ROSENBERG, LUDWIG

ROSENBERG, LUDWIG (1903–1977), German trade union leader. Born in Berlin, Rosenberg was the son of a merchant, and received a commercial education. In 1925 he joined the Clerical Workers' Union and in 1928 became a full-time official of the union. After a course of study at the government school for economics and administration, Rosenberg was appointed head of the commercial section of the union. He went to Britain as a refugee in 1933, where he taught in the Workers' Educational Association and was a freelance journalist. During World War ii, Rosenberg headed a section of the British Ministry of Labor. He continued to work for the revival of the German trade union movement and returned to Germany in 1946. In 1949, he became a member of the executive of the trade union movement, and was made the head of its foreign relations department in 1954. In 1959, he became vice president and, in 1962, president of the trade union movement. Rosenberg did much to bring the German trade union movement back into democratic politics, saying that it was not bad politics that affected character but bad character that corrupted politics. He enjoyed a high reputation in Germany and was the first president of the movement who did not come from the working classes. He visited Israel on several occasions and was instrumental in establishing friendly relations between the German trade union movement and the *Histadrut.

bibliography:

F. Ahland, "Rosenberg. Der Buerger als Gewerkschafter" (Dissertation: Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, 2002); D. Schuster Ludwig Rosenberg. Ein Portrait (1969).

[Monika Halbinger (2^nd ed.)]