Walter Ulbricht

German Democratic Republic (former East Germany) politician. Born in Leipzig. Joined the Social Democratic Party in 1912, and the Communist Party of Germany in 1919. Became a full-time member of the local organization in 1921, and was called to the central party in 1923 to serve in the Organization Bureau and Military Committee. From 1924 to 1927, he traveled to Moscow several times to receive training at the Comintern Organization Bureau. In 1928, he became a member of the Imperial Diet. In 1933, he went into exile, and until 1938, he was secretary of the Communist Party's overseas leadership in Paris. In 1938, he moved to Moscow, and during World War II, he was involved in educating German prisoners of war and in military administration in Soviet-occupied territories, and in 1943, he participated in the founding of the National Committee for a Free Germany. In 1945, he returned to Berlin, organized the city government, and led the reconstruction of the Communist Party.

In 1946, he joined the top leadership of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED, which later became the Democratic Socialist Party of the Federal Republic of Germany) that merged with the Social Democratic Party of the East German region, and served as Secretary General from 1950 to 1953, First Secretary from 1953 to 1971, Vice Chancellor of the former East Germany from 1949 to 1960, and Chairman of the State Council (head of state) from 1960 to 1971. In May 1971, he resigned from his key position for health reasons. The Ulbricht regime was based on domestic political control and pro-Soviet policies, and trained young technocrats and achieved success in improving the country's economic standard. The rapid rapprochement between the Soviet Union and West Germany in 1970 was apparently carried out over East Germany's head, which is said to have been the deciding factor in his retirement.

[Nakagawara Tokuhito]

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。ライプツィヒ生まれ。1912年社会民主党に入り、1919年ドイツ共産党に参加。1921年地方組織の専従員、1923年中央へよばれて組織局と軍事委員会に所属した。1924～1927年たびたびモスクワへ行きコミンテルン組織局で訓練を受ける。1928年帝国議会議員。1933年に亡命、1938年までパリにおいて共産党の国外指導部書記。1938年モスクワへ移り、第二次世界大戦中はドイツ人捕虜への教育宣伝、ソ連軍占領地の軍政に携わり、1943年自由ドイツ国民委員会の創設に参加。1945年ベルリンへ帰還して市政を組織し、共産党再建を指導した。

　1946年、東ドイツ地域の社会民主党との合同になるドイツ社会主義統一党（SED。後、ドイツ連邦共和国の民主社会党となる）の最高指導部に入り、1950～1953年書記長、1953～1971年第一書記、1949～1960年旧東ドイツ副首相、1960～1971年国家評議会議長（元首）。1971年5月健康上の理由で要職を辞任した。ウルブリヒト体制は国内の政治統制と親ソ政策を基本に、若いテクノクラートを養成し、経済水準の向上に成果を収めた。1970年ソ連と西ドイツの急速な接近は東ドイツの頭越しに行われたらしく、彼の引退を決定づけたといわれる。

［中川原徳仁］

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