Heinrich Gemkow

Heinrich Gemkow, 2003 in Berlin

Heinrich Gemkow (born June 26, 1928 in Stolp / Pomerania , † August 15, 2017 in Berlin ) was a German historian .

Life

Heinrich Gemkow, born in a family of teachers, had to break off attending secondary school in 1943 because he was hired as a naval helper on the island of Wangerooge . His captivity was from May to August 1945. Until 1946 he worked as a civil engineering worker in Bayreuth . After attending the preparatory college in Halle- Wittenberg, he studied German , history and education at the Martin Luther University in Halle from 1947 to 1951. He then became Alfred Meusel's assistant and research assistant at the Museum of German History in Berlin. After an apprenticeship , he did his doctorate on Paul Singer in 1959 at the Humboldt University in Berlin .

From 1953 to 1990 he worked at the Institute for Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the SED , Berlin (as deputy director 1964–1990). In 1969 he became professor for the history of the labor movement. He was instrumental in founding the "Contributions to the History of the Labor Movement" (BzG). He was also vice-president of the Kulturbund der DDR (1968–1990); Member of the historians' commission of GDR-Poland and member of the editorial commission of MEGA (1975–1990). Gemkow helped to clear the way to the International Marx-Engels Foundation because he wanted to save the MEGA.

The main focus of his work were biographical works on Paul Singer , Friedrich Engels , Karl Marx , Wilhelm Liebknecht , August Bebel , Wilhelm Bracke , Helena Demuth and the families of Marx and Engels. He paid particular attention to searching for and securing research into Engels' documents in the family estate. Gemkow supported Christa Wolf's remarks that she made during the demonstration against politics in the GDR on November 4, 1989 on Alexanderplatz in Berlin . “We stand by Christa Wolf's words to the citizens of the GDR. Put your trust, stay with us! ”Since 1991 he was a member of the“ Berlin Association for the Promotion of MEGA Edition eV ”. Since 1995 Gemkow has been a member of the association“ Helle Panke ”eV - Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Berlin.

He was with his wife Hilde, geb. Junk (* 1925; † 2012), married and lived as a pensioner in Berlin. He was in correspondence and personal correspondence with Bert Andréas , Yvonne Kapp , the Karl-Marx-Haus Trier, Michael Knieriem , Jürgen Kuczynski , Heinz Monz and others. His estate can be used in the Federal Archives (SAPMO). In 2014, a biography about Jenny Marx was dedicated to him.

Gemkow died on August 15, 2017 in a Berlin hospital and was buried on September 12, 2017 in the Pankow III cemetery.

Honors

In 1981 he received the National Prize of the GDR first class for science and technology and in 1988 the Patriotic Order of Merit in gold. On the occasion of his 90th birthday, a colloquium took place on June 26, 2018 under the title: On the arduous search and the happy finding in Berlin.

