Fritz Hirsch (21 April 1871 – 18 July 1938) was a German art historian, architect, and pioneer of state-sponsored historical preservation.

Fritz Hirsch
Hirsch and his family, 1910
Born(1871-04-21)21 April 1871
Died18 July 1938(1938-07-18) (aged 67)
NationalityGerman
OccupationArt historian

Early life edit

Fritz Hirsh was born on 21 April 1871 in Konstanz, in the German Empire, to parents of Jewish descent.

Education edit

Hirsch graduated from a Konstanz gymnasium in 1889 and then began studying art and architecture in Karlsruhe and Munich. Also in 1889, while in Karlsruhe, he joined the Karlsruher Burschenschaft Teutonia [de] fraternity.

From 1895, he worked as an apprentice architect at the inspection offices of the Konstanz and Heidelberg districts. He received his doctorate in 1897 while in Heidelberg with a thesis on the Baroque sculptor Hans Morinck [de]. In the same year, he took a teaching position at an architecture school in Lübeck.

Career edit

In 1900, Hirsch became an assessor specializing in architecture for the government Heidelberg. Five years later, he was the district inspector for Bruchsal.[1] From 1900 to 1909, he directed a restoration of Schloss Bruchsal and the nearby St. Peter's Church [de], a groundbreaking landmark in the field of historical preservation. In particular, Hirsch emphasized before anything else the value of accurate sources and documentation.[citation needed]

Hirsch was dismissed from all his positions in 1933 by the anti-Semitic Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service.[1]

Honors edit

Hirsch was named an honorary citizen of the city of Schwetzingen and an honorary senator at the University of Freiburg.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Hirsch, Fritz (1871-1938)". Kalliope-Verbund [de]. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  2. ^ Stopfel, Wolfgang. "Geschichte der badenische Denkmalpflege und ihrer Dienststellen Karlsruhe, Straßburg und Freiburg" (PDF) (in German). Retrieved 24 August 2020.[dead link]