{{Short description|German politician (1907–1982)}} {{infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = ''Generalmajor'' | name = Richard Staimer | image = Heinrich Rau, Richard Staimer y Kurt Frank Trim.jpg | caption = Staimer (center) with Heinrich Rau (left) and Kurt Frank (right) in Spain {{circa}} 1937–1938 | office1 = Chairman of the<br />''Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik'' | term_start1 = 4 January 1955 | term_end1 = 27 February 1963 | predecessor1 = Arno Berthold | successor1 = Kurt Lohberger | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1907|01|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire | death_date = {{death date and age|1982|10|24|1907|01|25|df=y}} | death_place = East Berlin, East Germany | death_cause = | resting_place = Zentralfriedhof Friedrichsfelde | party = KPD {{small|(1922–1946)}}<br />SED {{small|(after 1946)}} | occupation = {{hlist|Politician|Military Officer|Trade Unionist|Tile Setter}} | awards = Patriotic Order of Merit<br />Order of Karl Marx | education = Communist University of the National Minorities of the West | mother = | spouse = {{marriage|Eleonore Pieck|1947|1954|end=div}} | children = | father = Josef Staimer | relatives = Wilhelm Pieck (father-in-law) | allegiance = {{flag|Spanish Republic}}<br />{{flag|East Germany}} | branch = International Brigades<br />''Volkspolizei''<br />National People's Army | service_years = 1936–1938<br />1945–1952<br />1963–1969 | rank = Major<br />Inspector General<br />''Generalmajor'' | commands = Thälmann Battalion<br />XI International Brigade<br />Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg Police<br />Brandenburg State Police<br />Leipzig Police Reserve<br />Military Training Department | battles = Spanish Civil War }} '''Richard Staimer''' (25 January 1907 – 24 October 1982) was a German communist politician, trade unionist and military officer who commanded the Thälmann Battalion and XI International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War, later serving as a ''Generalmajor'' in the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). He held several positions in the GDR, including chairman of the ''Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik'' ("Sport and Technology Association") from 1955 to 1963.
== Biography == === Early life and career === Richard Staimer was born in Munich on 25 January 1907, the son of former {{ill|Liste der Münchner Polizeipräsidenten|de|lt=Munich Police President}} and trade union secretary {{ill|Josef Staimer|de}}. After attending ''volksschule'', he apprenticed as a tile setter from 1922 to 1925. He practiced this trade until 1931, during which time he traveled as a journeyman between 1927 and 1929 and worked in Switzerland and Austria in 1929/30. Influenced by his membership in a free proletarian children's group from 1920 onward, Staimer joined the Young Communist League of Germany (KJVD) at the start of his apprenticeship. In 1923, he belonged to the KJVD's military apparatus (M-Apparat) and its North Bavarian district leadership. In 1925, he became a member of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). At the same time, he joined other communist organizations, such as the ''Rote Hilfe'' ("Red Aid"), the ''Revolutionäre Gewerkschafts Opposition'' ("Revolutionary Trade Union Opposition," RGO), and the ''Roter Frontkämpferbund'' ("Red Front Fighters' League," RFB).<ref name=bundes>{{cite web |title=Staimer, Richard (Egon) |url=https://www.bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de/de/recherche/kataloge-datenbanken/biographische-datenbanken/richard-egon-staimer |website=bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de |publisher=Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung |access-date=3 March 2026}}</ref>
In 1930, Staimer was expelled from Austria for his political activities. He found work as a construction worker in Nuremberg and became head of subversion activities within the police and the ''Reichswehr'' in the M-Apparat for Nuremberg, as well as district chairman of the German Construction Workers' Union. In 1931, he was sent by the Comintern to train at a military-political school in Moscow. From November 1931 to October 1932, he was district leader of the now-banned RFB of Northern Bavaria, and simultaneously a consultant and instructor for the KPD district leadership. Afterwards, he worked illegally in Berlin until February 1933. When Staimer faced charges of high treason in June 1933, he emigrated to the Soviet Union.<ref name=bundes/>
=== In exile === [[File:Staimer Koltsov Kahle 1936 37.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Staimer (left) with Mikhail Koltsov (center) and Hans Kahle (right) in Spain {{circa}} 1936–1937]] After arriving in Moscow, Staimer became a student at the Julian Marchlewski Communist University of the National Minorities of the West. There he received the code name "Egon." After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and the formation of the International Brigades, Staimer went to Spain and took command of the Thälmann Battalion from December 1936 to February 1937. In April he was promoted to commander of the XI International Brigade, serving until December under the codename "General Hoffmann."<ref name=bundes/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Krammer |first1=Arnold |title=Germans against Hitler: The Thaelmann Brigade |journal=Journal of Contemporary History |date=April 1969 |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=72 81–82 |url=https://www-jstor-org.hacc.idm.oclc.org/stable/259662?seq=8 |access-date=3 March 2026}}</ref> During this time, Staimer was rumored to have been involved in the death of commissar Hans Beimler, although this hasn't been definitively proven.<ref>{{citation|author=Günthart, Erich |date=2019 |issn=0948-9878 |pages=106–130 |periodical=Zeitschrift des Forschungsverbundes SED-Staat der Freien Universität Berlin |title=Der Tod von Hans Beimler und Louis Schuster in Ludwig Renns „Der Spanische Krieg“ |url=https://zeitschrift-fsed.fu-berlin.de/index.php/zfsed/article/view/535/514 |volume=43}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sparrowhawk |first1=Anthony |title=The Murder of Hans Beimler? |url=https://www.academia.edu/39201534/THE_MURDER_OF_HANS_BEIMLER |website=academia.edu |access-date=3 March 2026}}</ref>
Having risen to the rank of Major, Staimer returned to Moscow in January 1938. From February 1939, he was deployed to Western Europe. He initially stayed in Paris in March/April 1939 and then illegally went to Switzerland on behalf of the KPD. On 7 December 1939, Staimer was arrested in Basel and interned in Switzerland for over a year, most of that time in the St. Gallen prison.<ref>{{citation|author=Erich Günthart |date=2019 |issn=0948-9878 |pages=106-130, 126-129 |periodical=Zeitschrift des Forschungsverbundes SED-Staat der Freien Universität Berlin |title=Der Tod von Hans Beimler und Louis Schuster in Ludwig Renns „Der Spanische Krieg“ |url=https://zeitschrift-fsed.fu-berlin.de/index.php/zfsed/article/view/535/514 |volume=43}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Furthermore, from the beginning of 1941, he was on the Gestapo's {{ill|Sonderfahndungsliste|de|lt=special wanted list}} "USSR." However, he managed to obtain Soviet citizenship and travel to Italy, from where he returned to the Soviet Union on 4 July 1941, with the staff of the Soviet embassy in Rome.
