Walter Ulbricht. Mein Urgrossvater

A fascinating insight into the life of one of the most controversial men in German history. Walter Ulbricht's great-grandson opens the doors to his family history with this book to unveil long-hidden secrets. Walter Ulbricht is regarded as one of the most significant politicians of divided Germany. As a high-ranking official and chairman of the State Council of the GDR, people either revered, mocked, or hated him. Who was the man behind the politician? For decades, the family remained silent; nothing leaked out that was not meant to be known. For decades, they kept quiet about Walter the private man, husband, father, and friend. Curious about who his great-grandfather really was, Florian Heyden embarks on a quest across Europe. He delves deep into Walter's youth, his rise in the KPD, and his exile in Moscow. He learns about lovers and adopted children, intense relationships, and painful separations. Vividly and compellingly, he narrates what drove Walter Ulbricht throughout his life: the eternal competition between family and party. An unprecedented look at the history of the most powerful man in the GDR, which has been kept secret until today.