7 Antwort - Wer bin ich?

Persönlichkeit 7 - Wer bin ich?

Ich war 1931-33 Oberbürgermeister von Magdeburg und später zweimal Regierender Bürgermeister von Berlin. Nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg befand ich mich in Russland als Kriegsgefangener. Später in Deutschland war ich kurze Zeit Kommunist und sogar Generalsekretär der Kommunistischen Partei Deutschlands (KPD). Im Jahre 1922 verließ ich die KPD und kehrte wieder zur SPD zurück. Ich wurde 1932 zum Mitglied des Reichstags gewählt. 1933 wurde ich von den Nazis verhaftet und zweimal im Konzentrationslager interniert. 1935 durfte ich aber nach England. Von England ging ich in die Türkei, wo ich Regierungsberater wurde. Ab 1938 war ich Professor an der Universität Ankara. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg kehrte ich nach Berlin zurück. Als Bürgermeister während der Luftbrücke führte ich den Widerstand gegen die Berlin-Blockade, was mir viel Respekt eintrug. Im Jahre 1953, nur vier Monate nach dem Volksaufstand in Ost-Berlin, starb ich in West-Berlin. Vor 64 Jahren war ich in Apenrade (Åbenrå/Dänemark, damals in Schleswig) zur Welt gekommen. - Wer bin ich?

(English version below the answer.)

Antwort - Ratespiel 7

To see the names of the Top 20 entrants who sent in the correct answer to Ratespiel 7 before the deadline, click here: Top-20-Liste

Bio Extra: Ernst Reuter

(Also see the Web links below.)

As mayor of Berlin during the Luftbrücke of 1948-49, Ernst Reuter gained the respect of both the West Berliners and the Allies running the airlift. From Outpost Berlin by Henrik Bering: "Time and again, Reuter demonstrated what a remarkable politician he was, one of the rare breed who can demand sacrifices from his people and still retain their affection. When, in March, a severe cold spell suddenly came on the city; the military government was willing to grant another issue of coal, but Reuter denied the offer. His argument was that the Berliners knew they might need the coal reserves for other things, and, furthermore, they wanted to show that they would not give in." In fact, during the airlift, Berlin was short on just about everything from food to electricity. On some days, there might be only two hours of electricity in a 24-hour period. Without Reuter's strong leadership, the Berlin Blockade might not have ended the way it did, following eleven months when the city was completely supplied by only Rosinenbomber ("Raisin bombers").

Some highlights of Reuter's political career:

• Stadtrat in Berlin (Berlin city councilman) 1926-31
• Oberbürgermeister von Magdeburg (mayor of M.) 1931-33
• Oberbürgermeister von Berlin (Berlin mayor) 1947-49
• Oberbürgermeister von West-Berlin 1950-53

In 1931-33 I was the Oberbürgermeister (mayor) of Magdeburg and later twice the mayor of Berlin. After the First World War I ended up in Russia as a prisoner of war. Later in Germany I was a communist for a short time and even General Secretary of the German Communist Party (KPD). In 1922 I left the KPD and once again returned to the SPD (Social Democratic Party). I was elected a member of parliament (Reichstag) in 1932. In 1933 I was arrested by the Nazis and twice sent to a concentration camp. But in 1935 I was allowed to go to England. From England I went to Turkey, where I became an adviser to the government. After 1938 I was a professor at the University of Ankara. After World War II I returned to Berlin. As mayor during the Berlin Airlift (die Luftbrücke) I encouraged resistance to the (Soviet) Berlin Blockade, which earned me great respect. In 1953, only four months after the Workers Revolt* in East Berlin, I died in West Berlin. Sixty-four years before I had been born in Apenrade (Åbenrå, Denmark, then in German Schleswig). - Who am I?

*Note: The street between the Brandenburg Gate (das Brandenburger Tor) and the Victory Column (Siegessäule) is named for the date of the uprising: June 17 (Straße des 17. Juni). The revolt was crushed by Russian tanks. For more about Berlin's history, see Eine Chronik der Mauer und der Wende, from your Guide.

Copyright © 2000 Hyde Flippo

Eine Chronik der Mauer und der Wende
"A Berlin Timeline, The Wall and Its Fall" is the subtitle of this historical summary from your Guide. It covers the events leading up to and surrounding the Berlin Blockade and Airlift, the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, die Wende and German reunification. In German with supplemental English vocabulary and information.

Ernst Reuter - Kurzbiographie
A brief bio of Reuter in German.

Berlin: Bürgermeister
All of Berlin's mayors (East and West) listed in chronological order from 1809. By Burkhard Kirste.

Geschichte der Stadt Berlin
A history of Berlin in timeline form: Zeittafel, längere Fassung. (Very long!) With links for some historical people and events. Site by Burkhard Kirste in German.

Willy Brandt Biographie
Contains information about Reuter and the Blockade. In German.

1948 - Berliner Blockade
The events that occured when Reuter was mayor of Berlin.

Bundeskanzler-Willy-Brandt-Stiftung
Historical info and a Lexikon and an entry for Reuter.

Berlin
The official Berlin Web site is in German and English.

Magdeburg
The German Web site of the city of Magdeburg.

Wer bin ich? Ratespiel - Einleitung
Unser biografisches Ratespiel. Introduction to our biographical guessing game series. Links to all of our Ratespiele.

Chronik der Geschichte
A German-English timeline of German and world history. With links to more detailed articles and information. From your Guide.

Famous Germans
A reference list with brief biographies of famous Germans, Austrians and German Swiss throughout history. In English. From the German Way and More.

Find A Grave
Find the graves of the dead and famous – many with photos! Search by name or location.

The German-Hollywood Connection
Biographies and references related to famous German, Austrian and German Swiss film people and their movies. In English.

Preisrätsel - Spektrum der Wissenschaft
Wer die richtige Lösung einsendet, kann einen Preis gewinnen. Von der deutschen Version des Scientific American-Magazins.

German for Beginners
Our free online course adds new lessons on a regular basis.