Walter Ulbricht: biography, photos and interesting facts

Walter Ulbricht is one of the most important political figures of the twentieth century. He made a huge contribution to the formation of the German Democratic Republic and its place on the geopolitical map of post-war Europe. Over the long years of leadership, he was able to carry out a number of social and economic reforms that radically changed the socio-political life in East Germany. Assessments of his activities are extremely polar: some consider Ulbricht a national hero, and some are a traitor.

Walter Ulbricht: Biography

He was born on June 30, 1893 in Leipzig. His father was a carpenter. The workshop was located in the houses of Ulbricht. Therefore, from his childhood, Walter worked in it, helping his father. He graduated from the Leipzig primary school, after which he studies carpentry and has been working in his workshop since 1907. Begins to be interested in politics. In Leipzig at this time there are many different socialist circles. Reads the works of Engels, Bebel, Marx and other German philosophers of the left kind. At the age of nineteen he joined the Social Democratic Party. Actively participates in the activities of local committees. When the First World War began, the Socialists were not called to the front, considering them dangerous elements. However, after a year of bloody battles this decision is being revised. The Kaiser understands that much more harm is done in the rear of the revolutionaries. Therefore, mobilization is both a punishment and an attempt to make up for losses.

Great War

Walter Ulbricht was drafted into the army in 1915. At the front, he is engaged in the propaganda of socialist ideas. According to some information, he took part in fraternization with Russian soldiers. "Brotherhood" took place in all theaters of military operations. During them, the soldiers of the opposing armies emerged from the trenches to meet each other. In the eighteenth year, Walter Ulbricht enters the so-called "Union of Spartacus." This is a radical Marxist organization, which stood on the positions of rejection of capitalism, militarism and imperialism.

The beginning of revolutionary activity

In the eighteenth year, Ulbricht was demobilized. At this time in the German Empire, a revolution breaks out. Walter immediately begins to take an active part in it. In just a week the insurgent people manage to overthrow the monarchical system and proclaim the republic. Ulbricht is a member of the local council of soldiers' deputies. Then he gets the right to represent the Leipzig workers and soldiers. In this post he creates a department of the Communist Party of Germany. For a year he manages to become the leader of the district committee. He holds the position of editor in the popular newspaper Class War. For his successful work in Leipzig, Walter Ulbricht is elected to the Central Committee of the Party. In the twenty-second year a new congress of the Internationale, the international communist association, begins to work.

Walter is a member of the German embassy and takes part in the congress of the International in Moscow. I personally met Lenin. In the twenty-sixth year is a member of the Reichstag, while still actively working in the International. Included in its executive committee.

Escape and Underground

After the capture by the National Socialists of the authorities, the persecution of the Communists begins. The SS conducts surveillance of all prominent figures in the communist and socialist parties, among them Walter Ulbricht. The German politician goes underground. In the thirty-third year, the persecution of those disliked by the regime is gaining new momentum. Walter flees to the Soviet Union. In the thirty-fifth year he was admitted to the Political Bureau of the Party. And three years later he recovers his post in the International. With the outbreak of the civil war in Spain, he is sent there as a political adviser. After the victory of the regime, Franco leaves for France. But in the new country does not stay long. After the occupation of the French territories by the Hitlerites, Ulbricht returned to Moscow. After the beginning of the Great Patriotic War is engaged in agitation among German soldiers and officers. During the battle at Stalingrad personally through the loudspeakers urged the German soldiers to surrender. In 1943 he created an anti-Hitler military committee.

After the Second World War

Immediately after the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the USSR begins to establish a peaceful life in the occupied territories. To create a new government, in early May, politician Walter Ulbricht arrives in Berlin with nine figures of the Communist underground. Helps to restore civilian institutions in Berlin, and then throughout Germany. After the fall of the Nazi regime, several parties are legally working in East Germany. Ulbricht leads one of them - SPEG. A lot of active students and intellectuals are entering a new party.

Walter Ulbricht, German politician: biography, photo as head of the GDR

In the fiftieth year Walter became the head of the German Democratic Republic. At the same time, he retains his old post of deputy prime minister. Thus, Ulbricht concentrates in his hands full power. In his views, he was a confident Stalinist. Construction of socialism began in the country. Land reform has allowed to take away from the large owners of the farm and transfer them to the national economy. The nationalization of enterprises began.

Acute political crisis

Forced industrialization in the conditions of post-war disruption led to the economic crisis and discontent of the population. Walter Ulbricht became the object of popular hatred. A German politician, whose biography had many difficult periods, would later say that the July days of the fifty-third were the most difficult for him in his life. The mass strike turned into an open riot. Walter had to turn to the Soviet Union for help. Soviet troops were taken to the streets of many cities, and the Secretary General himself was hiding in the territory of the occupation administration. During the suppression of the rebellion Ulbricht was able to finally destroy the opposition within the party.

Change in rate

The policy pursued by the Government of Ulbricht was aimed primarily at restoring infrastructure and production facilities. The building of socialism was carried out forcibly. The politician got criticism not only in the GDR itself, but also in the Kremlin. Lavrenty Beria repeatedly questioned Walter's decisions and methods. He believed that many ways of nationalizing and isolating the school only push people away from the government.

As a result, Ulbricht is summoned to Moscow and reported on the revision of state policy. After that, he was "watched" by the commander of the Soviet grouping of troops in the GDR, Semyonov. In the summer of 1961, one of the most significant events in post-war Europe took place. The Soviet Union officially transferred the government to Ulbricht. At the same time, the US military was still in West Berlin. A serious crisis began. In the center of the German capital, several meters apart were tanks of the USSR and the United States. The flow of fugitives to West Germany increased. At the same time, there was only one uncovered border crossing point. To isolate itself from the FRG, the socialist government has a plan to build a wall in the center of Berlin. This decision was taken personally by Walter Ulbricht. Photo of the wall, which began to hastily erect on the thirteenth of August, all the world's mass media flew around.

Wall of Ulbricht

After the erection of the wall, a new era for the political life of the GDR began. In a short time, a new economic course was formed. Many nationalized enterprises were united under one governing body. After the reforms, the political situation in East Germany stabilized. However, Moscow's confidence in Walter was undermined. People often joked about him. Many anecdotes and nicknames ridiculed his Leipzig accent and Walter's use of parasitic words.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 29, 1963, for his personal contribution to the fight against fascism during the Second World War and on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Ulbricht Walter, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal .

In the seventy-first year, Brezhnev personally demanded the resignation of Ulbricht. After several personal conversations with the secretary general, the latter asked for resignation. On August 1, 1973 Walter Ulbricht died. The GDR largely owes its existence to this policy. He defined the development of the country and the political course for decades ahead.