Famous German Revolutionaries

Rosa Luxemburg was a Polish and German revolutionary socialist known for her involvement in various socialist parties including the SPD, USPD, Spartacus League, and KPD. She co-founded the anti-war Spartacus League during World War I and played a key role in the November Revolution. Luxemburg was a prolific writer and thinker, criticizing both Leninist and moderate social democratic schools of Marxism. She was executed during the Spartacist uprising of 1919 but remains a controversial figure in modern political discourse.

Ernst Toller was a prominent German author, playwright, left-wing politician, and revolutionary known for his Expressionist plays. He briefly served as President of the Bavarian Soviet Republic in 1919 before leading its army. Toller was imprisoned for five years for his involvement in the armed resistance against the central government. During his time in prison, he wrote several acclaimed plays that gained international recognition. Following his exile from Germany in 1933, Toller embarked on a lecture tour in the United States and settled in California before moving to New York, where he eventually passed away in 1939.

Karl Liebknecht was a prominent German socialist and anti-militarist who was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and served as one of its deputies in the Reichstag. He represented the left-revolutionary wing of the party and was expelled for opposing the political truce during World War I. Liebknecht was imprisoned twice for his anti-militarism activities and played a leading role in the Spartacist League and the founding of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). He was killed in 1919 for his involvement in the failed Spartacist uprising.

Carl Schurz was a German revolutionary who migrated to the US after the German revolutions of 1848–1849. He became a Union general in the Civil War, helped found the Liberal Republican Party, served as a US Senator, and was the Secretary of the Interior. Schurz fought for civil service reform, sound money, low tariffs, and opposed efforts to protect African-American civil rights. He was known for his advocacy in newspapers and involvement in various political movements until his death in 1906.

Libertas Schulze-Boysen started her professional life in the early 1930s, attempting to build a literary career as a press officer, writer, and journalist. Initially sympathetic to the Nazis, she later changed her views after marrying Luftwaffe officer Harro Schulze-Boysen. Utilizing her aristocratic status, she hosted discussion groups at her apartment to recruit left-leaning Germans and resist the Nazi regime. She documented Nazi atrocities while working as a censor and collaborated with anti-fascist groups in Berlin, eventually becoming a key member of an espionage network supplying intelligence to the Soviet Union.

Friedrich-Werner Graf von der Schulenburg was a German diplomat who served as the last German ambassador to the Soviet Union before Operation Barbarossa in 1941. He began his diplomatic career before World War I, holding positions as consul and ambassador in various countries. Schulenburg clashed with the Nazi regime and eventually joined the conspiracy against Adolf Hitler. Accused of involvement in the failed 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler, he was later executed. Schulenburg was also a Knight of Justice of the Order of St John, a group opposed by the Nazis.

Friedrich Hecker was a prominent German lawyer, politician, and revolutionary known for his eloquence and leadership during the 1848 Revolution. He gained widespread popularity as a speaker and agitator during this period. Later, he relocated to the United States where he took an active role as a brigade commander in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He continued to be a significant figure in the political and military spheres, showcasing his dedication to causes he believed in throughout his professional life.

Otto Hermann Hampel was a courageous German individual who, along with his wife, Elise Hampel, engaged in a unique form of protest against Adolf Hitler during the Nazi regime. Despite the risks involved, he actively utilized postcards and hand-written leaflets to openly criticize Hitler and his policies. Hampel's dedication to opposing the oppressive regime through peaceful means ultimately led to his tragic fate at the hands of the Nazis. His story serves as a testament to the bravery and resilience of those who stood up against injustice during difficult times.

Felice Rahel Schragenheim was a Jewish resistance fighter during World War II. She demonstrated courage and resilience in the face of extreme adversity, fighting against the oppressive regime of the Nazi Gestapo secret police. Her story of defiance and bravery is an inspiration to many, as she stood up for her beliefs and fought for justice amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. Schragenheim's legacy lives on through her remarkable acts of resistance and her tragic love story with Lilly Wust.

Ludwig Bamberger was a prominent German Jewish economist, politician, revolutionary, and writer. He played a significant role in the financial sector, contributing to the establishment of the Deutsche Bank and advocating for banking reforms. Bamberger was also actively involved in politics, serving as a member of the Frankfurt Parliament and later the Reichstag. As a writer, he published various works on economic theory and social issues. His professional life was marked by a commitment to financial innovation, political activism, and intellectual pursuits.

Elise Hampel, a German domestic servant, is known for her courageous actions during World War II. She defied Hitler's government by creating and distributing anti-government postcards in public places. Alongside her husband, Otto Hampel, Elise showed immense bravery in resisting the oppressive regime, ultimately leading to their capture and execution in Plötzensee Prison in 1943. Their defiance and sacrifice inspired author Hans Fallada to write a novel, later adapted into the film "Alone in Berlin," immortalizing Elise Hampel's fearless opposition to tyranny.

Tamara Bunke was a dedicated revolutionary known for her involvement in feminism, leftist politics, and liberation movements. She joined the Free German Youth at a young age, studied philosophy at university, and worked as an interpreter for the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. She participated in the Cuban literacy campaign and Federation of Cuban Women, before being recruited for Che Guevara's guerrilla expedition in Bolivia. Using the alias Tania, she infiltrated Bolivian high society and developed ties with Bolivian President René Barrientos. Bunke played a crucial role in Guevara's armed guerrilla campaign in Bolivia, handling food supplies and monitoring radio communications.

Holger Klaus Meins was a German cinematography student who became involved with the radical left-wing group Red Army Faction (RAF) in the early 1970s. He was known for his involvement in various acts of domestic terrorism, including bank robberies and bombings. Meins was eventually captured and imprisoned, where he embarked on a hunger strike to protest against the conditions of his incarceration. His death on hunger strike in 1974 drew international attention and sparked debates about political activism and the treatment of prisoners.

Gustav Struve was a versatile figure with a diverse professional background. He was a German surgeon, politician, lawyer, and publicist, known for his revolutionary activities during the German revolutions of 1848–1849 in Baden. Struve also spent a significant period in the United States, where he was engaged as a reformer. His career spanned multiple countries and encompassed various fields, showcasing his commitment to social and political change through both his medical expertise and advocacy work.