The Latest at Goethe

He was a farmer, youth worker, radio director, and so far the longest incumbent president of the Goethe-Institut. On 6 March, Klaus von Bismarck would have been 100 years old. It is an occasion to remember a man who stood for a new image of Germany in the world. By Klaus-Dieter Lehmann

When Klaus von Bismarck became president of the Goethe-Institut in the year 1977, he already looked back on an eventful life and successful career. Then 65 years old, he was the first of our presidents who had not been recruited from the ranks of the Foreign Office. After the war, he first committed himself to youth work and established Jugendhof Vlotho in East Westphalia, the major mission of which was democratization of young people. Following that, he carried out a number of functions in the Protestant church, lastly as president of the church congress. Then, from 1961 until 1976 von Bismarck was the director of Westdeutscher Rundfunk – an office in which he gained respect across political party boundaries thanks to his open and liberal nature.

Von Bismarck was Protestant, social and liberal. Asked whether he was related to "the Bismarck," it is said he dryly responded to the great-grandnephew of the Imperial Chancellor that he himself was that. With great vigour and conviction, he advocated the new, democratic Germany. He derived his credibility from the fact that he never attempted to gloss over his role as an officer – lastly as regimental commander – in the Second World War, but perceived it as a liability and spoke openly of it.

At the Goethe-Institut, the president of which Klaus von Bismarck remained until 1989, this man is still not forgotten today. For me, having been president of this great institute for four years, he is a role model. He recognized that the independence of the Goethe-Institut is a decisive prerequisite for its credibility in the world. He also recognized that successful foreign cultural policy demands openness, dialogue, and partnership. While in the 1950s and 1960s the aim was to awaken sympathy in the world for the new, democratic Germany, the 1970s and 1980s – his era – were marked by social debates within Germany. These critical discourses became part of the programme work of the institute and revealed a Germany that was capable of reflecting on its social changes and contributing these to its work abroad.

Poised free thinker

This image of Germany was not always popular with politicians and time and again criticism of von Bismarck was heard both in Bonn and in Munich. Nonetheless, it distinctly consolidated the impression of Germany being open to discourse in the world and thus brought him lasting respect. Klaus von Bismarck never saw the projects related to changes in the intellectual and cultural climate as a provocation, but justified what was open and possible as important elements of democracy.

Hence, von Bismarck, like his secretary-general Horst Harnischfeger, was able to avouch this spirit of cultural work. Enhancing relations with the states of the Eastern Bloc was especially important to him. During his time in office institutes were opened in Romania and Hungary.

In spite of all his diplomatic skill, von Bismarck never allowed himself to be influenced, but always stood by his own convictions. As in his previous activities, during his tenure at the Goethe-Institut the free thinker also consistently distinguished himself through a very special poise. “There is a degree of inner independence,” wrote the Zeit on his death in 1997 aptly, “beyond which it is no longer relevant whether one is left or right, old or young.”

Klaus von Bismarck knew that art and culture are best able to trigger processes or demonstrate alternatives when their autonomy and originality are preserved. He therefore stood in front of the programme-makers and the artists with great aplomb, yet clear-cut determination. Today, we still benefit from this in a highly fragmented and fast changing world.