A Model of Human Dignity

In Memory of Gerhard Löwenthal

by Dr. Eva-Maria Föllmer, Tübingen, and Klaudia Kruck, Gailingen, Germany

On 6th December, Gerhard Löwenthal died, two days before his 80th birthday. His human compassion, his commitment to journalism and his inexhaustible dedication to freedom, human dignity and democracy based on the rule of law were not only a shining example to journalists. It was as a result of his determined and courageous activity that many people managed to find new courage themselves.

In his youth Gerhard Löwenthal himself witnessed and experienced the human contempt of two totalitarian systems: As a Jew he only survived National Socialist persecution through good fortune and prudent action. Later as a student he narrowly escaped arrest when opposing the communist oppression in the Soviet occupied zone. In the following years he uncompromisingly and convincingly brought to light instances of injustice, made important facts public, opposed the ideological glossing over of the communist terror and the political kow-towing to the 'Worker's and Peasant's Paradise,' and held the reality out towards the GDR despite massive hostility and threats of physical violence. With his work he helped many victims of totalitarian regimes, innumerable people from 'the other side' to regain their courage - while placing the free world under an obligation to uphold their ethical and political values.

After the war, Gerhard Löwenthal took his final school examinations as an adult and began to study medicine in 1946/47. At the same time he worked as a radio reporter in the American sector (Rias). In 1949 he became one of the founding members of the Free University in Berlin. Like many of his generation, after the war he helped to accord education and scientific freedom its rightful value for the common good. Gerhard Löwenthal became well-known as director and moderator of the legendary ZDF-Magazine on German television. In almost 600 broadcasting sessions which included 2300 transmitted features, he extensively addressed the worries and sufferings of the population in the other part of Germany. He exposed the violations of human rights committed by the former GDR and thus gave protection, security and hope to people. It was Gerhard Löwenthal's aim to bring injustice to light and stir up opposition to that injustice. He fearlessly defended positions which all others had abandoned.

When our German-speaking sister journal Zeit-Fragen first appeared in 1993, Gerhard Löwenthal gave us generous support. Our intention to publish a truly independent, non-partisan journal dedicated to ethical values, and to distribute it throughout the German- and English-speaking world, found resonance with his efforts. In the years that followed he regularly supplied Zeit-Fragen with critical articles on media issues. From the very beginning his essential contributions to the working group 'Mut zur Ethik' as honorary president helped to counteract the massive erosion of our social order of values. In addressing issues such as drugs, upbringing and education, euthanasia, the family, and of course also the media, as well as the liberal democratic order based on the rule of law, he continually emphasized the urgent need to resist the erosion of values.

Respect for life and for the dignity and honour of our fellow human beings as well as for freedom and tolerance were his most important ethical principles. He countered the inhuman Marxist-Leninist strategy with the human will to freedom. From this he derived the conviction that totalitarian systems and dictatorships cannot survive and must break down at some time. The chains of dictatorship can be broken by the will to freedom, by determination and courage.

Gerhard Löwenthal was our highly esteemed comrade-in-arms, good friend and fellow partner in unshakingly endeavoring to maintain a democracy capable of defending itself, a democracy distinguished by peace, freedom and justice. Despite often having to face extremely difficult situations with political opponents, Gerhard Löwenthal retained his warmth of character and his humanness and this makes him a shining example of true human dignity.