Josef Naus
Encyclopedia
Josef Naus was an officer and surveying technician, known for leading the first ascent of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze
. Variations of his name are Karl Naus or Joseph Naus.
/ Tyrol
or, according to other sources, Reutte
. He was the son of a judge and came from a family that had probably immigrated from Belgium or the Netherland to Tyrol in the 17th century. As a young man Naus studied surveying. He joined the Bavarian Army
in 1813 and did wartime service against Napoleon in 1814/15 he did wartime service against Napoleon, before joining the Royal Topographic Bureau.
In 1820, together with a group of officers and men, Lieutenant Naus was given the task of producing the Werdenfels map
for the Topographic Atlas of Bavaria. In the course of this work, on 27 August 1820, Naus made the first recorded ascent of the Zugspitze with his assistant, Maier, and mountain guide
, Johann Georg Tauschl.
In September 2006 the German Alpine Club
announced that the first ascent of the Zugspitze could have been made before the middle of the 18th century. The basis of this speculation was the rediscovery of an historic map from the 18th century that depicted the Zugspitze region. On this map routes were marked to the summit region, but not, however, to the actual summit. A chronology with relatively realistic information about the routes to the summit reinforced the surmise. But the map did not indicate whether the mountain was scaled by hunters or smugglers.
In 1824 Naus became a lieutenant. In 1851 he was promoted to major general and sent to Ulm
as commandant of the imperial fortress there. He retired in 1857, but was reactivated in 1866 and appointed as Quartermaster General and head of the Survey Office.
He died on 6 September 1871 in Ulm.
filmed Gipfelsturm ("Summit Storm"), which portrayed the first official ascent of the Zugspitze by Josef Naus (first broadcast on 8 April 2007). In this historical drama he not only had to contend with nature, but also with the superstitious population. Josef Naus is played by Johannes Zirner. Direction and screen play were by Bernd Fischerauer.
Zugspitze
The Zugspitze, at 2,962 metres above sea level, is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains as well as the highest mountain in Germany. It lies south of the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the border between Germany and Austria runs over its western summit. South of the mountain is...
. Variations of his name are Karl Naus or Joseph Naus.
Life and career
Naus was born on 29 August 1793 in LechaschauLechaschau
Lechaschau is a municipality in the Austrian district of Reutte, Tyrol....
/ Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
or, according to other sources, Reutte
Reutte
Reutte is a market town in Tyrol, Austria. It is the administrative center of the Reutte district . Reutte is located on the Lech river, and has a population of 5,738 .- Neighbouring municipalities :...
. He was the son of a judge and came from a family that had probably immigrated from Belgium or the Netherland to Tyrol in the 17th century. As a young man Naus studied surveying. He joined the Bavarian Army
Bavarian army
The Bavarian Army was the army of the Electorate and then Kingdom of Bavaria. It existed from 1682 as the standing army of Bavaria until the merger of the military sovereignty of Bavaria into that of the German State in 1919...
in 1813 and did wartime service against Napoleon in 1814/15 he did wartime service against Napoleon, before joining the Royal Topographic Bureau.
In 1820, together with a group of officers and men, Lieutenant Naus was given the task of producing the Werdenfels map
Werdenfelser Land
The Werdenfelser Land is a region of Upper Bavaria that extends from Mittenwald in the south to Farchant. It includes parts of the Bavarian Alps. From the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years War the Werdenfelser Land was subject to the Prince-Bishop of Freising, not the Duke of Bavaria.The region...
for the Topographic Atlas of Bavaria. In the course of this work, on 27 August 1820, Naus made the first recorded ascent of the Zugspitze with his assistant, Maier, and mountain guide
Mountain guide
Mountain guides are specially trained and experienced mountaineers and professionals who are generally certified by an association. They are considered experts in mountaineering.-Skills:Their skills usually include climbing, skiing and hiking...
, Johann Georg Tauschl.
In September 2006 the German Alpine Club
German Alpine Club
The German Alpine Club or DAV is the largest climbing association in the world and the eighth largest sports union in Germany. It is organised into 354 legally independent branches with a total of around 815,000 members...
announced that the first ascent of the Zugspitze could have been made before the middle of the 18th century. The basis of this speculation was the rediscovery of an historic map from the 18th century that depicted the Zugspitze region. On this map routes were marked to the summit region, but not, however, to the actual summit. A chronology with relatively realistic information about the routes to the summit reinforced the surmise. But the map did not indicate whether the mountain was scaled by hunters or smugglers.
In 1824 Naus became a lieutenant. In 1851 he was promoted to major general and sent to Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
as commandant of the imperial fortress there. He retired in 1857, but was reactivated in 1866 and appointed as Quartermaster General and head of the Survey Office.
He died on 6 September 1871 in Ulm.
Film
In 2006 Bavarian TVBayerischer Rundfunk
Bayerischer Rundfunk [Bavarian Broadcasting] is the public broadcasting authority for the German Freistaat of Bavaria, with its main offices located in Munich. BR is a member of ARD.- Legal foundation :...
filmed Gipfelsturm ("Summit Storm"), which portrayed the first official ascent of the Zugspitze by Josef Naus (first broadcast on 8 April 2007). In this historical drama he not only had to contend with nature, but also with the superstitious population. Josef Naus is played by Johannes Zirner. Direction and screen play were by Bernd Fischerauer.