Cristoph Hagelstein

Cristoph Hagelstein (2 April 1850 - 4 August 1922) was a German politician and a member of the German Reichstag from 1880 to 1885, initially for the Deutschkonservative Partei, but eventually joining the Nationalliberale Partei.

## Early life

Cristoph Hagelstein was born on April 2nd, 1850 in Freudenstadt, Württemberg, to parents Oscar and Yasmin Hagelstein. While Württemberg had faced rather significant unrest in the years following the Springtime of Nations, no violent revolutions took place in the territory and the calls for reform had largely subsided by the time Cristoph was born. The king, Wilhelm I, made certain concessions, appointing more liberal ministers and eventually implementing a proper constitution restricting his power. However, these events were of little concern to the Hagelstein family. Cristoph’s father was a trained carpenter and supported his family with his craft. They were never terribly rich, but were able to live a decent middle-class life throughout the first 5 years of Cristoph’s life. However, forces greater than their simple family would lead to significant chaos in their lives.

After Prussia brought the North German states into their new North German Federation, it was clear that their next intent was to conquer Elsaß-Lothringen and then subjugate the South German states into their new empire. The king of Württemberg, Wilhelm I, seeking to make an ally of the Prussians and reach favorable terms should unification be enforced, made an alliance with the North German Federation and joined them in their war against the French. While Oscar Hagelstein was opposed entirely to the alliance and the war, he was compelled into the army when Württemburg mobilized for war. He would serve under Generalleutenant Gustav von Böhm, and he fell dead at the battle of Augsburg. Although the armies of Württemburg would claim victory, they had lost almost three times as many men as the Sardinian forces.

Cristoph was only five at the time and barely remembered his father beyond his earliest memories, but his father’s death immediately had severe implications on his life. Without his father’s income, Cristoph and his mother were forced into severe destitution. Cristoph was too young to understand much of what was happening, beyond the fact that in one moment he was living in a warm and comforting home and the next he and his mother were sleeping in the alleys of Freudenstadt. The next few years would be difficult for the two of them, with his mother eventually making the desperate move into the business of prostitution in an attempt to feed her son. However, this would prove, eventually, to be a boon for Cristoph.

In 1860, after 5 years of living on the streets, Cristoph and Yasmin came into contact with a man who would prove to be much more interested in the affairs of Yasmin and her son than most others. One night while they slept in an alleyway they were noticed by a man named Kilian Weiser, who was an author from Baden temporarily in Württemburg for an interview. He took a particular interest in the lives of Cristoph and his mother, and provided them with brief shelter and a warm meal before taking both of them back to his home in Karlsruhe, Baden when he was finished with his work in Freudenstadt. Being something of an academic himself, he provided Cristoph with a classical education, placing a focus on literature and writing. In 1863, Kilian and Yasmin were married, though Cristoph opted to keep his father’s name.

Cristoph in late 1866 became, essentially, an intern for the Neue Badische Zeitung which had been founded early in that year and on the editorial board of which Kilian Weiser was a key member. The paper was published in Mannheim, where Cristoph and his family moved in early 1867. Cristoph would soon show his talents as an author and a journalist and become a well-respected member of the staff.

## Professional life

By 1876, Cristoph has become a prominent member of the paper and has taken over for many of his stepfather’s duties. In 1880, Cristoph ran in the 1880 elections as a member of the Deutschkonservative Partei. However, he quickly switched to the Nationalliberale Partei as they alligned more closely to his personal views. In 1885, Hagelstein decided to not run for re-election and returned to his duties at the Neue Badische Zeitung. Cristoph died in 1922 at the age of 72 due to health complications.

## Political views

Cristoph saw it as his objective in life to pursue a career to ensure freedoms for all Germans, including women. He also believed that the government should do more to ensure the welfare of the citizens, and should pass reforms to protect the citizens and ensure that they stay healthy. On economic grounds, he believed that the government should be able to intervene in the economy to benefit the citizens, and he wished to ensure that free trade continues as it had proved to be beneficial for almost all Germans.