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{{Short description|German writer (1901–1964)}}
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[[Image:Stamp Willi Bredel.jpg|thumb|right|[[East Germany|East German]] stamp from 1971 depicting Willi Bredel]]
{{expand German|topic=bio|date=October 2022|Willi Bredel}}
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'''Willi Bredel''' ([[May 2]], [[1901]] – [[October 27]], [[1964]]) was a [[Germany|German]] writer and president of the [[Akademie der Künste]]. Born in [[Hamburg]], he was a pioneer of [[socialist realist]] literature.
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Willi Bredel
| image = File:Willi Bredel am 5.1.51 in Ostberlin Bundesarchiv Bild 183-09175-0004, Berlin, neue Buchserie, Bredel, Herzfelde (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Willi Bredel in 1951
| office1 = President of the [[Academy of Arts, Berlin|Academy of Arts of the German Democratic Republic]]
| term_start1 = 1962
| term_end1 = 1964
| predecessor1 = [[Otto Nagel]]
| successor1 = [[Konrad Wolf]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1901|05|02}}
| birth_place = [[Hamburg]], [[German Empire]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1964|10|27|1901|05|02}}
| death_place = [[East Berlin]], [[East Germany]]
| resting_place = [[Friedrichsfelde Central Cemetery]]
| occupation =
| party = [[Socialist Unity Party of Germany]] (1946–) <br> [[Communist Party of Germany]] (1919–1946) <br> [[Spartakusbund]] (1917–1919)
| alma_mater =
| awards = [[Patriotic Order of Merit]], in Gold (1961) <br> [[Banner of Labour]] (1960) <br> [[Hans Beimler Medal]] (1956) <br> Patriotic Order of Merit, in Silver (1955)
| allegiance = [[Soviet Union]] (1941–1945) <br> [[Spanish Republic]] (1937–1938)
| branch = [[Spanish Republican Army|People's Army of the Republic]] (1937–1938)
| unit = {{Tree list}}
* [[International Brigades]] (1937–1938)
** [[XI International Brigade]]
*** [[Thälmann Battalion]]
{{Tree list/end}}
| rank =
| battles = [[Second World War]] <br> [[Spanish Civil War]] <br> [[Hamburg Uprising]]
| signature = Unterschrift von Willi Bredel.jpg
}}


⚫
'''Willi Bredel''' (2 May 1901 &ndash; 27 October 1964) was a German writer and president of the [[East Germany|East German]] [[Academy of Arts, Berlin]]. Born in [[Hamburg]], he was a pioneer of [[socialist realist]] literature.
Soon after the [[Machtergreifung|Nazis seized power]] in 1933, Bredel was imprisoned at [[KZ Fuhlsbüttel]], a concentration camp. After fleeing from [[Nazi Germany]] to [[Czechoslovakia]] and [[Moscow]], he published ''Die Prüfung'' (1934), a novel describing the [[Nazi concentration camp]] which was read in many languages.


==Life and career==
⚫
Bredel took part in the [[Spanish Civil War]] as [[commissar]] of the [[Thälmann Battalion]]<ref name="PAGE31">[http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-927626-9.pdf Antifascism and Memory in East Germany - Remembering the International Brigades 1945-1989] - McLellan, Josie; Oxford Historical Monographs, Page 31</ref> as well as the [[Second World War]], in which he fought on the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] side. After the war he lived in [[East Germany]]. He died in [[Berlin]].
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[[File:Stamp Willi Bredel.jpg|thumb|left|Postage stamp of Bredel]]
Born into the family of a cigar maker, after graduating from primary school he became a metal worker. From 1916 to 1917 he was a member of the {{ill|Socialist Worker Youth|de|Sozialistische Arbeiter-Jugend}}, from 1917 to 1920 of the [[Spartacus League|Spartakusbund]] and from 1919 of the [[Communist Party of Germany]]. In 1923 he took part in the [[Hamburg Uprising]] and was sentenced to two years in prison. After his amnesty in 1925, he worked as a lathe operator in the [[Kampnagel]] factory while being the editor of various communist news outlets. Due to "Preparing literary treason and high treason", he was in 1930 sentence to two years imprisonment. He wrote his first novels while in custody.<ref>{{Cite web|title=История немецкой литературы. Вилли Бредель (Willi Bredel, 1901—1964)|url=http://19v-euro-lit.niv.ru/19v-euro-lit/istoriya-nemeckoj-literatury/villi-bredel.htm|access-date=2021-03-16|website=19v-euro-lit.niv.ru}}</ref>


