Commemorative stamp series - Germany / German Democratic Republic 1981 - 20 Pfennig

Important Personalities, Edition 1981 The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the German Democratic Republic publishes six special postage stamps with illustrations of important personalities. No Special First Day Cover Special Cancellation from May 5 to July 4, 1981 Important Figures 20 Pfennig Value: Johannes R. Becher (May 22, 1891 to October 11, 1958) The son of a Bavarian magistrate became one of the leading Expressionist poets in Germany, a consistent opponent of the war, who finally - under the influence of the events of the Great Socialist October Revolution and the struggles of the German proletariat - sided with the working class and acquired decisive services in the ranks of the Communist Party of Germany for the development of proletarian-revolutionary literature. Becher was exiled by the Fascists in 1933, went to the Soviet Union in 1935 and took over the editorial office of the journal "Internationale Literatur. Deutsche Blätter", which is important for German exile literature. In 1940 he published his novel "Farewell" in Moscow. Becher's direct intervention in the fight against fascism intensified with the raids of Hitler's troops: radio speeches, pamphlet poems, and his participation in the National Committee "Free Germany" bear witness to this. Immediately after his return to his homeland, he developed not only his immense poetic work, but also his extensive cultural activity. From 1945 until his death, J. R. Becher was President of the Cultural Association, 1953-1956 President of the German Academy of Arts and from 1954 to Minister of Culture of the GDR. His poetic and philosophical experiences he documented in the four volumes "Efforts." The highlight of the poetic late work is the volume "Step of the midcentury" (1958). Becher's heritage is cultivated in the GDR mainly by the Johannes R. Becher Archive of the Academy of Arts and the Aufbau-Verlag.