Gross, Fritz: unpublished writings

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 1556 WL 620
Held at	: Wiener Library   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.wienerlibrary.co.uk/ ›
Full title	: Gross, Fritz: unpublished writings
Date(s)	: 1930s-1940s
Level of description	: Collection level
Extent	: 73 volumes
Name of creator(s)	: Gross | Fritz | 1897-1946 | writer

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Fritz Gross was born in Vienna in 1897, the son of a Jewish dealer in precious stones, Herman Gross; fought in World War One, where he lost some of his closest friends, after which he moved to Germany where he worked at a variety of jobs in different places; joined the German Communist Party (KPD)in 1919 and was also an activist in various other left wing groups such as the 'Internationale Arbeiter-Hilfe', of which he was the general secretary in 1923.

He married Babette Thüring, also an activist, in 1920 and they had a son in 1923; in 1929, after their separation he moved to Hamburg, and stayed in the house of Magda Hoppstock-Huth; after Adolf Hitler came to power he moved to England, eventually setting up home in Regent Square, London, where he built up a lending library for other refugees and the house became a meeting place. He spent much of his time working in the British Library where he produced most of his writing, without being able to publish much; died 1946.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Fritz Gross collection of unpublished writings, [1930-1949] comprises original typescript writings notably including numerous short dramas notably including Piter, 1927 (620/26) a drama about Russia in 1917; anthologies of poetry notably including Der Regenbogen 1946 (620/56), a collection of German poems; essays on a wide variety of subjects including Deutsche 1930s-1940s (620/87) and biographical sketches of famous people.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
German and English

System of arrangement:

Original alphabetical arrangement retained.

Conditions governing access:

Open

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.

Finding aids:

Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Peter Gross

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Brinson, Charmian and Malet, Marian, "Fritz Gross: An Exile in England", in German Life and Letters 49:3 July 1996, Blackwell

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Entry compiled by Howard Falksohn

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
November 2007