ernst thälmann's father was johannes thälmann (called 'jan'; 11 april 1857 – 31 october 1933), born in weddern in holstein, working there as a farmworker. thälmann's mother, mary-magdalene (née "kohpeiss"; 8 november 1857 – 9 march 1927), was born in kirchwerder. the wedding took place in 1884 in hamburg. there, johannes thälmann earned his first money as a coachman. ernst's parents had no party affiliation; in contrast to his father, his mother was deeply religious.