Soon after the [[Machtergreifung|Nazis seized power]] in 1933, Bredel was imprisoned at [[Fuhlsbüttel concentration camp]]. He was released in spring 1934.<ref name="kz-243">Klaus Drobisch, Günther Wieland, [https://books.google.com/books?id=1tDbMzywB4cC&pg=PA243 ''System der NS-Konzentrationslager: 1933-1939''] Akademie Verlag (1993), pp.&nbsp;243–244. {{ISBN|3-05-000823-7}}. Retrieved December 21, 2011 {{in lang|de}}</ref> Fleeing from [[Nazi Germany]], he went to [[Czechoslovakia]] and then [[Moscow]], where he lived at the [[Hotel Lux]]. He published ''Die Prüfung'' (1934), a novel describing the [[Nazi concentration camp]], which was reprinted several times and translated into other languages.<ref name="kz-243" /> He also published accounts of his experiences in the ''[[Deutsche Zentral Zeitung]]'',<ref name="kz-243" /> a German-language newspaper published in Moscow.
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==Selected Works==

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* Die Prüfung
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Bredel took part in the [[Spanish Civil War]] as [[commissar]] of the [[Thälmann Battalion]]<ref name="PAGE31">[http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-927626-9.pdf Antifascism and Memory in East Germany - Remembering the International Brigades 1945-1989] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726005834/http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-927626-9.pdf |date=2011-07-26 }} - McLellan, Josie; Oxford Historical Monographs, Page 31</ref> as well as the [[Second World War]], in which he fought on the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] side.
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* The Death of General Moreau and other stories

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* "Verwandte und Bekannte" Trilogy
His propaganda material, along with those of [[Walter Ulbricht]] and [[Erich Weinert]] was used in an attempt to lure the [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|6th Army]] into surrendering at the [[Battle of Stalingrad]].<ref name=Adam>{{Cite book |last=Adam |first=Wilhelm |first2=Otto |last2=Ruhle |translator=Tony Le Tissier |title=With Paulus at Stalingrad |publisher=[[Pen and Sword Books]] |year=2015 |isbn=9781473833869 |page=178}}</ref>

After the war, he returned to Germany as part of the [[Ulbricht Group#Regional groups|Sobottka Group]],<ref name="barch-list">[https://www.bundesarchiv.de/oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/bilder_dokumente/00767/index-4.html.de "Namensliste der drei KPD-Einsatzgruppen vom 27. April 1945"] German Federal Archives. BArch NY 4036/517. Retrieved November 22, 2011 {{in lang|de}}</ref> sent to lay the groundwork for the Soviet occupation of [[Mecklenburg]]. He later lived in [[East Germany]] and died in [[East Berlin]].

==Awards and decorations==
* 1955 [[Patriotic Order of Merit]] in silver
* 1956 [[Hans Beimler Medal]]
* 1960 [[Banner of Labor]]
* 1961 [[Patriotic Order of Merit]] in gold
* 1964 Burial at the Memorial of the Socialists ([[Friedrichsfelde Central Cemetery]])

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==Selected works==
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* ''Die Prüfung''
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* ''The Death of General Moreau and other stories''
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* ''Verwandte und Bekannte'' Trilogy

== See also ==
* [[List of German veterans of the International Brigades]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 15: Line 65:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.bredelgesellschaft.de/ Willi Bredel Gesellschaft] {{de icon}}
* [http://www.bredelgesellschaft.de/ Willi Bredel Gesellschaft] Official website {{in lang|de}}
{{commons}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bredel, Willi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bredel, Willi}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Hamburg]]
[[Category:Writers from Hamburg]]
[[Category:Politicians of the Communist Party of Germany]]
[[Category:Communist Party of Germany politicians]]
[[Category:SED members]]
[[Category:Socialist Unity Party of Germany politicians]]
[[Category:German novelists]]
[[Category:Members of the Provisional Volkskammer]]
[[Category:Cultural Association of the GDR members]]
[[Category:East German writers]]
[[Category:20th-century German novelists]]
[[Category:German Anti-Francoists]]
[[Category:German male novelists]]
[[Category:Refugees from Nazi Germany in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:International Brigades personnel]]
[[Category:German people of the Spanish Civil War]]
[[Category:German people of the Spanish Civil War]]
[[Category:German people of World War II]]
[[Category:German people of World War II]]
[[Category:Refugees from Nazi Germany in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Nazi concentration camp survivors]]
[[Category:National Committee for a Free Germany members]]

