Johann Theobald and Carl Adolf Ritter
Johann Theobald Ritter
Publishing a newspaper in the Palatinate in the 1830s and 40s was not without its problems, especially in the politically turbulent times of the Hambach Festival in 1832 and the revolution of 1848/49. Should one rather stand on the side of the existing monarchical order or support the idea of freedom more strongly in publishing?
Carl Thieme (1800-1848), who had taken over the editing and printing of the “Kirchheimbolander Wochenblatt”, founded six years earlier by Johann Philipp Hahn, in 1826, the decision was based solely on the fact that he was a member of the “Liberale Parthey”. He also belonged to the “Preßverein”. This resulted in an indictment for revolutionary activities in 1832. However, the case was dropped.
In the following decade and a half, Thieme’s work was devoted entirely to the “Wochenblatt”. From 1841, it appeared “for Kirchheimbolanden and Grünstadt” and from 1846 onwards with two issues per week (on Tuesdays and Fridays).
Thieme then gave the newspaper a decidedly political slant in 1848. The “revolution” that now also began in Kirchheimbolanden accelerated the reporting in the “Wochenblatt” – and vice versa. Thieme thus became one of the most important political players in Kirchheimbolanden. However, this was at the expense of his health. He died in August 1848.
However, this did not jeopardize the existence of the “Wochenblatt”. Thieme’s widow Wilhelmine continued it in his spirit.
Another charge related to his involvement in the meetings of the Kirchheimbolander Liberal Party. However, he was acquitted of this charge due to a lack of evidence. Nevertheless, he was entered in the list of persons who, according to the files of the Federal Central Authority, were under investigation for revolutionary activities.
However, he retained his political convictions. Consequently, he became a member of the Kirchheimbolander citizens’ association [Standort 60] in 1848 and was elected to the town council in 1849.
Johann Theobald Ritter was thus one of the many exponents of the Kirchheimboland bourgeoisie who did not simply accept the deprivation of rights and freedoms.
Carl Adolf Ritter
Carl Adolf Ritter (1824-95) was politically oriented just like his father Johann Theobald. When he was charged in 1849 for participating in the highly treasonous activities that took place in the Palatinate district in May and June of that year [des Jahres], his file noted that he was 24 years old – and a fugitive. However, the amnesty law of December 22, 1849 allowed him to return.
As a result, he was particularly involved in the erection of the gravestone on the Freischarengrab [Standort 50] and was one of the organizers of the fundraising for the “Trauernde Germania” [Standort 49].
Carl Adolf Ritter thus made a significant contribution to the commemoration of 1848/49 in Kirchheimbolanden.
Friedrich Wilhelm Knöbel
Friedrich Wilhelm Knöbel (1802-72), born in Kirchheimbolanden, was a teacher at the Latin school in Dürkheim from 1826. In 1832, he initiated a protest – i.e. an objection – against the restrictions on the right to petition, the right to budget, the right to legislate and the freedom of speech and reporting decided by the Bundesrat, the permanent representation of the 38 individual German states in Frankfurt. Knöbel’s resolution was soon supported by more than 1,300 signatures – including in Kirchheimbolanden.
In it, King Ludwig I of Bavaria was called upon not to implement the Frankfurt resolutions. In addition, those involved in the resolutions were to be charged with high treason.
Conversely, this resulted in a trial in which Knöbel was charged with high treason and defamation of the highest state authorities. He evaded this by fleeing to Alsace and later to Switzerland, where he eventually became a head teacher and rector in Schöftland (Canton Aargau) and later a newspaper editor in Biel (Canton Bern).
“Press Association”
While the ratio of non-readers to potential readers was around 3:1 around 1800, it had reversed by 1870. Newspapers played a large part in this. However, they were increasingly reporting (and commenting) on more than just pro-government issues. In 1831, censorship was therefore tightened in the Kingdom of Bavaria – and thus also in the Palatinate.
However, this prompted countermeasures, such as the founding of the Vaterlandsverein zur Unterstützung der freien Presse in Zweibrücken in January 1832. The aim of this press association was to provide financial security for newspapers and their editors affected by censorship and confiscation.
Within just a few months, the association had over 5,000 members and branches not only in the Palatinate.
Such a two-member association was also founded in Kirchheimbolanden on April 20, 1832. The “Kirchheimbolander Wochenblatt” reported on it on May 11, 1832.
The other branch associations were characterized by a similar range of professions as in Kirchheimbolanden. In addition to freedom of the press, their members shared the idea of fundamental rights in general. Jakob Anton Brogino and Carl Thieme in particular were even suspected of “incitement” in other ways, as was Jakob Daum as a visitor to the Hambach Festival, according to his “report” in an audio station in the museum in the Stadtpalais [Standort 58].
The “Black Book”
The Black Book, the list of persons who were investigated for revolutionary activities, was kept in Frankfurt am Main from 1835 to 1848. It contains 273 names.
Among them are 18 residents of Kirchheimbolanden. They are divided between two charges:
The most serious was the accusation of denigrating the highest state authorities. It concerned Ludwig Bechthold, butcher – Jakob Christian Miesel, baker – Johann Theobald Ritter, postman and innkeeper. They received between 6 and 14 days in prison for signing Knöbel’s protestation.
In contrast, incitement to disobedience against the “incitement to disobedience against the existing state government” was judged to be less serious. This included participation in the meetings of the “Liberal Party” and/or the Hambach Festival. This charge concerned Jakob Anton Brogino, merchant – Johann Peter Kolb, broker – Georg Kreis, glazier – Heinrich Lapp, turner – Fritz Lennig, merchant – Jakob Meyer, Catholic priest – Franz Pilgeram, merchant – Andreas Ropiquet, businessman – Carl Wilhelm Schmidt, notary – Franz Carl Schmidt, carpenter – Philipp Schmidt, organ builder – Johann Philipp Siegler, glazier – Friedrich Steller, cooper – Peter Thiel, whitewasher – Carl Thieme, printer. However, they were all acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The number of people affected alone shows this: The judiciary found itself in an open dilemma. “Leniency” was the only way out.
