Preservings $20 Issue No. 26, 2006 - Home at Plett Foundation

The Von Stauffenbergs and the Klassens
Henry Schapansky, New Westminster, BC.
One of the most well-known and celebrated
events of the resistance movement in National
Socialist (Nazi) Germany is the assassination
attempt on the life of Hitler in July, 1944, carried
out by Claus Schenk, Graf v. Stauffenberg. 1
Claus, and his brother Berthold Schenk, also
Graf v. Stauffenberg, are widely remembered
today, in Germany as well as elsewhere, among
the national heroes of the German resistance.
Many streets and squares in Germany today are
named after Claus v. Stauffenberg.
Less widely known is the Russian-Mennonite
connection to this family. Maria Klassen
(also Classen), from a Russian-Mennonite
family, was the wife of Berthold.
The Klassens
The family history of Maria Klassen is worthy
of note, as many of her relatives were wellknown
figures in Mennonite Russia. This family
history can be briefly outlined as follows:
1. Abraham Klassen (17.2.1722-
20.10.1788) 1776: Neuendorf: 1 daughter, 2
males, 2 females (Danziger Werder)
m. Katherina Dyck (3.5.1724-
15.2.1779)
Abraham was listed in the 1776
census as of middle class status, and was a
shop-keeper.
2. Johann (8.3.1758-9.10.1812)
2)m. 9.11.1778 Helena Konrad
(29.9.1752-13.2.1846)
m1)17.11.1771 X Martens
(unknown)
Johann moved to Russia in 1804, settling
at Tiege, Molotschna (1808).
He was not particularly well-to-do at the
time, having come to Russia with 300 Thalers.
Johann was not listed with his father’s family
in 1776, and, at age 18, was no doubt working
for another family elsewhere.
3. Abraham (26.2.1783-13.2.13.2.1846)
Tiege Mol. 1808
2)m1) 23.1.1806 Justina Töws
(16.11.1768-24.5.1829) Widow of David
Harder (b. 1764)
1)m2) 17.9.1829 Margaretha Goosen
(29.12 1808-10.12.1872)
David Harder had been relatively
wealthy, and this may have played a part in
Abraham’s increasing prosperity. Abraham’s
brother, Johann (23.7.1785-28.10.1841) was
Oberschulze, Molotschna 1827-33. Abraham
moved to Blumenort, Molotschna in 1818.
4. Abraham (5.10.1830-8.9.1888)
m. 19.11.1853 Maria Schröder
(15.8.1834-7.1.1903)
Maria Schröder was from one of the
wealthiest Mennonite families of Russia.
Abraham himself owned more than 1 estate in
Russia, later living at Davidsfeld. His brother
Gerhard (23.9.1832-4.1908) of Blumenort was
a leading personality, having been a chairman of
the Molotschna School Board and a founder of
the Tiege Taubstum Schule (the Tiege school for
deaf-mutes), one of the leading institutes of its
kind anywhere. Gerhard was also instrumental
in the purchase of land for the founding of the
Memrik Colony.
5. Heinrich (8.9.1866-21.2.1923)
m1) 14.1.1888 Anna Friesen
(28.1.1868-12.9.1892)
m2) 18.2.1898 Margaretha Dirks
(15.7.1878-23.10.1965)
6. Maria (b. 5.2.1900)
m. 20.6.1936 Berthold Schenk
(15.3.1905-10.8.1944)
On her mother’s side, Maria Klassen (also:
‘Mika’, Classen) was a granddaughter of
Heinrich Dirks (17.8.1842-8.2.1915) m. 1869
Aganetha Schröder (20.12.1844-26.8.1911).
Heinrich Dirks was the well-known Sumatra
missionary, and later Ältester (1881-1915) of
the Gnadenfeld Gemeinde (Russia). Her maternal
grandmother was from the wealthy Schröder
family already mentioned.
The wealthy families of Mennonite Russia
suffered greatly during the revolution and civil
war in Russia. Most of these families, that is,
those families who survived the bloodshed and
atrocities of the period, emigrated elsewhere,
mainly to Canada. Most members of the Heinrich
Klassen (1866-1923) family likewise emigrated
to Canada. Daughter Anna (b. 30.8.1901)
m. Edgar Reimer (31.8.1896-1943) stayed
in Russia. Edger was a grandson of Heinrich
Reimer, a chairman of the Landwirtschaftlicher
Verein and of the Orloff Zentralschule Board.
