Anton Ackermann
Encyclopedia
Anton Ackermann was an East German politician. In 1953, he briefly served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
From 1920 to 1928, he worked as functionary of the Communist Youth Movement of Germany. In 1926 he joined the Communist Party of Germany
. He studied at the Lenin School in Moscow
. Back in Germany, the Communist Party was expelled after the Nazi
s seized power in 1933. Ackermann continued working for the illegal Communist Party.
From 1935 to 1937 he lived in Prague
. During the Spanish Civil War
, Ackermann was the leader of the Political School of the International Brigades
. After staying a shortwhile, he went to Moscow
and became editor of the German language newspaper "The Free Word".
In 1943 he became an active member of the Moscow based National Committee for a Free Germany
(NKFD).
After World War II
, he returned to Germany as head of the Ackermann Group, the groups sent by the Communist Party to lay the groundwork for the Soviet Military Administration in Germany
in Saxony
. He joined the East German Communist party, the Socialist Unity Party
(SED). He was elected into the Central Committee and became a candidate member of the Politburo
in 1949. From 1950 to 1954, he was a member of the People's Chamber.
From 1949 to 1953, he was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the arrest of the minister, Georg Dertinger
, Ackermann served briefly as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In 1953-1954, he was expelled from the Politburo and fired as minister because of "party-hostile activity."
In 1956 he was rehabiltated and worked for the State Planning Bureau.
In 1970 he was rewarded with the Patriotic Service Medal. In 1973 he committed suicide.
From 1920 to 1928, he worked as functionary of the Communist Youth Movement of Germany. In 1926 he joined the Communist Party of Germany
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
. He studied at the Lenin School in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Back in Germany, the Communist Party was expelled after the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
s seized power in 1933. Ackermann continued working for the illegal Communist Party.
From 1935 to 1937 he lived in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, Ackermann was the leader of the Political School of the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
. After staying a shortwhile, he went to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and became editor of the German language newspaper "The Free Word".
In 1943 he became an active member of the Moscow based National Committee for a Free Germany
National Committee for a Free Germany
The National Committee for a Free Germany was a German anti-Nazi organization that operated in the Soviet Union during World War II.- History :...
(NKFD).
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he returned to Germany as head of the Ackermann Group, the groups sent by the Communist Party to lay the groundwork for the Soviet Military Administration in Germany
Soviet Military Administration in Germany
The Soviet Military Administration in Germany was the Soviet military government, headquartered in Berlin-Karlshorst, that directly ruled the Soviet occupation zone of Germany from the German surrender in May 1945 until after the establishment of the German Democratic Republic in October...
in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. He joined the East German Communist party, the Socialist Unity Party
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
(SED). He was elected into the Central Committee and became a candidate member of the Politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
in 1949. From 1950 to 1954, he was a member of the People's Chamber.
From 1949 to 1953, he was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the arrest of the minister, Georg Dertinger
Georg Dertinger
Georg Dertinger was a German politician from the German Democratic Republic .He was born in Berlin into a middle-class Protestant family. Dertinger briefly studied law and economics. After his study he became a journalist and later editor for the Magdeburger Volkszeitung and the nationalistic...
, Ackermann served briefly as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In 1953-1954, he was expelled from the Politburo and fired as minister because of "party-hostile activity."
In 1956 he was rehabiltated and worked for the State Planning Bureau.
In 1970 he was rewarded with the Patriotic Service Medal. In 1973 he committed suicide.