Wilhelm Leuschner ( him. Wilhelm Leuschner ; June 15, 1890 , Bayreuth - September 29, 1944 , Berlin ) - German political and trade union activist, social democrat , party to the conspiracy against Adolf Hitler .
Wilhelm Leuschner | |||||||
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him Wilhelm leuschner | |||||||
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The president | Bernard Adelung | ||||||
Birth | June 15, 1890 Bayreuth | ||||||
Death | September 29, 1944 (54 years) Berlin | ||||||
The consignment | Social Democratic Party of Germany | ||||||
Content
Young years
The son of the stove-setter Wilhelm Leuschner and his wife Maria. He spent his childhood in poverty, received a professional education as an engraver and wood sculptor ( 1903 - 1907 ), worked at a furniture factory in Darmstadt , from his youth he was a member of the trade union. He took an active part in the trade union movement, joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany . In 1911, he married Elizabeth, born Bang. Since 1916 he served in the army on the Eastern Front .
Political and trade unionists
Since 1919 - member of the city council of Darmstadt and chairman of the city trade unions (district office of the All-German Association of Trade Unions). Since 1924 - deputy of the Landtag of the State of Hesse , in 1928 - 1933 - Minister of the Interior in the government of this land. He was a supporter of the construction of highways . From January 1933 , at the same time, deputy chairman of the All-German Association of Trade Unions (ADGB). He opposed both the Nazis and the Communists . In 1931 he published the so-called "Boxing documents" - papers of the NSDAP leader and deputy of the parliament Hessen Werner Best, containing information about plans to seize power by the Nazis. This made Leuschner even more than before, a figure hated by the Nazis.
Member of the Resistance Movement
After the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, he was forced to resign as minister. At that time, he also represented the German trade unions at the International Trade Union Congress in Geneva. After returning home from the congress and routing the trade union movement twice (in May and June 1933), he was arrested, in 1933- 1934 he was in prison and concentration camps . In June 1934, he was released and soon after joined the Resistance to Nazism . In 1936, he was appointed director of a small factory for the production of dishes, which soon became a meeting place for activists of banned trade unions - both social democrats and representatives of the Christian labor movement.
He was a supporter of unified actions with the Communists , in 1935 he led negotiations with them to develop a common program of action. He also maintained contacts with the conservative anti-Nazi opposition led by Karl Friedrich Gördeler and the anti-fascist " Kreisau Circle ." His candidacy was considered for the post of vice-chancellor in the post-Hitler government of the country. Graf von Stauffenberg considered him one of the possible candidates for the post of Chancellor in post-war Germany (considering Gördeler, who was to be appointed to this post immediately after the overthrow of Hitler for a "transitional period", as an unsuitable candidate for rallying anti-fascist forces, including communists).
After the failure of the assassination attempt on Hitler, Leuschner was arrested on August 16, 1944 . On September 7 - 8 of the same year, he appeared before the People’s Court of Justice, and was sentenced to death. It is hanged on September 29, 1944 in prison Plötzensee .
Leuchner Memories
- Landtag Hesse established the Wilhelm Leuschner Medal - the highest award of this land.
- Numerous streets and squares in German cities are named in memory of Leichner.
- In 2003, a small museum was opened in Leushner’s home.
- In Germany , a postage stamp was issued in honor of Leuschner.
Bibliography
- K. Finker. Conspiracy July 20, 1944: The Case of Colonel Stauffenberg. - M. , 1975.