Wittheit zu Bremen

The Wittheit zu Bremen is the scientific society of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, founded in 1924 by the physician Georg Strube. It is a registered association (eingetragener Verein) with a permanent office in the Haus der Wissenschaft in Bremen. As an umbrella organization of over 90 scientific institutions and institutes in Bremen and Bremerhaven, it publishes an annual programme with more than 250 lectures, excursions and exhibitions for the lecture season starting in September. The free programme booklet is distributed in libraries, universities and at the Bremen tourist association, as well as directly at the Haus der Wissenschaft. The society's origins trace back to the medieval term 'wydheyt' or 'witticheit', referring to a gathering of knowledgeable people, which appeared in additions to the Bremen city law of 1303–1308 as the entirety of the Bremen council. A predecessor association, the Verein für das wissenschaftliche Vortragswesen, existed since 1910. In 1924, the Bremer Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (BWG) was founded, later renamed Wittheit zu Bremen. Its goal was the 'consolidation and promotion of scientific endeavours and work in the territory of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen'. The first president was Georg Strube, and the founding ceremony took place on 14 February 1925. During the Nazi era, the BWG was transformed into the Wissenschaftliches Amt der Hansestadt Bremen in 1941, a process of Gleichschaltung organized by Hinrich Knittermeyer and Senator Richard Duckwitz. After 1945, the society was re-established, and in 1950 it became a registered association again. Since 1955, it has published the Jahrbuch der bremischen Wissenschaft (from 1957: Jahrbuch der Wittheit zu Bremen). Today, the Wittheit organizes numerous lecture series, often in cooperation with other institutions such as the Übersee-Museum, the Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein and the Bremer Gesellschaft für Vorgeschichte. Its members include all important scientific institutions in the state of Bremen, currently 103 scientifically active associations, institutes, universities, colleges and museums, as well as 73 personally appointed members. The president is the micropalaeontologist and palaeoceanographer Michal Kucera (since 2022 Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer at the University of Bremen), with vice-presidents the ancient historian Hans Kloft and the historian Lars U. Scholl.

The Wittheit zu Bremen traces its name to the medieval term 'wydheyt' or 'witticheit', which appeared in additions to the Bremen city law of 1303–1308, denoting the entirety of the Bremen council (all councillors and mayors). The council consulted this body of knowledgeable people on important matters. Later, councillors not bound by oath were also represented in this committee. A predecessor association, the Verein für das wissenschaftliche Vortragswesen, was founded in 1910, chaired by Senator Hermann Hildebrand, who became mayor in 1917. Its work was interrupted during World War I. Around 1923, talks took place between representatives of scientific associations and the Senate (Senator Theodor Spitta) with the aim of founding an umbrella association. The Bremer Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (BWG) was founded on 29 October 1924, later renamed Wittheit zu Bremen. Its goal was the 'consolidation and promotion of scientific endeavours and work in the territory of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen'. Founders included the physician Georg Strube, the radiologist Hans Meyer, the chamber of commerce syndic Johannes Rösing and the philosopher Johann Hinrich Knittermeyer. The first president was chief physician Strube, and the secretary was Knittermeyer, later director of the Bremen State Library. On 14 February 1925, Strube delivered the foundation speech at the founding ceremony, announcing that an annual festive session, the 'Smidt-Sitzung', would be held every 5 November, the birthday of Johann Smidt. The BWG organized lectures and talks and published treatises on the lectures of the BWG (Series D) and the associations (Series A to C). The initial principle of specialist sections evolved into six specialist commissions. The editorial management of the publication series was in the hands of museum director Ernst Grohne. From 1927, the educator, literary historian and folklorist Hermann Tardel edited Series E, the Niederdeutsche Zeitschrift für Volkskunde. From 1930, a president and a vice-president led the BWG, with an administrative committee handling current business. From 1933, the president of the BWG was appointed by the Bremen Senate, and the president appointed the board members. Hermann Entholt, director of the Bremen State Archives, was appointed president from 1933 to 1936. He was succeeded in 1936 by Hinrich Knittermeyer, director of the State Library, who had joined the NSDAP in 1933. Also in 1933, the Nazi cultural politician Adolf Seidler was appointed to the board by the Senate. From 1937, the BWG was to be transformed into a state Bremen academy. However, it was not until 7 June 1941 that, with the new name Wittheit zu Bremen, the BWG was converted into the Wissenschaftliches Amt der Hansestadt Bremen (Scientific Office of the Hanseatic City of Bremen). The scientific associations in Bremen were now formally affiliated but could largely act independently. This Gleichschaltung in the spirit of Nazi education and cultural policy was organized by Knittermeyer and Senator Richard Duckwitz (NSDAP). Due to the war, from 1943 the publication of most scientific series had to be discontinued. Only Series D and the new Series L of the Wittheit zu Bremen still appeared. After the collapse of the Nazi dictatorship in 1945, Knittermeyer was dismissed for his involvement, and the Wittheit initially ceased to exist. After 1945, Education Senator Christian Paulmann (SPD) and Syndic Rösing pursued the re-establishment of the Wittheit. The board now consisted of the president appointed by the Senate and his deputy, and the treasurer and secretary appointed by the president. In 1946, Entholt was again appointed president. The state paid the state-run Wittheit a subsidy for its tasks. It was not until 1950 that the Wittheit became an association again, with scientific associations and individuals as members. Entholt remained in office as now elected president until 1954. Knittermeyer was appointed as an advisory member of the board. In 2017, the Wittheit had 103 scientifically active associations and institutions as well as 73 personally appointed members. Since 1955, the Jahrbuch der bremischen Wissenschaft was published, from 1957 as Jahrbuch der Wittheit zu Bremen. Monographs on individual topics continued to be published. The publications of the affiliated associations no longer appeared through the Wittheit. According to its own statements, the tasks of the Wittheit today include the organization of scientific lectures, the publication of scientific works, the initiation and support of scientific work, the cultivation of relations with universities and other scientific institutes, and the maintenance of exchange relations with scientific bodies, institutes and associations. The Wittheit publishes an annual programme booklet in autumn with the public lectures offered.

