Friedrich Westmeyer
Encyclopedia
Friedrich "Fritz" Westmeyer (14 January 1873 - 14 November 1917) was a German
trade unionist and socialist politician. He stands out as one of the more radical members of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
(SPD) in imperial Germany.
in 1873. Westmeyer's father, a bricklayer
, died during his childhood. Educated at Osnabrück schools, Westmeyer worked as a chimney sweep
and became a trade unionist and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
(SPD) in the 1890s.
Westmeyer began working for the SPD press in Nuremberg
in 1896. He relocated to Hannover to work for the Volkswill in 1902, and attended the International Socialist Congress in Amsterdam
in 1904. He was arrested for his work on the Volkswill and received a three-month prison sentence for blasphemy
in 1905. Westmeyer spent the subsequent years as an activist and organizer in Stuttgart
, where he became a close ally of Clara Zetkin
, an influential Marxist who would become a leading member of the Spartacist League
, the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany
(USPD), and the Communist Party of Germany
(KPD) after the collapse of the German Empire
in the First World War. He ran as a candidate for the Reichstag
in 1907, was elected to lead the Social Democratic Association in Stuttgart
in 1908-1914, and edited the Schwäbische Tagwacht. He was elected to serve as a member of the Württemberg
Landtag
in 1912-1917.
Westmeyer joined Zetkin, August Thalheimer
, and others of the so-called "left-wing" of the SPD in taking an anti-war line during World War I and opposed the SPD leadership's support of the Kaiser's war. Westmeyer's radicalism during the war led to his expulsion from the Social Democratic faction of Württemberg's Landtag in 1915, and he joined Franz Engelhardt and Ferdinand Hoschka in establishing the Sozialistische Vereinigung, a rival legislative faction.
Arrested by the authorities along with other significant Württemberg SPD radicals, Westmeyer was forcibly mobilized into imperial Germany's wartime army
and sent to carry out his service on the Western Front
despite his age and opposition to the war. He died at a military hospital near the front in Rethel, France
, in 1917.
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...
trade unionist and socialist politician. He stands out as one of the more radical members of 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) in imperial Germany.
Biography
The second youngest of five children, Westmeyer was born in OsnabrückOsnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
in 1873. Westmeyer's father, a bricklayer
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
, died during his childhood. Educated at Osnabrück schools, Westmeyer worked as a chimney sweep
Chimney sweep
A chimney sweep is a worker who clears ash and soot from chimneys. The chimney uses the pressure difference caused by a hot column of gas to create a draught and draw air over the hot coals or wood enabling continued combustion. Chimneys may be straight or contain many changes of direction. During...
and became a trade unionist and member of 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) in the 1890s.
Westmeyer began working for the SPD press in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
in 1896. He relocated to Hannover to work for the Volkswill in 1902, and attended the International Socialist Congress 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...
in 1904. He was arrested for his work on the Volkswill and received a three-month prison sentence for blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
in 1905. Westmeyer spent the subsequent years as an activist and organizer in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, where he became a close ally of Clara Zetkin
Clara Zetkin
Clara Zetkin was a German Marxist theorist, activist, and fighter for women's rights. In 1910, she organized the first International Women's Day....
, an influential Marxist who would become a leading member of the Spartacist League
Spartacist League
The Spartacus League was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany during World War I. The League was named after Spartacus, leader of the largest slave rebellion of the Roman Republic...
, the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany
Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany was a short-lived political party in Germany during the Second Reich and the Weimar Republic. The organization was established in 1917 as the result of a split of left wing members of the Social Democratic Party of Germany...
(USPD), 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...
(KPD) after the collapse of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in the First World War. He ran as a candidate for the Reichstag
Reichstag (German Empire)
The Reichstag was the parliament of the North German Confederation , and of the German Reich ....
in 1907, was elected to lead the Social Democratic Association in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
in 1908-1914, and edited the Schwäbische Tagwacht. He was elected to serve as a member of the Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
Landtag
Landtag
A Landtag is a representative assembly or parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority.- Name :...
in 1912-1917.
Westmeyer joined Zetkin, August Thalheimer
August Thalheimer
August Thalheimer was a German Marxist activist and theoretician.-Early years:August Thalheimer was born 18 March 1884 in Affaltrach, now called Obersulm, Württemberg, Germany.-Political career:...
, and others of the so-called "left-wing" of the SPD in taking an anti-war line during World War I and opposed the SPD leadership's support of the Kaiser's war. Westmeyer's radicalism during the war led to his expulsion from the Social Democratic faction of Württemberg's Landtag in 1915, and he joined Franz Engelhardt and Ferdinand Hoschka in establishing the Sozialistische Vereinigung, a rival legislative faction.
Arrested by the authorities along with other significant Württemberg SPD radicals, Westmeyer was forcibly mobilized into imperial Germany's wartime army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
and sent to carry out his service on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
despite his age and opposition to the war. He died at a military hospital near the front in Rethel, France
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...
, in 1917.
External links
- Friedrich Westmeyer Dies; German Anti-War Socialist Was Sent to the Front as Punishment". A wartime obituaryObituaryAn obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
from the New York Times (25 December 1917).