Born in Reutlingen in the Kingdom of Württemberg as the son of a metal worker, he  joined the KJD, the German Communist Youth Party, in 1923, and the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in 1927.
Born in Reutlingen, part of the Kingdom of Württemberg, as a son of a metal worker, he became involved with the KJD, the German Communist Youth Party, in 1923, and later joined the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in 1927.