Unsung hero of Berlin’s natural landscapes. That’s who Max Hilzheimer was. This Max Hilzheimer Plaque commemorates him. It honors his dedication to nature.
Max Hilzheimer was born in 1877. He became a zoologist. His specialty was mammals. Hilzheimer was also a pioneer in Berlin’s conservation efforts. He was an expert on ancient domestic animals.
Hilzheimer studied in Strasbourg and Munich. He earned a doctorate. His thesis focused on insect anatomy. He worked at the Strasbourg Museum. He taught at the Technical University in Stuttgart.
In 1926, Hilzheimer co-founded the German Society for Mammalogy. He worked with Hermann Pohle and Kurt Ohnesorge. Hilzheimer established Berlin’s nature conservation unit in 1927. Later, it became the Berlin Commission for Natural Heritage Management. Hilzheimer became its first commissioner. He directed the Märkisches Museum until 1936.
Max Hilzheimer’s life took a dark turn in 1935. His German citizenship was revoked because of his Jewish heritage. In 1936, he lost all his positions. Johannes Karl Wilhelm Klose replaced him.
Despite facing persecution, Hilzheimer survived the Nazi era. His wife, Walburga Münzhuber, helped him. They had married in 1907. Her Catholic background protected him. Hilzheimer lived in seclusion. He died in 1946.
After the war, Hilzheimer’s contributions were forgotten. His contemporaries did not acknowledge him. However, Hermann Pohle spoke of Hilzheimer’s achievements.
This Max Hilzheimer Plaque stands as a reminder. It acknowledges Hilzheimer’s vital role. He ensured nature conservation. He brought nature closer to Berlin’s residents. Hilzheimer believed in environmental education. He thought understanding nature leads to respect.
In 1924, Berlin established its first nature reserves. These were Lichterfelder Schlosspark and Pfaueninsel. Hilzheimer helped establish many more protected areas. These included Großer Stein near Buchholz and the Schildow conservation area.
The Nazis seized power in 1933. This event greatly impacted Hilzheimer. He was labeled a “non-Aryan”. He lost his teaching position. He was dismissed from the Märkisches Museum. Friends in nature conservation abandoned him. The NS regime harassed him. In 1937, he suffered a stroke.
Hilzheimer’s wife bravely prevented his deportation to a concentration camp. He survived the war but passed away shortly after.
This Max Hilzheimer Plaque is more than a memorial. It marks the spot where a visionary’s work was nearly erased. Today, Berlin remembers Max Hilzheimer. We recognize his lasting impact on the city’s natural heritage. This stone remembers him as Berlin’s first Nature Conservation Commissioner from 1927 to 1936.