Karl Čermak (26 May 1881 – 24 October 1924) was a German socialist politician. A skilled organizer, Čermak emerged as a key leader of the labour movement in German Bohemia in the years preceding World War I. He went on to become a parliamentarian in the First Czechoslovak Republic.
Čermak was born in Vienna on 26 May 1881. He was the son of a shoemaker.[1] Čermak worked as a clerk.[1]
In 1905, he became a member of the board of the SDAPÖ organization in Bohemia.[1] Between 1907 and 1911 he served as editor of the newspaper Freiheit in Teplitz-Schönau.[2] He headed the regional secretariat of the Social Democracy in German Bohemia 1911–1919.[2] [1]
During World War I he served as general manager of the Nutritional Association based in Aussig.[1] In 1918 he was appointed director of the Press Bureau of the regional government of German Bohemia.[3]
After the creation of Czechoslovakia, he became a key leader of the German Social Democratic Workers Party in the Czechoslovak Republic (DSAP).[2] He was noted for his strong organizational skills.[4] [5] In contrast to his peers, Čermak was the sole member of the 1920s DSAP leadership that hailed from a major city (having been born in Vienna).[6]
In September 1919 he was named Central Secretary of the party.[2] [3] He was opposed to cooperation with the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers Party, which he saw as 'national chauvinists'.[7] After Josef Seliger's death, Čermak was named Vice Chairman of DSAP.[2] [5] He represented DSAP in the Czechoslovak National Assembly 1920–1924, having been elected from the 5th constituency (Česká Lípa) in the April 1920 election.[2] [1] [3] [8] He was a member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.[1]
Cermak died in Prague on 24 October 1924 at the age of 43.[2] [1] [9] He was replaced by Siegfried Taub as new Central Secretary of DSAP.[10]