Born: 6 November 1903, Poland
Died: 2 August 1994
Country most active: Germany
Also known as: NA
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Hilde Radusch was a German political activist engaged in anti-fascist resistance. She also played key roles in the feminist and lesbian movements. In 1922, she joined the Young Communists, becoming a leading member of the Berlin Red Women’s and Girls’ Association in 1924. Radusch joined the Communist Party in 1924 and served as a city councillor from 1929 to 1932.
However, her openness about her lesbian life led to her exclusion as a candidate in 1932. Radusch was arrested in 1933 due to her Communist Party involvement but was released in September. She met her life partner, Else “Eddy” Klopsch, in 1939. Together, they ran a restaurant and provided shelter for “illegals.”
During World War II, they hid from the authorities in a country house. Radusch faced difficulties after the war, including expulsion from the Communist Party due to her sexual orientation. In the 1970s, she co-founded L74, a Berlin group of older lesbians, and played a role in the Women’s Research, Education, and Information Centre (FFBIZ).