Gustav Sobottka

Gustav Sobottka (12 July 1886 – 6 March 1953) was a German politician, a member of the Communist Party of Germany in exile during the Nazi era who returned in 1945 as head of the Sobottka Group and later worked in the East German government.

Early life Gustav Sobottka was born in Turowen (Turowo), in the administrative district of Johannisburg (Pisz) in East Prussia. His father, Adam Sobottka, was a roofer and day laborer, his mother was Auguste Sobottka. In 1895, the family moved to Röhlinghausen, today the southwestern part of Herne, in the Ruhr region. The family were Muckers Pietists, a pious movement within the Lutheran church. Sobottka was confirmed in 1901 and began working in the coal mines that same year. In 1909, he married Henriette, née Schantowski, called "Jettchen" (9 March 1888 – 15 September 1971). He and his wife had a daughter and two sons. In World War I Sobottka served in the German Army from August 1914 to November 1918. after which his mother had a nervous breakdown. Sobottka, Jr. was tortured and tried to commit suicide. He died in Moscow's Butyrka prison in September 1940. Because of his son's arrest, Sobottka, Sr. was fired from his job on the unions' central council of in March 1938 and was himself investigated.

Sobottka's group was sent to Mecklenburg, (today Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) where he prepared reports on the state of the agriculture for the Soviet Central Committee. From 1949 to 1951, he worked for the East German Ministry for Heavy Industry. His wife was away at a health resort at the time. Gustav Sobottka, Jr. was rehabilitated in 1956.

Recognition Sobottka received an "Honorary pension, Fighter against Fascism" and was awarded "Honored Miner of the German Democratic Republic". as were many streets and schools. Some have since been renamed, but in Zeitz, there is still a Gustav-Sobottka-Straße A number of units in the National People's Army were named after Gustav Sobottka, as well.

In 1996, there was a documentary film made about Sobottka. It was made by Hans-Dieter Rusch and was called Vom Geheimnis eines Revolutionärs — Nachdenken über Gustav Sobottka. It was released by the film company Havel-Barbelsberg on 12 March 1996.