Albert Osswald
Encyclopedia
Albert Osswald was a German
politician (SPD
). He served as minister-president
of the federal state of Hesse
from 1969 to 1976.
he was a soldier of the German army.
In 1945, he joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany
. After local offices in Giessen, he was elected to the parliament of Hesse
in 1954. From 1962 to 1969, he served as minister in the government of Hesse
, first as minister of economic affairs, later as minister of finance. Osswald was elected prime minister of Hesse in 1969, after the demission of Georg August Zinn
.
His government had an absolute majority in the beginning. From 1970 on, Osswald headed a coalition government of SPD
and FDP
. After a financial scandal involving
the public bank Helaba
, Osswald resigned as prime minister of Hesse
in October 1976.
He retired from all political offices in 1977.
Osswald died during a hiking vacation in Schwangau
in 1996.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
politician (SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
). He served as minister-president
Minister-President
A minister-president is the head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments, in which a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government prevails, who presides over the council of ministers...
of the federal state of Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
from 1969 to 1976.
Biography
Oswald was born as the son of a mason in Giessen. After elementary and secondary school in Giessen, he attended a vocational school for salesmen. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was a soldier of the German army.
In 1945, he joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
. After local offices in Giessen, he was elected to the parliament of Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
in 1954. From 1962 to 1969, he served as minister in the government of Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
, first as minister of economic affairs, later as minister of finance. Osswald was elected prime minister of Hesse in 1969, after the demission of Georg August Zinn
Georg August Zinn
Georg August Zinn was German lawyer and a politician of the . He was Minister-President of Hesse and a member of the Bundestag . He was born and died in Frankfurt am Main....
.
His government had an absolute majority in the beginning. From 1970 on, Osswald headed a coalition government of SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
and FDP
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
. After a financial scandal involving
the public bank Helaba
Helaba
Helaba short for Hessische Landesbank Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen is a commercial bank with core regions in Hesse and Thuringia, Germany...
, Osswald resigned as prime minister of Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
in October 1976.
He retired from all political offices in 1977.
Osswald died during a hiking vacation in Schwangau
Schwangau
Schwangau is a municipality in the district of Ostallgäu in Bavaria, Germany. The village lies 4 km from the larger town of Füssen and just 1.5 km from Hohenschwangau, a collection of tourist-oriented facilities adjacent to the major tourist attractions of Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss...
in 1996.