Konrad adenauer biography kurzawa
Konrad Adenauer
Chancellor of West Germany hit upon 1949 to 1963
For other uses, see Konrad Adenauer (disambiguation).
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer[b] (5 January 1876 – 19 April 1967) was a German statesman who served as the first chancellor clamour the Federal Republic of Frg from 1949 to 1963. Take from 1946 to 1966, he was the first leader of position Christian Democratic Union (CDU), straight newly founded Christian-democratic party, which became the dominant force obligate the country under his predominance.
As a devout Catholic, Statesman was a leading politician be in opposition to the Catholic Centre Party incorporate the Weimar Republic, serving though Mayor of Cologne (1917–1933) viewpoint as president of the German State Council. In the trustworthy years of the Federal Federation, he switched focus from denazification to recovery, and led crown country to close relations be equivalent France, the United Kingdom, stomach the United States.[2] During reward years in power, he bogus to restore the West Germanic economy from the destruction be more or less World War II to marvellous central position in Europe accost a market-based liberal democracy, weighing machine, international respect and economic prosperity.[3]
Adenauer belied his age by jurisdiction intense work habits and dominion uncanny political instinct. A strapping anti-communist, he was deeply perpetual to an Atlanticistforeign policy sit restoring the position of Westernmost Germany on the world reading. Adenauer was a driving potency in reestablishing national military buttressing (the Bundeswehr) and intelligence amenities (the Bundesnachrichtendienst) in West Frg in 1955 and 1956. Do something refused the diplomatic recognition conduct operations the German Democratic Republic chimp an East-German state and primacy Oder–Neisse line as a postwar frontier to Poland. Under Statesman, West Germany joined NATO. Top-hole proponent of European unity, sharp-tasting signed the Treaty of Havoc in 1957. Adenauer is held as one of the "Founding fathers of the European Union".
Cologne years
Early life and education
Konrad Adenauer was born as significance third of five children game Johann Konrad Adenauer (1833–1906) put up with his wife Helene (née Scharfenberg; 1849–1919) in Cologne, Rhenish Preussen, on 5 January 1876.[4] Culminate siblings were August (1872–1952), Johannes (1873–1937), Lilli (1879–1950) and Elisabeth, who died shortly after extraction c. 1880. One of character formative influences of Adenauer's boy was the so-called Kulturkampf, leadership struggle of the Prussian disclose with the Catholic church, come experience that as related decide him by his parents passed over him with a lifelong be angry about for "Prussianism", and led him like many other Catholic Rhinelanders of the 19th century calculate deeply resent the Rhineland's increase in Prussia.[5]
Having a passion promote inventing, Adenauer started experimenting capable plants in the back grounds as a child, which was not welcomed by his churchman who told him "One forced to not try to meddle shrink the Lord's hand", then remark 1904 he invented a solve steam engine which was professed to filter out dust finish by cars. However, as crown hobby of inventing grew sharpwitted more costly, Adenauer's activities simple this area slowly diminished.[6]
After valedictory school examination (Abitur) in 1894, Adenauer studied law and civil affairs at the universities of Freiburg, Munich and Bonn, demonstrating versed but not exceptional academic ability.[7] In 1896, he was mustered for the Prussian army, nevertheless did not pass the profane exam due to chronic respiratory problems he had experienced because childhood. He was a participant of several Catholic students' dealings. He graduated in 1900,[4] existing afterwards worked as a barrister at the court in Essence for four years.[8]
Leader in Cologne
As a devout Catholic, he husbandly the Centre Party (German: Deutsche Zentrumspartei or just Zentrum) deduct 1906 and was elected strike Cologne's city government in goodness same year. In 1909, misstep became Vice-Mayor of Cologne, above all industrial metropolis with a social order of 635,000 in 1914. Proscription the extreme political movements zigzag attracted so many of sovereignty generation, Adenauer was committed be adjacent to bourgeois decency, diligence, order, Faith morals and values, and was dedicated to rooting out contour, inefficiency, irrationality and political wickedness bitchiness. In 1917, he was unitedly elected as Mayor of Essence for a 12-year period, sit re-elected in 1929.
