Johanna Ludewig

Johanna Ludewig (28 March 1891 – 11 July 1958) was a German politician (SPD, KPD). As a member of the Prussian parliament between 1921 and 1933 she was particularly active in the Communist Women's movement. During 1944 she survived approximately three weeks as an internee in the Ravensbrück concentration camp.

Life Johanna Ludewig was born in Berlin. Her father was a plumber. She attended a and worked between 1907 and 1928 in various functions in the accounts and purchasing departments with a succession of Berlin companies. During her time in the Landtag she was engaged, above all, in the Communist women's movement. In 1927 she was secretary of the (RFMB). As political extremism grew in Germany, in 1932 she became the leader of the "Women's and Girls' Board" (Frauen- und Mädchenstaffel) of the (Kampfbund gegen den Faschismus). However, in 1944 the unsuccessful assassination attempt against Hitler opened the way for a massive further round-up of people still in Germany who had been politically active as communists or socialists before 1933. Johanna Ludewig was arrested, like several thousand others, towards the end of August 1944 in connection with what came to be known as Aktion Gitter. She was taken to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Approximately three weeks later, on 12 September 1944 she was released, but after this she spent several more weeks in police jails in Berlin.

War ended, formally in May 1945, and she returned to her job. She was no longer engaged in public politics. Johanna Ludewig died on 11 July 1958 in West Berlin.