• 2022

  Michal Kucera becomes president.

• 2017

  Wittheit has 103 scientifically active associations and institutions and 73 personally appointed members.

• 1957

  Yearbook renamed Jahrbuch der Wittheit zu Bremen.

• 1955

  Jahrbuch der bremischen Wissenschaft first published.

• 1950

  Wittheit becomes an association again with scientific associations and individuals as members.

• 1946

  Entholt again appointed president; state pays subsidy to the state-run Wittheit.

• 1945

  After collapse of Nazi dictatorship, Knittermeyer dismissed; Wittheit initially ceases to exist.

• 1943

  Publication of most scientific series discontinued due to war; only Series D and new Series L appear.

• 1941

  On 7 June, BWG converted into Wissenschaftliches Amt der Hansestadt Bremen with new name Wittheit zu Bremen.

• 1936

  Hinrich Knittermeyer succeeds Entholt as president.

• 1933

  President appointed by the Bremen Senate; Hermann Entholt becomes president; Adolf Seidler appointed to board.

• 1930

  A president and vice-president lead the BWG; an administrative committee handles current business.

• 1927

  Hermann Tardel begins editing Series E, the Niederdeutsche Zeitschrift für Volkskunde.

• 1925

  Founding ceremony on 14 February; Georg Strube delivers foundation speech, announces annual Smidt-Sitzung on 5 November.

• 1924

  Bremer Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (BWG) founded on 29 October; later renamed Wittheit zu Bremen.

• 1910

  Predecessor association Verein für das wissenschaftliche Vortragswesen founded, chaired by Senator Hermann Hildebrand.

• Medieval term 'wydheyt' or 'witticheit' appears in additions to the Bremen city law, denoting the entirety of the Bremen council.

Umbrella scientific society of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, promoting and coordinating scientific endeavours across the region.

• Annual programme booklet

  Published each autumn with over 250 lectures, excursions and exhibitions for the lecture season starting in September.

• Jahrbuch der Wittheit zu Bremen

  Yearbook published since 1955 (as Jahrbuch der bremischen Wissenschaft until 1957).

• Scientific publication series (Reihe A–E, L)

  Treatises on lectures of the BWG and affiliated associations, published in various series.

1. 1Wittheit zu Bremen official websitewittheit.de
2. 2Wittheit zu Bremen – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wittheit zu Bremen – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Der Muristan in Jerusalem - der Geschichte der Heiligen Stadt auf der Spurwittheit.de
5. 5Geschichte statt Erinnerung.wittheit.de
6. 6Auf den Spuren der Domestikations- und Kulturgeschichte der Hauskatzewittheit.de