Karl Deichmann (5 October 1863 – 12 February 1940) was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

trade unionist and politician. Born in

Uslar Uslar (; Eastphalian dialect, Eastphalian: ''Üsseler'') is a town and a municipality in southern Lower Saxony, Germany, in the south-western part of the district of Northeim (district), Northeim, and in the south of the hills of Solling forest whi ...

, Deichmann was orphaned at an early age and went to work in a cigar factory at the age of 11. He moved to

Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (german: Stadtgemeinde Bremen, ), is the capital of the German state Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (''Freie Hansestadt Bremen''), a two-city-state consis ...

in 1884, and soon joined the

Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, ; SPD, ) is a centre-left social democratic political party in Germany. It is one of the major parties of contemporary Germany. Saskia Esken has been the ...

(SPD) and the German Tobacco Workers' Union. He became associated with the right wing of the trade union movement, and worked closely with

Friedrich Ebert Friedrich Ebert (; 4 February 187128 February 1925) was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and the first President of Germany (1919–1945), president of Germany from 1919 until his death in office in 1925. Eber ...

. In 1900, he was elected as the president of the union, and from 1910 until 1918, he additionally served as General Secretary of the

International Federation of Tobacco Workers The International Federation of Tobacco Workers (IFTW) was a global union federation bringing together unions representing workers involved in growing, processing or selling tobacco. History The idea of an international federation of tobacco worker ...

. In 1912, he was elected to the Reichstag. Deichmann was a supporter of the November Revolution and joined the Bremen Workers' and Soldiers' Council, but he opposed the idea of a workers' republic. In 1919, he joined the provisional

Bürgerschaft of Bremen The Bremische Bürgerschaft (State Parliament of Bremen, literally “Bremish Citizenry” or “Citizenry of Bremen”) is the legislative branch of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen in Germany. The state parliament elects the mem ...

, where he took on responsibility for the police. He was then elected to the regularly constituted Bürgerschaft, which appointed him to the

Senate of Bremen The Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (German: Senat der Freien Hansestadt Bremen) is the government of the German city-state Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. Various senate-like institutions have existed in Bremen since medieval times. Th ...

. From 1919 until 1920, he served as President and Mayor of the Senate. He was again appointed to the Senate in 1928, with responsibility for policing, and became the Mayor of the Senate again. In 1931, Deichmann retired, due to poor health. He died in 1940.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deichmann, Karl 1863 births 1940 deaths German trade union leaders People from Uslar Social Democratic Party of Germany politicians