14 Facts About Magnus Schwantje

Magnus Ernst Schwantje was a German author and activist.

Magnus Schwantje was a campaigner for pacifism, animal rights and vegetarianism, founding the Bund fur radikale Ethik and co-founding the Bund der Kriegsdienstgegner.

Magnus Ernst Schwantje was born on 3 June 1877, in Oldenburg, German Empire, the youngest of four siblings.

Magnus Schwantje's parents managed a small textile business, but economic hardships forced him to leave secondary school at the age of 14 and pursue an apprenticeship in bookselling.

Magnus Schwantje famously recalled being moved by an article on vivisection in his youth, which led him to vow to campaign against such practices as an adult.

Magnus Schwantje initially hoped that his apprenticeship in bookselling would eventually equip him with the skills necessary to pursue a career as a writer.

Magnus Schwantje coined the provocative term "lustmord" to describe this hidden drive.

Magnus Schwantje's name was later withdrawn from the list of people, who were to be transported to the concentration camp in Dachau.

Magnus Schwantje wrote the preface for Fliegel's book, the distribution of which was subdued by the Nazis in Germany, but which was published in Switzerland in 1935.

In Magnus Schwantje's view, every being that is able to suffer is a legal entity, no matter what species it belongs to.

Magnus Schwantje himself practiced a strict vegetarian diet in a very devoted way, which today would be called veganism.

The reasons Magnus Schwantje gave for his vegan lifestyle were primarily of ethical nature, whereas he rejected naturalistic arguments.

Magnus Schwantje repeatedly argued against prejudicating entire nations or other groups as for example tormentors of animals, as in the case of Spain.

Magnus Schwantje vehemently rejected antisemitism, racism and racial hygiene, which was popular during his time.