Edgar was also a second cousin of Maria
Klassen. Daughter Aganetha (b. 9.12 1898)
married 25.10.1919 Heinrich Lüder (14.2.1894-
22.5.1939). Lüder may have been a soldier of
the German occupational forces in the Ukraine
in 1918. Perhaps because of this connection,
Maria moved to Germany with her sister Aganetha,
rather than emigrating to Canada.
Maria may have worked for some time in
Germany as a Russian instructor. She probably
met Berthold Schenk in 1926. He was hoping
to enter the diplomatic service and was studying
Russian in the years 1927-8. They wanted
to marry during these years, but the opposition
of his parents, as well as Stefan George, led to
a postponement of marriage plans. Maria, unhappy
as a result of this rejection, had thoughts,
perhaps naïve, of returning to Russia. Berthold’s
uncle, Nicholas, Graf v. Üxküll, persuaded her
(1936) to stay. After the deaths of George and
his father, they did marry in 1936. A photograph
of Maria and Berthold (1930) suggests that
Maria was both attractive and vivacious.
The Von Stauffenbergs
Berthold and Claus were sons of Alfred
Schenk, Graf v. Stauffenberg, who was Ober
Hofmarschall (Lord Chamberlain) to the King
of Württemberg. This family may be outlined
as follows:
1. Alfred Schenk (d. 20.1.1936), Graf v.
Stauffenberg
m. 5.1904 Caroline, Gräfin v. Üxküll-
Gyllenband
2.1. Berthold (15.3.1905-10.8.1944)
m. 20.6.1936 Maria Klassen (b.
5.2.1900)
2.1.1. Alfred Maria (b. 28.11.1937)
2.1.2. Elisabeth Karolina Margaret (b.
13.6.1939)
2.2. Alexander (15.3.1905-1963)
m1) 11.8.1937 Melitta Schiller (d.
8.4.1945)
m2) Marlene Hoffmann
2 . 3 . Ko n r a d M a r i a ( 1 5 . 1 1 . 1 9 0 7 -
16.11.1907)
2.4. Claus Philipp (15.11.1907-20.7.1944)
m. 26.9.1933 Nina, Freiin v. Lerchenfeld
2.4.1. Berthold (b. 1934)—later general in
the Bundeswehr (the West German Army)
2.4.2. Heimeran (b. 1936)
2.4.3. Franz-Ludwig (b. 1938)
2.4.4. Valerie (b. 15.11.1940)
2.4.5. Konstanze (b. 1.1945)
On their mother’s side, Berthold and Claus
were descendants of August, Graf Neithardt v.
Gneisenau (1760-1831), a famous general of the
Napoleonic wars. Claus was likely named after
his uncle, Nicholas, Graf v. Üxküll-Gyllenband.
The v. Stauffenbergs were staunch Catholics, as
were Berthold and Claus.
In their student years, Berthold and Claus
joined the circle of poet and writer Stefan
George (12.7.1868-4.12.1933). Stefan George
and his writings were to have a major and
long-lasting effect on the Stauffenberg brothers.
Berthold and Claus remained very close friends
and companions throughout their lives. Claus
named his oldest son after his brother.
Berthold, after studying law, served as an
instructor at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for
Foreign law, and then served at the Permanent
Court of International Justice at The Hague
(1930-32). He was dissatisfied with legal work,
and had no desire to set up in private practice.
His main desire was to enter the diplomatic
service and the Foreign Office. Before the war,
an opposition group had begun to gather, often
meeting at the estate (Kreisau) of Helmuth
James, Graf v. Moltke. Early members of this
“Kreisauer Circle” included Berthold, his uncle
Oberstleutnant Nicholas (1877-14.9.1944),
Graf v. Üxküll, his cousin Hans Christoph,
Freiheer v. Stauffenberg, Moltke, Yorck (also
a cousin), and Trott. In 1939, Berthold was
inducted into service, as a staff naval judge. In
September, 1941, Hans Christoph asked Berthold
to approach Claus with an invitation to
join the resistance. At that time, Claus refused
to commit himself.
Alexander, lecturer/professor of ancient
history, was an early and outspoken opponent
of the Nazis. In a public lecture of 1937, he
Preservings No. 26, 2006 - 61