Berthold von Bernstorff
{{Short description|German politician, forester and landowner}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Berthold von Bernstorff
| image = File:Berthold von Bernstorff (1842-1917).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Von Bernstorff ({{circa}} 1882)
| office = Member of the Reichstag
| term_start = 1893
| term_end = 1907
| birth_name = Berthold Hartwig Arthur von Bernstorff
| birth_date = {{birth date|1842|1|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1917|2|12|1842|1|21}}
| death_place = Höllwangen, Baden, German Empire
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = politician, forester, landowner
| years_active =
| known_for =
| spouse =
| party = German-Hanoverian Party
}}
Berthold Hartwig Arthur, Graf von Bernstorff (21 January 1842 – 12 February 1917) was a German politician, forester and landowner. He served in the Reichstag from 1893 until 1907. In 1893, he bought the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog.
Biography
Von Bernstorff was born on 21 January 1842 in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia.{{cite web|url=http://www.bioparl.de/datenbanken/biorabkr/biorabkr-db/?id=163 |title=Berthold Graf-Comte Bernstorff |website=Biographies German Parliament |access-date=8 March 2022 |language=de}} He studied at the Forest Academy in Eisenach and graduated in forestry from the University of Göttingen. He worked at the forestry department of Hannover until 1866. Between 1869 and 1883, he worked in the forest administration of Gartow.{{cite web|url=https://www.reichstag-abgeordnetendatenbank.de/select.html?pnd=133470296 |title=Graf Bernstorff, Berthold Hartwig Arthur, geb. am 21.01.1842 in Berlin |website=Datenbank der deutschen Parlamentsabgeordneten |access-date=8 March 2022 |language=de}}
From 1883 until 1891, von Bernstorff was a member of the District Council of Dannenberg and Bleckede. He served in the Reichstag from 1893 until 1907 for the German-Hanoverian Party.
The island of Schiermonnikoog in Friesland, Netherlands was private property. In August 1893, {{ill|John Eric Banck|nl}} sold the island to von Bernstorff.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Schiermonnikoog+Bernstorff&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C19e_eeuw%7C1890-1899%7C1893%7C&page=1&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010164992:mpeg21:a0005&resultsidentifier=ddd:010164992:mpeg21:a0005&rowid=5 |title=Schiermonnikoog |website=Algemeen Handelsblad |date=9 August 1893 |language=nl |access-date=8 March 2022}} Even though it was under German ownership, the island remained part of Friesland, and the citizens remained Dutch.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Berthold+von+Bernstorff&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010884847:mpeg21:a0018&resultsidentifier=ddd:010884847:mpeg21:a0018&rowid=6 |title=Schiermonnikoog |website=Nieuwsblad van het Noorden |date=13 April 1946 |language=nl}} Von Bernstorff had planned to turn the island into a luxury holiday resort similar to Sylt, however the investments remained limited to a jetty and a little forest.
Von Bernstroff died on 12 February 1917 in Höllwangen (nowadays part of Überlingen), Baden, at the age of 75.
Aftermath
File:Rijsbergen Schiermonnikoog.jpg
Schiermonnikoog would remain in the family. The Netherlands made several attempts to buy the island, however the family refused to sell.{{cite thesis|url=http://www.rjhbrink.eu/Berolini/medewerkers/VanderVen/VanderVen.htm |title=Een omstreden eiland |author=F.A.J. van der Ven |year=1993 |language=de |access-date=8 March 2022}} During World War II, it was owned by {{ill|Bechtold Eugen von Bernstorff|nl}}, his grandson.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Bechtold+Eugen+von+Bernstorff+schiermonnikoog&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010566508:mpeg21:a0260&resultsidentifier=ddd:010566508:mpeg21:a0260&rowid=1 |title=Laatste eigenaar Schier Graf von Bernstorff (85) in Duitsland overleden |website=Leeuwarder courant |date=24 November 1987 |language=nl |access-date=8 March 2022}} In July 1945, after the liberation of the Netherlands, the island was seized by the Netherlands as enemy property.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=von+Bernstorff&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1940-1949%7C1945%7C&identifier=ddd:010609472:mpeg21:a0002&resultsidentifier=ddd:010609472:mpeg21:a0002&rowid=1 |title=Schiermonnikoog staatseigendom |website=Leeuwarder koerier |date=17 July 1945 |language=nl |access-date=8 March 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=von+Bernstorff&coll=ddd&page=1&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1940-1949%7C1945%7C&identifier=KBNRC01:000043304:mpeg21:a0021&resultsidentifier=KBNRC01:000043304:mpeg21:a0021&rowid=3 |title=Eiland der grijze monniken weer Nederlandsch eigendom |website=Algemeen Handelsblad |date=28 December 1945 |language=nl |access-date=8 March 2022}}
The von Bernstorff family would spend years in litigation to reclaim their island, but to no avail.{{cite news|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Berthold+von+Bernstorff&coll=ddd&identifier=ABCDDD:010838531:mpeg21:a0342&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010838531:mpeg21:a0342&rowid=2 |title=Graaf von Bernstorff wacht en hoopt... |website=Het Parool |date=4 June 1960 |language=nl |access-date=8 March 2022}} In 1983, Germany awarded von Bernstorff DM80,000 as compensation for their losses. In 1998, Hotel Graaf Bernstorff opened on the island.{{cite web|url=https://www.trouw.nl/cultuur-media/de-duitse-graaf-die-schier-verloor~bf3c3896/ |title=De Duitse graaf die Schier verloor |website=Trouw |author=Lodewijk Dros| date=19 July 2020 |language=nl |access-date=8 March 2022}} The Rijsbergen estate, the residence of the owner of Schiermonnikoog from 1757 until 1945, became a Cistercian monastery in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.np-schiermonnikoog.nl/actueel/bericht:rijsbergen---van-burcht-tot-klooster.htm |title=Rijsbergen – van burcht tot klooster |website=National Park Schiermonnikoog |access-date=8 March 2022 |language=nl}}{{cite news|url=https://www.omropfryslan.nl/nieuws/1038487-klooster-schiermonnikoog-na-jaren-nu-toch-open |title=Klooster Schiermonnikoog na jaren nu toch open |date=28 February 2021 |website=Omrop Fryslan |access-date=8 March 2022 |language=nl}}
References
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Category:Politicians from Berlin
Category:Members of the 9th Reichstag of the German Empire
Category:Members of the 10th Reichstag of the German Empire
Category:Members of the 11th Reichstag of the German Empire
Category:19th-century German landowners
Category:University of Göttingen alumni