Günther Schwab
Encyclopedia
Günther Schwab was an Austrian writer and author
, and member of the Nazi party. He founded the World Union for Protection of Life
.
, Austria, where Schwab discovered his love for nature. In Vienna, he joined NSDAP as well as Sturmabteilung
(SA) in which he has been a lieutenant since 1930.
As an editor of Lebenschutz (Protection of Life), he has been repeatedly accused of racism.
Through Prof. Dr. Günther Schlesinger, an Austrian Nature Protection Referent, Günther Schwab got more involved with nature protection. He studied in those years, as expected of the family, at the commercial academy, but due to his love for nature he soon became a forest ranger.
In1951, he gave up his profession, moved to Salzburg and dedicated his life to writing. He realised that the new upcoming 1950s affluent society threatens to destroy all that he loves: the countryside with all its inhabitants, the solitude of the wilderness, the wildlife as he knew it up to then. Günther Schwab proved to be almost clairvoyant when, at the age of 50, he held a lecture with the title "The catastrophe has started already". This was at the Audi Max in Vienna in 1954.
as degenerates, and prophesized improperly managed population sizes from other continents would avalanche Europe. This was an effort to renew Social Darwinism
and eugenics
theories. His hope was to awaken the people. Strangely enough, although that book was on the market, there were some bookshops, which denied the existence of this book. The book was translated into other languages; the English version was published in 1963.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and member of the Nazi party. He founded the World Union for Protection of Life
World Union for Protection of Life
The World Union for Protection of Life is an international non-profit organization and non-governmental organization which was founded 1958 in Salzburg by the writer Günther Schwab...
.
Early life
After the First World War his family, who were merchants, moved to ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria, where Schwab discovered his love for nature. In Vienna, he joined NSDAP as well as Sturmabteilung
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
(SA) in which he has been a lieutenant since 1930.
As an editor of Lebenschutz (Protection of Life), he has been repeatedly accused of racism.
Through Prof. Dr. Günther Schlesinger, an Austrian Nature Protection Referent, Günther Schwab got more involved with nature protection. He studied in those years, as expected of the family, at the commercial academy, but due to his love for nature he soon became a forest ranger.
Environment and literature
His first book Abenteuer am Fluss (Adventures At The River), published by Franz-Eher-Verlag, the Central publishing house of the Nazi party, was proof of his love. And so were all his following books Der Wind über den Feldern (The wind across the fields), Kamerad mit dem haarigen Gesicht (A story about a dog), Land voller Grande (Land of grace), Das Glück am Rand (Fortune at the edge).In1951, he gave up his profession, moved to Salzburg and dedicated his life to writing. He realised that the new upcoming 1950s affluent society threatens to destroy all that he loves: the countryside with all its inhabitants, the solitude of the wilderness, the wildlife as he knew it up to then. Günther Schwab proved to be almost clairvoyant when, at the age of 50, he held a lecture with the title "The catastrophe has started already". This was at the Audi Max in Vienna in 1954.
The Dance with the Devil
To put his fears more plain and understandably for the man in the street, Günther Schwab wrote his book Der Tanz mit dem Teufel (The dance with the devil). It reads like a subtle, interesting detective story, which he finished in 1958. The theme was mankind's industrial sins causing environmental damage in condemning many AmericansUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as degenerates, and prophesized improperly managed population sizes from other continents would avalanche Europe. This was an effort to renew Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism is a term commonly used for theories of society that emerged in England and the United States in the 1870s, seeking to apply the principles of Darwinian evolution to sociology and politics...
and eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
theories. His hope was to awaken the people. Strangely enough, although that book was on the market, there were some bookshops, which denied the existence of this book. The book was translated into other languages; the English version was published in 1963.
Society
Schwab was a member of the Nazi party and during his life would serve on the advisory panel of the Society for Biological Anthropology, Eugenics, and Behavior Research.Awards
Günther Schwab turned 100 years in 2004 when he received the Cup of Honour of the town Salzburg as well as the Austrian Cross of Honour First Class for Science and Art. The appreciation of a man with such dedication and love for nature. He died on 12 April 2006.Selected Literature
- Schwab, Günther. Dance with the devil. A dramatic encounter. Geoffrey Bles, London 1963.