OTTO VON MAUDERODE, (1852-1909),
German publisher who from 1883 printed forbidden Lithuanian books and
periodicals. He was born on April 26, 1852 in Tilze (Tilsit), which was
close to the Lithuanian-Prussian border. Mauderode was well acquainted with
the national movement and its activists in Russian-ruled Lithuania. He wss
an active member of the Lithuanian Literary Society in Tilze. The printing
of Lithuanian books in Latin characters during the press ban was not
restricted in Lithuania Minor (East Prussia), then under German
administration, and at that time was a lucrative occupation in Tilze. An
efficient businessman, he earned approximately 80,000 rubles per year
(1895-1900) for printing Lithuanian newspapers, books and prayer books. He
was more sympathetic to the Lithuanian cause than other publishers, and did
not concern himself with the local pro German policies. Thus, his published
periodicals intended for Lithuanians were never censored for taking a
nationalistic stand. Only in 1906 did German officials use some pressure
through Mauderode to weaken the Lithuanian position. Mauderode died in Tilze
on Jan 17, 1909.
Literature:
ENCYCLOPEDIA LITUANICA I-VI, 1970-1978, Boston
