Walter Ulbricht

About

Famous for leading the Communist Party of Germany during the Weimar era, this twentieth-century politician later led both the Socialist Unity Party and the government of East Germany.

Before Fame

After briefly serving in World War I and subsequently serving prison time for refusing to perform his military duties, he joined the Independent Social Democratic Party and participated in the German Revolution.

Trivia

During the Nazis' rise to power, Ulbricht lived in exile in France and Czechoslovakia. At the height of Nazi power, he fled to the Soviet Union.

Family Life

He grew up in Leipzig, Germany as the son of Ernst and Pauline Ulbricht. His first marriage was to Martha Schmellinsky; he later wed fellow socialist politician Lotte Kuhn Ulbricht.

Associated With

He was a loyal supporter of Soviet Communist leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and even imitated Lenin's unique style of facial hair.