Hans Nätscher
- November 13, 1896
- February 28, 1980
- 83 years
About Hans Nätscher
Hans Nätscher, 83, German trade unionist.
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|Hans Nätscher (13 November 1896 – 28 February 1980) was a German trade unionist.
Born in Lohr am Main, Nätscher completed an apprenticeship as a butcher in Würzburg, which was interrupted by serving in the military from 1915 to 1918. He joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and the Central Union of Butchers in 1914, and in 1920 was elected as chair of the union branch. He rose quickly in the union, becoming the secretary for its Northern Bavaria region, then moved to Nuremberg to work full-time for the union at its headquarters. When the union merged into the Union of Food and Drink Workers, he retained his position.
The Nazi government banned trade unions in May 1933, and Nätscher was arrested, and was in custody for most of the next three years. In 1939, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht, but managed to get himself released the following year, and found work as a gravedigger.
After World War II, Nätscher was involved in reconstructing the unions. In 1946, he became chair of a consumer co-operative in Nuremberg-Fürth, then in 1947 he became the first chair of the executive of the Bavarian Food, Beverages and Catering Union. In 1949, this merged with other regional unions to become the national Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG), and Nätscher served as the chair of its executive. In this post, he was highly critical of president Ferdinand Warnecke, who wished to centralise the union.
In 1951, Nätscher was elected as president of the NGG, in which role he campaigned for the union to be politically active, and in particular to oppose right-wing extremism. In 1958, he was also elected as president of the International Union of Food, Drinks and Tobacco Workers' Associations (IUF), the first German to hold the post. He retired from the NGG in 1962, and the IUF in 1964, although he was then made honorary president of the IUF, and continued voluntary work for the NGG.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_N%C3%A4tscher
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Hans Nätscher's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Hans Nätscher born?
- A.Würzburg
- B.Nuremberg
- C.Munich
- D.Lohr am Maincorrect
Hans Nätscher was born in Lohr am Main on 13 November 1896.
Source: biographical entry
2.What trade did Hans Nätscher complete an apprenticeship in?
- A.Gravedigger
- B.Carpenter
- C.Baker
- D.Butchercorrect
Hans Nätscher completed an apprenticeship as a butcher in Würzburg.
Source: early life section
3.In what year did Hans Nätscher join the Social Democratic Party of Germany?
- A.1918
- B.1914correct
- C.1920
- D.1933
Hans Nätscher joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany in 1914.
Source: early career section
4.Which organization did Hans Nätscher serve as chair of starting in 1920?
- A.Nuremberg City Council
- B.Bavarian Food Union
- C.Central Union of Butchers branchcorrect
- D.Social Democratic Party
In 1920, Hans Nätscher was elected as chair of the Central Union of Butchers branch.
Source: early career section
5.What occupation did Hans Nätscher take up after leaving the Wehrmacht in 1940?
- A.Trade union secretary
- B.Teacher
- C.Gravediggercorrect
- D.Butcher
After being released from the Wehrmacht in 1940, Hans Nätscher found work as a gravedigger.
Source: Nazi era section
6.What position did Hans Nätscher hold in 1946?
- A.President of the NGG
- B.Chair of the IUF
- C.Regional secretary for Bavaria
- D.Chair of a consumer co-operativecorrect
In 1946, Hans Nätscher became chair of a consumer co-operative in Nuremberg-Fürth.
Source: post-war career section
7.Who was the NGG president that Hans Nätscher criticized for wanting to centralize the union?
- A.Hans Nätscher
- B.Adolf Hitler
- C.No one
- D.Ferdinand Warneckecorrect
As chair of the NGG executive, Hans Nätscher was highly critical of president Ferdinand Warnecke.
Source: NGG leadership section
8.In what year was Hans Nätscher elected as president of the Food, Beverages and Catering Union (NGG)?
- A.1958
- B.1951correct
- C.1947
- D.1949
Hans Nätscher was elected as president of the NGG in 1951.
Source: NGG leadership section
9.What specific political focus did Hans Nätscher promote while president of the NGG?
- A.Supporting right-wing extremism
- B.Ignoring all politics
- C.Opposing right-wing extremismcorrect
- D.Centralizing the union
As NGG president, Hans Nätscher campaigned for the union to be politically active, specifically to oppose right-wing extremism.
Source: NGG leadership section
10.What title was Hans Nätscher given regarding the IUF after he retired in 1964?
- A.Honorary presidentcorrect
- B.Life President
- C.Secretary General
- D.Regional chair
Upon his retirement from the IUF in 1964, Hans Nätscher was made honorary president of the organization.
Source: late career section
11.What distinguished Hans Nätscher's 1958 election as president of the IUF?
- A.He was the first German to hold the postcorrect
- B.He was the first American to hold the post
- C.He served for only one month
- D.He was the youngest president ever
In 1958, Hans Nätscher was elected president of the IUF, making him the first German to hold the position.
Source: late career section
12.When did Hans Nätscher die?
- A.1962
- B.28 February 1980correct
- C.13 November 1896
- D.1964
Hans Nätscher died on 28 February 1980.
Source: biographical entry
13.Which union merged into the Union of Food and Drink Workers?
- A.IUF
- B.Social Democratic Party
- C.NGG
- D.Central Union of Butcherscorrect
When the Central Union of Butchers merged into the Union of Food and Drink Workers, Hans Nätscher retained his position.
Source: early career section
14.When did Hans Nätscher serve in the military?
- A.1939-1940
- B.1915-1918correct
- C.1914-1918
- D.1940-1945
Hans Nätscher's butcher apprenticeship was interrupted by his military service from 1915 to 1918.
Source: early life section
15.What action did Hans Nätscher take following his retirement from the NGG in 1962?
- A.He stopped working entirely
- B.He joined the Wehrmacht again
- C.He became president of the SPD
- D.He continued voluntary work for the NGGcorrect
After retiring from the NGG in 1962, Hans Nätscher continued to perform voluntary work for the union.
Source: late career section
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