Jean Rudolf von Salis (12 December 1901–14 July 1996) was a Swiss historian who gained prominence with his weekly "Weltchronik" (English: world chronicle) radio broadcasts from 1940 until 1947.[1]
Jean Rudolf von Salis was born on 12 December 1901 in Bern, and he died on 14 July 1996 on Brunegg Castle, a family heirloom of his mother, Marie Pauline Hünerwadel.[1]
Coming from a very noble Swiss family, von Salis counted more than 30 generals of different armies among his ancestors (one of them a Royal Navy admiral), as well as several diplomats, politicians, and the poet Johann Gaudenz.[2]
As the son of a medical doctor, Adolf von Salis, he began to study history in 1920. After visiting the universities of Montpellier (France), Berne, Berlin and Paris (Sorbonne), in 1932 he finished the studies with writing a PhD thesis on Jean Charles Léonard de Sismondi, a Swiss historian and political economist.[1]
He was married to his wife Elsie, and he had two children, Adolf and Marie, and his copious correspondence with fellow authors – the most prominent of them Rainer Maria Rilke – has been partially published.[2]
Journalism and teachingEdit
In 1926, he began to report from Paris for several Swiss newspapers, and from 1930 until 1935, he worked as a correspondent for Der Bund, the main newspaper in Bern.
In 1940, the Federal Council of Switzerland tasked von Salis with producing a weekly radio broadcast that featured reports, analyses and commentary on the Second World War. Given that the "Landessender Beromünster" (country radio station Beromünster) medium wave at the Blosenberg tower could be received in large areas of Europe, von Salis' reports earned respect as one of the few objective and neutral news sources during the War.
As he was taking a clear stance against national socialism, the German government demanded the Federal Council to replace von Salis several times. Though these attempts were not successful, von Salis was not allowed to mention negative events in Germany, as well as the genocide against the European Jews.[3]
In 1966, the "Weltchronik" episodes were published in print.
Later lifeEdit
After the war, von Salis proposed rapprochement towards Europe, and from 1946 until 1965 he was member of the Swiss UNESCO commission and Swiss delegate at the UNESCO conferences.[1]
From 1951 until 1960, he edited his main work, "Weltgeschichte der neuesten Zeit" (literally "World history in the newest time"), a three-volume book on the world history from the Franco-Prussian war (1871) until 1945.[1]
WorksEdit
Jean Rudolf von Salis in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
German (selection)
von Salis, Jean Rudolf (1966). Weltchronik, 1939-1945 [World chronicle, 1939-1945] (in German). Zürich: Orell Füssli.
von Salis, Jean Rudolf (1980). Weltgeschichte der neuesten Zeit (in German). Zürich: Orell Füssli. (New edition, three volumes with two sub-volumes each.)
von Salis, Jean Rudolf. Grenzüberschreitungen. Ein Lebensbericht [Frontier crossings. A life's report.] (in German). Zürich: Orell Füssli. Biography in two volumes, covering the years 1901-1939 (published 1975) and 1939-1978 (1978).
Translated into English
von Salis, Jean-Rodolphe (1971). Switzerland and Europe: essays and reflections. Wolff. ISBN0854961240.
SourcesEdit
^ abcdefBirrer, Sibylle (2011-01-07). "Jean Rudolf von Salis" (in German). Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Retrieved 2022-12-01. Article also available in French and Italian.
^ abcCarriere, Ken (1996-07-19). "Facts & Arguments Lives Lived: Jean Rudolf von Salis". Toronto Globe & Mail.
^Kühner, Claudia (2011-07-21). "Ein grosser Geist, verhaftet im alten Denken". Tages-Anzeiger.
