Stückrath, Otto

Educator, folklorist

Born: 17.12.1885 in Hahnstätten

died: 13.01.1968 in Neckargemünd

Stückrath attended the teacher training college in Dillenburg and came to Biebrich in 1910 to teach at the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Schule. There he supported particularly gifted pupils, but also those with learning difficulties, by giving extra tuition and taught at the commercial training school in the evenings and on Sundays. He had been married to Olga Stückrath-Stawitz since 1912.

From 1915-17 he was a medical orderly in the Mainz epidemic hospital. A staunch opponent of the war, he was active in the SPD and was a member of the Biebrich town council from 1919-21. Out of social commitment, Stückrath became a co-founder of the "Im Rosenfeld" war home settlement. He and his family found a home there.

After the National Socialists came to power, his license to teach history was revoked in 1933. In 1938, he was taken into "protective custody" and his academic documents were confiscated and partially destroyed. He was finally dismissed from teaching in 1941. After the assassination attempt of July 20, 1944, he was sent to Dachau concentration camp as part of "Aktion Gitter", where he was liberated by American troops. Stückrath took part in the democratic reconstruction and resumed teaching at his old school; in June 1946, he became its principal. However, he retired in 1947 for health reasons.

Stückrath made a special contribution to the field of folklore in Nassau. He was particularly interested in customs and traditions, legends and fairy tales as well as songs. His main work "Nassauisches Kinderleben in Sitte und Brauch, Kinderlied und Kinderspiel" was published between 1931 and 1938. He also dealt with topics from Nassau's history. The Hessian State Library preserves his scientific legacy.

In 1953 he was honored with the Federal Cross of Merit and in 1960 with the Goethe Plaque, in 1961 the Justus Liebig University of Giessen awarded him an honorary doctorate. In 1965, he was awarded the Silver Plaque of the State Capital of Wiesbaden. The school in Biebricher Parkfeld bears his name.

The couple found their final resting place in Biebrich cemetery.