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Bertha von Suttner Facts & Worksheets

Bertha von Suttner, a Czech-Austrian pacifist, became the inaugural woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a prominent leader in the peace movement.

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Bertha von Suttner, a Czech-Austrian pacifist, became the inaugural woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a prominent leader in the peace movement. She dedicated her life to advocating for peace, firmly believing that the entitlement to peace could be asserted by international law.

See the fact file below for more information about Bertha von Suttner, or you can download our 25-page Bertha von Suttner worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

  • Bertha Kinský was born on June 9, 1843, at Kinský Palace in the Obecní dvůr neighborhood of Prague. Her parents were Lieutenant General Franz Michael de Paula Josef Graf Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau, who had just died at 75, and his wife Sophie Wilhelmine von Körner, over fifty years younger than him.
  • She grew up in a privileged society that valued military customs. Her father was a field marshal, and her grandfather served as a cavalry captain. During her youth, Suttner dedicated herself to studying music and aspired to establish a career in opera.
  • In addition, she pursued the study of multiple languages.
  • Suttner experienced social exclusion from the Austrian high aristocracy throughout her lifetime due to her mixed heritage. Specifically, only individuals with a flawless aristocratic lineage tracing back to their great-great-grandparents were considered eligible for introduction to the imperial court.
  • Furthermore, she had an extra disadvantage due to her father’s status as a third son, which meant he had no significant properties or financial assets to pass on. 
  • Suttner received the sacrament of baptism at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows in Prague, an unconventional selection for the aristocracy.
  • In the summer of 1856, Suttner’s mother and aunt, who believed they were clairvoyant, went to Wiesbaden to gamble, hoping to return with a large quantity of money. Unfortunately, they lost a significant amount of money, which forced them to relocate to Vienna.
  • While on the trip, Suttner was offered a marriage proposal by Prince Philipp zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, the third son of Prince August Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and his wife, Franziska Allesina genannt von Schweitzer.
  • However, Suttner declined the proposal because she was too young.
  • In 1859, the family went back to Wiesbaden. However, this second voyage was also unsuccessful, so they had to move to a modest property in Klosterneuburg. Soon after, Suttner authored her debut published piece, the novella Erdenträume im Monde, featured in Die Deutsche Frau.

LIFE IN GEORGIA

  • In 1866, both Suttner’s guardian and her cousin Elvira passed away, causing her to feel more and more restricted by her mother’s peculiar behavior and the family’s unfavorable financial situation. In 1873, she secured a job as a tutor and companion to the four daughters of Karl Freiherr von Suttner, who were aged 15 to 20.
  • She quickly developed romantic feelings for Baron Arthur Gundaccar von Suttner, the older brother of the daughters. They were betrothed but unable to wed because of his parents’ displeasure.
  • In 1876, at the behest of her employers, she responded to a newspaper advertisement that resulted in her temporarily assuming the roles of secretary and housekeeper in Paris for Alfred Nobel, a prominent entrepreneur who would eventually establish the Nobel Peace Prize.
  • Arthur and Suttner secretly fled to Mingrelia, a region in western Georgia that was part of the Russian Empire. Mingrelia is located near the Black Sea. The bride intended to utilize her affiliation with the erstwhile royal House of Dadiani.
  • Upon their arrival, Prince Niko provided them with entertainment. The pair established themselves in Kutaisi, where they secured employment instructing the offspring of the local elite in languages and music.
  • Nevertheless, Arthur and Suttner faced significant adversity despite their social affiliations, residing in a modest three-roomed wooden dwelling.
  • In 1877, their circumstances deteriorated due to the start of the Russo-Turkish War, a conflict between the Ottoman Empire and a coalition led by the Russian Empire, which included Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro. However, Arthur managed to secure a job as a reporter covering the battle for the Neue Freie Presse, a Viennese newspaper.
  • Arthur and Suttner experienced the atrocities of war, which sparked Suttner’s advocacy for peace. The couple experienced significant social isolation in Georgia due to their impoverished circumstances, which limited their interactions with the upper class.
  • Additionally, they could have achieved fluency in Mingrelian or Georgian. Both individuals embarked on a literary career to sustain themselves financially. Although Arthur’s writing at this period mostly focused on local topics, Suttner’s work was not similarly inspired by Georgian culture.

EARLY WORKS OF SUTTNER

  • Arthur pursued various job opportunities in accountancy, construction, and wallpaper design, while Suttner primarily focused on her writing. She assumed the role of a correspondent for Michael Georg Conrad and eventually wrote an article for the 1885 edition of his journal Die Gesellschaft. The work, titled Truth and Lies, provides a persuasive argument in support of the naturalistic principles advocated by Émile Zola, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of naturalism.
  • Her initial noteworthy political publication, Inventarium einer Seele (Inventory of the Soul), was released in Leipzig in 1883. Suttner’s work espouses a pro-disarmament and progressive viewpoint, asserting that world peace is an unavoidable outcome of technological progress.

