Fritz Kunst

Fritz Kunst (12 November 1899–October 13, 1979) was a German politician of the Communist Party and SED, and mayor of Greiz and Jena.

Life
Born in Greiz, Kunst was a member of the Communist Party (KPD) at its founding in 1918 and was a leader in the labour sport movement (Arbeiter-Turn- und -Sportbewegung). During the Third Reich he was active in the Communist resistance and was arrested several times and tortured by the Gestapo. After the end of the war, within the Soviet Occupation Zone, he became a local leader (Kreisleiter) for the KPD (and from 1946, SED). In 1948, he was elected mayor of his hometown Greiz with the support of the Soviet commandant. From 1953 to 1960, he was mayor of the city of Jena.

Honours

 * On 12 November 1969, the city of Jena conferred honorary citizenship upon Kunst. This was rescinded on 20 March 1991.
 * The city of Jena also named a street after Kunst, which has since been renamed to Schrödingerstraße.

Links

 * Fritz Kunst in 1945 on the balcony of the Greiz city hall