Third Reich Service Passport – Musicologist Prof. Schünemann

Third Reich Service Passport – Musicologist Prof. Schünemann

Schünemann (1884 – 1945) , the son of a rector, received his doctorate after studying music in 1907 with his thesis on the history of conducting. After his habilitation in 1919 he became a professor in 1920, deputy director and in 1932 director of the Berlin Academy of Music. As an employee of Leo Kestenberg he was involved in the reorganization of the school and private music education.

After the takeover by the Nazis, he was “on leave” as director of the university for denunciations; but was immediately afterwards Head of State of the music instruments collection. In 1935 he was director of the music department of the Prussian State Library. Since 1936, Schünemann was co-editor of the journal Archives of Music Research. Schünemann was a member of the Nazi party officials working group since March 1933.

After 1940 he submitted a “Jewish-free” re-translation of Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro, he was deputy chairman of the Reich Office for music editing, a subdivision of the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. During World War II he worked in the main body of the music office of Rosenberg and short term in the task force of Reichsleiter Rosenberg.

Schünemann also transferred the Don Giovanni libretto into German. With his text the opera was performed in 1961 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin with Carl Ebert, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Elisabeth Grümmer and Dalberg. He found his final resting on the East Stahnsdorf in Urnenhain III, Section 12, garden spot. 6

The passport

Passport with photograph of the holder, signed and numerous stamps; Swiss visa, entry and exit to Switzerland.

Tom Topol | Passport Historian & Author
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