From August 1941, Staimer received specialized military training near Moscow before being sent to the Comintern school in Kushnarenkovo. There, at the end of 1941, he was recalled for "violating the rules of secrecy and personal weaknesses." He survived the subsequent party investigation without disciplinary action. As a probationary measure, Staimer had to take a job in a construction company in Ufa until, by decision of the KPD leadership, he was reinstated to party work in May 1943. He then briefly served as an instructor at POW camp for officers No. 97 in Yelabuga. However, he was recalled by the NKVD later that same year and transferred back to Ufa. After a preparatory political course near Moscow, Staimer returned to Germany in July 1945.<ref name=bundes/>
=== Career in East Germany === Staimer initially became head of the Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg Police Inspectorate, joining the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) upon its foundation the following year. He became head of the Brandenburg State Police Authority in Potsdam in April 1946, and from 1 November 1950 held the rank of {{ill|Chefinspekteur der Deutschen Volkspolizei|de|lt=Chief Inspector}}.<ref name=bundes/>
On 7 November 1947, he married Eleonore Pieck, the daughter of SED Chairman Wilhelm Pieck. They likely met during stays in Ufa or Kuschnarenkowo; the overlap in their biographies suggests this. The marriage lasted until 1954.<ref name=bundes/><ref>{{cite web |title=Staimer, Eleonore (Lore) |url=https://www.bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de/de/recherche/kataloge-datenbanken/biographische-datenbanken/eleonore-lore-staimer |website=bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de |publisher=Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung |access-date=3 March 2026}}</ref>
In 1950 and 1951, Staimer was sent to a special military training course in Privolzhsk. Afterwards, until 1952, he commanded the ''Volkspolizei'' reserve unit in Leipzig with the rank of {{ill|Generalinspekteur der Deutschen Volkspolizei|de|lt=Inspector General}}. Staimer then temporarily resigned from the armed forces and from 1952 to 1954 served as Deputy Director General of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, responsible for personnel management. In addition, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport in May 1954. From 4 January 1955 until 27 February 1963, Staimer was Chairman of the Central Committee of the ''Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik'' ("Sport and Technology Association," GST). Also in 1955, he became a member of the Central Committee of the Free German Youth (FDJ) and a member of the National Council of the National Front, serving in the latter position until 1965. On 15 February 1960, Staimer was promoted to ''Generalmajor'' of the National People's Army Reserve. He was reactivated on 1 April 1963, and appointed head of the Military Training Department at the State Secretariat or Ministry of Higher and Technical Education in 1966. On 1 October 1969, Staimer was transferred to the reserves and retired.<ref name=bundes/>
Staimer died in East Berlin on 24 October 1982. His urn was interred in the "Pergolenweg" section of the Zentralfriedhof Friedrichsfelde in Berlin.
== Honors == On 6 May 1955, Staimer was awarded the Patriotic Order of Merit in Silver. In 1967, he received the Order in Gold, and in 1982 the Order's Gold Clasp. He received the Order of Karl Marx in 1977.
On 7 October 1988, the ''Kampfschwimmerkommando 18'' ("Combat Swimmer Command 18") was awarded the honorary name "Richard Staimer."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/HBGEAEKPULXBFFAMGGZFMIXVJU5X4TUO|title=Kampfschwimmerkommando 18 (Bestand)|language=German|date=2023-07-11|accessdate=2023-07-11|publisher=German Federal Archives}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Sources == * Klaus Froh, {{ill|Rüdiger Wenzke|de}}: ''Die Generale und Admirale der NVA. Ein biographisches Handbuch'', 4. Auflage. Ch. Links, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-86153-209-3. * Hermann Weber, Andreas Herbst: ''Deutsche Kommunisten. Biographisches Handbuch 1918 bis 1945.'' 2., überarbeitete und stark erweiterte Auflage. Dietz, Berlin 2008, ISBN 978-3-320-02130-6.
== External links == * {{commons-inline}} * [https://portal.dnb.de/opac.htm?method=simpleSearch&query=126978581 Works by and about Richard Staimer] at the German National Library
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Staimer, Richard}} Category:1907 births Category:1982 deaths Category:Politicians from Munich Category:Communist Party of Germany politicians Category:AM Apparat people Category:International Brigades personnel Category:German people of the Spanish Civil War Category:National Committee for a Free Germany members Category:Socialist Unity Party of Germany politicians Category:Major generals of the National People's Army (Ground Forces) Category:Government ministers of East Germany Category:Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit (honor clasp) Category:Recipients of the Order of Karl Marx