TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A memorial wall for literature professor Ralf Klausnitzer was created outside his office at the Humboldt University of Berlin after an article about his disappearance in late March while visiting Taiwan was published in the newspaper Berliner Zeitung on Monday (Aug. 12).
Klausnitzer’s parents wrote the article detailing the search for his whereabouts after visiting Hualien’s Taroko Gorge. They expressed frustration that the search was not conducted faster and yielded few results, per CNA.
One complication hindering their search effort was the lack of formal relations between Germany and Taiwan. The lack of formal diplomatic channels meant his parents had to work through informal associations of Germans living abroad.
The newspaper article also offered a timeline leading up to his disappearance and is a plea to the public for any information about his status. In March, Klausnitzer was invited by Tamkang University to participate in an academic exchange program and serve as a lecturer.

After completing his assignment, he traveled to Hualien with his last sighting recorded by a surveillance camera on March 26 as he exited a bus at Taroko Gorge’s Tianxiang Village where he entered Xiangde Temple and stayed for about 23 minutes.
His parents expressed concern that no search for his whereabouts was undertaken until April 2, when he failed to board a flight back to Germany.
Tamkang University contacted the Hualien County Police Department to begin the search for him. Police were able to recover his luggage and laptop from his hotel room but did not discover any clues or other useful information.
Klausnitzer's two sons, Robert and Gustav, flew to Taiwan to search for their father in June. Upon arrival, they encountered several obstacles, such as roads in Taroko Gorge rendered impassable due to the April 3 earthquake.
Many of their planned excursions into Taroko Gorge were scrapped due to a lack of road access and aftershocks. They expressed frustration that only repair crews and other emergency services were allowed into this area.
Detailed information about their visit to Taiwan was posted on Klausnitzer’s memorial wall. They also thanked supporters for helping fund their Taiwan trip to search for their father.
Klausnitzer served as a professor of literature at Humboldt University in Berlin for 30 years and was beloved by students and colleagues. After seeing the article in the Berliner Zeitung, many current and former students laid flowers outside his office and shared letters expressing their condolences.
Speaking to CNA, one student remembered him as a strict, passionate professor, who inspired many. While many mourned his disappearance, a few remained hopeful, eagerly awaiting his return to the university.