Karl Čermak (26 May 1881 – 24 October 1924) was a German socialist politician. A skilled organizer, Čermak emerged as a key leader of the labour movement in German Bohemia in the years preceding World War I. He went on to become a parliamentarian in the First Czechoslovak Republic.

Early life and work

Čermak was born in Vienna on 26 May 1881.[1] He was the son of a shoemaker.[2] Čermak worked as a clerk.[2]

In 1905, he became a member of the board of the SDAPÖ organization in Bohemia.[2] Between 1907 and 1911 he served as editor of the newspaper Freiheit in Teplitz-Schönau.[1] He headed the regional secretariat of the Social Democracy in German Bohemia 1911–1919.[1][2]

During World War I he served as general manager of the Nutritional Association based in Aussig.[2] In 1918 he was appointed director of the Press Bureau of the regional government of German Bohemia.[3]

DSAP leader and parliamentarian

After the creation of Czechoslovakia, he became a key leader of the German Social Democratic Workers Party in the Czechoslovak Republic (DSAP).[1] He was noted for his strong organizational skills.[4][5] In contrast to his peers, Čermak was the sole member of the 1920s DSAP leadership that hailed from a major city (having been born in Vienna).[6]

In September 1919 he was named Central Secretary of the party.[1][3] He was opposed to cooperation with the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers Party, which he saw as 'national chauvinists'.[7] After Josef Seliger's death, Čermak was named Vice Chairman of DSAP.[1][5] He represented DSAP in the Czechoslovak National Assembly 1920–1924, having been elected from the 5th constituency (Česká Lípa) in the April 1920 election.[1][2][3][8] He was a member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.[2]

Death

Cermak died in Prague on 24 October 1924 at the age of 43.[1][2][9] He was replaced by Siegfried Taub as new Central Secretary of DSAP.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Friedrich G. Kürbisch; Seliger-Archiv (1982). Chronik der sudetendeutschen Sozialdemokratie, 1863–1938. Die Brücke. p. 93.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mads Ole Balling (1991). Von Reval bis Bukarest: Einleitung, Systematik, Quellen und Methoden, Estland, Lettland, Litauen, Polen, Tschechoslowakei. Dokumentation Verlag. p. 307. ISBN 978-87-983829-3-5.
  3. 1 2 3 André Donneur (1967). Histoire de l'union des partis socialistes pour l'action intern... p. 120.
  4. ↑ Sudetenland. Bogen Verlag. 1975. p. 151.
  5. 1 2 Johann Wolfgang Brügel (1960). Ludwig Czech, Arbeiterführer und Staatsmann. Verlag der Wiener Volksbuchhandlung. pp. 65, 72.
  6. ↑ Thomas Weiser (1998). Arbeiterführer in der Tschechoslowakei: eine Kollektivbiographie sozialdemokratischer und kommunistischer Parteifunktionäre 1918–1938. R. Oldenbourg Verlag. p. 69. ISBN 978-3-486-56018-3.
  7. ↑ Duin, P.C. van. Central European Cross-roads: Social Democracy and National Revolution in Bratislava (Pressburg), 1867-1921 Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Hermann Molkenbuhr; Bernd Braun; Joachim Eichler (2000). Arbeiterführer, Parlamentarier, Parteiveteran: die Tagebücher des Sozialdemokraten Hermann Molkenbuhr 1905 bis 1927. Oldenbourg Verlag. p. 381. ISBN 978-3-486-56424-2.
  9. ↑ Ernst Paul; Emil Werner (1972). Was nicht in den Geschichtsbüchern steht: Ruhm und Tragik der sudetendeutschen Arbeiterbewegung. Verlag "Die Brücke". p. 7.
  10. ↑ Menschen im Exil: eine Dokumentation d. sudetendt. sozialdemokrat. Emigration von 1938–1945. Seliger-Archiv. 1974. p. 50.
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