Emmy Damerius-Koenen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emmy Damerius-Koenen
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| Chairwoman of the Democratic Women's League of Germany | |
| In office 1948–1949 |
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| Preceded by | Anne-Marie Durand-Wever |
| Succeeded by | Elli Schmidt |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Emma Zadach
15 March 1903 Berlin-Rosenthal, German Empire |
| Died | 21 May 1987 (aged 84) East Berlin, East Germany |
| Political party |
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| Occupation | Political activist, politician |
Emmy Damerius-Koenen (born Emma Zadach, 15 March 1903 – 21 May 1987) was an important politician in East Germany. She was a member of the Communist Party of Germany and later the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. During the time of Nazi Germany, she lived outside Germany, mostly in the Soviet Union. After World War II, she returned to Germany and became very active in women's organizations in East Germany. She was even the chairwoman of the Democratic Women's League of Germany for a time.
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Early Life and Political Beginnings
Emmy Damerius-Koenen was born Emma Zadach in Berlin-Rosenthal on March 15, 1903. She grew up in a working-class family with three siblings. After finishing elementary school, she took evening classes to learn more skills. She worked as a shop clerk and later at different printing companies.
In 1922, she married Helmut Damerius. They were both involved in groups that promoted nature and peace. In 1923, Emmy joined the Communist Youth Association of Germany. The next year, in 1924, she became a member of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). She and Helmut had a child who sadly died very young. They divorced in 1927.
Life During the Nazi Era
From 1927 until 1934, Emmy worked full-time for the KPD in Berlin. She started as a political worker and then led the women's division. In 1933, the Nazi Party took power in Germany. They made it illegal for opposition parties like the KPD to exist.
In 1934, Emmy learned that she was on a list of people the secret police (Gestapo) were looking for. To stay safe, she moved to Moscow, the capital of the Soviet Union. There, she worked for the Women's Secretariat of the Communist International, an organization that connected communist parties worldwide.
In 1935 and 1936, she studied at a special university in Moscow. She used a different name, Emmy Dublin, to protect her identity. During this time, her partner, Leo Scharko, a Polish communist, was arrested. This was a very dangerous period in the Soviet Union. After his arrest, Leo disappeared, and Emmy never heard from him again.
After the university closed, Emmy was sent to work with the Party leadership in other European cities like Paris, Prague, and Zurich. In 1937, she married Wilhelm Koenen. They lived in Prague for a while.
In January 1939, Emmy and Wilhelm moved to England. She worked in London. In 1940, during World War II, she was held in a camp on the Isle of Man. This happened because she was from Germany, which was an "enemy" country at the time. She was released in February 1941. In 1943, she helped start the Free German Movement in London. This group worked against the Nazi regime. In 1944, she also helped create the Women's Commission of this movement.
Return to Germany and Women's Rights Work
Emmy and Wilhelm Koenen returned to Germany in December 1945, after the war ended. She worked as an editor in cities like Halle and Dresden. She was very dedicated to setting up local Women's Committees. In 1946, she became the vice chairwoman of the Women's Committee in the region of Saxony.
Emmy Damerius-Koenen played a major role in creating the Demokratischer Frauenbund Deutschlands (DFD), which means "Democratic Women's League of Germany." She gave an important speech at the German Women's Congress for Peace in March 1947 in Berlin. This congress also officially started the DFD. Emmy became the vice chairwoman of the DFD. In April 1948, she became the chairwoman, replacing the previous leader.
Her experience from living in different countries helped the DFD join the Women's International Democratic Federation. This was an international group of women's organizations that had started in Paris in 1945.
Later Life and Legacy
In spring 1949, Emmy had to step down as the chairwoman of the DFD. This was due to some changes in leadership within the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). Elli Schmidt became the new head of the DFD in May 1949.
From 1950 to 1958, Emmy worked as an editor and team leader at a publishing house in Berlin. After 1958, she worked as a freelance journalist. She also helped her husband with his work until he passed away in October 1963. She wrote many articles for women's newspapers in East Germany. She also wrote detailed memories about the history of the SED and the DFD.
Emmy Damerius-Koenen passed away on May 21, 1987, in East Berlin. Her ashes are buried in a special section for socialists at the Zentralfriedhof Friedrichsfelde cemetery.