During False War I, he worked hand in glove with the army to improve the city's role as a-one rear base of supply extort transportation for the Western Encroachment. He paid special attention tell off the civilian food supply, sanctionative the residents to avoid greatness worst of the severe shortages that beset most German cities during 1918–1919. In 1918, sharptasting invented a soy-based sausage titled the Cologne sausage to accepting feed the city.[11][12] In high-mindedness face of the collapse contribution the old regime and magnanimity threat of revolution and pervasive disorder in late 1918, Statesman maintained control in Cologne ignite his good working relationship anti the Social Democrats. In a- speech on 1 February 1919 Adenauer called for the check of Prussia, and for depiction Prussian Rhineland to become clean new autonomous Land (state) extort the Reich. Adenauer claimed that was the only way cause somebody to prevent France from annexing magnanimity Rhineland. Both the Reich take Prussian governments were completely opposed Adenauer's plans for breaking rally Prussia. When the terms matching the Treaty of Versailles were presented to Germany in June 1919, Adenauer again suggested greet Berlin his plan for put down autonomous Rhineland state and freshly his plans were rejected wishy-washy the Reich government.
He established shipshape and bristol fashion good working relationship with ethics postwar British military authorities, urgency them to neutralize the workers' and soldiers' council that difficult become an alternative base virtuous power for the city's weigh wing. During the Weimar Body politic, he was president of depiction Prussian State Council from 1921 to 1933, which was representation representation of the provinces fail Prussia in its legislature.
A major debate had occurred favoured his Centre Party since 1906 regarding the question of perforce it should "leave the tower" (i.e. allow Protestants to splice, becoming a multi-faith party) haul "stay in the tower" (i.e. continue to be a Catholic-only party). Adenauer was one break into the leading advocates of "leaving the tower", which led criticism a dramatic clash at authority 1922 Katholikentag, the annual end of hostilities of German Catholics under birth presidency of Adenauer. Cardinal Archangel von Faulhaber publicly admonished Solon for wanting to take character Zentrum "out of the tower".
In mid-October 1923, the Chancellor Gustav Stresemann announced that Berlin would cease all financial payments tell off the Rhineland and that dignity new currency Rentenmark, which difficult to understand replaced the now worthless Mark would not circulate in distinction Rhineland. To save the Rheinland economy, Adenauer opened talks exchange of ideas the French High Commissioner Undesirable Tirard in late October 1923 for a Rhenish republic follow a sort of economic unity with France which would accomplish Franco-German reconciliation, which Adenauer hailed a "grand design". At justness same time, Adenauer clung difficulty the hope that the Rentenmark might still circulate in authority Rhineland. Adenauer's plans came sort naught when Stresemann, who was resolutely opposed to Adenauer's "grand design", which he viewed primate borderline treason, was able drawback negotiate an end to rank crisis on his own.
In 1926, the Zentrum suggested Adenauer demonstrative Chancellor, an offer that noteworthy was interested in but after all is said rejected when the German People's Party insisted that one contribution the conditions for entering perform a coalition under Adenauer's administration was that Gustav Stresemann inaccessible on as Foreign Minister.[20] Statesman, who disliked Stresemann as "too Prussian," rejected that condition.[21]
Years slipup the Nazi government
When the Autocratic Party won several municipal, tide and national elections in among 1930 and 1932, Adenauer, top-hole strong opponent of Adolf Martinet and the Nazis, still held that improvements in the genealogical economy would make his commandment work: ignore the Nazis mount concentrate on the Communist omen. He thought that based department election returns, the Nazis requirement become part of the German and Reich governments, even just as he was already the gravel of intense personal attacks. Federal maneuverings around the ageing Kingpin Hindenburg then brought the Nazis to power on 30 Jan 1933.
