In December 1952 he was arrested, stripped of his positions and imprisoned. Following his release, in May 1957 he was able to flee to West Germany,[1] but he never again engaged in public politics.[2]
From 1922 till 1927 Hamann studied Agricultural Sciences at Hohenheim, Bonn and Berlin. Subsequently he became the head of Employment Offices in Schwerte, Hörde and Dortmund, and, in 1931, of a relocation co-operative in Thuringia.[1] In 1933 he was awarded a doctorate from the University of Bonn[1] for a dissertation entitled "The Labour Market in the Westphalian Agriculture Sector". From 1935, following a series of company directorships, he lived as an independent farmer near Römhild in Thuringia.[2]
In 1948 Karl Hamann became the party's national chairman in East Germany, confirmed in office, together with Hermann Kastner, in 1949.[2] Soon after this Kastner was replaced and Hamann's co-chairman became Hans Loch.[2] The LDPD was not an independent political party because the Nation Building project under which the new country was being constructed envisaged a one party state, albeit one that at least initially felt able to present itself as a multi-party state. The LDPD was one of a number of minor parties included in the so-called National Front grouping, permitted to operate under the control of the country's ruling SED (party), an arrangement not without certain inherent tensions. In addition to his other roles, between 1946 and 1950 Hamann sat as a member of the Thüringer Landtag (regional assembly). From 1949 he also sat as a member of the national Volkskammer (Peoples' Chamber) and served as East Germany's Minister for Trade and Supplies.[1][2]
Hamann's ministerial responsibilities for trade and supply proved impossible to accomplish in a state that was becoming increasingly isolated,[2] especially after reforms which left East and West Germany with different currencies. The Single list election process introduced for the 1949 assembly election and repeated for the 1950 General Election, as well as the "Construction of Socialism" ("Aufbau des Sozialismus") proclamation at the SED party conference in July 1952 encountered no public opposition from Hamann, however.[2] Like others in the LDPD he placed all his hopes in a rapid reunification of the country which would reverse the anti-democratic and illiberal measures being implemented by the East German government under Walter Ulbricht.[2]
In 1952 Hamann was arrested, because he had "systematically sabotaged the people's welfare" ("planmäßige Versorgung der Bevölkerung sabotiert").[1][3] He was relieved of his responsibilities and expelled from the LDPD. More than two years of "investigatory detention" at the Hohenschönhausen Jail followed.[4][5][6] In July 1954 he was sentenced, in a secret trial, to ten years in prison, but he was pardoned in October 1956 and let out. In May 1957 he fled to the German Federal Republic (West Germany).[2]
West Germanyedit
Dr. Hamann died in Munich a couple of months after his seventieth birthday. His grave is in the Central Cemetery at Bad Godesberg (Bonn).
The Karl Hamann Foundation for Political Education in Brandenburg was named in his honour.[7]
Publicationedit
Die Aufgaben für Einheit und Frieden. ("The Tasks for Unity and freedom") speech, Dresden 1951.[8]
Further readingedit
Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk: Opfer der eigenen Politik? Zu den Hintergründen der Verurteilung von Minister Karl Hamann (LDPD). In: Jahrbuch zur Liberalismus-Forschung 16 (2004), pages 221–271.
Referencesedit
^ abcdefHelmut Müller-Enbergs. "Hamann, Karl * 4.3.1903, † 16.6.1973: LDPD-Politiker, Minister für Handel u. Versorgung". Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur: Biographische Datenbanken. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
^ abcdefghij. Karl Hamann Stiftung (which in 2013 was merged into the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit). Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
^. Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
^Publisher-editor Rudolf Augstein (14 January 1953). "OSTVERSORGUNG: Schweinemord". Der Spiegel (online). Retrieved 22 November 2014. {{cite web}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
^. Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
^Karl Wilhelm Fricke:Geschichtsrevisionismus aus MfS-Perspektive 2013-06-27 at the Wayback Machine (PDF; 132 kB)
^"05.12.2012 - Liberale Stichtage: Vor 60 Jahren: Suspension und Verhaftung des Ministers Karl Hamann". Karl Hamann Stiftung (which in 2013 was merged into the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit). Retrieved 21 November 2014.[permanent dead link]
^Karl Hamann (1951). Die Aufgaben für Einheit und Frieden: Rede, gehalten auf dem 4. Parteitag der LDP 1951 in Eisenach. Liberal-Demokratische Partei Deutschlands, Landesverband Sachsen, 1951 - 31 pages via Google online. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
April 12, 2024
karl, hamann, karl, otto, hamann, march, 1903, hildesheim, june, 1973, munich, german, politician, between, 1948, 1952, chairman, liberal, democratic, party, east, germany, ldpd, also, german, democratic, republic, minister, trade, supply, 1950, born4, march, . Karl Otto Hamann 4 March 1903 in Hildesheim 16 June 1973 in Munich was a German politician Between 1948 and 1952 he was chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of East Germany LDPD and also the German Democratic Republic s Minister for Trade and Supply 1 2 Dr Karl HamannKarl Hamann 1950 Born4 March 1903Hildesheim Province of Hanover Prussia German EmpireDied6 June 1973 1973 06 07 aged 70 Munich West GermanyOccupationPoliticianPolitical partyLDPDIn December 1952 he was arrested stripped of his positions and imprisoned Following his release in May 1957 he was able to flee to West Germany 1 but he never again engaged in public politics 2 Contents 1 Life 1 1 Early