Eduard Neumann (24 June 1903 – 28 March 1985) was a German philologist who specialized in

Germanic studies Germanic philology is the philological study of the Germanic languages, particularly from a comparative or historical perspective. The beginnings of research into the Germanic languages began in the 16th century, with the discovery of literary te ...

Biography

Eduard Neumann was born in

Osterholz-Scharmbeck Osterholz-Scharmbeck (; Northern Low Saxon: ''Oosterholt-Scharmbeek'') is a town and the capital of the district of Osterholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Osterholz-Scharmbeck is situated between the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven. Geography N ...

, Germany on 24 June 1903. From 1922 to 1934 he studied

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

and

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

at the universities of

Innsbruck Innsbruck (; ) is the capital of Tyrol (federal state), Tyrol and the List of cities and towns in Austria, fifth-largest city in Austria. On the Inn (river), River Inn, at its junction with the Wipptal, Wipp Valley, which provides access to the ...

and

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

. From 1935 to 1939, Neumann studied

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

and Nordic philology at the

University of Marburg The Philipps University of Marburg () is a public research university located in Marburg, Germany. It was founded in 1527 by Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, which makes it one of Germany's oldest universities and the oldest still operating Prote ...

under

Karl Helm Karl Helm (full name Karl Hermann Georg Helm; 19 May 1871 in Karlsruhe – 9 September 1960 in Marburg) was a German philologist who specialized in Germanic studies Biography Karl Helm was born in Karlsruhe, Germany on 19 May 1871. He studied Ger ...

Walther Mitzka Walther () is a masculine given name and a surname. It is a German language, German form of Walter (name), Walter, which is derived from the Old High German ''Walthari'', containing the elements ''wald'' -"power", "brightness" or "forest" and ''ha ...

and Ludwig Wolff. He received his

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

with a thesis on the

Edda "Edda" (; Old Norse ''Edda'', plural ''Eddur'') is an Old Norse term that has been applied by modern scholars to the collective of two Medieval Icelandic literary works: what is now known as the ''Prose Edda'' and an older collection of poems ( ...

s at Marburg in 1941 under the supervision of Helm and Wolff. He subsequently

habilitated Habilitation is the highest university degree, or the procedure by which it is achieved, in Germany, France, Italy, Poland and some other European and non-English-speaking countries. The candidate fulfills a university's set criteria of excellen ...

at Marburg in 1951 with another thesis on the Eddas. Since 1951, Neumann lectured in

Germanic philology Germanic philology is the philology, philological study of the Germanic languages, particularly from a Comparative method, comparative or historical perspective. The beginnings of research into the Germanic languages began in the 16th century, wi ...

at the

University of Göttingen The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen (, commonly referred to as Georgia Augusta), is a Public university, public research university in the city of Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1734 ...

. In 1955 he was appointed a guest professor at the

Free University of Berlin The Free University of Berlin (, often abbreviated as FU Berlin or simply FU) is a public university, public research university in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in West Berlin in 1948 with American support during the early Cold War period a ...

. He was a visiting professor at

Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...

in 1956. From 1959 to 1971, Neumann was Professor of German Philology, Old German Studies and Nordic Studies at the Free University of Berlin. During this time, he also served as Director of the Germanic Seminar (1957-1971) and Rector (1959-1961). Neumann retired in 1971, and died in Berlin on 28 March 1985. He is buried at

Waldfriedhof Dahlem The Waldfriedhof Dahlem (Dahlem (Berlin), Dahlem forest cemetery) is a cemetery in Berlin, in the district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf on the edge of the Grunewald (forest), Grunewald forest at Hüttenweg 47. Densely planted with conifers and design ...

Sources

* Michael Fisch: ''Eduard Neumann.'' In:

Christoph König Christoph König (born in Dresden in 1968) is a German conductor. Biography Raised in Dresden, the son of a flautist mother, König became a member of the Dresden Kreuzchor at age 9. From 1988 to 1993, he studied orchestral conducting at the Hoc ...

(Hrsg.), unter Mitarbeit von Birgit Wägenbaur u. a.: '' Internationales Germanistenlexikon 1800–1950.'' Band 2: ''H–Q.'' De Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2003, . 1903 births 1985 deaths Germanic studies scholars Academic staff of the Free University of Berlin Old Norse studies scholars University of Marburg alumni 20th-century German philologists {{Germany-linguist-stub

Biography

See also

Sources