Wilhelm Florin (16 March 1894 – 5 July 1944) was a German Communist Party (KPD) politician[1] and a campaigner in opposition to National Socialism.

This was because he became opposed to the war and in 1917 joined the newly formed Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD / Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands), which had broken away from the mainstream Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD / Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands)) over the issue of support for the war.

When the USPD itself split in 1920 Florin was a part of the left-wing faction that joined Germany's fledgling Communist Party (KPD / Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands).

Party strategy was now more closely aligned with that of allies in Moscow, as the German Commiunists abandoned the goal of immediate revolution, and decided to participate in the country's emerging democracy.

Florin stood by Ernst Thälmann and, starting in 1925, undertook a reorganisation of the faction-riven Ruhr region Communist party, which he took over and which, by 1932, was following the Stalinist line.

The Reichstag fire took place at the end of February, and Wilhelm Florin went underground before emigrating to the Soviet Union via Paris, which at this time was a destination of choice for many German Communist party members fearful for their lives and liberty if they remained in Germany.