Wilhelm Leuschner
German politician and trade unionist (1890-1944), victim of Nazism
About Wilhelm Leuschner
Lived 1890 – 1944 (aged 54). Wilhelm Leuschner was a politician, trade unionist and resistance fighter.
Wilhelm Leuschner (15 June 1890, in Bayreuth, Bavaria – 29 September 1944, in Berlin-Plötzensee) was a trade unionist and Social Democratic politician. An early opponent of Nazism, he organized underground resistance in the labour movement. As a result of their involvement in the assassination attempt on Hitler in 1944, Leuschner was executed.
Biography Born in 1890 to stove fitter Wilhelm Friedrich Leuschner and seamstress Maria Barbara Dehler, Leuschner grew up in poverty.
In 1903, he began an apprenticeship as a wood sculptor in Bayreuth and Leipzig. however, Claus von Stauffenberg's 20 July 1944 attempt on Hitler's life at the Wolf's Lair in East Prussia failed.
Leuschner was arrested on 16 August 1944, and was brought before the Volksgerichtshof, where he was sentenced to death on 8 September 1944.
The German state of Hesse awards a medal named "Wilhelm-Leuschner-Medaille".
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Wilhelm Leuschner?
German politician and trade unionist (1890-1944), victim of Nazism
When was Wilhelm Leuschner born?
Wilhelm Leuschner was born on 15 June 1890 in Bayreuth.
When did Wilhelm Leuschner die?
Wilhelm Leuschner died on 29 September 1944 in Plötzensee Prison.
What was Wilhelm Leuschner's occupation?
Wilhelm Leuschner was a politician, trade unionist and resistance fighter.
What nationality was Wilhelm Leuschner?
Wilhelm Leuschner's recorded nationality: German Reich.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Wilhelm Leuschner
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wilhelm Leuschner. https://biography.guide/wilhelm-leuschner/
MLA: "Wilhelm Leuschner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wilhelm-leuschner/.
Chicago: "Wilhelm Leuschner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wilhelm-leuschner/.
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