years 1 2 East Germany 1 3 West Germany 2 Posthumous rehabilitation and celebration 3 Publication 4 Further reading 5 ReferencesLife editEarly years edit From 1922 till 1927 Hamann studied Agricultural Sciences at Hohenheim Bonn and Berlin Subsequently he became the head of Employment Offices in Schwerte Horde and Dortmund and in 1931 of a relocation co operative in Thuringia 1 In 1933 he was awarded a doctorate from the University of Bonn 1 for a dissertation entitled The Labour Market in the Westphalian Agriculture Sector From 1935 following a series of company directorships he lived as an independent farmer near Romhild in Thuringia 2 East Germany edit After the war his Thuringian home found itself in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany which was in the process of mutating into the German Democratic Republic politically separated both from West Germany and from those parts of the former country which following the border changes agreed by the Potsdam conference now found themselves in Poland and the Soviet Union Back in 1933 Hamann had been a supporter of the SPD moderate socialist party but now in 1946 he joined the Liberal Democratic Party of East Germany becoming the party s regional Chairman for Thuringia In 1948 Karl Hamann became the party s national chairman in East Germany confirmed in office together with Hermann Kastner in 1949 2 Soon after this Kastner was replaced and Hamann s co chairman became Hans Loch 2 The LDPD was not an independent political party because the Nation Building project under which the new country was being constructed envisaged a one party state albeit one that at least initially felt able to present itself as a multi party state The LDPD was one of a number of minor parties included in the so called National Front grouping permitted to operate under the control of the country s ruling SED party an arrangement not without certain inherent tensions In addition to his other roles between 1946 and 1950 Hamann sat as a member of the Thuringer Landtag regional assembly From 1949 he also sat as a member of the national Volkskammer Peoples Chamber and served as East Germany s Minister for Trade and Supplies 1 2 Hamann s ministerial responsibilities for trade and supply proved impossible to accomplish in a state that was becoming increasingly isolated 2 especially after reforms which left East and West Germany with different currencies The Single list election process introduced for the 1949 assembly election and repeated for the 1950 General Election as well as the Construction of Socialism Aufbau des Sozialismus proclamation at the SED party conference in July 1952 encountered no public opposition from Hamann however 2 Like others in the LDPD he placed all his hopes in a rapid reunification of the country which would reverse the anti democratic and illiberal measures being implemented by the East German government under Walter Ulbricht 2 In 1952 Hamann was arrested because he had systematically sabotaged the people s welfare planmassige Versorgung der Bevolkerung sabotiert 1 3 He was relieved of his responsibilities and expelled from the LDPD More than two years of investigatory detention at the Hohenschonhausen Jail followed 4 5 6 In July 1954 he was sentenced in a secret trial to ten years in prison but he was pardoned in October 1956 and let out In May 1957 he fled to the German Federal Republic West Germany 2 West Germany edit Dr Hamann died in Munich a couple of months after his seventieth birthday His grave is in the Central Cemetery at Bad Godesberg Bonn Posthumous rehabilitation and celebration editIn May 1990 the successor organisation to the LDPD the short lived Association of Free Democrats formally rehabilitated Karl Hamann Legal rehabilitation by the Berlin regional court followed in August 1991 The Karl Hamann Foundation for Political Education in Brandenburg was named in his honour 7 Publication editDie Aufgaben fur Einheit und Frieden The Tasks for Unity and freedom speech Dresden 1951 8 Further reading editIlko Sascha Kowalczuk Opfer der eigenen Politik Zu den Hintergrunden der Verurteilung von Minister Karl Hamann LDPD In Jahrbuch zur Liberalismus Forschung 16 2004 pages 221 271 References edit a b c d e f Helmut Muller Enbergs Hamann Karl 4 3 1903 16 6 1973 LDPD Politiker Minister fur Handel u Versorgung Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED Diktatur Biographische Datenbanken Retrieved 22 November 2014 a b c d e f g h i j Dr Karl Hamann Karl Hamann Stiftung which in 2013 was merged into the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung fur die Freiheit Archived from the original on 26 October 2014 Retrieved 21 November 2014 Karl Hamann Gedenkstatte Berlin Hohenschonhausen Archived from the original on 19 January 2016 Retrieved 22 November 2014 Publisher editor Rudolf Augstein 14 January 1953 OSTVERSORGUNG Schweinemord Der Spiegel online Retrieved 22 November 2014 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a author1 has generic name help Prisoners Biographies Gedenkstatte Berlin Hohenschonhausen Archived from the original on 19 August 2014 Retrieved 22 November 2014 Karl Wilhelm Fricke Geschichtsrevisionismus aus MfS Perspektive Archived 2013 06 27 at the Wayback Machine PDF 132 kB 05 12 2012 Liberale Stichtage Vor 60 Jahren Suspension und Verhaftung des Ministers Karl Hamann Karl Hamann Stiftung which in 2013 was merged into the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung fur die Freiheit Retrieved 21 November 2014 permanent dead link Karl Hamann 1951 Die Aufgaben fur Einheit und Frieden Rede gehalten auf dem 4 Parteitag der LDP 1951 in Eisenach Liberal Demokratische Partei Deutschlands Landesverband Sachsen 1951 31 pages via Google online Retrieved 23 November 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karl Hamann amp oldid 1173569006, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
