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Originally published in Berlingske Tidende (1931-09-14).

Description of original facsimile: A clipping affixed to a thin piece of paper in the EHSA shows four columns, no photographs, with two holes punched at the bottom of the middle columns; the publication information is handwritten in black ink across the top, and some stains (possibly water damage) obscure some parts of the article.

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  • Print originally authored by Jørgen BastJørgen Bast (1894-1965), born in Vejle, Denmark, a journalist for Berlingske Tidende and co-editor of its sister newspaper B.T. from 1926-1936
  • Translation completed by Marianne Ølholm
  • Translation reviewed by Marianne Ølholm
  • Transcription completed by Marianne Ølholm
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Transcription

[Facsimile Image]

Berlingske Tidende

Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931, alias Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931, er afgaaet ved Døden.

En tragisk Afslutning paa en fantastisk Livsskæbne.

(01) Det vakte for et lille Aars Tid siden Opsigt Verden over, baade i videnskabelige Kredse og der, hvor man søger Sensationen, at Maleren Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 paa en KlinikMunicipal Women's Clinic (fictional and historical) is the Staatliche Frauenklinik in Dresden, directed by Professor Kurt Warnekros from 1925 to 1948." i DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany var blevet underkastet en Operation, der havde forvandlet ham fra Mand til Kvinde.

(02) Oprindelig troede man i alt Fald herhjemme, at det var et af disse fantastiske Rygter, der opstaar, uden at nogen véd hvordan — men en skønne Dag kom den mærkelige Bekræftelse paa Rygtet: Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931, en meget smuk og livlig Dame dukkede op i KøbenhavnCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark og udstillede sit tidligere Jegs, Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931s, Billeder i „Ole Haslunds Hus“Ole Hasland Hus (historical), art gallery in Copenhagen where the Wegeners exhibited.

(03) Operationen, der havde fundet Sted i DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany, var Udgangen paa mange Aars Lidelser og Kampe.

(04) Alle Københavnere af den ældre Aargang husker jo den unge Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931, en lys, veg, køn, Fyr, der snarere lignede et kønt Pigebarn i Herreklæder end et Mandfolk.

(05) Som hans Ydre var ogsaa hans Talent, vegt og kvindeligt, men Talent var der, hvad navnlig hans mange Bybilleder fra hans elskede ParisParis (historical), capital of France bærer Vidne om.

(06) Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931s Lykke var, at han traf sin Hustru, den berømte Malerinde Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener. Han fik her en Ven for Livet, et Menneske, der forstod ham og hans ulykkelige Natur. De rejste til ParisParis (historical), capital of France sammen, de kom til at høre til MontparnasseMontparnasse (historical), a section of Paris where many artists and writers lived in the 1920s’s kendte Kunstnere, de tjente Penge, og navnlig Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener fik efterhaanden meget store Indtægter baade gennem sine Malerier og sine glimrende Reklametegninger.

(07) Trods Medgangen var Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 et dybt ulykkeligt Menneske. Han var Mand af Skikkelse og Navn, men han følte sig helt som Kvinde, og efterhaanden som Aarene gik, drev hans særlige Kompleks ham næsten til Vanvidets og Selvmordets Rand.

(08) I Aarenes Løb søgte han Raad og Hjælp mange Steder, men ingen kunde hjælpe ham, indtil den berømte tyske Kirurg, Professor WarnekrosKurt Warnekros (1882–1949), a German gynecologist who performed all but the first of four surgeries on Lili Elvenes; director of the Women’s Clinic in Dresden (Staatliche Frauenklinik) from 1925 to 1948 i DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany gav ham et Haab. Han paatog sig den vanskelige Operation — for at hjælpe et ulykkeligt Menneske men vel ogsaa for at gøre et videnskabeligt Eksperiment der aldrig før var forsøgt. Her var Tale om en slags Vivisektion, hvor Ofret meldte sig frivilligt.

