Singer, Paul

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SINGER, PAUL

SINGER, PAUL (1844–1911), German socialist leader. Born in Berlin, Singer and his brother founded a successful ladies' clothing factory. At first a member of the German Liberal Party, he joined the Social Democrats in 1878 in protest against the passing of anti-socialist legislation and was elected to the Reichstag in 1884. His exposure of the spy system operated by the Berlin police led to his expulsion in 1886, but he was allowed to return in the following year, when he was made a member of the party executive and its chairman in 1890. Singer took part in several congresses of the Socialist International and gave financial assistance to the Berlin socialist daily the Volksblatt, forerunner of the central organ of the German Social Democratic Party, Vorwaerts. Singer was known for his strong sense of justice and his charitable contributions, being one of the founders of a refuge for the homeless in Berlin. He took no part in Jewish affairs.

bibliography:

H. Gemkow, Paul Singer, ein bedeutender Fuehrer der deutschen Arbeiterbewegung (1957). add. bibliography: A. Herzig, in: jidg, vol. 6 (1984), 123–149; U. Reuter, Paul Singer (2004).