Herbert Meinhard Mühlpfordt facts for kids

Herbert Meinhard Mühlpfordt (born March 31, 1893 – died October 9, 1982) was a German doctor and historian. He was known for his work in internal medicine, which deals with adult diseases. He also studied and wrote about art history and cultural history, which is the study of how people's lives and traditions have changed over time.

Early Life and Education

Herbert Mühlpfordt was born in a city called Königsberg, which was in a part of Germany called East Prussia. His father was a dentist.

He went to a school called the Collegium Fridericianum. After that, he studied many different subjects at several universities. He studied medicine, which is about how to heal people. He also studied literature, which is about books and writing, and art history, which is about the history of art. He went to universities in Freiburg, Munich, and Königsberg.

Becoming a Doctor

Herbert Mühlpfordt served in World War I from 1914 to 1918. After the war, he finished his medical studies in 1920. He then earned his special doctor's degree in medicine in 1921.

He worked at a famous hospital in Berlin called the Charité. Later, he worked in a city then called Allenstein (now Olsztyn in Poland). From 1929 to 1937, he was the head of the skin department at St. Marien-Hospital in Allenstein. In 1937, he decided to open his own doctor's office in his hometown of Königsberg.

World War II and Later Life

During World War II, Herbert Mühlpfordt served as a doctor in the German army from 1939. He helped soldiers until 1944, when he had to leave because of his health.

In early 1945, during the end of the war, he helped many people who were trying to escape from East Prussia. He cared for refugees in places like Pillau (now Baltiysk) and the Vistula Spit. On April 16, 1945, he traveled with a group of refugees to a city called Wismar. After the war, he settled in Lübeck, another German city. He continued to work as a doctor there until 1959.

Historian and Author

Even though he was a busy doctor, Herbert Mühlpfordt also loved history. He wrote a lot about the local history of East and West Prussia, especially about his hometown, Königsberg. He wrote articles for newspapers and journals. He also wrote his own reference books, which are like encyclopedias, about the area.

He even wrote a novel, which is a type of storybook, called Der Goldene Ball, Ein Familienroman unserer Zeit. This book was about Königsberg during the Rococo period, a time known for its fancy art and style.

People recognized his important work in history. He received special awards from historical groups and from the community of Königsberg. He passed away in Lübeck in 1982.

Selected Works

Here are some of the books Herbert Mühlpfordt wrote:

• Welche Mitbürger hat Königsberg öffentlich geehrt? (1963) - This book was about which citizens of Königsberg were publicly honored.
• Königsberger Leben in Bräuchen und Volkstum (1968) - This book explored life in Königsberg through its customs and traditions.
• Königsberger Skulpturen und ihre Meister 1255–1945 (1970) - This work focused on sculptures in Königsberg and the artists who made them.
• Königsberg von A-Z. Ein Stadtlexikon (1972) - This was like an A-Z dictionary or encyclopedia about the city of Königsberg.
• Königsberger Leben im Rokoko. Bedeutende Zeitgenossen Kants (1981) - This book looked at life in Königsberg during the Rococo period and important people who lived at the same time as the famous philosopher Kant.