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Adolfo Federico Di Meclemburg-Schwerin (Schwerin, 10 October 1873-Eutin, 5 August 1969) was the prince of the Casata di Meclemburg-Schwerin, candidate for the regency of the United Baltic Duchy and first president of the German Olympic Committee from 1949 to 1951.

The Duke Adolfo Federico was the third son of Federico Francesco II of Meclemburg-Schwerin and his third wife, Princess Maria of Schwarzburg-Rolsolstadt.

Between 1907 and 1908 Adolfo Federico was the head of a scientific expedition to Africa receiving Eduard Vogel’s medal for research in Leipzig in 1908. In 1910-11 he led a new expedition in the area north of the Congo and Nilo rivers (in the current Sudan) and in the Chad basin, exploring areas of internal Africa still little known at the time, extending to Bahr El-Gazal and then to the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. Back home, he publishes two volumes on these first companies, accompanied by exceptional photographic images.

For his commitment to Africa and for his profound knowledge of the territory, Adolfo Federico was appointed by the German government governor of the colony of Togo, a position he held from 1912 to 1914 and was the penultimate who held it.

During the First World War, Adolfo Federico took part in the clashes on several fronts. In 1915 he served in the Austro-Hungarian army for which he was sent on a mission to Turkey in 1916. He took part subsequently to some clashes at the iron doors with the Bulgarian army on October 26, 1915, helping to create a bridge between the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.

In September 1918, after the Baltic countries obtained independence under German occupation, the United Baltic Duchy was proclaimed on 5 November 1918. Adolfo Federico was the candidate chosen to hold the position of sovereign in this new duchy, but after his election the revolution that brushed all the national monarchies to Germany also abolished the foundation measure.

After the war, Adolfo Federico became vice -president of the company founded by his brother Giovanni Alberto becoming president from 1895 to 1920. He still traveled to Africa for hunting safaris in Africa and between 1934 and 1939 he was also in South America to improve the Commercial contacts between Germany and other countries in the world at the service of the Ministry for Nazi propaganda. After the Second World War, Adolfo Federico lived in Eutin Castle at Holstein and was invited in 1960 to celebrate the anniversary of Togo’s independence in Africa for what was his last trip to such a loved land. Previously, in 1924, he bought the luxury villa Fedora of Bad Doberan where he lived with his family until 1945.

From 1926 to 1956, moreover, Adolfo Federico was a member of the International Olympic Committee and from 1949 to 1951 he was president of the Olympic Committee of Germany, at the same time also becoming the honorary member of the Berlin Society of Anthropology, Ethnology and Prehistory.

Adolfo Federico di Meclemburg-Schwerin died at Eutin Castle in 1969, almost centenary.

Adolfo Federico married twice. The first weddings were held on April 24, 1917 with Princess Vittoria Fedora of Reuss-Gera, who died during the birth of their daughter, Woizlawa-Fodora on 18 December 1918.

On October 15, 1924, Adolfo Federico married his brother Giovanni Alberto’s widow, Elisabetta of Stolberg-Rroßla, who survived him only for a couple of weeks also dying in 1969 but spending 40 years of marriage with him. Adolf Friedrich and his wife were buried in the cemetery of the Cathedral of Ratzebur.

• In the innermost Africa . Leipzig, 1909 ( In the heart of Africa ) vol. 1 , vol. 2 , vol. 3 (in English)
• From the Congo to Niger and Nil . Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1912. ( From the Congo to the Niger and the Nile: the story of the German expedition to Central Africa of 1910-1911 ) vol. 2 (in English).
• Scientific experiences of the German central Africa expedition under the leadership of Adolf Friedrich, Herzog zu Mecklenburg . Leipzig, 1922. vol. 2 , vol. 4 , vol. 5 , vol. 7 (in English).

Meaclemburgian honors [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Foreign honors [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

• Reinhart Bindseil: Adolf Friedrich Herzog zu Mecklenburg (1873–1969). A manager of Africa research and Rwanda traveler of 1907 (imperial governor of Togo 1912-1914). In: Rwanda in the life picture of the African corscher, literary and imperial resident Richard Kandt (1867–1918) . BONN 1992, ISBN 3-921599-57-1
• Otto Gebhard: Through steppe and jungle. Adventure and experiences of Africa – expedition of Duke Adolf Friedrich zu Mecklenburg. 1911
• Rudolf Junack: Adolf Friedrich Herzog zu Mecklenburg. Live and act. Hamburg 1963
• Werner Pade: Between science, adventure and colonial policy: Adolf Friedrich Herzog zu Mecklenburg. In: Mecklenburger abroad. Historical sketches on the life and work of Mecklenburgers in their homeland and in the distance. Ed.: Martin Guntau.
• Andreas Röpcke: Adolf Friedrich Herzog zu Mecklenburg (1873–1969), The old African . In: Mecklenburg yearbooks . Band 121, 2006, S. 167–207
• Andreas Röpcke: The old duke in young togo. The last Africa trip of Duke Adolf Friedrich zu Mecklenburg . In: Mecklenburg yearbooks . Band 122, 2007, p. 313–317