LIFE AS A PEACE ACTIVIST

  • Upon returning to Austria, Suttner resumed her journalistic work and focused on peace and conflict. She engaged in correspondence with the renowned French philosopher Ernest Renan and was influenced by the International Arbitration and Peace Association, established by Hodgson Pratt in 1880.
  • In 1889, Suttner authored an important anti-war novel titled Die Waffen nieder! (Down with Weapons!) or Lay Down Your Arms!, considered one of the most significant literary works of the nineteenth century.
  • The novel delves into concepts of diplomacy, international conflict resolution through arbitration, the rationale for war and peace, the significance of scientific education and conversation, and the formation of a Union of European countries to eradicate war and foster prosperity. 
  • These thoughts and reflections continue to be applicable today as conflicts at both regional and international levels resurface and the principles of the European Union are being challenged.
  • In 1893, Suttner initiated the publication of a monthly magazine also titled Die Waffen Nieder, focusing on promoting peace. She served as the editor of the journal until 1899. The Suttners convened gatherings and delivered speeches regarding the imminent Peace Conference for 1899.
  • Throughout her career, Suttner actively participated in several peace gatherings and international congresses, played a pivotal role in establishing peace groups, and engaged in correspondence with individuals from around the globe to advocate for peace initiatives. 
  • She played a central role in founding a peace organization in Venice, took the lead in establishing the Austrian Peace Society and served as its president for an extended period, and also raised the necessary funds to form the Bern Peace Bureau, which subsequently evolved into the International Peace Bureau.
  • After her husband passed away in 1902, Suttner was compelled to sell Harmannsdorf Castle and relocated to Vienna. In 1904, she delivered a speech at the International Convention of Women in Berlin and then embarked on a seven-month journey throughout the United States (US). She attended a universal peace convention in Boston and met with US President Theodore Roosevelt during her visit.
  • Despite having only a brief personal interaction with Alfred Nobel, Von Suttner maintained their correspondence until he died in 1896. It is widely thought that Von Suttner played a significant role in influencing Nobel’s choice to include a peace prize in his will.
  • Suttner received the Nobel Peace Prize in the fifth term on December 10, 1905, alongside her colleague, the legal scholar Tobias Asser (1838-1913), for their contributions to establishing an international system founded on peace rather than conflict.
  • Suttner was the sole female participant at the Second Hague Peace Conference in 1907, which primarily focused on the laws governing warfare. Von Suttner expressed strong criticism towards the 1907 meeting and issued a warning about an impending conflict.
  • During this period, she also encountered Anna Bernhardine Eckstein, a prominent German advocate for global peace, whose ideas significantly impacted the objectives of the Second Hague Peace Conference.
  • One year later, she participated in the International Peace Congress in London, when she initially encountered Caroline Playne, an English advocate against war who would subsequently author the initial biography of Suttner.

ISSUES DISCUSSED IN SUTTNER’S LITERATURE

  • As a professional writer, Suttner frequently found herself compelled to produce books and novellas that needed more conviction or had little desire to write to sustain her livelihood. In addition, Suttner addressed several topics and principles. Aside from pacifism, two recurring themes in her writing are religion and gender.

RELIGION

  • Suttner frequently addressed two primary concerns related to religion. She harbored a strong aversion towards certain ostentatious religious rituals and ceremonial aspects. In a particular passage in the novel, Suttner emphasized the peculiar theatricality of certain religious customs. A recurring theme in her writing is the notion that war is justified in the name of God, and leaders frequently employ religion as a justification for engaging in warfare.
  • Suttner objected to this line of thinking, arguing that it prioritized the state over the individual in the eyes of God. Consequently, it elevated dying in battle to a higher level of glory than other sorts of death or surviving a conflict.

GENDER

  • Suttner is a prominent figure in the women’s liberation movement. Suttner shattered gender limits through her endeavors as a writer and activist. She was a vocal and assertive leader in a society that expected women to be passive and silent. 
  • However, she did not actively engage in the women’s suffrage movements, citing a lack of time. Instead, she directed her attention to establishing connections with other women involved in the global peace movement while maintaining strong ties to the women’s suffrage movement.
  • Suttner recognized that violence can only be averted via the joint efforts of men and women in pursuing peace, necessitating a steadfast commitment to gender equality.

DEATH

  • She passed away in 1914 due to the rapid progression of cancer, just two months before the onset of the First World War, a conflict she had foreseen and actively opposed. The unsettling forecasts she made materialized.
  • Berta von Sutner’s work served as a catalyst, motivating many individuals to comprehend the issues associated with militarization. Consequently, many people worldwide became active participants in the peace movement.

Bertha von Suttner Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Bertha von Suttner across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Bertha von Suttner. She dedicated her life to advocating for peace, firmly believing that the entitlement to peace could be asserted by international law.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Bertha von Suttner Facts
  2. How it Started
  3. Get to Know Bertha
  4. Timeline of Hope
  5. An Inspiration
  6. Deep Dive
  7. What is Peace?
  8. Source Analysis
  9. Symbol of Peace
  10. Two Factors
  11. Conflict Resolution

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Bertha von Suttner?

Bertha von Suttner was an Austrian pacifist and novelist born in 1843. She is best known for her novel “Die Waffen nieder!” (“Lay Down Your Arms!”), which became a foundational text in the peace movement.

What were Bertha von Suttner’s major contributions to the peace movement?

Bertha von Suttner’s major contribution to the peace movement was her tireless advocacy for disarmament and arbitration as alternatives to war. She was instrumental in organizing the first Hague Peace Conference in 1899 and became the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905.

How did Bertha von Suttner’s personal experiences influence her pacifist beliefs?

Bertha von Suttner’s pacifist beliefs were strongly influenced by her experiences as a secretary for Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prizes. Witnessing the destructive potential of Nobel’s invention and its impact on human lives led her to become a fervent advocate for peace.

What impact did Bertha von Suttner’s novel “Die Waffen nieder!” have on society?

“Die Waffen nieder!” (“Lay Down Your Arms!”) had a significant impact on society, as it exposed the brutal realities of war and advocated for pacifism and disarmament. It became a rallying cry for the peace movement and inspired many individuals to work towards preventing future conflicts.

How is Bertha von Suttner remembered today?

Bertha von Suttner is remembered today as a pioneering figure in the peace movement and as the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Her writings and activism continue to inspire advocates for peace and disarmament around the world, and her legacy remains influential in efforts to promote international cooperation and prevent war.

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