August 28, 2023
jean, rudolf, salis, december, 1901, july, 1996, swiss, historian, gained, prominence, with, weekly, weltchronik, english, world, chronicle, radio, broadcasts, from, 1940, until, 1947, jean, rodolphe, salisvon, salis, 1941born12, december, 1901bernedied14, jul. Jean Rudolf von Salis 12 December 1901 14 July 1996 was a Swiss historian who gained prominence with his weekly Weltchronik English world chronicle radio broadcasts from 1940 until 1947 1 Jean Rudolf von SalisJean Rodolphe von Salisvon Salis in 1941Born12 December 1901BerneDied14 July 1996 aged 94 Brunegg CastleNationalitySwissKnown forRadio commentary on World War 2As von Salis never wrote English publications and his works were rarely translated he is little known outside of the European historical sciences 2 Contents 1 Life and education 2 Journalism and teaching 3 Weltchronik 4 Later life 5 Works 6 SourcesLife and education EditJean Rudolf von Salis was born on 12 December 1901 in Bern and he died on 14 July 1996 on Brunegg Castle a family heirloom of his mother Marie Pauline Hunerwadel 1 Coming from a very noble Swiss family von Salis counted more than 30 generals of different armies among his ancestors one of them a Royal Navy admiral as well as several diplomats politicians and the poet Johann Gaudenz 2 As the son of a medical doctor Adolf von Salis he began to study history in 1920 After visiting the universities of Montpellier France Berne Berlin and Paris Sorbonne in 1932 he finished the studies with writing a PhD thesis on Jean Charles Leonard de Sismondi a Swiss historian and political economist 1 He was married to his wife Elsie and he had two children Adolf and Marie and his copious correspondence with fellow authors the most prominent of them Rainer Maria Rilke has been partially published 2 Journalism and teaching EditIn 1926 he began to report from Paris for several Swiss newspapers and from 1930 until 1935 he worked as a correspondent for Der Bund the main newspaper in Bern In 1935 the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich hired him as a professor of history a position he kept until 1968 1 Weltchronik EditIn 1940 the Federal Council of Switzerland tasked von Salis with producing a weekly radio broadcast that featured reports analyses and commentary on the Second World War Given that the Landessender Beromunster country radio station Beromunster medium wave at the Blosenberg tower could be received in large areas of Europe von Salis reports earned respect as one of the few objective and neutral news sources during the War As he was taking a clear stance against national socialism the German government demanded the Federal Council to replace von Salis several times Though these attempts were not successful von Salis was not allowed to mention negative events in Germany as well as the genocide against the European Jews 3 In 1966 the Weltchronik episodes were published in print Later life EditAfter the war von Salis proposed rapprochement towards Europe and from 1946 until 1965 he was member of the Swiss UNESCO commission and Swiss delegate at the UNESCO conferences 1 From 1951 until 1960 he edited his main work Weltgeschichte der neuesten Zeit literally World history in the newest time a three volume book on the world history from the Franco Prussian war 1871 until 1945 1 Works EditJean Rudolf von Salis in libraries WorldCat catalog German selection von Salis Jean Rudolf 1966 Weltchronik 1939 1945 World chronicle 1939 1945 in German Zurich Orell Fussli von Salis Jean Rudolf 1980 Weltgeschichte der neuesten Zeit in German Zurich Orell Fussli New edition three volumes with two sub volumes each von Salis Jean Rudolf Grenzuberschreitungen Ein Lebensbericht Frontier crossings A life s report in German Zurich Orell Fussli Biography in two volumes covering the years 1901 1939 published 1975 and 1939 1978 1978 Translated into Englishvon Salis Jean Rodolphe 1971 Switzerland and Europe essays and reflections Wolff ISBN 0854961240 Sources Edit a b c d e f Birrer Sibylle 2011 01 07 Jean Rudolf von Salis in German Historical Dictionary of Switzerland Retrieved 2022 12 01 Article also available in French and Italian a b c Carriere Ken 1996 07 19 Facts amp Arguments Lives Lived Jean Rudolf von Salis Toronto Globe amp Mail Kuhner Claudia 2011 07 21 Ein grosser Geist verhaftet im alten Denken Tages Anzeiger Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jean Rudolf von Salis amp oldid 1157424174, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
