Dieter Cunz facts for kids

Dieter Cunz (born August 4, 1910 – died February 17, 1969) was a German professor and writer. He moved from Nazi Germany to Switzerland, and then to the United States. He taught German language and literature at the University of Maryland from 1939 to 1957. Later, he taught at Ohio State University from 1957 until he passed away in 1969. Dieter Cunz wrote many books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Growing Up in Germany

Dieter Cunz was born in a small town called Höchstenbach in Germany. This was on August 4, 1910. In 1917, his family moved to Schierstein, near the city of Wiesbaden. He went to a special high school there from 1920 to 1929. This school focused on subjects like history and languages.

Dieter started his university studies in 1929. He studied at several universities, including Munich and Leipzig. He learned about political history, the history of religions, and German literature. In 1931, he went to the University of Königsberg. Finally, he moved to the University of Frankfurt. There, he met two students, Richard Plaut and Oskar Koplowitz. They became close friends. During this time, Dieter and his friends supported student groups that were against the rising power of the Nazi party.

Life in Switzerland

When Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, many people faced danger. Because of this, Oskar Koplowitz and Richard Plaut left Germany. They went to study at the University of Basel in Switzerland. Dieter Cunz stayed in Frankfurt to finish his Ph.D. This is a very high university degree. His research was about a historical figure named Johann Casimir of Simmern.

After getting his Ph.D. in 1934, Dieter moved to Switzerland in 1935. He joined his friend Oskar Koplowitz there. They lived in Basel and then in Lausanne. It was hard for them to find work because of their student visas. So, Oskar and Richard started writing books under different names. Oskar used the name Seidlin, and Richard used Plant.

Dieter Cunz, Oskar Seidlin, and Richard Plant wrote three detective novels together. They used the group name Stefan Brockhoff. These books were even published in Germany. Dieter also published his own books. One was about European history in 1936. Another was about a Swiss reformer named Huldrych Zwingli in 1937. He also wrote a children's book called Um uns herum. Märchen aus dem Alltag in 1938.

Career in the United States

In 1938, Dieter Cunz, Oskar Seidlin, and Richard Plant moved to the United States. Their paths soon went in different directions. Richard Plant stayed in New York. Oskar Seidlin moved to Massachusetts in 1939 to teach at Smith College. Dieter Cunz arrived in New York in August 1938. In October 1939, he moved to Maryland.

In Maryland, Dieter Cunz began researching the history of German-Americans. He wrote a book about them in 1940. This led to his important book, The Maryland Germans: A History, published in 1948. He became an expert in German-American studies. He wrote many articles about German immigrants who came to America long ago.

In 1939, Dieter Cunz started teaching at the University of Maryland, College Park. He became an assistant professor in 1942. In 1944, he became a citizen of the United States. He was promoted to full professor in 1949. He even became the head of the German Department. He taught German language and literature. He also taught a history class called "From Arminius to Adenauer: A Course in German Civilization."

In 1957, Dieter Cunz became the head of the German Department at Ohio State University. He joined his friend Oskar Seidlin, who had been teaching there since 1946. They had a house built in Worthington, Ohio. The German Department at Ohio State grew a lot while Dieter Cunz was in charge. This was partly because more students were going to college. It was also because of Dieter's good leadership.

Dieter Cunz also wrote textbooks. He co-wrote German for Beginners in 1958. This book was used in many schools across the U.S. It helped students learn German by using more speaking and listening practice. He also edited other German books for students. In 1966, he published a book for young readers called They Came from Germany: The Stories of Famous German-Americans.

Dieter Cunz and Oskar Seidlin often spent summer vacations together. They went to places like Manomet, Massachusetts and Austria. Richard Plant, their friend, described Dieter as a very trustworthy and friendly person. He said Dieter was good at solving problems and bringing people together. He was a natural leader who made others feel comfortable.

In 1959, Germany gave Dieter Cunz an award called the Officer's Cross. This was for his work in teaching German in the United States. It was also for his studies on German-American history. In 1961, he won an award for good teaching at Ohio State University. In 1964, he received another award for helping student activities.

Dieter Cunz had some health problems in his later years. He had high blood pressure and a heart condition. He passed away from a heart attack on February 17, 1969, when he was 58 years old. His death was a shock to his friends.

As a special honor, Ohio State University named a new building after him in 1969. It is called Dieter Cunz Hall of Languages. It is where foreign languages and literature are taught. After Oskar Seidlin passed away in 1984, he was buried next to Dieter Cunz in Worthington.

Images for kids

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  Cunz Hall, named after Dieter Cunz at Ohio State University.

See also

In Spanish: Dieter Cunz para niños