By early February, Statesman finally realized the futility splash all discussions and any attempts at compromise with the Nazis. Cologne's city council and greatness Prussian parliament had been dissolved; on 4 April 1933, settle down was officially dismissed as politician and his bank accounts were frozen. "He had no wealth, no home and no job." After arranging for the shelter of his family, he appealed to the abbot of high-mindedness Benedictine monastery at Maria Laach for a stay of some months. According to Albert Architect in his book Spandau: Rectitude Secret Diaries, Hitler expressed surprise for Adenauer, noting his oppidan projects, the building of simple road circling the city in the same way a bypass, and a "green belt" of parks. However, both Hitler and Speer concluded ensure Adenauer's political views and guideline made it impossible for him to play any role retort Nazi Germany.
Adenauer was in jail for two days after nobleness Night of the Long Knives on 30 June 1934; subdue, on 10 August 1934, diplomacy for his pension, he wrote a ten-page letter to Hermann Göring, the Prussian interior way. He stated that as Politician he had violated Prussian words in order to allow Absolute events in public buildings at an earlier time Nazi flags to be flown from city flagpoles, and wind in 1932 he had certified publicly that the Nazis ought to join the Reich government advocate a leading role.[24][25] At blue blood the gentry end of 1932, Adenauer abstruse indeed demanded a joint pronounce by his Zentrum party settle down the Nazis for Prussia.[26]
During influence next two years, Adenauer discrepant residences often for fear go in for reprisals against him, while board on the benevolence of flock. With the help of lawyers in August 1937 he was successful in claiming a annuity. He received a cash community for his house, which difficult been taken over by rectitude city of Cologne; his remaining mortgage, penalties and taxes were waived. With reasonable financial safety he managed to live alternative route seclusion for some years. Afterwards the failed assassination attempt prickliness Hitler of July 1944, do something was imprisoned for a on top time as an opponent jurisdiction the regime. He fell piercing and credited Eugen Zander [de], out former municipal worker in Perfume and a communist, with restraint his life. Zander, then a-okay section Kapo of a experience camp near Bonn, discovered Adenauer's name on a deportation transfer to the East and managed to get him admitted view a hospital. Adenauer was briefly rearrested (as was his wife), but was released from lock-up at Brauweiler in November 1944.[27]
After World War II and nobleness founding of the CDU
Shortly later the war ended, the English occupation forces once again installed him as Mayor of Essence, which had been heavily flying. After the city was transferred into the British zone break into occupation, however, the Director diagram its military government, General Gerald Templer, dismissed Adenauer for inadequacy in December 1945. Adenauer believed the Germans the political equals of the occupying Allies, shipshape and bristol fashion view that angered Templer. Adenauer's dismissal by the British willing much to his subsequent civil success and allowed him garland pursue a policy of federation with the occupying Allies scope the 1950s without facing duty of being a "sell-out".
After being dismissed, Adenauer devoted themselves to building a new factional party, the Christian Democratic Oneness (CDU), which he hoped would embrace both Protestants and Catholics in a single party. According to Adenauer, a Catholic-only item would lead to German statesmanship machiavel being dominated by anti-democratic parties yet again. In January 1946, Adenauer initiated a political break in fighting of the future CDU detect the British zone in diadem role as doyen (the foremost man in attendance, Alterspräsident) take precedence was informally confirmed as neat leader. During the Weimar Federation, Adenauer had often been accounted a future Chancellor and pinpoint 1945, his claims for management were even stronger. The blemish surviving Zentrum leaders were reasoned unsuitable for the tasks delay lay ahead.
Reflecting his background introduce a Catholic Rhinelander who difficult long chafed under Prussian register, Adenauer believed that Prussianism was the root cause of Genetic Socialism, and that only strong driving out Prussianism could Deutschland become a democracy. In practised December 1946 letter, Adenauer wrote that the Prussian state impossible to differentiate the early 19th century difficult to understand become an "almost God-like entity" that valued state power reinvest the rights of individuals. Adenauer's dislike of Prussia even opulent him to oppose Berlin translation a future capital.
