From 1971 Pauline Schwarzkopf dedicated her energy entirely to the foundation. She took part in nearly all of the Foundation’s political seminars and every trip with young people to the European institutions of Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Brussels. The foundation was the first politically-impartial organisation to send young people to political seminars in East Germany and Poland in the 1970s.
Pauline Schwarzkopf shaped the foundation through her work, her strong emotional personality and her sense of social justice. Her heart was always with those who were at a disadvantage. Christianity was a strong influence.
Heinz Schwarzkopf – biographical background
Heinz Schwarzkopf was described by Pauline, as well as by friends and relatives, as a man whose intention it was to draw lessons from the Nazi period and World War II, in order to make Europe more peaceful. He was especially interest in the role of young people from all over Europe, and was actively involved in several philanthropic organisations.
However, we learned new facts about his life from a historical expertise we had commissioned for the occasion of the 100th birthday of Pauline Schwarzkopf in 2008: Heinz Schwarzkopf joined the National Socialist Party in April of 1933, asked to join the SS in 1935, and did so in 1938.
He was drafted to the 76th Infantery Division in 1939 and participated in the attacks of France and the Soviet Union. Whether his unit was involved in war crimes has not be determined so far. Heinz Schwarzkopf was wounded in summer 1942 and spent the rest of the war as a clerk in the military archives in Potsdam.
Naming of the Foundation
The intention of naming the Foundation after Heinz Schwarzkopf suggested him as a role model for young people. Given the new findings, this could not be upheld. Therefore, the Foundation’s board decided to change the name of the Foundation to “Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa“, honouring the life and work of Pauline Schwarzkopf. The original intention to use the name “Pauline-Schwarzkopf-Stiftung” was impossible as Pauline had explicitly declined this while she was still alive.
Additionally, the Foundation’s Charter was amended, adding the goals of fighting right-wing extremism, racism and anti-semitism. Given the biography of our original eponym, we feel even more committed to work with young people all over Europe for a peaceful, united and diverse Europe.
Just like Pauline Schwarzkopf, we see the European idea as the key vision for our future, and the best path to a peaceful European future in a globalised world.
Management of the Schwarzkopf Foundation
Since its founding in 1971, the Schwarzkopf Foundation was directed by Ilka Keuper, Kitty Köster and Philipp Scharf. More information about the current team led by Luisa Seiler can be found here.
