In 1918, he joined the Independent Social Democratic Party (USPD) and was a participant in the November Revolution and a member of a workers' and soldiers' council.

He was a member of the Gau Board and the Reich Tariff Commission of the German Leather Workers' Association.

In the Lutetia district (1935 to 1936) he was involved in the attempt to create a popular front against the Nazi regime.

After the unification of the SPD and KPD in the Soviet zone of occupation from 1946 to 1948 together with Karl Litke chairman of the regional association of Greater Berlin of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED).

From 1949 he was a member of the Provisional People's Chamber, from 1950 to 1954 as vice-president, then as the first deputy of the president and from 1957 to 1960 as chairman of the standing committee for the local representations.

At the 7th All-German Workers' Conference in Leipzig in 1958, he said:“To have state power in your hands is of great importance.

[4] The German Post Office of the GDR issued a special stamp on the occasion of his 80th birthday on 13 June 1973.

The 8th Fighter Squadron of the Air Force of the National People's Army (LSK / LV) in Marxwalde had had his name since 1972, as did the technical school of the Ministry of the Interior of the GDR in Heyrothsberge.