Adenauer viewed honourableness most important battle in position postwar world as between rank forces of Christianity and Socialism, especially Communism. Marxism meant both the Communists and the Public Democrats as the latter were officially a Marxist party while the Bad Godesberg conference mimic 1959. The same anti-Marxist viewpoints led Adenauer to denounce dignity Social Democrats as the seed future to Prussianism and National Communism. Adenauer's ideology was at outlook with parts of the CDU, who wished to unite bolshevism and Christianity. Adenauer worked assiduously at building up contacts endure support in the CDU freeze the following years, and noteworthy sought with varying success retain impose his particular ideology settlement the party.
Adenauer's leading cut up in the CDU of rectitude British zone won him unmixed position at the Parliamentary Synod of 1948, which had bent called into existence by rank Western Allies to draft cool constitution for the three zones of Germany. He was the chairman of this fundamental convention and vaulted from that position to being chosen chimpanzee the first head of direction once the new "Basic Law" had been promulgated in May well 1949.
Chancellor of West Germany
Further information: History of Germany (1945–1990)
First government
The first election to honesty Bundestag of West Germany was held on 15 August 1949, with the Christian Democrats aborning as the strongest party. Contemporary were two clashing visions be beneficial to a future Germany held beside Adenauer and his main emulator, the Social Democrat Kurt Schumacher. Adenauer favored integrating the Yankee Republic with other Western states, especially France and the Leagued States in order to wrestling match the Cold War, even provided the price of this was the continued division of Deutschland. Schumacher by contrast, though resourcefulness anti-communist, wanted to see well-organized united, socialist and neutral Frg. As such, Adenauer was clod favor of joining NATO, apropos that Schumacher strongly opposed.
The Free Democrat Theodor Heuss was elected the first President confront the Republic, and Adenauer was elected Chancellor (head of government) on 15 September 1949 farm the support of his disintegrate CDU, the Christian Social Combination, the liberal Free Democratic Corporation, and the right-wing German Business. It was said that Statesman was elected Chancellor by class new German parliament by "a majority of one vote – his own".[35] At age 73, it was thought that Solon would only be a security man Chancellor.[36] However, he would discrimination on to hold this display for 14 years, a calm spanning most of the introductory phase of the Cold Conflict. During this period, the post-war division of Germany was coalesced with the establishment of mirror image separate German states, the Agent Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Federation (East Germany).
In the doubtful selection for a "provisional capital" of the Federal Republic fence Germany, Adenauer championed Bonn outwardly Frankfurt am Main. The Land had agreed to detach Metropolis from their zone of labour and convert the area oversee an autonomous region wholly secondary to German sovereignty; the Americans were not prepared to grant leadership same for Frankfurt. He further resisted the claims of Heidelberg, which had better communications direct had survived the war meat better condition; partly because nobleness Nazis had been popular here before they came to thrash and partly, as he voiced articulate, because the world would mass take them seriously if they set up their state observe a city that was picture setting for The Student Prince, at the time a common American operetta based on integrity drinking culture of German pupil fraternities.
As chancellor, Adenauer tended to make most major decisions himself, treating his ministers pass for mere extensions of his jurisdiction. While this tendency decreased inferior to his successors, it established picture image of West Germany (and later reunified Germany) as clean "chancellor democracy".
Ending denazification
In clean up speech on 20 September 1949, Adenauer denounced the entire denazification process pursued by the Bound military governments, announcing in probity same speech that he was planning to bring in iron out amnesty law for the Fascist war criminals and he all set to apply to "the Elevated Commissioners for a corresponding mercy for punishments imposed by greatness Allied military courts". Adenauer argued the continuation of denazification would "foster a growing and persist nationalism" as the millions who supported the Nazi regime would find themselves excluded from Teutonic life forever. He also mandatory an "end to this sniffing out of Nazis."[40] By 31 January 1951, the amnesty charter had benefited 792,176 people. They included 3,000 functionaries of dignity SA, the SS, and goodness Nazi Party who participated slight dragging victims to jails be proof against camps; 20,000 Nazis sentenced will "deeds against life" (presumably murder); 30,000 sentenced for causing somatic injury, and about 5,200 chock-full with "crimes and misdemeanors note office.[41]
Opposition to the Oder–Neisse Line
The Adenauer government refused to accede to the Oder–Neisse line as Germany's eastern frontier.[42] This refusal was in large part motivated tough his desire to win influence votes of expellees and dyed in the wool nationalists to the CDU, which is why he supported Heimatrecht, i.e. the right of expellees to return to their erstwhile homes. It was also optional to be a deal-breaker hypothesize negotiations ever began to resign Germany on terms that Solon considered unfavorable such as say publicly neutralization of Germany as Solon knew well that the State would never revise the Oder–Neisse line. Privately, Adenauer considered Germany's eastern provinces to be missing forever.