(09) Det hele kunde dog ikke ordnes med een Operation. Efter sit korte Ophold i KøbenhavnCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark maatte Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 vende tilbage til KlinikkenMunicipal Women's Clinic (fictional and historical) is the Staatliche Frauenklinik in Dresden, directed by Professor Kurt Warnekros from 1925 to 1948." -@Translator: MOfor at underkaste sig endnu et Par Operationer. Disse syntes at være forløbet heldigt, men saa viste det sig, at den Opererede led af en indvendig Lidelse, vistnok Kræft, der udviklede sig med forfærdende Hast — og nu er Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 altsaa død. Naturen lod sig alligevel ikke trodse.

(10) Tilfældet Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931—Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 vil sikkert i Fremtiden staa som en psykologisk Gaade — og vil utvivlsomt mange, mange Gange blive gjort til Genstrand for for videnskabelig Drøftelse. Heri vil utvivlsomt en Selvbiografi, som Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 havde afsluttet umiddelbart før sin Død, komme til at spille en stor Rolle. Det mærkeligste Afsnit af den er bygget over Dagbogsoptegnelser fra Opholdet paa KlinikkenMunicipal Women's Clinic (fictional and historical) is the Staatliche Frauenklinik in Dresden, directed by Professor Kurt Warnekros from 1925 to 1948.", saaledes at Dagbogen først er ført af Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931, derefter af det neutrale Væsen, der eksisterede, mens Operation blev foretaget og endelig af en ny Kvinde Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931.

(11) Det psykologisk mest ejendommelige er det, at Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 slet ikke har nogen Fornemmelse af Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931s Eksistens, men regner ham for et afdødt Væsen.

(12) Under sit Ophold i KøbenhavenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark sagde Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931:

(13) — Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 kunde male. Jeg har desværre ingen Talenter. Jeg vil helst sy.

(14) Hun var slet ikke klar over det tragikomiske i en Replik som denne:

(15) — Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 var en underlig Fyr. Han gik baade i Teatret og paa Caféer lige før jeg blev opereret.

(16) Det var i fuld Overensstemmelse med sin Hustru, Fru Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener, at han lod sig underkaste Operationen — men der opstod efter den et ganske mærkeligt juridisk Problem: Hvordan skulde Ægteskabet opløses? Sagen blev indbragt -@Translator: MO for det danske Justitsministerium, men man gennemsøgte forgæves samtlige mærkelige ægteskabeligt-juridiske Problemer i Verden uden at finde noget Tilfælde, der mindede om dette. Det endte da med, at man ganske simpelt erklærede Ægteskabet for ugyldigt.

(17) Det trofaste Venskab mellem Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 og Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener vedvarede til det sidste — og havde Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 rejst sig fra Sygelejet, skulde hun være rejst til MarokkoMorocco (historical), a country in northern Africa for at besøge Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener, der lever dèr i lykkeligt Ægteskab med en italiensk Officer.Fernando Porta (b. 1897), Gerda Wegener’s second husband

(18) Naar man har kendt Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 i de yngre Aar, staar man underligt forvirret ved hans Død. Skal man sørge over, at der er sat Punktum for en umulig Livsskæbne? Skal man mindes Ejnar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 med det blide, vemodige Væsen, eller den temperamentsfulde Lili ElvenæsLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931? Det er slet ikke til at sige. Dette underlige Væsens Gaade rækker ud over Døden.

Jørgen BastJørgen Bast (1894-1965), born in Vejle, Denmark, a journalist for Berlingske Tidende and co-editor of its sister newspaper B.T. from 1926-1936.

Translation

Berlingske Tidende

Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931, alias Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931, has passed away.

A Tragic End to a Fantastic Life.

(01) Just under a year ago, it created a sensation across the world, both in scientific circles and in places where sensation is sought, that the painter Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 had undergone an operation at a clinicMunicipal Women's Clinic (fictional and historical) is the Staatliche Frauenklinik in Dresden, directed by Professor Kurt Warnekros from 1925 to 1948." in DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany that had transformed him from a man into a woman.

(02) Originally it was believed, at least in this country, that it was one of these wild rumours that spring up without anybody knowing how – but one day the extraordinary confirmation of the rumour came: Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931, a very beautiful and lively lady, appeared in CopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark and exhibited the paintings by her former self, Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931, in “Ole Haslund’s House”Ole Hasland Hus (historical), art gallery in Copenhagen where the Wegeners exhibited.

(03) The operation that had taken place in DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany was the outcome of many years of suffering and struggling.

