Alexander Abusch

His mother also worked as a small trader. Abusch joined the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in 1918. He was editor of several KPD publications, including Die Rote Fahne, from which he was dismissed in 1932 for supporting Heinz Neumann in challenging party leader Ernst Thälmann. In 1937, he became part of the exiled KPD leadership in Paris, later in Toulouse. In 1941, he moved to Mexico, where he became a member of the Free Germany Movement. Between 1948 and 1950 he was part of the party leadership of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. He worked as a Secret Informer for the Stasi. Between 1958 and 1961 he served as Minister of Culture of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). It was in his role as Minister of Culture that he ordered the demolition of princely castle of Putbus on Rügen. He published under the pen name Ernst Reinhardt.

• Name — Alexander Abusch • Office — Minister of Culture of the German Democratic Republic • Term Start — December 1958 • Term End — January 1961 • Predecessor — Johannes R. Becher • Successor — Hans Bentzien • Born — 14 February 1902 • Birthplace — Kraków, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, Austria-Hungary or Nuremberg, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire • Died — 27 January 1982 • Place of death — East Berlin, German Democratic Republic • Party — KPD (1918–1946) SED (1946–1982) • Occupation — Journalist, writer, politician

Alexander Abusch is recorded as having received Order of Karl Marx, National Prize of East Germany and Grand Star of People's Friendship.