Ernst Thalmann

Date of Birth: April 16, 1886

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: August 18, 1944

Biography

Ernst Thälmann was a prominent German communist politician and leader of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) during the Weimar Republic. Born in Hamburg, Thälmann became involved in workers’ movements at an early age. He served as a soldier in World War I, which radicalized his political views. After the war, he joined the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD) before switching to the KPD in 1920. Thälmann rose quickly within the ranks of the KPD, becoming its chairman in 1925. He was a staunch opponent of both the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP). He ran for the presidency of Germany in 1925 and 1932, although he did not win. In 1933, following Hitler’s rise to power, Thälmann was arrested by the Gestapo and spent over a decade in various prisons and concentration camps. He was executed in Buchenwald concentration camp in 1944 on Hitler’s orders.

5 Interesting Facts about Ernst Thalmann

1. Ernst Thälmann was the leader of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) from 1925 until his arrest in 1933.

2. He was a candidate for the presidency of Germany twice, in 1925 and 1932.

3. Thälmann was imprisoned by the Nazis for 11 years before being executed in Buchenwald concentration camp.

4. He was a vocal critic of both the Social Democrats and the Nazis, which made him a significant political target.

5. Thälmann’s legacy is commemorated in many parts of the former East Germany, where numerous streets, schools, and institutions bear his name.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ernst Thalmann

1. “The SPD and the NSDAP are two sides of the same coin; both deceive the working class in different ways.”

2. “We fight for a Germany where workers have the power, not the capitalists.”

3. “The struggle against fascism is a fight for the future of humanity.”

4. “True freedom can only be achieved through socialism.”

5. “Even in prison, my spirit remains unbroken and committed to the cause of the working class.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Ernst Thälmann did not achieve significant personal wealth; his highest net worth is not well-documented but is presumed to be minimal given his lifelong commitment to communist ideals and political activism.

Children

Ernst Thälmann had one daughter, Irma Thälmann, who was born in 1919. She survived World War II and later became active in preserving her father’s legacy.