Erich Bernhard Gustav Weinert (August 4, 1890 – April 20, 1953) was a prominent German Communist writer, poet, and translator, known for his significant role as a social activist in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Born in Magdeburg, Germany, to a family supportive of the Social Democratic Party, Weinert pursued education in arts and crafts before serving as an officer in the Imperial German Army during World War I. His experiences during the war led him to embrace revolutionary ideologies.

Weinert began his literary career in 1921, focusing on anti-imperialist themes and the struggles of the German proletariat. His works, such as "Theater of the Apes" (1925) and "Erich Weinert Speaks" (1930), established him as a political poet, agitator, and satirist. In 1929, he joined the Communist Party of Germany.

Following the Nazi rise to power, Weinert fled Germany, seeking refuge in Switzerland, the Saar protectorate, Paris, and eventually the Soviet Union. He became a member of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, serving as a frontline correspondent and writing battle poems. During World War II, Weinert engaged in anti-fascist propaganda, encouraging German soldiers to defect through radio broadcasts and leaflets.

After the war, Weinert returned to Germany, where he continued his literary and political activities. He received the National Prize in 1949 and 1952 and contributed to the founding of the Academy of Arts in the GDR. Weinert was also recognized for his translations of Taras Shevchenko's Ukrainian poetry into German. His legacy as a poet and activist remains significant, with his works emphasizing themes of social justice and anti-fascism. Weinert's ashes are interred in the columbarium of the Central Cemetery in Berlin.