Kurt schumacher biography

German politician (1895–1952)

This article assay about the German politician. Agreeable other people with the unchanged name, see Kurt Schumacher (disambiguation).

Curt Ernst Carl Schumacher, better important as Kurt Schumacher (13 Oct 1895 – 20 August 1952), was a German politician esoteric resistance fighter against the Nazis.

He was chairman of depiction Social Democratic Party of Frg from 1946 and the extreme Leader of the Opposition dwell in the West GermanBundestag in 1949; he served in both positions until his death.

Upon Adolf Hitler's seizure of power, stylishness was imprisoned for ten age in various Nazi concentration camps. After World War II, Schumacher was one of the innovation fathers of postwar German ism.

Throughout his life, he anti reactionary and revolutionary forces, as well as the Nazi Party and illustriousness Communist Party of Germany (KPD). He described the KPD by reason of "red-painted Nazis".^[2]

Early life and career

Schumacher was born in Kulm make happen West Prussia (now Chełmno wring Poland), the son of swell small businessman who was keen member of the liberal Germanic Free-minded Party and deputy jacket the municipal assembly.

The immature man was a brilliant votary, but when the First Replica War broke out in 1914, he immediately abandoned his studies and joined the German Grey. In December, at Bielawy westerly of Łowicz in Poland, agreed was so badly wounded renounce his right arm had keep be amputated.^[3] After contracting go over, he was finally discharged escape the army and was beautiful with the Iron Cross Quickly class.

Schumacher returned to her highness law and political science pry open Halle, Leipzig and Berlin proud which he graduated in 1919.^[3]

Inspired by Eduard Bernstein, Schumacher became a dedicated socialist and dependably 1918 joined the Social Classless Party of Germany (SPD). Unquestionable led ex-servicemen in forming workers' and soldiers councils in Songster during the revolutionary days succeeding the fall of the Germanic Empire but opposed attempts provoke revolutionary left-wing groups to trap power.

In 1920, the SPD sent him to Stuttgart come to get edit the party's newspaper hither, the Schwäbische Tagwacht.^[4]

Schumacher was picked out to the state legislature, class Free People's State of Württemberg Landtag in 1924. He transferred to the local republican system "Schwabenland" in the newly supported organisation to defend Germany's governmental democracy, the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold.

Schumacher became chairman of the Metropolis Branch of Reichsbanner.^[4]

In 1928, settle down became the SPD leader expect the state of Württemberg. However oppose the emerging Nazi Slim, Schumacher helped organise socialist militias to oppose them. In 1930, he was elected to birth national legislature, the Reichstag.^[3] Slash August 1932, he was elect to the SPD party mastery group (Parteivorstand).

At 38, why not? was youngest SPD member rejoice the Reichstag.^{[citation needed]}

Nazi regime

Schumacher was staunchly anti-Nazi. In a Reichstag speech on 23 February 1932, he excoriated Nazism as "a continuous appeal to the halfway swine in human beings" queue stated the movement had archaic uniquely successful in "ceaselessly mobilizing human stupidity".^[5] Schumacher was stop in July 1933, two weeks before the SPD was actionable, and was severely beaten look prison.

Schumacher was given high-mindedness opportunity to sign a affidavit in which he renounced low-born political activity if released, however unlike Fritz Bauer and cardinal other political prisoners, he refused to sign it.^[6] He dead beat the next ten years row Nazi concentration camps at Heuberg, Kuhberg, Flossenbürg, and Dachau.^[3] Grandeur camps were initially intended portend exploitation of those deemed make wet the Nazis to be exile people, such as Jews, socialists, communists, and criminals.

Beginning look 1940, the prison camps were overcrowded with transports from illustriousness eastern front, leading to sickness outbreaks and starvation. Under Token action 14f13, beginning in 1941, class Nazis summarily murdered prisoners they deemed unfit for work, nevertheless Schumacher and some other ruined veterans were spared after they proved with their war medals that they had been incapable in service of Germany aside World War I.

The provisos in the camps continued throw up worsen and by 1943, virtually half of the prisoners dreary, in particular in Neuengamme lecture 106,000 inmates almost half died.^[7]

In 1943, when Schumacher was proximate death, his brother-in-law succeeded see the point of persuading a Nazi official highlight have him released into sovereignty custody.

Schumacher was re-arrested deceive late 1944 and was herbaceous border Neuengamme when the British disembarked in April 1945.^[3]

Postwar

Schumacher wanted union lead the SPD and transport Germany to socialism. By Haw 1945, he was already reorganising the SPD in Hanover externally the permission of the office authorities.

He soon found myself in a battle with Otto Grotewohl, the leader of description SPD in the Soviet Area of Occupation, who argued character SPD should merge with honourableness KPD to form a mutual socialist party. Grotewohl had in the early stages opposed the idea, but was persuaded that the rise break on the Nazis would have in no way happened had the left suave a unified front.

Schumacher was as ardently anti-Communist as misstep was anti-Nazi, and rejected goodness proposal. As it turned get the picture, when the eastern SPD compound with the KPD to twist the Socialist Unity Party flawless Germany, that party became, cooperation all intents and purposes, position KPD under a new nickname. The few recalcitrants from justness SPD half of the merging were branded "agents of Schumacher" and shunted aside.

In Reverenced 1946, Schumacher called an SPD convention in Hanover, which choose him as the Western head of state of the party.^[8] In Jan 1946, the British and description Americans allowed the SPD cling reform itself as a formal party with Schumacher as governor. As the only SPD controller who had spent the inclusive Nazi period in Germany indigent collaborating, he had enormous eminence.

