BANGOR — The Bangor Public Library will host an event to introduce letters and photos related to the German politician and diplomat, Franz von Papen 5-7:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, at the library.
In the chaos of falling bombs at the end of World War II, an American soldier came across a box of letters and photos belonging to the family of Franz von Papen. Many decades later, the box was donated to the Bangor Public Library. Among the collection of letters are those written by Franz von Papen to his wife while he was German military attache to America in 1914-1915, and others written to his son during the 1930s and 1940’s.
At the presentation, retired University of Maine history professor Richard Blanke will place the material in the letters, and Franz von Papen’s importance, into historic context. German instructor Anette Ruppel Rodrigues will comment on the relationship between the couple gleaned from the letters. She also will speak about the multilingual ability of the von Papens.University history doctoral student and volunteer in the research team Justus Hillebrand will speak on the difficulties of reading old manuscripts. On the basis of the letters from the early 1940s, he will provide insights into German daily life during World War II and the difficulties of the von Papens to reconcile their devout Catholic beliefs with Nazi ideology.
The event, free and open to all, is supported by a University of Maine Humanities Initiative and Public Community Grant
For information, call the Bangor Public Library at 947-8336.