technical project manager. In 1901 he became an independent author. Apart from technical writings for the industry he also started writing for the public in the Berliner Tageblatt. In December 1903 he founded the Automobiltechnische Gesellschaft together with Graf Arco, Edmund Rumpler and others. In 1907 he started writing utopian stories. In 1910 he married and in 1911 his daughter Liselotte was born. Health problems spared him active service during the first World War and he worked on the development of telegraphy instead. His first utopian novel "Die Macht der Drei" was published in 1922. It was a success and in 1924 he became a full time author. Many more novels followed and they were bestsellers. His attitude towards the Third Reich was unclear. Racist and nationalistic elements were present in his work, but he wasn't an active nazi and he was forced by the nazis to rewrite parts of his his novel "Ein Stern fiel vom Himmel" in 1936. On the other hand reprints of his work were allowed during the war when paper was scarce. In 1942 he stated in his autobiography that he was surprised that Germany attacked Poland in 1939 after Hitler suggested peace. He died shortly after the war. His grave at the Städtischer Friedhof Zehlendorf in Berlin was a honorary grave of the city of Berlin from 1978 to 2001. Related persons • cooperated with Arco, Georg, Graf von • has a connection with Rumpler, Edmund |
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 The grave of Hans Dominik at the Städtischer Friedhof Zehlendorf, Onkel-Tom-Straße, Berlin. Picture by Androom (17 Jul 2005) |