(04) All Copenhageners of the older years remember the young Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931, a blond, soft, pretty fellow who looked like a pretty girl in men’s clothes rather than a man.

(05) As his appearance was also his talent, passive and feminine, but talent there was, as particularly his many city scenes from his beloved ParisParis (historical), capital of France bear witness to.

(06) It was Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931's good fortune that he met his wife, the famous painter Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener. Here he acquired a friend for life, a person who understood him and his unfortunate -@Translator: MO nature. They travelled to ParisParis (historical), capital of France together, they got to be among the famous artists of MontparnasseMontparnasse (historical), a section of Paris where many artists and writers lived in the 1920s, they made money, and particularly Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener eventually had very large earnings, both from her paintings and her excellent commercial art.

(07) In spite of his success Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 was a deeply unhappy person. He was a man by physical stature and name but he felt entirely like a woman and as the years passed, his particular complex almost drove him to the verge of madness and suicide.

(08) Over the years, he sought advice and help in many places, but no one could help him until the famous German surgeon Professor WarnekrosKurt Warnekros (1882–1949), a German gynecologist who performed all but the first of four surgeries on Lili Elvenes; director of the Women’s Clinic in Dresden (Staatliche Frauenklinik) from 1925 to 1948 in DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany gave him hope. He took on the difficult operation — to help an unhappy person but probably also to do a scientific experiment that had never been attempted before. This was a kind of vivisection where the victim volunteered.

(09) Everything could not be taken care of in one operation however. After her short stay in CopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark, Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 had to return to the clinicMunicipal Women's Clinic (fictional and historical) is the Staatliche Frauenklinik in Dresden, directed by Professor Kurt Warnekros from 1925 to 1948." in order to undergo several further operations. These seem to have been successful but then it turned out that the patient suffered from an internal disorder, probably cancer, that developed at a terrifying speed — and now Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 is dead. Nature was not to be defied after all.

(10) The case of Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931–Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 will probably stand as a psychological-physiological mystery in the future — and no doubt it will be made the subject of scientific discussion in many, many times. In these, an autobigraphy that Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 had finished immediately before her death will no doubt play an important role. The most extraordinary part of it is based on diary entries from the stay at the clinicMunicipal Women's Clinic (fictional and historical) is the Staatliche Frauenklinik in Dresden, directed by Professor Kurt Warnekros from 1925 to 1948." so that at first, the diary is kept by Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931, then by the neutral being, and finally by a new woman Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931.

(11) Most psychologically remarkable is that Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 has no sense at all of Einer WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931's existence but regards him as a deceased being.

(12) During her stay in CopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark, Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 said:

(13) — Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 could paint. Unfortunately, I have no talents. I would rather sew.

(14) She was completely unaware of the tragicomical in a remark like this:

(15) — Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 was a strange guy. He both went to the theatre and to cafés just before I had surgery.

(16) It was a complete agreement with his wife, Mrs. Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener, that he underwent the operation — but afterwords a quite extraordinary legal problem arose: how was the marriage to be dissolved? The case was brought before the Danish Ministry of Justice but all the extraordinary problems of marriage law in the world were searched through without finding any case resembling this. Eventually the marriage was quite simply declared invalid.

(17) The faithful friendship between Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 and Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener lasted to the end — and had Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 risen from her sickbed, she would have travelled to MoroccoMorocco (historical), a country in northern Africa to visit Gerda WegenerGerda Maria Frederikke Gottlieb Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator; married to Einar Wegener, who lives there in a happy marriage to an Italian officer.Fernando Porta (b. 1897), Gerda Wegener’s second husband

(18) Having known Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 in his younger years, one is strangely confused at his death. Is one to mourn that an impossible fate is terminated? Is one to remember Einar WegenerEinar Magnus Andreas Wegener (b. 1882), a Danish painter; married to Gerda Wegener; died as Lili Elbe in Dresden, 1931 with the gentle melancholy nature or tempermental Lili ElvenesLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931? No one can say. The mystery of this extraordinary being extends beyond death.

Jørgen BastJørgen Bast (1894-1965), born in Vejle, Denmark, a journalist for Berlingske Tidende and co-editor of its sister newspaper B.T. from 1926-1936.