The Life and Work of the German Historian and Philologist Gottfried Schramm (1929–2017)

Abstract

The well-known idea that the development of science is determined, among other things, by enthusiasts whose entire lives are devoted to the search for truth acquires a deeper meaning when considered through the prism of the dramatic lives of said people. They are always few in any country, and they tend to follow their own paths, thus putting their lives on the line (in despotic states) or risking being misunderstood (under more lenient regimes): they do so because they regard cognition and new discoveries as the essence of their lives. Gottfried Schramm, who recently passed away, was one such person. In his academic life, he combined historical and linguistic interests, and his perfect command of languages provided him with a key to the history of peoples. This article analyses his bravery as a researcher and the paradoxes of ideas formed during his career of a scholar. Special attention is paid to the system of ideas about the phenomenon of revolution and the ideology of communism, in which, according to Schramm, the negation of the preceding epochs did not bring about new constructive ideas. Gottfried Schramm was not only a talented researcher but also a remarkable teacher: his authority and manner attracted many gifted students. The article describes a number of his most important works, which illustrates the state of Slavic studies in Germany.