Walter Ernst Paul Ulbricht was born on 30 June 1893 in Leipzig, Saxony, into a Protestant family. He received minimal formal education, completing only primary school before training as a joiner. His parents were active in the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which Ulbricht joined in 1912. He later became involved with the Independent Social Democratic Party (USPD) in 1917, opposing World War I. Ulbricht deserted the Imperial German Army in 1918 and participated in the German Revolution. He joined the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in 1920 and quickly rose through its ranks, becoming a member of the Central Committee in 1923.Following the Nazi rise to power in 1933, Ulbricht lived in exile in Paris and Prague, and later in the Soviet Union until 1945. After World War II, he reorganized the German Communist Party in the Soviet occupation zone, leading to the merger with the SPD to form the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) in 1946. Ulbricht became the First Secretary of the SED in 1950 and effectively led East Germany. He was also the head of state after the death of President Wilhelm Pieck in 1960.Ulbricht's leadership was marked by the suppression of civil and political rights, and he oversaw the nationalization of industry, which did not improve living standards compared to West Germany. This led to significant emigration, prompting Ulbricht to advocate for the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 to stem the outflow of refugees. The wall was built with Soviet approval, despite initial reluctance from the Kremlin.Ulbricht's economic policies, including the New Economic System introduced in 1963, aimed to increase efficiency but faced opposition within the party. His leadership style became increasingly isolated, and by the late 1960s, he struggled to maintain support both domestically and from the Soviet Union. In May 1971, he was forced to resign from most of his public functions due to health reasons, although he retained a ceremonial role as Chairman of the State Council until his death on 1 August 1973.Ulbricht's early life was shaped by his working-class background and political activism. He was involved in various political movements throughout his life, including the KPD's violent tactics during the Weimar Republic. His tenure as a leader was characterized by a strict adherence to Marxist-Leninist principles, and he was known for his authoritarian governance style. Despite some economic achievements, he failed to elevate East Germany's living standards to match those of West Germany, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among the populace.Ulbricht's legacy is complex; he is often viewed as a staunch Stalinist who prioritized party control over popular support. His leadership was marked by significant repression and a lack of political pluralism, contributing to the characterization of East Germany as a dictatorship. He was awarded numerous honors during his lifetime, reflecting the regime's attempts to cultivate a cult of personality around him, although public admiration remained limited due to his uncharismatic demeanor.

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Walter Ulbricht