Johanna von Puttkamer

Johanna Friederike Charlotte Dorothea Eleonore von Bismarck, born of Puttkamer (* April 11, 1824 on Good Reinfeld, † November 27, 1894 in Varzin ) was the wife of Otto von Bismarck.

Life

Puttkamer grew up as the only daughter up in a very pietistic Protestant dominated the home and environment. The older brother Francis died at age five. Her parents Henry of Puttkamer ( born September 27, 1789 in Viartlum; † November 3, 1871 in Reinfeld ) and Luitgarde Agnese of Glasenapp ( born October 17, 1799 in Gramenz, † September 5, 1863 in Reinfeld ) had on December 1, 1819 married in Gramenz.

Otto von Bismarck held on 21 December 1846 in the form of a diplomatic and rhetorical sent letter drafted at Johanna's father for the hand of his daughter. The wedding took place on 28 July 1847 in Reinfeld instead, a year later she gave birth to her first child, Marie ( born August 21, 1848 † February 8, 1926; 1878 marriage to Count Kuno of Rantzau ), and in December 1849 their second child, Herbert, and in 1852 their third child William.

After the death of Princess Bismarck ordered that his companion should find their final resting place at the place of their death, where the couple had spent many summer and winter. A small garden shed, which was a favorite place of the princess was transformed into a simple grave chapel, and here the coffin was buried. Later, her body was taken to Friedrichsruh where she is buried alongside her husband.

Assessment

Puttkamers life was according to the sources always "in character of the Bible ," in general the Christian faith and its teachings. She was in the tendentious literary representation after her marriage to Otto von Bismarck in 1847 getting the " loving, adoring daughter of her parents, self-sacrificing wife of her husband and faithful caring mother of their children ." One might think, considering the circumstances at the time, therefore, was unnecessary also from today's perspective intrusive question, " where their life then actually did ."

In fact, it was but essential for the work and the success of her husband Otto von Bismarck, as the following quotes from Bismarck " Bismarck - The white revolutionary" show of Lothar Gall:

Bismarck for his wedding in a letter to his brother:

Lothar Gall this and other Bismarck quotes:

Seen in Joan of Puttkamer ultimately a very important for the German Empire and its founding personality, especially today, deserves their role in the discussion of the role of women in politics and business, attention. However, was their social role not undisputed: At court as she stood in rivalry to the Countess Schleinitz, wife of the Bismarck - critical royal house Minister Alexander von Schleinitz, which was not only superior to her intellectually and externally, but also the liberal- aristocratic opposition to Bismarck as salonière and " grande dame" effectively represented.

Works

• Letters born to her son William and her sister Malwine von Arnim - Kröchlendorff of Bismarck. Berlin 1924

Portraits

1878

About 1878

1885

1893

Grave chapel of Princess Bismarck in Varzin