Selma Lohse | |
|---|---|
| Member of theReichstag | |
| In office March 1931 – July 1932 | |
| Constituency | Franconia |
| Member of theWürzburg City Council | |
| In office 1927–1933 | |
| Member of the Lower Franconia District Council | |
| In office 1919–1933 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Selma Rösel (1883-02-17)17 February 1883 |
| Died | 4 May 1937(1937-05-04) (aged 54) |
| Party | Social Democratic Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Selma Lohse (née Rösel; 17 February 1883 – 4 May 1937) was a German politician who served in theReichstag of theWeimar Republic from 1931 until 1932. A member of theSocial Democratic Party, she represented theFranconia constituency. Lohse was also a member of theLower Franconia district council and theWürzburg city council, serving as one of four women in the latter body.
Selma Rösel was born on 17 February 1883 in the town ofGörlitz, then part of theKingdom of Prussia within theGerman Empire. Unlike other lower-class children at the time, she did not begin working after completing school, instead becoming anapprenticeseamstress. In 1904, she married Max Lohse, a prominentsocial democrat andunion leader, quitting her apprenticeship to become ahousewife and caretaker to their three children. The family moved to theBavarian city ofWürzburg in 1908 after her husband became the regional manager of the German Stone Workers' Association (Steinarbeiterverband).[1]
Lohse first became politically involved in 1911 when she joined theSocial Democratic Party. DuringWorld War I, she worked as a volunteer in "war welfare", and she was elected to the local "council for the poor and orphans" in 1919.[1][2] Later that year, she was also elected to theLower Franconia district council (Kreistag [de]). In 1927, she was also elected to the Würzburg city council, becoming one of four women in the body.[1][3]
In March 1931, Lohse was appointed to theReichstag of theWeimar Republic to complete the term ofHermann Müller following his death, representing theFranconia constituency. She left the Reichstag at the end of her term in July 1932.[1][4] Following theNazi Party'sseizure of power in 1933, women were banned from holding public office, as politics was "considered unsuitable for women". As a result, Lohse was removed from her positions in the district and city councils.[5][6]
Lohse died on 4 May 1937.[1] A silent demonstration was held at her funeral.[7]
