Franz Vogt
Encyclopedia
Franz Vogt was a German trade unionist, Social Democrat
and member of the German resistance
against the National Socialist regime.
in Bochum
and secretary of the economic-political department of the Bergbauindustriearbeiterverbandes ("Mining Industry Workers' Union"). In 1932, he served in the Prussia
n diet as a representative from the Social Democratic Party
(SPD). As an active member of the SPD and the head of the Reichsbanner, Vogt was on the front lines of the frequent confrontations with the growing Nazi movement. After the Machtergreifung
of the Nazis, Vogt and his family moved to Saarland, which was then not in the German Reich
. However, shortly thereafter, Saarland became reintegrated into the German Reich, causing Vogt to again move, this time to the Netherlands
.
In Amsterdam
, he was a member of the German exile group, the Freie Presse ("Free Press"). In Paris
, he helped establish the 'Arbeitsausschuss freigewerkschaftlicher Bergarbeiter Deutschland ("Working Committee of the Mine Workers of Germany") and became the secretary of this organization. In Amsterdam, he published the Bergarbeiter-Mitteilungen ("Mine Workers' Newsletter") and Bergarbeiter-Zeitung ("Mine Workers' Newspaper"). He was a member of the executive committee of the Miners' International Federation (MIF) in 1938.
History of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany had its beginnings in the 1860s, and became the biggest party of the world around 1900. In the 1920s it delivered for the first time the head of state and heads of government, but was prohibited in Germany from 1933 to 1945. The party did not exist in East...
and member of the German resistance
German Resistance
The German resistance was the opposition by individuals and groups in Germany to Adolf Hitler or the National Socialist regime between 1933 and 1945. Some of these engaged in active plans to remove Adolf Hitler from power and overthrow his regime...
against the National Socialist regime.
Life
Vogt was the chairman of the Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-GoldReichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold
The Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold was a Social Democratic paramilitary force formed during the Weimar Republic in 1924....
in Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
and secretary of the economic-political department of the Bergbauindustriearbeiterverbandes ("Mining Industry Workers' Union"). In 1932, he served in the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n diet as a representative from the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD). As an active member of the SPD and the head of the Reichsbanner, Vogt was on the front lines of the frequent confrontations with the growing Nazi movement. After the Machtergreifung
Machtergreifung
Machtergreifung is a German word meaning "seizure of power". It is normally used specifically to refer to the Nazi takeover of power in the democratic Weimar Republic on 30 January 1933, the day Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany, turning it into the Nazi German dictatorship.-Term:The...
of the Nazis, Vogt and his family moved to Saarland, which was then not in the German Reich
Reich
Reich is a German word cognate with the English rich, but also used to designate an empire, realm, or nation. The qualitative connotation from the German is " sovereign state." It is the word traditionally used for a variety of sovereign entities, including Germany in many periods of its history...
. However, shortly thereafter, Saarland became reintegrated into the German Reich, causing Vogt to again move, this time to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
In Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, he was a member of the German exile group, the Freie Presse ("Free Press"). In Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he helped establish the 'Arbeitsausschuss freigewerkschaftlicher Bergarbeiter Deutschland ("Working Committee of the Mine Workers of Germany") and became the secretary of this organization. In Amsterdam, he published the Bergarbeiter-Mitteilungen ("Mine Workers' Newsletter") and Bergarbeiter-Zeitung ("Mine Workers' Newspaper"). He was a member of the executive committee of the Miners' International Federation (MIF) in 1938.
Legacy
The city of Bochum decided in 1983 to name a street in his honor, Franz-Vogt-Straße, near where Vogt and his family once lived.Further reading
- Detlev J. K. Peukert, Frank Bajohr: Spuren des Widerstands. Die Bergarbeiterbewegung im Dritten Reich und im Exil. Mit Dokumenten aus dem IISG Amsterdam, Munich 1987
External links
- Franz Vogt Papers (PDF) List of Vogt's personal documents. March 21, 2010 and