Publications

• New finds on the history of the Berlin University . In: ZfG, Berlin 1953, Issue 1, pp. 120–125
• Joseph Belli . The red field post. With an afterword by HG , Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1956
• Friedrich Engels' help in the victory of German social democracy over the socialist law . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1957 (series of publications on the history and theory of the labor movement, issue 9)
• Paul Singer. an important leader of the German labor movement . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1957 (series of publications on the history and theory of the labor movement, issue 17)
• A new find on the biography of Friedrich Engels . In: ZfG, Berlin 1958, pp. 345–352.
• Paul Singer. From bourgeois democrat to leader of the German labor movement (1862–1890) . Phil. Diss., Humboldt University Berlin 1959.
• A letter from August Bebel to Polish socialists . BzG, Berlin 1961, No. 2, pp. 376-378.
• August Bebel: Not a man and not a penny for this system. From speeches and writings. Selected u. a. by HG Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1961. (Struggles of the German working class 4)
• Friedrich Engels' journey to the continent in 1893 . In: BzG. Special issue contributions to Marx-Engels research in the GDR . Berlin 1962, pp. 242-256.
• Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels. Correspondence with Wilhelm Bracke (1869–1880). Published on behalf of the Institute for Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the SED and introduced by HG Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1963. (Library of Marxism-Leninism Volume 62)
• Wilhelm Eichhoff : The International Workers' Association. Its founding, organization, political and social activity and expansion . Faithful reproduction of the 1868 edition, afterword by HG Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1964
• Bracke's encounter with Marx. An unpublished letter . In: BzG, Berlin 1965, No. 3, pp. 487-490
• History of the German labor movement in eight volumes. Author collective: Walter Ulbricht u. a. The following authors were involved in the elaboration of the entire work: Horst Bartel (…) HG (…). Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1966
• Karl Marx. A biography . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1967 (4th edition 1975)
• Democratic weekly paper. Organ of the German People's Party and the Association of German Workers' Associations. With an introduction by HG and Ursula Herrmann . Central antiquariat of the German Democratic Republic, Leipzig 1969
• August Bebel. A picture biography. With 86 illustrations . VEB Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1969 (2nd revised edition 1986)
• Friedrich Engels. A biography . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1970 (6th complete edition 1988) also Verlag Marxistische Blätter, Frankfurt am Main 1970
• August Bebel. Selected speeches and writings ed. by Horst Bartel , Rolf Dlubeck and HG Bd.1. 1863 to 1878 . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1970
• Belli, Joseph . In: History of the German labor movement. Biographical Lexicon . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1970, pp. 40-41
• Eichhoff, Karl Wilhelm . In: History of the German labor movement. Biographisches Lexikon , Berlin 1970, pp. 109-110
• Singer, Paul . In: History of the German labor movement. Biographical Lexicon . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1970, pp. 431-434
• Introduction. 1 to 3 part. Broadcast date: November 24, 1970, December 8, 1970 and December 22, 1970 (Scientific Weltanschauung. Lecture cycle "Friedrich Engels - Revolutionary and Scientist")
• Variants and political function of the current Engels falsification in the FRG . In: Friedrich Engels. Co-founder of scientific socialism. Minutes of the international scientific conference on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Friedrich Engels' birthday Berlin, November 12th - 13th, 1970 . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1971, pp. 382-391.
• Friedrich Engels and the alternative program of the German social democracy in relation to the Hohenzollern Empire In: Friedrich Engels 1820 - 1970. Papers. Discussions. Documents. Editor: Hans Pelger, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, director of the Karl-Marx-Haus, Trier . Verlag für Literatur und Zeitgeschehen, Hanover 1971, pp. 99-106. (Series of publications by the Research Institute of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Volume 85)
• About the alliance policy of the working class . Broadcast date: March 16, 1971 (Scientific Weltanschauung. Lecture cycle "Friedrich Engels - Revolutionary and Scientist (VI)")
• Faithful friends - good neighbors. Common traditions of the revolutionary German and Polish labor movement from the beginning to the present , Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1974
• Introduction. “Living Heritage” cycle. "Voice of the GDR" series: "Scientific Weltanschauung" from January 3, 1974 .
• Wilhelm Liebknecht. Memories of a soldier of the revolution. Compiled and included. Illustrations by Günter Lech . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1976
• Unknown documents from the Marx family found. On the scientific value of the newly discovered materials . In: Neues Deutschland from May 5, 1976
• Karl Marx and Edgar von Westphalen - fellow students in Berlin . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research 1 . Berlin 1977, pp. 15-22
• August Bebel. Selected speeches and writings. Edited by Horst Bartel, Rolf Dlubek, HG, Ursula Hermann and Gustav Seeber . Vol. 2.1. and Vol. 2.2 .; 1878 to 1890 . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1978
• Small additions to the biography of the students Karl Marx and Edgar von Westphalen . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research 3 . Berlin 1978, pp. 143-146.
• Karl Marx and the world revolutionary process. Thoughts on the 160th birthday of the founder of scientific communism . In: BzG, Berlin 1978, issue 3, p. 323 -. * Karl Marx memorials in Berlin . In: Berlin cultural sites . Edited by Alfred Doil. VEB FA Brockhaus Verlag, Leipzig 1978, pp. 99-100.
• A previously unknown greeting card from Friedrich Engels . In: BzG, Berlin 1979, issue 1
• Caroline Schoeler - a friend of the Marx and Engels family . In: Marx-Engels-Jahrbuch 2 . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1979, pp. 241-250.
• Inheritance waiver from Jenny Marx . In: 'BzG, Berlin 1980, No. 2, pp. 59-61.
• The great revolutionary and comrade in arms of Karl Marx . In: unity. Journal of Theory and Practice of Scientific Socialism . Berlin 1980, No. 11, pp. 1101-1107
• Our life. A biography about Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1981 (12th complete edition 1989)
• Final word . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels Research 9 . Berlin 1981, pp. 222-228.
• Necessary correction of a date . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research 13 . Berlin 1982, pp. 41-44.
• Their names live on through the centuries. Condolences and necrologists on the deaths of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Editing by HG including Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1983.
