Wilhelm Pieck

Politician of the German Democratic Republic (formerly East Germany). Born in Guben, Brandenburg, the son of a worker. Initially apprenticed to a cabinet maker. Secretary of the Social Democratic Party in Bremen in 1895, member of the Bremen city council from 1906 to 1910. Joined the Spartacist League during World War I, and deserted to the Netherlands while serving in the military in 1918. Arrested during the January Uprising in 1919, but released. At the founding of the Communist Party in the same year, he was a member of the Central Executive Committee. Member of the Prussian State Parliament from 1921 to 1928, and member of the National Diet from 1928 to 1933. Member of the Comintern Executive Committee from 1928. Fleeing to France in 1933, and later to the Soviet Union. He returned to Germany in 1945 and served as leader of the Communist Party in the Soviet-occupied territories from 1945 to 1946, chairman of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (later the Democratic Socialist Party of the Federal Republic of Germany) together with Grotewall from 1946 to 1954, and Chairman of the State Council (head of state) from 1949 to 1960.

[Nakagawara Tokuhito]

"Historical Shift to the United Front" translated by Hiroshi Bando (Otsuki Shoten, National Library)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ドイツ民主共和国（旧東ドイツ）の政治家。ブランデンブルクのグーベンで労働者の子に生まれる。初めは家具職人の徒弟。1895年ブレーメンの社会民主党書記、1906～1910年ブレーメン市会議員。第一次世界大戦時にスパルタクス団に参加、1918年兵役中にオランダへ脱走。1919年の一月蜂起(ほうき)の際に逮捕されたが釈放。同年共産党の創立では中央執行委員。1921～1928年プロイセン州議会議員、1928～1933年国会議員。1928年よりコミンテルン執行委員。1933年フランスへ、のちソ連へ亡命。1945年帰国し、1945～1946年ソ連占領地区共産党の党首、1946～1954年グロテウォールとともにドイツ社会主義統一党（SED。のちのドイツ連邦共和国民主社会党）の議長、1949～1960年国家評議会議長（元首）を務めた。

［中川原徳仁］

『阪東宏訳『統一戦線への歴史的転換』（大月書店・国民文庫）』

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