Manfred Ackermann (1 November 1898 – 16 June 1991) was an Austrian

Social Democratic Social democracy is a Social philosophy, social, Economic ideology, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achi ...

politician and

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

official in Austria and the United States. Ackermann served in the Austrian forces during World War I. After returning to civilian life, he became involved in trade union activities and the Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei (SDAP). The SDAP was banned in the 1930s, and Ackermann was arrested in March 1934, after the

Austrian Civil War The Austrian Civil War () of 12–15 February 1934, also known as the February Uprising () or the February Fights (), was a series of clashes in the First Austrian Republic between the forces of the authoritarian Fatherland Front (Austria), rig ...

, and held until summer, 1935 in Wöllersdorf detention camp. He was re-arrested in November 1937 as a result of working illegally and held until Schuschnigg's general amnesty in March 1938. After the

Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, ), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a "German Question, Greater Germany") arose after t ...

of Austria by Germany in 1938, Ackermann was, as a Socialist and a Jew, forced to flee the

Nazis Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

. After passing through Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, he lived in Paris, but in 1939 he was imprisoned by the French in Colombes and Montargis. He was subsequently able to go, via Spain and Portugal, to the United States, where he worked and was again active in trades unions. Ackermann retired in 1964 and returned to Austria. He lectured there until his death in 1991 and was one of the initiators of the Contact Committee of the Federation of Socialist Youth freedom fighters. His urn is held at Feuerhalle Simmering in Vienna. Manfred Ackermann was married to Paula Popp.

Honours and awards

* Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria (1969) * Golden Badge of the federal socialist freedom fighters and victims of fascism (1970) * Title of Professor (1973) * Victor-eagle badge of the SPÖ (1973) * Decoration for Services to the Liberation of Austria (1977) * appointed in 1928 built from plans by Karl Badstieber housing complex in Vienna Brigittenau Brigittaplatz 11–13, in Manfred Ackermann court (2008) * Charles Pick medal the Trade section of the GPA

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ackermann, Manfred 1898 births 1991 deaths People from Mikulov Jewish emigrants from Austria after the Anschluss to the United States Social Democratic Party of Austria politicians Recipients of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria Recipients of the Decoration for Services to the Liberation of Austria Burials at Feuerhalle Simmering Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I