Walter Ulbricht

Walter Ulbricht was a German Communist politician who played a key role in establishing and leading East Germany (GDR) from 1949 to 1971. He was instrumental in aligning East Germany with Soviet policies during the Cold War, suppressing political opposition, and overseeing the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin. Ulbricht’s leadership aimed to create a socialist state based on Marxist-Leninist principles, but his rigid control and policies also led to economic challenges and political repression. He remains a significant figure in Germany’s 20th-century history, symbolizing Soviet-style communism in the East.