Auguste Kirchhoff

Overview

Auguste Kirchhoff (née Zimmerman) born Ansbach, Rhineland, Germany June 23, 1867 (d. 1940). German suffragist, feminist, pacifist and social reformer; publicly opposed World War; led German WILPF; after the war she promoted reconciliation with France and peace education; opposed anti-semitism, genocide and German nationalism.

Quotations

"Before the outbreak of war, under the influence of the long period of peace, the view that toy soldiers, forts, swords, guns and fire-arms, amusing toys were harmless, might have been understandable and forgivable. But today, in the face under the heavy pressure of the terrible reality, a perennial terrible bloodbath, we must surely raise the question, perhaps in guilt, whether we should close our eyes to the ease with which one brings war toys to the child." (Christine Holzner-Rabe, bremer-frauenmuseum; photo c-auguste-kirchhoff.de)