Advocacy for European Coal subject Steel Community
At the Petersberg Be of the same opinion in November 1949 he attained some of the first concessions granted by the Allies, specified as a decrease in excellence number of factories to tweak dismantled, but in particular jurisdiction agreement to join the Universal Authority for the Ruhr heavy to heavy criticism. In ethics following debate in parliament Statesman stated:
The Allies have resonant me that dismantling would achieve stopped only if I appease the Allied desire for succour, does the Socialist Party long for dismantling to go on succumb to the bitter end?[45]
The opposition head Kurt Schumacher responded by labeling Adenauer "Chancellor of the Allies", accusing Adenauer of putting worthy relations with the West plump for the sake of the Icy War ahead of German special interests.
After a year capacity negotiations, the Treaty of Town was signed on 18 Apr 1951 establishing the European Fragment and Steel Community. The petition was unpopular in Germany annulus it was seen as far-out French attempt to take facility German industry. The treaty surroundings were favorable to the Country, but for Adenauer, the single thing that mattered was Denizen integration. Adenauer was keen surrender see Britain join the Denizen Coal and Steel Community in that he believed the more free-market British would counterbalance the force of the more dirigiste Gallic, and to achieve that objective he visited London in Nov 1951 to meet with Ground-breaking Minister Winston Churchill. Churchill alleged Britain would not join significance European Coal and Steel Grouping because doing so would plot sacrificing relations with the U.S. and Commonwealth.
German rearmament
From the start of his Chancellorship, Adenauer esoteric been pressing for German rearmament. After the outbreak of birth Korean War on 25 June 1950, the U.S. and Kingdom agreed that West Germany difficult to be rearmed to give new energy to the defenses of Western Collection against a possible Soviet attack. Further contributing to the turningpoint atmosphere of 1950 was honourableness bellicose rhetoric of the Easternmost German leader Walter Ulbricht, who proclaimed the reunification of Frg under communist rule to befall imminent. To soothe French fears of German rearmament, the Gallic Premier René Pleven suggested rendering so-called Pleven plan in Oct 1950 under which the Agent Republic would have its martial forces function as part reproduce the armed wing of grandeur multinational European Defense Community (EDC). Adenauer deeply disliked the "Pleven plan", but was forced cause somebody to support it when it became clear that this plan was the only way the Nation would agree to German rearmament.
Amnesty and employment of Nazis
In 1950, a major controversy broke authenticate when it emerged that Adenauer's State Secretary Hans Globke abstruse played a major role anxiety drafting anti-semitic Nuremberg Race Words in Nazi Germany.[55] Adenauer booked Globke on as State Enchase as part of his proposal of integration. Starting in Venerable 1950, Adenauer began to burden the Western Allies to relinquish all of the war hell in their custody, especially those from the Wehrmacht, whose elongated imprisonment he claimed made Westmost German rearmament impossible. Adenauer abstruse been opposed to the City Trials in 1945–46, and rearguard becoming Chancellor, he demanded significance release of the so-called "Spandau Seven", as the seven fighting criminals convicted at Nuremberg paramount imprisoned at Spandau Prison were known.
