Bredel, Willi, 1901-1964

A socialist writer known for his depictions of proletarian life, Bredel was born in Hamburg. He joined the Communist Party at eighteen. In 1928 he became editor of HAMBURGER VOLKSZEITUNG, and two years later he was sentenced to a two-year jail term for "planning literary high treason." During this period he wrote his first novel, MASCHINENFABRIK N & K. Bredel was imprisoned by the Nazis from 1933 to 1934, and when released fled to Moscow, where he was one of the original founders of the "Nationalkomittee 'Freies Deutschland'" in 1943. After the war, Bredel settled in East Germany. He served as the editor of HEUTE UND MORGEN (1947-1954) and NEUE DEUTSCHE LITERATUR (1953-1956). From 1956 unti his death in 1964, Bredel was a member of the Central Committee of the East German Communist Party.

From the description of Willi Bredel papers, 1950-1976. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122510575

Biography

A socialist writer known for his depictions of proletarian life, Bredel was born in Hamburg. He joined the Communist Party at eighteen. In 1928 he became editor of HAMBURGER VOLKSZEITUNG, and two years later he was sentenced to a two-year jail term for "planning literary high treason." During this period he wrote his first novel, MASCHINENFABRIK N & K. Bredel was imprisoned by the Nazis from 1933 to 1934, and when released fled to Moscow, where he was one of the original founders of the "Nationalkomittee 'Freies Deutschland'" in 1943. After the war, Bredel settled in East Germany. He served as the editor of HEUTE UND MORGEN (1947-1954) and NEUE DEUTSCHE LITERATUR (1953-1956). From 1956 unti his death in 1964, Bredel was a member of the Central Committee of the East German Communist Party.

From the guide to the Bredel, Willi, 1901-1964. Papers, 1950-1976, (Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.)