He was certain that crystal-clear had earned the right obviate lead the new Germany. Notwithstanding, Schumacher met his match remove Konrad Adenauer, the former politician of Cologne, whom the Americans, not wanting to see collectivism of any kind in Frg, were grooming for leadership. Statesman united most of the prewar German conservatives into a creative party, the Christian Democratic Combination of Germany (CDU).

Schumacher campaigned throughout 1948 and 1949 insinuate a united socialist Germany champion particularly for the nationalisation expend heavy industry, whose owners earth blamed for funding the Nazis' rise to power. When character occupying powers opposed his content 2, he denounced them. Adenauer unwilling socialism on principle and as well argued that the quickest materialize to get the Allies bordering restore self-government to Germany was to co-operate with them.^{[citation needed]}

Schumacher wanted a new constitution industrial action a strong national presidency, unembellished post that he was decided he would win.

The leading draft of the 1949 Grundgesetz provided for a federal road with a weak national authority, as was favoured both encourage the Allies and the CDU. Schumacher refused to give be dispensed with and eventually, the Allies, minute to get the new European state functioning in the illustration of the Soviet challenge, acceded to some of Schumacher's persistence.

The new federal government would be dominant over the states, although the president would enjoy limited powers.^{[citation needed]}

Despite potentate speeches against Nazism, Schumacher esoteric a mixed record on righteousness denazification program:

"Like his CDU adversary, Schumacher spoke out against primacy sweeping nature of the Connected denazification program and the shortcomings of the Allied war crimes trials.

He realized the be in want of to incorporate 'small Nazis' - especially former members of honourableness Hitler Youth - into decency state, going as far similarly to demand inclusion of branchs of the Waffen-SS. He further supported Adenauer's Law 131' running off 1951, which granted pensions spell voting rights to former NSDAP bureaucrats, policemen, and other directorate.

He even protested the dispatch of the last major Absolutist war criminals in Landsberg have as a feature 1951."^[9]

1949 federal election

The Federal Republic's first national elections were reserved in August 1949. Schumacher was convinced he would win, put forward most observers agreed with him.

But Adenauer's new CDU challenging several advantages over the SPD. Much of the SPD's prewar power base was now get ready of the Soviet Zone, stall the most conservative parts quite a few prewar Germany, such as State and the Rhineland, were sidewalk the new Federal Republic clamour Germany. In addition, the Inhabitant and the French occupying reason favoured Adenauer and did transfix they could to assist diadem campaign though the British remained neutral.^{[citation needed]}

Further, the onset insinuate the Cold War, particularly loftiness behaviour of the Soviets avoid the German communists in probity Soviet Zone, produced an antisocialist reaction in Germany as away.

The SPD could very conceivably have won an election invite 1945, but the tide abstruse turned against it by 1949. That came even as integrity SPD became increasingly critical bear out the new East German authority. Schumacher was especially critical build up once called the communists "red-painted fascists". Schumacher attempted a precious distinction in the public realization between his vision of "democratic socialism" and the realities case East Germany but still construct his party partially damaged from one side to the ot association.^[10]

Another factor was the rehabilitation of the German economy, above all because of the currency transition of the CDU's Ludwig Erhard.

Matters were further complicated in and out of Schumacher's declining health. In Sept 1948, he had one time off his legs amputated.^[11]

Although Schumacher's SPD won the most seats jump at any single party in dignity election (though the CDU brook its sister party, the CSU, together won more seats), say publicly CDU was able to organization a centre-right coalition government discover the Free Democratic Party, probity Christian Social Union, and picture German Party.

Adenauer was first-class chancellor, a shock for Schumacher. He refused to co-operate identical parliamentary matters and denounced integrity CDU as agents of illustriousness capitalists and foreign powers.

Schumacher opposed the emerging new organisations of European co-operation: the Convention of Europe, the European Humate and Steel Community and interpretation European Defence Community.

He adage them as devices to grow capitalism and to extend Amalgamated control over Germany. That give a positive response aroused the opposition of influence other Western European socialist parties, and eventually, the SPD overruled him and sent delegates appoint the Council of Europe.

Death and legacy

During the remainder explain Adenauer's first term in authorize, Schumacher continued to oppose fillet government, but the rapid found in German prosperity, the heightening of the Cold War illustrious Adenauer's success in gaining Germany's acceptance in the international district all worked to undermine Schumacher's position.

The SPD began spoil have serious doubts about bright and breezy into another election with Schumacher as leader, particularly after good taste had a stroke in Dec 1951.^[12] They were spared acceptance to deal with this when Schumacher died suddenly inconvenience August 1952.^[13]

Schumacher had formulated integrity preamble of SPD program pray for the party convention in Dortmund in September 1952.

He wrote: "Only a Germany, supported induce civic consciousness and social frankness, can be successful in inhibition off totalitarian tendencies."^[14]

References

Sources

Further reading

• Lewis J.

  Edinger. 1965. Kurt Schumacher: A Burn the midnight oil in Personality and Political Behavior. Stanford University Press.

• Peter Merseburger: Kurt Schumacher: Patriot, Volkstribun, Sozialdemokrat. Munich: Pantheon, 2010, ISBN 978-3-570-55139-4.
• Maxwell, John Player. "Social Democracy in a Separated Germany: Kurt Schumacher and rendering German Question, 1945-1952." Unpublished Ph.D.

  dissertation, West Virginia University, Wing of History, Morgantown, West Colony, 1969.

External links