Josef Simon (trade unionist)

In 1885, he heard Wilhelm Liebknecht speak, and was inspired to join the Social Democratic Party of Germany and the Support Association of German Shoemakers.

Although, due to the Anti-Socialist Laws, this operated as a mutual benefit organisation rather than a trade union, Simon led a strike in Offenbach am Main later in the year.

He led the union through five difficult years of strikes, lock outs, and economic struggles, but was considered a success in the role, and remained in post.

In 1912, he was elected to the Reichstag, but in 1917, he left the SPD, joining the left-wing Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD).

In 1919, he briefly served as the Bavarian Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, but resigned in protest at the government's backing for the Whites in the Russian Civil War.