Wilhelm Pieck
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Wilhelm Reinhold Pieck (ˈvɪlhɛlm ˈpiːk; 3 January 1876 – 7 September 1960) was a German
politician and a Communist. In 1949, he became the first President of the German Democratic Republic, an office abolished upon his death. He was succeeded by Walter Ulbricht
, who served as Chairman of the Council of States
.
, Germany
, which is now Gubin and part of Poland
. While he initially went to school to become a carpenter, the combination of world events, determined ideology, and political ambition led Pieck to a life of political activism.
As a carpenter, in 1894 Pieck joined the wood-workers' federation, which steered him towards joining the Social Democratic Party of Germany
(SPD) the following year. Pieck became the chairman of the party urban district in 1899, and in 1906 became full-time secretary of the SPD. Although the majority of the SPD supported the German government in World War I
, Pieck was a member of the party's left wing, which opposed the war. Pieck's openness in doing so led to his arrest and placement in a military prison. After being released, Pieck briefly lived in exile in Amsterdam
. Upon his return to Berlin in 1918, Pieck joined the newly-founded Communist Party of Germany
(KPD). In 1922, he became a founding member of the International Red Aid
, serving first on the executive committee. In May 1925, he became the chairman of the Rote Hilfe
.
Following the Nazi Party's takeover in 1933, Pieck went into exile again, first in France, then in Moscow
in 1935. In Moscow
, Pieck served the Communist Party in a variety of capacities. From 1938 until 1943, he filled the position of General Secretary of the Communist International. In 1943 Pieck was among the founders of the National Committee for a Free Germany
(NKFD). The NKFD planned for the future of Germany after World War II
. At the conclusion of the war in 1945 Pieck returned to Germany with the victorious Red Army
.
In 1949 Pieck was elected President of the newly-established German Democratic Republic
(GDR). Pieck served as the only president of the GDR until his death in 1960. Pieck maintained his posts in politics due to Joseph Stalin
's trust in him.
Pieck lived in Majakowskiring
29, Pankow
, East Berlin
. His daughter, Elly Winter
(1898–1987), held various posts in the SED and East German government.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
politician and a Communist. In 1949, he became the first President of the German Democratic Republic, an office abolished upon his death. He was succeeded by Walter Ulbricht
Walter Ulbricht
Walter Ulbricht was a German communist politician. As First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1950 to 1971 , he played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany and later in the early development and...
, who served as Chairman of the Council of States
Staatsrat
In the German Democratic Republic , the State Council was the collective head of state from 1960 to 1990.-Origins:...
.
Biography
Pieck was born to a coachman in the eastern part of GubenGuben
Guben is a town on the Lusatian Neisse river in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. Located in the Spree-Neiße district, Guben has a population of 20,049...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, which is now Gubin and part of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. While he initially went to school to become a carpenter, the combination of world events, determined ideology, and political ambition led Pieck to a life of political activism.
As a carpenter, in 1894 Pieck joined the wood-workers' federation, which steered him towards joining the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD) the following year. Pieck became the chairman of the party urban district in 1899, and in 1906 became full-time secretary of the SPD. Although the majority of the SPD supported the German government in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Pieck was a member of the party's left wing, which opposed the war. Pieck's openness in doing so led to his arrest and placement in a military prison. After being released, Pieck briefly lived in exile 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...
. Upon his return to Berlin in 1918, Pieck joined the newly-founded 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...
(KPD). In 1922, he became a founding member of the International Red Aid
International Red Aid
International Red Aid was an international social service organization established by the Communist International...
, serving first on the executive committee. In May 1925, he became the chairman of the Rote Hilfe
Rote Hilfe
The Rote Hilfe was the German affiliate of the International Red Aid. The Rote Hilfe was affiliated with the Communist Party of Germany and existed between 1924 and 1936.- Origin :...
.
Following the Nazi Party's takeover in 1933, Pieck went into exile again, first in France, then 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...
in 1935. 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...
, Pieck served the Communist Party in a variety of capacities. From 1938 until 1943, he filled the position of General Secretary of the Communist International. In 1943 Pieck was among the founders of the 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). The NKFD planned for the future of Germany 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...
. At the conclusion of the war in 1945 Pieck returned to Germany with the victorious Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
.
In 1949 Pieck was elected President of the newly-established German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(GDR). Pieck served as the only president of the GDR until his death in 1960. Pieck maintained his posts in politics due to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's trust in him.
Pieck lived in Majakowskiring
Majakowskiring
The Majakowskiring is an ellipse-shaped street in the Pankow district of Berlin, Germany, in the Niederschönhausen locality...
29, Pankow
Pankow
Pankow is the third borough of Berlin. In Berlin's 2001 administrative reform it was merged with the former boroughs of Prenzlauer Berg and Weißensee; the resulting borough retained the name Pankow.- Overview :...
, East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
. His daughter, Elly Winter
Elly Winter
Elly Winter was a German communist and notable political activist. The eldest daughter of East German president Wilhelm Pieck, Elly Winter was a longtime activist in the anti-fascist movement and was a well-recognized member of the Socialist Unity Party in East Germany after the Allied triumph...
(1898–1987), held various posts in the SED and East German government.