Heinz Schmidt

Heinz Heinrich Schmidt (26 November 1906 – 14 September 1989) was a German journalist and editor. During the twelve Nazi years he was involved in active resistance, spending approximately three years in prison and a further seven years as a political refugee in London.

Life Schmidt was born into a working-class family in Halle. He attended school locally and trained for work as a miner. Two years later, in 1943, using the pseudonym "Jack Morrell", he became editor-in-chief of the , a London-based newspaper published by and for the exiled German communists who had fetched up in Britain. He continued to serve in this capacity till war ended in the early summer of 1945.

October 1949 was the month in which the Soviet occupation zone was relaunched as the Soviet sponsored German Democratic Republic (East Germany). A more personal change of direction for Heinz Schmidt came on 20 October 1949 when the Politburo removed him from his post at Berlin Radio, citing his "nationalistic arrogance" and "insufficient political vigilance" . Between 1950 and 1955 he was employed on a "provisional contract" in the production department. In 1955/56 he was appointed editor in chief on Das Magazin, a recently launched arts and lifestyle magazine. In 1956, he was switched to the same position on the satirical magazine . However, in 1958, he was removed from that post.

Personal

In his personal life, by August 1946, when the two of them moved together to Berlin, Heinz Schmidt had teamed up with the pioneering physician Eva Schmidt-Kolmer. They married in 1947. The marriage produced two children.

Heinz Heinrich Schmidt died in East Berlin on 14 September 1989 aged 82.

Awards and honours

1962 Patriotic Order of Merit in silver 1971 Patriotic Order of Merit in gold 1976 Order of Karl Marx 1981 Star of People's Friendship in Gold 1986 Patriotic Order of Merit gold clasp