The House of Karl Marx in Germany is the house in Trier where Karl Marx spent his childhood and youth.
Historical reference of the house of Karl Marx
editThe small house in Trier's Simeonstrasse houses a large piece of world history. This makes this house a cultural asset, because it was precisely in these rooms that the young Karl Marx formulated his first revolutionary ideas. Karl Marx grew up in the baroque mansard roof building from the 18th century from the age of two to his graduation from high school at the age of seventeen. The social theorist also returned to Trier as a grown man and resided in this house.
Even Marx's father Heinrich, when he bought this house in 1819 [1] was enthusiastic about its closeness to the pulse of the city.[2] Nothing has changed about this to this day, because the main features of the historic old town have been preserved and have a lasting impact on the face of Trier. The former family property of Karl Marx’s parents is right next to the Roman city gate, the Porta Nigra, at the starting point of the city promenade that leads directly to the main market. The evidence shows that the route from the house on Simeonstrasse has remained unchanged to this day, meaning that the young Karl Marx walked along exactly the same shopping street on his daily walk to his secondary school.[3]
However, the later thinker of communism was taught in his home up to the age of 12 [4]. Here, the young Karl absorbed his first philosophical and ideological thoughts and developed them himself. The foundation stone for “Das Kapital” was laid in these four walls. In later years, too, the path of his life often led the theoretician of socialism back to his homeland. In 1841 and 1842 in particular, the house became an important centre of life for the now grown, highly educated man. After successfully attaining his doctorate in philosophy, he travelled from Berlin back to Trier in 1841. He lived in his parents' house for several months, visited his fiancée Jenny von Westphalen daily, and pursued further studies here.[5] This property thus breathes the oppositional ideas of Marx as a young left Hegelian. It was here in Simeonstrasse that Marx wrote his thoughts on his critique of religion and took his first steps as a thought leader against the existing political conditions of his time.
Even in 1842, when Karl Marx was already one of the formative employees of the opposition newspaper the Rheinische Zeitung in Bonn, his life again led him several times to the property being offered here, in order to settle internal family matters.[6] During his stays, the house on Simeonstrasse became his second home again. Based here, he wrote critical articles and gave initial shape to his revolutionary thoughts. A house full of revolutionary history, closely interwoven with Karl Marx and his very personal family and life story.
Location of the house
editIn the historic heart of Trier's old town at Simeonstraße 8, the former home of the political economist Karl Marx presents itself in a harmonious, classic architecture and an appealing look of timeless elegance.
Shops, cafés and restaurants are in the immediate vicinity, because the listed property is right at the beginning of Trier's most prominent promenade. A visit to the house is also combined here with a tour of Trier's landmark, the Porta Nigra. The imposing bronze statue of Karl Marx is also just a few meters from the house. The monumental statue was made as a gift by sculptor Wu Weishan of the People's Republic of China to the city of Trier in 2018 on the occasion of the 200th birthday of the famous son of the city.
References
edit- ^ Longuet, Robert-Jean (1977). Karl Marx mein Urgroßvater. Berlin. p. 16.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Neffe, Jürgen (2017). Marx der Unvollendete. Bertelsmann. p. 47. ISBN 978-3570102732.
- ^ Monz, Heinz (1964). Die Trierer Umwelt des jungen Karl Marx. Trier. p. 164.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Baumeister, Jens (2017). Wie der Wein Karl Marx zum Kommunisten machte: Ein Kommunist als Streiter für die Moselwinzer. Trier. p. 32. ISBN 978-3000564710.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Longuet, Robert-Jean (1977). Karl Marx mein Urgroßvater. Berlin. p. 52.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Longuet, Robert-Jean (1977). Karl Marx mein Urgroßvater. Berlin. p. 55.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)