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August Brey

1864 – 1937

German trade unionist and politician

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About August Brey

Lived 1864 – 1937 (aged 72). August Brey was a cobbler, trade unionist, politician and journalist.

August Brey (1 August 1864 – 28 July 1937) was a German politician and trade unionist.

Born in Gelnhausen in the Electorate of Hesse, Brey completed an apprenticeship as a shoemaker, and joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in 1885. In 1890, he was a leading founder of the Union of Factory, Agricultural and Commercial Support Workers in Germany (FAV), a general union, and became its president. From 1892, he was also the editor of the union's newspaper, Der Proletariat. In 1906, he led the reform of the FAV as an industrial union, renamed as the Factory Workers' Union of Germany.

In 1906, Brey was elected as the chair of the SPD organisation in Hannover, and he was also elected to represent the party in the Reichstag. He served until it was replaced by the Weimar National Assembly, and then in the Reichstag again. From 1919, he also served in the Prussian State Assembly. In 1925, he was elected as president of the International Federation of General Factory Workers.

In 1931, Brey retired as president of the FAV, and he left his political roles in 1932.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Cobbler, trade unionist, politician, journalist
Nationality
German Reich
Positions held
Member of the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic, Member of the Reichstag of the German Empire, Member of Landtag of Prussia, Chairperson

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped August Brey's

Frequently asked questions

Who was August Brey?

German trade unionist and politician (1864–1937)

When was August Brey born?

August Brey was born on 1 August 1864 in Gelnhausen.

When did August Brey die?

August Brey died on 28 July 1937 in Ronnenberg.

What was August Brey's occupation?

August Brey was a cobbler, trade unionist, politician and journalist.

What nationality was August Brey?

August Brey's recorded nationality: German Reich.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: August Brey

· Wikidata: Q761005

· DBpedia: August Brey

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). August Brey. https://biography.guide/august-brey/

MLA: "August Brey." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/august-brey/.

Chicago: "August Brey." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/august-brey/.

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