• August Bebel, Selected Speeches and Writings. Edited by Horst Bartel, Rolf Dlubek, HG, Ursula Hermann and Gustav Seeber. Vol. 6 August Bebel. Out of my life . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1983.
• From the Highgate cemetery to Marx-Engels-Platz. Marx-Engels anniversaries as reflected in a century . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1983 - Licensed edition Traces in our time. Marx-Engels anniversaries as reflected in a century . Marxist sheets publishing house, Frankfurt am Main 1983
• Marx commemoration days in the German labor movement . In: BzG, Berlin 1983, issue 2, pp. 176-186.
• Wilhelm Bracke. On the way to Marxism. 3 parts in one volume, Braunschweig 1873–1876. With foreword by HG Zentralantiquariat of the German Democratic Republic, Leipzig 1984
• Karl Marx Friedrich Engels. The happiness of togetherness. About love, friendship, solidarity. Compiled and introduced by Heinrich and Hilde Gemkow. Illustrations by Thomas Schleusing . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1985
• A newly found angel's letter . In: Marx-Engels-Jahrbuch 8 . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1985, pp. 315-320
• Karl Marx died 102 years ago today. Also in the dreamy Ahr valley dedicated to the revolutionary cause. Experiences in the footsteps of the famous spa guest from 1877 in Bad Neuenahr . In: Neues Deutschland from March 14, 1985, p. 6
• Obituary for Bert Andréas . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels Research 18 . Berlin 1985, pp. 159-161
• International symposium August 10, 1985. Man, nature and the environment in the work of Friedrich Engels. Scientific working discussion November 9, 1985. Marxism and biotechnology . Wuppertal 1986 (series of publications by the Marx-Engels Foundation 5), pp. 23–28
• Karl Marx's last stay in Germany. As a spa guest in Bad Neuenahr in 1877 . Edited by the Marx-Engels-Foundation, Wuppertal, Wuppertal [1986]
• Julie Bebel . In: BzG, Berlin 1986, issue 4, pp. 545-553
• Opening address . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels Research 21 . Berlin 1987, pp. 13-15
• Bourgeois democrats on the side of Marx and Engels . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels Research 21 . Berlin 1987, pp. 52-57
• News from the angel house . In: BzG, Berlin 1987, issue 3, pp. 411-412
• Wuppertal biographies. 14th episode . In: BzG, Berlin 1987, issue 5, p. 715
• Michael Knieriem : “Profit under God's blessing”. A contribution to the company history and business situation by Friedrich Engels . In: BzG, Berlin 1987, No. 6, pp. 449-480
• Karl Marx Friedrich Engels. With a nimble pen. Journalistic treasures from five decades. Compiled and introduced by Heinrich and Hilde Gemkow . Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1988
• Helena Demuth - "a loyal comrade" . In: Marx-Engels-Jahrbuch 11 , Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1989, pp. 324-348
• August Bebel - "... a magnificent eagle". Obituaries - poems - memories . Edited by HG and Angelika Müller, Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1990 (History series)
• Editions of the "Communist Manifesto". An exhibition for the 175th birthday of Karl Marx . With a foreword by Heinrich Gemkow and a contribution by Helmut Seidel, Leipzig 1993 (Rosa-Luxemburg-Verein eV message 9)
• The most important information about the Marx-Engels Complete Edition (MEGA) . In: IWK. International academic correspondence on the history of the German labor movement . Berlin 1990, No. 2, June 1990, pp. 197-204
• Gustav Mayer and Emil Engels III in correspondence . In: Geschichte im Wuppertal 1993. Ed. Bergischer Geschichtsverein. Historical center, city archive, city library . Wuppertal 1993, pp. 3-8
• Heinrich Gemkow / Rolf Hecker : Unknown documents about Marx's son Frederick Demuth . In: BzG, Berlin 1994, issue 4, pp. 43-59
• Family and home in Friedrich Engels' writings and letters . In: Geschichte im Wuppertal 1994. Ed. Bergischer Geschichtsverein. Historical center, city archive, city library . Wuppertal 1994, pp. 107-114
• A rediscovered memory of Friedrich Engels . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research. New episode 1994 . Hamburg 1994, pp. 256-258
• Women around Friedrich Engels . In: Geschichte im Wuppertal 1995. Ed. Bergischer Geschichtsverein. Historical center, city archive, city library . Wuppertal 1995, pp. 26-40
• Five women at Friedrich Engels' side . In: BzG, Berlin 1995, No. 4, pp. 47-58
• Paul Singer and Friedrich Engels. About growing a friendship . BzG, Berlin 1996, No. 1, pp. 3-13
• Johannes Skambraks . In: MEGA Studies 1996/1 . Berlin 1996, pp. 149-150
• In search of Friedrich Engels' testimonies. Reminiscences . In: BzG, Berlin 1997, Issue 4, pp. 73-84
• "The world is getting more beautiful every day" Previously unpublished letters Emil Engel's letters . In: Geschichte im Wuppertal 1997. Ed. Bergischer Geschichtsverein. Historical center, city archive, city library . Wuppertal 1997, pp. 65-74
• Karl Marx's pocket watch - its way through 130 years . In: BzG, Berlin 1998, issue 4, pp. 106-110
• "Dearest sister Marie ..." Hitherto unpublished letters from Hermann Engels. In: Geschichte im Wuppertal 1998. Ed. Bergischer Geschichtsverein. Historical center, city archive, city library . Wuppertal 1998, pp. 10-18
• Edgar von Westphalen. The unusual life of Karl Marx's brother-in-law . In: Yearbook for West German State History . 25th year 1999. Reprint: Verlag der Landesarchivverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz.
• Max Oppenheim -Marx 'spa acquaintance and Engels' correspondent . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research. New series 2000 , Hamburg 2000, pp. 125-135
• Letter to the reader on "Stalinism and the end of the first Marx-Engels complete edition (1931–1941)". Letter to the editors . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research. New episode 2001 . Hamburg 2001, pp. 293-295.
• Helena Demuth (1820-1890). A life in the shadow of others. From nanny in Trier to housekeeper in London . In: Irina Hundt (ed.): From the salon to the barricade. Women of the Heine Age. With a foreword by Joseph A. Kruse . Verlag JB Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2002, pp. 415-424. ( Heine - studies edited by Joseph A. Kruse Heinrich Heine Institute of the state capital Düsseldorf )
• Sigismund Ludwig Borkheim . From royal Prussian gunner to Russia expert at the side of Marx and Engels . Argument Verlag, Hamburg 2003 (Berlin association for the promotion of the MEGA edition we.V. Wissenschaftliche Mitteilungen, issue 2)
• Let's not forget the old ones! Pioneers of the East German Marx-Engels Edition . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research. New episode. Special volume 5 , Argument Verlag, Hamburg 2006, pp. 271–282.
• Advice on questions of Marx-Engels research (1962). With a comment . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research. New episode. Special volume 5 , Argument Verlag, Hamburg 2006, pp. 405-416.
• From the life of a Rhenish family in the 19th century. Archival finds on the von Westphalen and Marx families . In: Yearbook for West German State History . Volume 34, 2008 special edition, pp. 497-524.

