Leo Weismantel

Weismantel, Leo, (Obersinn, Rhön, 1888-1964, Rodalben, Palatinate), a prolific writer and an educationist, published his first novel, Mari Madlen, in 1918, and Das unheilige Haus in 1922. In 1925 appeared the work which gave the name to the school he founded in Marktbreit/Main in 1928, Die Schule der Volkschaft; he explained his theories on education in further works, including Der Geist als Sprache (1927), Vom Willen deutscher Kunsterziehung (1929), and Über die geistesbiologischen Grundlagen des Lesegutes der Kinder (1931). A Roman Catholic, he was a member of the Bavarian Landtag for the Zentrum party (1924-8).

In 1933 he completed the publication of a trilogy of novels, Vom Leben und Sterben eines Volkes, which was republished with new titles for each volume in 1943 (Das alte Dorf, 1928, retitled Das Jahr vom Sparbrot; Die Geschichte des Hauses Herkommer, 1932, retitled Die Leute von Sparbrot; and Das Sterben in den Gassen, 1933, retitled Tertullian Wolf). The trilogy was followed by Rebellen in Herrgotts Namen (1931, retitled Der Vorläufer, 1941), on the Peasants' War (see Bauernkrieg), and Gnade über Oberammergau (1934). In 1935 Weismantel's school was closed by the National Socialist regime, during which he was twice arrested (1939 and 1944). At this period his interest in novels on artists became manifest in a number of publications; they make some pretensions to learning and are encumbered with additional informative material and include Dill Riemenschneider (1936, see Riemenschneider, T.), Lionardo da Vinci (1938, earlier as a play, 1925), Gericht über Veit Stoß (1939), Mathis Nithart, der fälschlich Matthias Grünewald genannt wurde (3 vols., 1940-3, see Grünewald, M.), and two works on A. Dürer, Albrecht Dürers Brautfahrt in die Welt (1950) and Albrecht Dürer, der junge Meister (1950). He also wrote mystery plays and a number of Expressionist plays, including Die Reiter der Apokalypse (1919), Der Wächter unter dem Galgen (1920), and Der Totentanz 1921 (1921), which together with Das Spiel vom Blute appeared as Volk ohne Fahne (1924). Das Spiel von Wilhelm Tell (1925) exemplifies his theories, first expressed in Wilhelm Tell. Schillers Vermächtnis an das deutsche Volk (1922, ext. 1926). He promoted popular and amateur theatre, edited Fastnachtspiele by H. Sachs and marionette plays by Graf F. von Pocci, adapted others, and wrote some himself, publishing in 1924 Das Werkbuch der Puppenspiele. His autobiography appeared as Mein Leben (1936) and Jahre des Werdens (1940).

After the war Weismantel worked for two years as school inspector in Gemünden, where his reforms were not appreciated, and then as professor of history of art and director at the Pädagogisches Institut in Fulda (1947-51), later settling in Jugenheim (Berg-straße). His works on education from this period include Vom Wesen der Ganzheit in der Fibelfrage (1951) and Jugend und Schule in der Bundesrepublik (1958). A selection, Menschenbildung an der Zeitenwende, ed. F. Hofmann, appeared in 1970. Weismantel's awards include the Kleist Prize (1923) and an honorary doctorate conferred by the Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, in 1963.