Paul Scholz (2 October 1902 – 23 June 1995) was a German journalist and politician. He held various cabinet posts in East Germany.

Early life and education

Scholz was born in Braunau on 2 October 1902, and his father was a farmer. Scholz was a primary school graduate and worked at a factory following his graduation.

Career and activities

Scholz was a member of the

Communist Party of Germany The Communist Party of Germany (, ; KPD ) was a major Far-left politics, far-left political party in the Weimar Republic during the interwar period, German resistance to Nazism, underground resistance movement in Nazi Germany, and minor party ...

and arrested several times after 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 ...

came into power. He became a member of the editorial board of the newspaper of the Communist Party in June 1945 and worked for various newspapers until 1950. He was a member of the East German Parliament from 1950, and his tenure lasted until 1981. Scholz joined the

Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (, ; SED, ) was the founding and ruling party of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) from the country's foundation in 1949 until its dissolution after the Peaceful Revolution in 1989. It was a Mar ...

in April 1946 and worked as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper ''Der freie Bauer'' (German: ''The Free Farmer''). Between July 1949 to 1953 he served as the vice chairman of the

Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) ** Democratic Par ...

which was cofounded by him in June 1948. Scholz was appointed minister of agriculture and forestry in November 1950 succeeding

Ernst Goldenbaum Ernst Goldenbaum (15 December 1898, Parchim – 13 March 1990, East Berlin) was a German politician who served as the chairman of the Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany from 1948 to 1982. Biography Goldenbaum was born in Parchim, Grand ...

in the post and was in office until May 1952. He was succeeded by Wilhelm Schröder in the post. Scholz was the head of the coordination and control center for agriculture, forestry and water management between May 1952 and November 1953. He was the deputy chairman of the East German Council of Ministers between May 1952 and July 1967. He was again appointed minister of agriculture and forestry in November 1953, replacing Hans Reichelt in the post. Scholz's tenure ended in March 1955 when Hans Reichelt was reappointed minister of agriculture and forestry. Scholz was a member of the Central Executive the Land and Forestry Union from 1957. Scholz became the president of the Friendship Association between East Germany and Arab countries in 1963 and visited the

United Arab Republic The United Arab Republic (UAR; ) was a sovereign state in the Middle East from 1958 to 1971. It was initially a short-lived political union between Republic of Egypt (1953–1958), Egypt (including Occupation of the Gaza Strip by the United Ara ...

in this capacity in 1967. He became the vice president of the Peoples' Friendship League in 1967. He retired from politics and public posts in 1967.

Later life and death

Scholz died in

Zeuthen Zeuthen is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the district of Dahme-Spreewald in Brandenburg in Germany. Geography It is located near the southeastern Berlin city limits on the western shore of the Dahme (river), Dahme River and the Zeu ...

on 23 June 1995.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Scholz, Paul 20th-century German journalists 1902 births 1995 deaths Deputy prime ministers of East Germany Government ministers of East Germany Communist Party of Germany politicians Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany politicians People from Lwówek Śląski County Members of the 1st Volkskammer Members of the 2nd Volkskammer Members of the 3rd Volkskammer Members of the 4th Volkskammer Members of the 5th Volkskammer Members of the 6th Volkskammer Members of the 7th Volkskammer Members of the 8th Volkskammer Socialist Unity Party of Germany politicians