Who was Kurt Hahn?

Born in Berlin the son of Jewish parents, Oskar Hahn and Charlotte Hahn (née. Landau)

Educated at Wilhelmsgymnasium, Berlin. Abitur 1904

Study of classical philosophy and philology at the universities of Oxford (1904-1906), Berlin, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Göttingen (1906-1910) and Oxford (1911-1914)

Publication of Hahn’s school novel “Frau Else's Verheissung” (i.e. “Frau Else's Promise”)

Operation on Hahn's head carried out by Sir Victor Horsley, to cure him of severe headaches

Appointment as assistant in the Central Office of the Foreign Service at the Foreign Office, with the job of analysing the British press. Hahn loses favour when he describes the imminent declaration of an intensification of submarine warfare as a 'fatal mistake'

Private secretary of the last German Imperial Chancellor, Prince Max von Baden

Co-founder of the “Heidelberger Vereinigung” (i.e.“Heidelberg Union”), a political group of personalities from the world of science, politics and economics (Max Weber, Prince Max von Baden, Robert Bosch among others.), who sought to supply Germany with arguments during the negotiations at Versailles aiming at 'a peace based on law and justice' as set out in Wilson's “14 Points”.

Member of the German delegation at the peace talks in Versailles as the private secretary of Dr. Carl Melchior.

Move to Salem to Prince Max von Baden. The two begin to sift through material for the memoirs of Prince Max von Baden. Publication of “ Memories and Documents” in 1927

Founding of the coeducational boarding School Schloss Salem, Baden. Opening of subsidiary schools at: Hermannsberg (1925), Spetzgart (1929), Hohenfels (1931) and Birklehof in the Black Forest 1932 (independent since 1934)

Headmaster of Schule Schloss Salem. Hahn also teaches history, politics, Ancient Greek, Shakespeare and Schiller

Plot by three Nazis to seize Hahn is foiled

Hahn is taken into “protective custody” and released five days later. Banishment from Baden. Hahn stays mainly in Berlin. Emigration to England in July

Founder and Headmaster of Gordonstoun School for Boys in Scotland (coeducational since 1972)

The first “service” is set up: founding of the Coast Guards in Gordonstoun

Institution of the “Moray Badge” an achievement badge to promote physical fitness. In 1940 this is developed into a “County Badge” and finally to the “Duke of Edinburgh’s Award” in 1956

Opening of the “Wester Elchies” as a prep school for Gordonstoun

Hahn becomes a British citizen

Gordonstoun School is evacuated to Llandinam, Wales. Returns in 1945.

First sermon in Liverpool Cathedral.

In collaboration with the shipowner Sir Lawrence Holt of the “Blue Funnel Line”, founding of the first “Outward Bound Sea School” (Short Term School) in Aberdovey, Wales, based on Hahn's educational principles

Second sermon in Liverpool Cathedral

Conversion to Anglicanism

Founding of the “Outward Bound Trust” based on the Short Term Schools for “service” in times of peace 

Opening of “Aberlour House” as a prep school for Gordonstoun

Co-founder of the “American-British Foundation for European Education”. From 1951 “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Europäische Erziehung” (i.e. “German Foundation for European Education”)

Founding of boarding schools according to the principles of Salem and Gordonstoun: Anavryta, Greece (1949); Louisenlund, Germany (1949); Battisborough, England (1955); Rannoch, Scotland (1959); Box Hill, England (1959); Athenian School, USA (1965)

Opening of the first “Kurzschule” (i.e. “Short Term School”, German Outward Bound School) in Schloss Weißenhaus, Oldenburg

Resignation from the headship of Gordonstoun on health grounds and return to Hermannsberg near Salem

Initiator of the Trevelyan Scholarships for British students at Oxford and Cambridge (1958 -1965)

With the help of Nato Air Marshall Sir Lawrence Darvall, founding of Atlantic College in St. Donat’s Castle, Wales. Further “United World Colleges” are founded

Co-founder of the “Medical Commission on Accident Prevention”, London

Hahn dies in Ravensburg and is buried in Salem