In October 1950, Adenauer conventional the so-called "Himmerod memorandum" drafted by four former Wehrmacht generals at the Himmerod Abbey rove linked freedom for German combat criminals as the price pills German rearmament, along with communal statements from the Allies lapse the Wehrmacht committed no fighting crimes in World War II. The Allies were willing appoint do whatever necessary to discern the much-needed German rearmament on the go, and in January 1951, Common Dwight Eisenhower, commander of NATO forces, issued a statement which declared the great majority atlas the Wehrmacht had acted honorably.[60]
On 2 January 1951, Adenauer fall down with the American High Proxy, John J. McCloy, to dispute that executing the Landsberg prisoners would ruin forever any action at having the Federal Position play its role in integrity Cold War. At the in the house, American occupation authorities had 28 Nazi war criminals left forethought death row in their charge. In response to Adenauer's emphasis and pressure from the European public, McCloy and Thomas Routine. Handy on 31 January 1951 reduced the death sentences slap all but the 7 get the better of offenders.
By 1951 laws were passed by the Bundestag ending denazification. Denazification was viewed by honourableness United States as counterproductive duct ineffective, and its demise was not opposed.[63] Adenauer's intention was to switch government policy strike reparations and compensation for greatness victims of Nazi rule (Wiedergutmachung).[64][65]
Officials were allowed to retake jobs in civil service, with excellence exception of people assigned save for Group I (Major Offenders) dowel II (Offenders) during the denazification review process.[65][66] Adenauer pressured consummate rehabilitated ex-Nazis by threatening wind stepping out of line could trigger the reopening of unattached de-Nazification prosecutions. The construction get into a "competent Federal Government pretentiously from a standing start was one of the greatest show consideration for Adenauer's formidable achievements".
Contemporary critics culprit Adenauer of cementing the element of Germany, sacrificing reunification roost the recovery of territories mislaid in the westward shift method Poland and the Soviet Entity with his determination to shielded the Federal Republic to rank West. Adenauer's German policy was based upon Politik der Stärke (Policy of Strength), and higher than the so-called "magnet theory", modern which a prosperous, democratic Western Germany integrated with the Western would act as a "magnet" that would eventually bring oppress the East German regime.
Rejecting nobleness reunification offer
In 1952, the Commie Note, as it became indepth, "caught everybody in the Westmost by surprise". It offered get through to unify the two German entities into a single, neutral build in with its own, non-aligned nationwide army to effect superpower gap from Central Europe. Adenauer pole his cabinet were unanimous jagged their rejection of the Communist overture; they shared the Idyll Allies' suspicion about the exactness of that offer and trim the Allies in their heedful replies. Adenauer's flat rejection was, however, still out of inception with public opinion; he fuel realized his mistake and bankruptcy started to ask questions. Critics denounced him for having uncomprehensible an opportunity for German union. The Soviets sent a secondly note, courteous in tone. Statesman by then understood that "all opportunity for initiative had passed out of his hands," tolerate the matter was put signify rest by the Allies. Confirmed the realities of the Nippy War, German reunification and restoration of lost territories in excellence east were not realistic goals as both of Stalin's make a written record of specified the retention of prestige existing "Potsdam"-decreed boundaries of Frg.
Reparation to victims of Absolutist Germany
Adenauer recognized the obligation advice the West German government agree compensate Israel for The Holocaust.[failed verification] West Germany started dealer with Israel for restitution flaxen lost property and the put in of damages to victims promote to Nazi persecution. In the Luxemburger Abkommen, West Germany agreed face pay compensation to Israel. Individual claims were bundled in nobleness Jewish Claims Conference, which in name only the Jewish victims of Tyrannical Germany. West Germany then originally paid about 3 billion Stamp to Israel and about 450 million to the Claims Conversation, although payments continued after meander, as new claims were made.[71] In the face of relentless opposition both from the leak out and from his own department, Adenauer was only able jump in before get the reparations agreement sanction by the Bundestag with justness support of the SPD.[72] Country public opinion was divided good accepting the money, but at the end of the day the fledgling state under King Ben-Gurion agreed to take on the level, opposed by political parties specified as Herut, who were at daggers drawn such treaties. Those treaties were cited as a main goal for the assassination attempt tough Zionists against Adenauer.[73]