literature

• Historian in Central Germany . Ferd. Dümmler Verlag, Bonn / Hanover / Hamburg / Munich 1965, p. 32.
• Friends, students and comrades in arms of Marx and Engels. Honorary colloquium on the occasion of the 60th birthday of Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research 26th Institute for Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the SED. Marx-Engels-Department , Berlin 1989, pp. 7-67. Digitized
• MK: Club friend Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow 65 years . In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research. Published by Rosa-Luxemburg-Verein eV, Issue 15, Leipzig 1994
• From the laborious search and the happy finding. Reviews and experiences of Marx-Engels researchers and historians of the labor movement. Colloquium on the occasion of the 75th birthday of Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow on June 28, 2003 in Berlin. 2 parts . Helle Panke, Berlin 2003.
• Contributions to Marx-Engels research. New episode. Special volume 5. The Marx-Engels editions of works in the USSR and GDR (1945–1968). 1945 - New beginning or continuation of the Marx-Engels-Edition? The Russian Marx-Engels work edition. The publication of the MEW in the GDR and its editors. To the reception based on the first MEGA and MEW. Documentation. In search of the SPD library 1947/46. Marx documents from the Longuet family archive. Letters from Roman Rosdolsky to Karl Korsch (1950-54). Edited by Carl-Erich Vollgraf, Richard Sperl and Rolf Hecker . Argument Verlag, Hamburg 2006, pp. 483-484. ISBN 3-88619-691-7
• Walter Schmidt : Almost privately with Marx and Engels. Heinrich Gemkow dead . In: Neues Deutschland from August 16, 2017. Digitized
• From the laborious search and the happy finding. In memory of Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow. June 26, 1928 - August 15, 2017 . Part III. Ed. "Helle Panke" eV - Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Berlin. Berlin 2017. (= Pankower Lectures, Book 216)
• From the laborious search and the happy finding . In memoriam of Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow June 26, 1928 - August 15, 2017 . Part IV. Berlin 2018 (= Pankower Lectures, Book 218)
• Annelies Laschitza : Obituary Heinrich Gemkow (1928–2017) . In: Bulletin. Edited by Förderkreis Archives and Libraries on the History of the Labor Movement . Berlin 2017, issue 52, pp. 43–44. Digitized

