Eva Hoffmann-Aleith

Eva Hoffmann-Aleith (26 October 1910 - 24 February 2004) was a German evangelical pastor, teacher and author. As a woman pastor undertaking what was widely seen as a man's job she became a pioneer and a role model for successor generations. It might have been assumed that she would now progress her career as an academic, but in the event she completed a practical term as a trainee pastor even though, in the context of the time and place, there was no prospect of a woman being appointed by the church to take charge of a parish. Even fully qualified women pastors were restricted, under the regulations, to looking after the pastoral needs of "women, girls and children".

Eva Hoffmann-Aleith formally retired in 1974 but continued to live at the rectory in Stüdenitz till shortly before her death in 2002. She spent her final months in a nearby retirement home.

Publications (selection) Historical biographies

Amalie Sieveking. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1940 (about Amalie Sieveking (1794–1859), die Gründerin des ersten Vereins für weibliche Krankenpflege). Tusnelda von Saldern, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1940 (about Thusnelda von Saldern (1837–1910), Oberin des Oberlinhauses in Potsdam-Nowawes (Potsdam-Babelsberg)). Anna Melanchthon. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1954; 8th edition 1983 (about Anna Melanchthon (1522–1547), daughter of the reformer Philipp Melanchthon). Herr Philippus. Erzählungen um Melanchthon. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1960; 2. Auflage 1961 (about Philipp Melanchthon (1497–1560) reformer and backer of Martin Luther). Der Freiherr. Luther Verlag, Witten 1960 (about Carl Hildebrand von Canstein (1667–1719), founder of the Halleschen Bibelanstalt). Wege zum Lindenhof. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1967; 4. Auflage 1985 (about Philipp and Marie Nathusius, founders of the Neinstedter Anstalten). Teufelszwirn. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1970 (über einen Streit zwischen Pfarrer und Gutsherrn im Bautzener Land ums Wissebier und ums Tanzen). Frau von Friedland. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1978; 2. Auflage 1981; Neuauflage: Förderkreis Barnim-Oderbruch e.V., Bad Freienwalde 1994 (about Helene Charlotte von Friedland (1754–1803), Progressive landowner-farmer). Johanne. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1980; 2. Auflage 1987 (about Johanne Nathusius (1828–1885), sister of Philipp von Nathusius, founder of the Elisabeth-Stifts and other establishments in Neinstedt). Leuchtende Stunde. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1984 (about the youth of the painter Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794–1872), who belonged to the „Lukasbrüder“ artists' circle - later known as the „Nazarenes“). Ellen Franz, Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Berlin 1989 (über Ellen Franz (1839–1923), pianist and actress, later Freewoman of Heldburg). Ein Fräulein aus Weissenfels. Haag und Herchen, Frankfurt/Main 1992, ; 2. Aufl. 2007 (about Marie Louise von François (1817–1893), authoress in Weißenfels). Licht in der Nacht. Haag und Herchen, Frankfurt/Main 1998, (about the blind poet Ludwig Wucke (1807–1883) from Bad Salzungen).

Other works Das Paulusverständnis in der alten Kirche. de Gruyter, Berlin 1937. Tiere und Menschen, 11 Erzählungen, Verlag Haag und Herchen, Frankfurt/Main 1992. Statt Blumen, 15 Erzählungen, Verlag Haag und Herchen, Frankfurt/Main 1996. Eine Kanne Wasser. In: Mehr Frieden ist kein Wintermärchen, Anthologie, Verlag Haag und Herchen, Frankfurt/Main 1994.

A directory of her publications, which also include numerous articles and other contributions to church publications, from the period 1936 - 1995, has been compiled by Uwe Czubatynski and can be found in Archivbericht Nummer 6 / November 1996 (Archive report Number 6 / November 1996), published by the Evangelical Church in Berlin-Brandenburg ("Evangelische Kirche in Berlin-Brandenburg") (ed. Jürgen Stenzel) pp. 78–81.