Hilde Benjamin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hilde Benjamin
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Hilde Benjamin, c. 1947
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| Minister of Justice (East Germany) |
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| In office 15 July 1953 – 14 July 1967 |
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| President | Wilhelm Pieck Walter Ulbricht |
| Prime Minister | Otto Grotewohl Willi Stoph |
| Preceded by | Max Fechner |
| Succeeded by | Kurt Wünsche |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hilde Lange
5 February 1902 Bernburg, German Empire |
| Died | 18 April 1989 (aged 87) East Berlin, East Germany |
| Political party | Communist Party (KPD) Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) |
| Spouse | Georg Benjamin (1895–1942) |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician, judge |
Hilde Benjamin (born Lange; 5 February 1902 – 18 April 1989) was an important judge and Minister of Justice in East Germany. She is known for her role in trials during the 1950s. These trials were sometimes seen as unfair. Later, German President Roman Herzog spoke about Hilde Benjamin. He said her actions were not in line with the German Constitution.
Contents
Her Early Life and Education
Hilde Lange was born in Bernburg, Anhalt, in 1902. She grew up in Berlin in a family that liked culture and learning. Her father was an engineer. She loved classical music and German literature from a young age.
In 1921, she finished high school in Berlin. She then studied law of Germany from 1921 to 1924. She was one of the first women to study law in Germany. She studied at universities in Berlin, Heidelberg, and Hamburg.
Her Career and Politics
After finishing her studies, Hilde Benjamin worked as a lawyer in Berlin. She worked for a group called Rote Hilfe. This group was linked to the Communist Party. In 1926, she married Georg Benjamin, a doctor. Their son, Michael, was born in 1932.
Hilde Benjamin joined the Communist Party of Germany in 1927. Because of her political beliefs, she was not allowed to work as a lawyer after 1933. This was when the Nazis came to power. Her husband was sent to a concentration camp. He was later released. During World War II, she had to work in a factory. Her husband died in a concentration camp in 1942.
After World War II
After the war, Hilde Benjamin joined the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) in 1946. This party became the main party in East Germany. From 1949 to 1953, she was a vice president of the Supreme Court of the German Democratic Republic.
In this role, she oversaw many trials. Some of these trials were against people seen as political opponents. Her strong actions in court led to her being called "Red Hilde." She was also called "The Red Guillotine."
From 1949 to 1967, she was a member of the Volkskammer. This was the parliament of East Germany. In 1953, she became the Minister of Justice. She held this position until 1967. The leader of East Germany, Walter Ulbricht, asked her to step down.
Hilde Benjamin helped write new laws for East Germany. She played a big part in changing the country's legal system. After leaving her minister role, she taught law history. She worked at a special academy in Potsdam-Babelsberg. She died in East Berlin in April 1989.
Awards and Recognition
Hilde Benjamin received several awards in East Germany. These included the Patriotic Order of Merit in 1962. She also received the Order of Karl Marx in 1977 and 1987. In 1979, she was named a "Meritorious Jurist of the GDR." In 1982, she received the Star of People's Friendship.
Images for kids
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Benjamin (right) at a 1963 trial.
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Benjamin (right) talking to young people in 1958.
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Benjamin's grave in Berlin.
