Lothar Bolz
Encyclopedia
Lothar Bolz was an East German politician. From 1953 to 1965 he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of East Germany
(GDR).
Lothar Bolz was born in Gleiwitz. From 1921 to 1925 he studied law, art history and literature history at the University of Munich. After his study he worked as a lawyer and in 1930 he joined the Communist Party of Germany
.
After the Nazis
seized power in 1933 he was forced to quit as a lawyer: Bolz went to Moscow
, finding work as a teacher at the Marx-Engels Institute. From 1941 to 1945 he was headteacher of the so-called Antifascist School, where German POWs were taught to become antifascists.
In 1947 he returned to Germany
and joined the East German Socialist Unity Party
, but in 1948 he founded the Communist sponsored National Democratic Party of Germany
(NDPD). Many members of the NDPD were former Nazis and former Wehrmacht
officers. From 1948 to 1972 he was the chairman of the NDPD.
In 1949 he became a member of the People's Chamber (Parliament) and from 1949 to 1953 he was Minister of Reconstruction. From 1950 to 1967 he was one of the Deputy Prime Ministers of the GDR.
In 1953 he was the successor of Foreign Minister Anton Ackermann
. He stayed Foreign Minister until 1965.
From 1950 to his death he was a member of the Presidium of the National Front
.
He also acted as the chairman of Society for German-Soviet Friendship
from 1968 to 1978.
Foreign Minister of Germany
The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs is the head of the Federal Foreign Office and a member of the Cabinet of Germany. The current office holder is Guido Westerwelle...
(GDR).
Lothar Bolz was born in Gleiwitz. From 1921 to 1925 he studied law, art history and literature history at the University of Munich. After his study he worked as a lawyer and in 1930 he joined 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...
.
After the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
seized power in 1933 he was forced to quit as a lawyer: Bolz went to 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...
, finding work as a teacher at the Marx-Engels Institute. From 1941 to 1945 he was headteacher of the so-called Antifascist School, where German POWs were taught to become antifascists.
In 1947 he returned to Germany
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...
and joined the East German Socialist Unity Party
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...
, but in 1948 he founded the Communist sponsored National Democratic Party of Germany
National Democratic Party of Germany (East Germany)
The National Democratic Party of Germany was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes...
(NDPD). Many members of the NDPD were former Nazis and former Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
officers. From 1948 to 1972 he was the chairman of the NDPD.
In 1949 he became a member of the People's Chamber (Parliament) and from 1949 to 1953 he was Minister of Reconstruction. From 1950 to 1967 he was one of the Deputy Prime Ministers of the GDR.
In 1953 he was the successor of Foreign Minister Anton Ackermann
Anton Ackermann
Anton Ackermann was an East German politician. In 1953, he briefly served as Minister of Foreign Affairs....
. He stayed Foreign Minister until 1965.
From 1950 to his death he was a member of the Presidium of the National Front
National Front (East Germany)
The National Front of the German Democratic Republic was an alliance of political parties and mass organisations in East Germany...
.
He also acted as the chairman of Society for German-Soviet Friendship
Society for German-Soviet Friendship
The Society for German-Soviet Friendship was an East German organisation set up to encourage closer co-operation between the German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union....
from 1968 to 1978.