[[Category:Recipients of the National Prize of East Germany]]
[[de:Willi Bredel]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit in gold]]
[[es:Willi Bredel]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Banner of Labor]]
[[it:Willi Bredel]]
[[Category:Communist writers]]
[[no:Willi Bredel]]
[[Category:Socialist realism writers]]
[[pl:Willi Bredel]]
[[uk:Бредель Віллі]]

Latest revision as of 22:31, 28 May 2024

Willi Bredel
Willi Bredel in 1951
President of the Academy of Arts of the German Democratic Republic
In office
1962–1964
Preceded byOtto Nagel
Succeeded byKonrad Wolf
Personal details
Born(1901-05-02)May 2, 1901
Hamburg, German Empire
DiedOctober 27, 1964(1964-10-27) (aged 63)
East Berlin, East Germany
Resting placeFriedrichsfelde Central Cemetery
Political partySocialist Unity Party of Germany (1946–)
Communist Party of Germany (1919–1946)
Spartakusbund (1917–1919)
AwardsPatriotic Order of Merit, in Gold (1961)
Banner of Labour (1960)
Hans Beimler Medal (1956)
Patriotic Order of Merit, in Silver (1955)
Signature
Military service
AllegianceSoviet Union (1941–1945)
Spanish Republic (1937–1938)
Branch/servicePeople's Army of the Republic (1937–1938)
Unit
Battles/warsSecond World War
Spanish Civil War
Hamburg Uprising

Willi Bredel (2 May 1901 – 27 October 1964) was a German writer and president of the East German Academy of Arts, Berlin. Born in Hamburg, he was a pioneer of socialist realist literature.

Life and career

[edit]
Postage stamp of Bredel

Born into the family of a cigar maker, after graduating from primary school he became a metal worker. From 1916 to 1917 he was a member of the Socialist Worker Youth [de], from 1917 to 1920 of the Spartakusbund and from 1919 of the Communist Party of Germany. In 1923 he took part in the Hamburg Uprising and was sentenced to two years in prison. After his amnesty in 1925, he worked as a lathe operator in the Kampnagel factory while being the editor of various communist news outlets. Due to "Preparing literary treason and high treason", he was in 1930 sentence to two years imprisonment. He wrote his first novels while in custody.[1]

Soon after the Nazis seized power in 1933, Bredel was imprisoned at Fuhlsbüttel concentration camp. He was released in spring 1934.[2] Fleeing from Nazi Germany, he went to Czechoslovakia and then Moscow, where he lived at the Hotel Lux. He published Die Prüfung (1934), a novel describing the Nazi concentration camp, which was reprinted several times and translated into other languages.[2] He also published accounts of his experiences in the Deutsche Zentral Zeitung,[2] a German-language newspaper published in Moscow.

Bredel took part in the Spanish Civil War as commissar of the Thälmann Battalion[3] as well as the Second World War, in which he fought on the Soviet side.

His propaganda material, along with those of Walter Ulbricht and Erich Weinert was used in an attempt to lure the 6th Army into surrendering at the Battle of Stalingrad.[4]

After the war, he returned to Germany as part of the Sobottka Group,[5] sent to lay the groundwork for the Soviet occupation of Mecklenburg. He later lived in East Germany and died in East Berlin.

Awards and decorations

[edit]

Selected works

[edit]
  • Die Prüfung
  • The Death of General Moreau and other stories
  • Verwandte und Bekannte Trilogy

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "История немецкой литературы. Вилли Бредель (Willi Bredel, 1901—1964)". 19v-euro-lit.niv.ru. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  2. ^ a b c Klaus Drobisch, Günther Wieland, System der NS-Konzentrationslager: 1933-1939 Akademie Verlag (1993), pp. 243–244. ISBN 3-05-000823-7. Retrieved December 21, 2011 (in German)
  3. ^ Antifascism and Memory in East Germany - Remembering the International Brigades 1945-1989 Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine - McLellan, Josie; Oxford Historical Monographs, Page 31
  4. ^ Adam, Wilhelm; Ruhle, Otto (2015). With Paulus at Stalingrad. Translated by Tony Le Tissier. Pen and Sword Books. p. 178. ISBN 9781473833869.
  5. ^ "Namensliste der drei KPD-Einsatzgruppen vom 27. April 1945" German Federal Archives. BArch NY 4036/517. Retrieved November 22, 2011 (in German)
[edit]
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