Germany
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John Schehr (1896–1934) was a key leader in the German Communist Party during the Weimar Republic. He played a crucial role in organizing resistance against Nazi repression after the party’s ban in 1933. Captured and executed in 1934, Schehr became a symbol of communist martyrdom and resistance to authoritarianism, honored posthumously in East Germany.
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Ulrike Meinhof, a German journalist and co-founder of the Red Army Faction, evolved from a respected intellectual to a revolutionary militant. Her radicalization, driven by disillusionment with traditional protest, led to violence justified by Marxist ideology. Arrested in 1972, Meinhof’s death in 1976 remains controversial, symbolizing state repression and revolutionary tragedy.
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August Ferdinand Bebel (1840–1913) was a key figure in German socialism and co-founder of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). A committed Marxist, he advanced democratic socialism, advocating for gender equality in “Woman and Socialism.” Despite persecution, Bebel’s legacy endures as a catalyst for labor rights and social welfare initiatives.
Letters from Tomis 