Atlantik-Brücke
Encyclopedia
Atlantik-Brücke is the leading private non-profit association to promote German-American understanding and Atlanticism
. Founded in Bonn in 1952, it is now located in Berlin
.
The association organizes invitation-only conferences, seminars and colloquia. Through various programs for "Young Leaders," military officers, journalists, and students, Atlantik-Brücke fosters social network
s among current and future leaders in business and world affairs. Atlantik-Brücke also awards prizes in honor of Vernon A. Walters
and Eric M. Warburg
.
The two Atlantik-Brücke Young Leaders conferences receive more than 500 applications per year, from which 120 Young Leaders are chosen with the help of a steering committee of political, business and academic leaders. Sixty young leaders are chosen for the German-American Conference (30 Americans and 30 Germans) and sixty are chosen for the European Conference. As of 2011, the German-American Young Leaders Conference has been running for 33 years. Atlantik-Brücke will celebrate its 60th Anniversary in 2012.
) was one of the founders of Atlantik-Brücke, together with legendary editor Marion Gräfin Dönhoff, Chancellor of Germany Helmut Schmidt
and other leading Hamburg citizens. In those Cold War
times, the U.S. was looking for influence on Germany. The Council on Foreign Relations
(CFR) probably gave the idea for founding the Atlantik-Brücke; Eric M. Warburg was a friend and consultant for John J. McCloy
, Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations and President of the World Bank. The Atlantik-Brücke is the German counterpart for the U.S. based American Council on Germany (members include US diplomats Richard Holbrooke
and Henry Kissinger
).
Atlanticism
Atlanticism is a philosophy of cooperation among Western European and North American nations regarding political, economic, and defense issues, with the purpose to maintain the security of the participating countries, and to protect the values that unite them: "democracy, individual liberty and...
. Founded in Bonn in 1952, it is now located in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
The association organizes invitation-only conferences, seminars and colloquia. Through various programs for "Young Leaders," military officers, journalists, and students, Atlantik-Brücke fosters social network
Social network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
s among current and future leaders in business and world affairs. Atlantik-Brücke also awards prizes in honor of Vernon A. Walters
Vernon A. Walters
Vernon A. Walters was a United States Army officer and a diplomat. Most notably, he served from 1972 to 1976 as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, from 1985 to 1989 as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations and from 1989 to 1991 as Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany...
and Eric M. Warburg
Eric M. Warburg
Eric M. Warburg was a member of the prominent Warburg family of German-Jewish bankers. Although he was the founder of the small New York firm that later became Warburg Pincus, and a partner in M.M.Warburg & CO he is most known for his efforts to strengthen German-American relations, for which he...
.
The two Atlantik-Brücke Young Leaders conferences receive more than 500 applications per year, from which 120 Young Leaders are chosen with the help of a steering committee of political, business and academic leaders. Sixty young leaders are chosen for the German-American Conference (30 Americans and 30 Germans) and sixty are chosen for the European Conference. As of 2011, the German-American Young Leaders Conference has been running for 33 years. Atlantik-Brücke will celebrate its 60th Anniversary in 2012.
History
Eric M. Warburg (founder of the firm currently known as Warburg PincusWarburg Pincus
Warburg Pincus, LLC is an American private equity firm with offices in the United States, Europe, Brazil and Asia. It has been a private equity investor since 1966...
) was one of the founders of Atlantik-Brücke, together with legendary editor Marion Gräfin Dönhoff, Chancellor of Germany Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt is a German Social Democratic politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Prior to becoming chancellor, he had served as Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance. He had also served briefly as Minister of Economics and as acting...
and other leading Hamburg citizens. In those Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
times, the U.S. was looking for influence on Germany. The Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
(CFR) probably gave the idea for founding the Atlantik-Brücke; Eric M. Warburg was a friend and consultant for John J. McCloy
John J. McCloy
John Jay McCloy was a lawyer and banker who served as Assistant Secretary of War during World War II, president of the World Bank and U.S. High Commissioner for Germany...
, Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations and President of the World Bank. The Atlantik-Brücke is the German counterpart for the U.S. based American Council on Germany (members include US diplomats Richard Holbrooke
Richard Holbrooke
Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was an American diplomat, magazine editor, author, professor, Peace Corps official, and investment banker....
and Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
).
Extract of member list
Below you can find an extract of the member list of the Atlantik Brücke e.V.- Philip D. MurphyPhilip D. MurphyPhilip D. Murphy is an American businessman and the United States Ambassador to Germany. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2009. Murphy arrived with his family in Berlin on August 21, 2009....
, United States Ambassador to Germany - Henry KissingerHenry KissingerHeinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
, former Secretary of State of the United States of America - Josef Ackermann, CEO of Deutsche BankDeutsche BankDeutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
, Germany - Karl-Theodor zu GuttenbergKarl-Theodor zu GuttenbergKarl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg is a German politician of the Christian Social Union ....
, former Secretary of Defense of Germany - Helmut KohlHelmut KohlHelmut Josef Michael Kohl is a German conservative politician and statesman. He was Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 and the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union from 1973 to 1998...
, former chancellor of Germany - Helmut SchmidtHelmut SchmidtHelmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt is a German Social Democratic politician who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Prior to becoming chancellor, he had served as Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance. He had also served briefly as Minister of Economics and as acting...
, former chancellor of Germany - Rupert StadlerRupert StadlerRupert Stadler is a German business executive and chairman of Audi AG.Rupert Stadler was the son of a farmer in Wachenzell in the Landkreis Eichstätt in Bavaria, Germany. -References:...
, chairman of Audi AG - Torsten OltmannsTorsten OltmannsTorsten Oltmanns is a German author of several books in the topics of marketing and change management. He currently is the Global Marketing Director and a partner at the management consulting firm Roland Berger Strategy Consultants....
, Global Marketing Director at Roland Berger Strategy ConsultantsRoland Berger Strategy ConsultantsRoland Berger Strategy Consultants is a global strategy consulting firm headquartered in Munich, with 43 offices in 31 countries. Roland Berger Strategy Consultants was founded in 1967 by Prof. Roland Berger...