Otto-Mann-Institut

Ever wondered about the legacy of a man whose name graces this building? The Otto-Mann-Institut stands before us, a quiet yet powerful testament to a remarkable Germanist, Otto Mann. Born in Barmen in 1898, Mann’s life journey intertwined with the tumultuous history of the 20th century. He served in World War I, beginning his military service in 1917. Later, he delved into the world of academia, studying philosophy, art history, and musicology in Bonn. Here, under the tutelage of the renowned philosopher Karl Jaspers, he crafted his dissertation on the “Dandy as a Cultural Problem,” earning him summa cum laude in 1925. Mann’s academic pursuits led him to Heidelberg, where he achieved his habilitation in 1929 with a work on Friedrich Schlegel. His academic career continued at the University of Heidelberg, even amidst the upheaval of World War II, which saw him drafted for service on the Eastern Front. After the war, Mann returned to Heidelberg, becoming a professor of German literary history. In 1961, he transitioned to the Wirtschaftshochschule Mannheim, now the University of Mannheim. Here he taught German language and literature until his retirement in 1966. Mann’s influence extended beyond Germany. He held guest professorships in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. His scholarly work explored the lives and writings of literary figures like Johann Georg Hamann, Novalis, and, most notably, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. He challenged prevailing interpretations of Lessing, arguing against viewing him through the lens of secularized philosophy. Instead, he positioned Lessing as a staunch opponent of secularization. This institute, the Otto-Mann-Institut, stands as a tribute to his legacy. It was established thanks to the generosity of his wife, Rotraud Mann-Straube, who founded the Otto-Mann-Stiftung in 1992, perpetuating his dedication to scholarship. So, the next time you pass this building, remember Otto Mann, the scholar, the soldier, the intellectual force who left an indelible mark on German literary studies.