Web links

• Literature by and about Heinrich Gemkow in the catalog of the German National Library
• Obituary notice from 26./27. August 2017 in Neues Deutschland, p. 6.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Walter Schmidt: Almost private with Marx and Engels. Heinrich Gemkow is dead . In: Neues Deutschland August 17, 2017. Accessed August 17, 2017
2. ^ Fritz Zimmermann: Heinrich Gemkow and the beginnings of the BzG In: Contributions to Marx-Engels research 26, pp. 58-61
3. ^ MEGA First Section Volume I / 1; I / 2; I / 3; I / 10; I / 11; I / 12; I / 13; I / 22; I / 24; I / 25; I / 26; I / 27; I / 29; MEGA Second Division Volume II / 1.1 .; II / 1.2; II / 2 .; II / 3.1 .; II / 3.2 .; II / 3.3 .; II / 3.4 .; II / 3.5 .; II / 3.6 .; II / 4.1 .; II / 5; II / 6; II / 7; II / 8; II / 9; MEGA Third Division III / 1; III / 2; III / 3; III / 4; III / 5; III / 6; III / 7; III / 8; MEGA IV. Division Volume IV / 1; IV / 2; IV / 4; IV / 6; IV / 7; IV / 8
4. ↑ LEMO
5. ↑ Hans Pischner, Karl-Heinz Schulmeister, Günter Wirth, Uwe Berger, Burkhart Philipp, Hans Jacobus, Heinrich Gemkow and Heinz Hofmann signed for the Kulturbund of the GDR. From: Neue Zeit , Volume 45, Issue 265 of November 10, 1989, central organ of the Christian-Democratic Union of Germany.
6. ^ Page no longer available , search in web archives: Marx-Engels research there also pictures by Heinrich Gemkow
7. ↑ In memoriam Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow (1928-2017) Retrieved August 28, 2017 ( Memento of the original from September 10, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
8. ^ Contributions to Marx-Engels research. New episode. Special volume 5. pp. 483-484
9. ↑ On laborious searching and happy finding. Part 1, pp. 46–53 (selected bibliography 1953–2003)
10. ↑ Kalliope database
11. ^ Partial estate of Heinrich Gemkow SAPMO, Berlin
12. ↑ For Heinrich Gemkow . In: Angelika Limmroth: Jenny Marx. The biography. Karl Dietz Verlag, Berlin 2014 ISBN 978-3-320-02296-9 , p. 9.
13. ^ Obituary notice Neues Deutschland from August 26, 2017.
14. ^ New Germany , April 30th / April 1st. May 1988, p. 3
15. ↑ On the arduous search and the happy finding. In memory of Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow. June 26, 1928 - August 15, 2017 . Part III, p. 1.
16. ^ ZfG = Journal of History
17. ^ HG = Heinrich Gemkow
18. ^ BzG = contributions to the history of the workers' movement
19. ↑ With contributions by Rolf Hecker , Renate Merkel-Melis , Manfred Neuhaus , Walter Schmidt, Wolfgang Schröder , Manfred Schöncke, Ursula Hermann, Rolf Dlubek , François Melis.
20. ↑ With contributions by Rolf Hecker, Günter Benser , Ursula Herrmann, Annelies Laschitza , Hans Pelger, Walter Schmidt , Richard Sperl and Fritz Zimmermann.