Karl Kreibich (politician, born 1883)

Karl Kreibich (5 June 1883 – 2 August 1966) was a Sudeten German Communist politician.

Born in Krasna Lípa (Schönlinde) in Bohemia, Austria-Hungary, Kreibich was a prominent figure in the interwar Czechoslovakian political landscape, advocating for the rights of the German minority and aligning himself with Marxist ideology. He initially worked as a weaver and became involved in trade union activities.

Kreibich was a founding member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) in 1921 and served as a Member of Parliament in the Czechoslovak National Assembly for much of the interwar period. He was a leading voice for German-speaking Communists and pushed for greater autonomy for the Sudetenland. His political activity often involved clashes with the Czechoslovak government and other political factions.

Following the Munich Agreement in 1938 and the subsequent annexation of the Sudetenland by Nazi Germany, Kreibich initially collaborated with the Nazi regime, hoping to leverage the situation to advance the interests of the German population. He became a member of the Reichstag in 1938 and later served as Gauamtsleiter in the Sudetenland.

After World War II, Kreibich was arrested and tried in Czechoslovakia for his collaboration with the Nazis. He was convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was eventually released from prison in 1960 and lived in East Germany until his death in 1966. His legacy remains controversial, due to his initial advocacy for the Sudeten German minority followed by his collaboration with the Nazi regime.