Ludwig Roselius
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Ludwig Roselius

Fig. 1
Ludwig Roselius portrait
Quelle
Boris, New York

Ludwig Roselius makes an appearance in almost every text on this website. As such, we are merely including a CV in table form of the key figure of Böttcherstrasse here. A short biographical treatise cannot do justice to this versatile and complex character, and no comprehensive biography of his life has been written to date. The Bremen historian Herbert Schwarzwälder reached a good compromise, including a critical appraisal of his role in imperial politics: Ludwig Roselius, in: Berühmte Bremer, Munich 1972, p. 118-152. A little more detailed from a family perspective: Hildegard Roselius: Ludwig Roselius und sein kulturelles Werk, Braunschweig 1954.

Short biography

2 June 1874

Born in Bremen

1890

Apprenticeship in Hanover

1893

Military service in Bremen

1894

Initially Prokurist (authorised representative) in his father’s company, subsequently a partner. Member of the “Niedersachsenrunde von 1900” (Lower Saxony Round Table of 1900): collectors of local art

Circa 1900

Friendship with Heinrich Vogeler

1902

Purchase of Böttcherstrasse 6

1906

Patenting of the decaffeination process and foundation of Kaffee-Handels-Aktiengesellschaft (Kaffee HAG), large advertising campaign, publication of the Güldenkammer literary journal

1910

Move to Berlin

1913

Publication of the Deutsche Ortswappen anthology by HAG

1915

Appointment by the Federal Foreign Office as Head of Propaganda in the Balkans, subsequently in Scandinavia. Briefly a soldier

1917

Appointment as Bulgarian Consul General based in Bremen, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Central Office for Foreign Trade, member of the examination board for Foreign Service candidates

1918

Acquaintance with Bernhard Hoetger

1918/20

Publication of numerous political essays on the future of Germany

1920s

Re-establishment of diplomatic missions and operations, numerous trips worldwide

1920

Foundation of the Angelsachsen-Verlag publishing house

1922

Honorary doctorate from the University of Münster, participation in the Bremen Focke-Wulf aircraft construction works;
Start of restoration of Böttcherstrasse on his initiative and in line with his vision

1929

Development and market launch of KABA instant cocoa

Early 1930s

Onset of a serious illness that paralysed his activities towards the end of the decade

1931, to mark HAG’s 25th anniversary

Completion of Böttcherstrasse with Robinson Crusoe House (designed by Roselius himself)

1933

Ardent supporter of the NSDAP’s takeover of power

Oct. 1933

Appeal to his staff to vote for the Führer in the (last) election

1933 and 1934

“Call” to the First and Second “Nordic Thing” in Böttcherstrasse

1934

Amputation of a leg

1935

Publication of the Deutsche Kunst portfolio collection

1936

Reaction to the intensification of National Socialists’ attacks on Böttcherstrasse

From 1942

In Berlin full-time

15 May 1943

Died in Berlin

 

Source: Tallasch/Bölts 2011