The Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, constructed between 1914 and 1917 for Crown Prince Wilhelm, serves as a prominent example of the traditionalist architecture championed by Paul Schultze-Naumburg. His career spanned roles as a painter, author, and politician, reflecting the shifting cultural tides of Germany from the turn of the century through the mid-twentieth century.
Early Career and Traditionalist Influence
Born in 1869 in Almrich, Schultze-Naumburg attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe. By 1900, he established himself as a painter and architect within the Munich circles associated with the Jugendstil and Arts and Crafts movements. His nine-volume publication series, Kulturarbeiten, released between 1900 and 1917, reached a wide middle-class audience. Through his involvement with the Deutscher Werkbund and the Um 1800 movement, he became a central figure in advocating for preservation and a return to traditional building styles.
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Following Germany's defeat in the First World War, Schultze-Naumburg increasingly directed his writing toward condemning modernism. In works such as his 1928 book Kunst und Rasse, he argued that modern art represented a form of sickness. He juxtaposed images of modern artworks with photographs of people suffering from diseases, attempting to link aesthetic choices with racial heritage. These theories proposed that only racially pure art could uphold classical beauty, providing a framework for the ideological positions adopted by the Nazi Party.
Political Engagement and Institutional Recognition
Schultze-Naumburg joined the Nazi Party in 1930. He was elected to the Reichstag in July 1932, serving as a deputy until the collapse of the regime. Beyond his legislative duties, he participated in the Kampfbund deutscher Architekten und Ingenieure, a propaganda group for Nazi culture. His contributions were formally acknowledged by the state with the Golden Party Badge in 1943, the Adlerschild des Deutschen Reiches in 1944, and the Goethe Medal for Art and Science in 1939. Additionally, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stuttgart.
Final Years
By 1944, Schultze-Naumburg was included on the Gottbegnadeten list, identifying him as a primary cultural figure within the Nazi hierarchy. He lived in Saaleck and worked in various capacities across Germany, including positions at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. He died in 1949 in Jena. His remains were interred in a mausoleum he had designed in 1909 for the poet Ernst von Wildenbruch, located in the Weimar Historical Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1869, Almrich
- Died: 1949, Jena
- Primary Occupations: Architect, writer, painter, politician
- Notable Architectural Works: Cecilienhof, Schloss Freudenberg, Schloss Bahrendorf
- Political Party Membership: Nazi Party (joined 1930)
- Significant Publication: Kunst und Rasse (1928)
- Awards Received: Goethe Medal for Art and Science, Adlerschild des Deutschen Reiches, Golden Party Badge
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the Kulturarbeiten books?
Published between 1900 and 1917, these nine volumes established Schultze-Naumburg as a major tastemaker for the German middle class during the early twentieth century.
What political positions did Schultze-Naumburg hold?
He was a member of the Reichstag for the Nazi Party, serving as a deputy from the constituency of Merseburg between 1932 and the end of the regime.
Achievements
- Notable work: Schloss Bahrendorf
- Notable work: Cecilienhof
- Notable work: Schloss Freudenberg (Wiesbaden)
- Golden Party Badge
- honorary doctor of the University of Stuttgart
- Adlerschild des Deutschen Reiches
- Movement: Um 1800
- Trained at Academy of Fine Arts, Karlsruhe
