Erwin Kramer
Encyclopedia
Erwin Kramer was a German
politician, East German Minister of transportation and General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany).
Kramer was born in Schneidemühl (West Prussia
) (today Piła, Poland
), where he grew up. After a traineeship at the Reichsbahnausbessungswerk Schneidemühl he studied electrical engineering and railroadsciences at the Technical University of Berlin
. He joined the Young Communist League of Germany
in 1919, the Red Student's Aide in 1924-27 and the Communist Party of Germany
in 1929. In 1930-32 Kramer worked as a workmaster for the Reichsbahn administration of Berlin
.
In 1932 Kramer emigrated to the Soviet Union
and worked at the "Central Research Institute of Transportation" in Moscow
. In 1937 he passed a course in "Military Tactics" at the Red Army
's military school at Tambov
and fought as a member of the XI. International Brigades
in the Spanish Civil War
.
In 1939 he was interned in a French
camp at Saint-Cyprien, Pyrénées-Orientales
and returned to the Soviet Union, where he worked for the German desk of Radio Moscow
. After the German attack on the Soviet Union
he, together with other German communist emigrants, was sent to Samara (Kuybyshev)
in October 1941.
After World War II
Kramer returned to the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany and joined the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
(SED) in 1946. He became the head of the machinery technical branch of the German Economic Commission
(Deutsche Wirtschaftskommission--DWK), the central economical administration of the Soviet Zone, and Deputy President of the Reichsbahn administration Berlin in 1946. In 1949 Kramer became the Deputy Director and in 1950 General Director of the Reichsbahn (until 1970), in 1953 Vice Minister of Transportation and 1954 Minister of Transportation (until 1970).
Kramer was a member of the Central Committee of the SED (1954-1970) and member of the Volkskammer
(1958-1979).
Kramer died in 1979 in Berlin.
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, East German Minister of transportation and General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany).
Kramer was born in Schneidemühl (West Prussia
West Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
) (today Piła, 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...
), where he grew up. After a traineeship at the Reichsbahnausbessungswerk Schneidemühl he studied electrical engineering and railroadsciences at the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
. He joined the Young Communist League of Germany
Young Communist League of Germany
The Young Communist League of Germany was a political youth organization in Germany. It was formed in 1920 from the Free Socialist Youth of the Communist Party of Germany, which itself was formed in October 1918, with support from the Spartacus League . The KJVD was created in 1925...
in 1919, the Red Student's Aide in 1924-27 and the 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...
in 1929. In 1930-32 Kramer worked as a workmaster for the Reichsbahn administration of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
In 1932 Kramer emigrated to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and worked at the "Central Research Institute of Transportation" 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 1937 he passed a course in "Military Tactics" at the 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...
's military school at Tambov
Tambov
Tambov is a city and the administrative center of Tambov Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Tsna and Studenets Rivers southeast of Moscow...
and fought as a member of the XI. International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
In 1939 he was interned in a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
camp at Saint-Cyprien, Pyrénées-Orientales
Saint-Cyprien, Pyrénées-Orientales
Saint-Cyprien is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...
and returned to the Soviet Union, where he worked for the German desk of Radio Moscow
Voice of Russia
Voice of Russia is the Russian government's international radio broadcasting service owned by the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company. Its predecessor Radio Moscow was the official international broadcasting station of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.-Early years:Radio Moscow...
. After the German attack on the Soviet Union
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
he, together with other German communist emigrants, was sent to Samara (Kuybyshev)
Samara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
in October 1941.
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...
Kramer returned to the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany and joined the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
(SED) in 1946. He became the head of the machinery technical branch of the German Economic Commission
German Economic Commission
The German Economic Commission was the top administrative body in the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany prior to the creation of the German Democratic Republic ....
(Deutsche Wirtschaftskommission--DWK), the central economical administration of the Soviet Zone, and Deputy President of the Reichsbahn administration Berlin in 1946. In 1949 Kramer became the Deputy Director and in 1950 General Director of the Reichsbahn (until 1970), in 1953 Vice Minister of Transportation and 1954 Minister of Transportation (until 1970).
Kramer was a member of the Central Committee of the SED (1954-1970) and member of the Volkskammer
Volkskammer
The People's Chamber was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic . From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on 18 March 1990, all members of the Volkskammer were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , called the National Front...
(1958-1979).
Kramer died in 1979 in Berlin.