Gerhard Schröder (CDU)
Encyclopedia
Gerhard Schröder was a West German
politician
and member of the Christian Democratic Union Party.
A lawyer by profession, Schröder joined the Nazi Party and the SA
in 1933.
He held federal office as Minister of the Interior (1953–1961) and as Minister of Foreign Affairs
(1961–1966) in the cabinets of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
and of Ludwig Erhard
. From 1966 to 1969 he served as Minister of Defence under Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger
.
In 1969 Gerhard Schröder ran for the Office of the Federal President
(supported by CDU and NPD
), but he was beaten by Gustav Heinemann
, the nominee of the SPD
(supported by FDP
), at the third ballot with 49.4% to 48.8% of the votes of the Federal Assembly
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of the Christian Democratic Union Party.
A lawyer by profession, Schröder joined the Nazi Party and the SA
SA
-Organizations:* S.A. , a type of corporation in various countries* Salvation Army, a Christian denomination founded by William Booth* Sewickley Academy, a private school in the United States...
in 1933.
He held federal office as Minister of the Interior (1953–1961) and as Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Office (Germany)
The Foreign Office is the foreign ministry of Germany, a federal agency responsible for both the country's foreign politics and its relationship with the European Union. From 1871 to 1919, it was led by a Foreign Secretary, and since 1919, it has been led by the Foreign Minister of Germany...
(1961–1966) in the cabinets of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
and of Ludwig Erhard
Ludwig Erhard
Ludwig Wilhelm Erhard was a German politician affiliated with the CDU and Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 until 1966. He is notable for his leading role in German postwar economic reform and economic recovery , particularly in his role as Minister of Economics under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer...
. From 1966 to 1969 he served as Minister of Defence under Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger
Kurt Georg Kiesinger
Kurt Georg Kiesinger was a German politician affiliated with the CDU and Chancellor of West Germany from 1 December 1966 until 21 October 1969.-Early career and wartime activities:...
.
In 1969 Gerhard Schröder ran for the Office of the Federal President
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
(supported by CDU and NPD
NPD
NPD may refer to:* National Democratic Party of Germany, a far-right political party in Germany; after its German language name, Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands...
), but he was beaten by Gustav Heinemann
Gustav Heinemann
Gustav Walter Heinemann, GCB was a German politician. He was Mayor of the city of Essen from 1946 to 1949, West German Minister of the Interior from 1949 to 1950, Minister of Justice from 1966 to 1969 and President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1969 to 1974.-Early years and professional...
, the nominee of the SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(supported by 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...
), at the third ballot with 49.4% to 48.8% of the votes of the Federal Assembly
Bundesversammlung (Germany)
The Federal Convention is a special body in the institutional system of Germany, convened solely for the purpose of electing the German Federal President , either every five years or within 30 days of a president's resignation, death or removal from office.The Bundesversammlung includes the entire...
.
External links
- Martin Menke: Review of Torsten Oppelland, Gerhard Schroeder (1910-1989): Politik zwischen Staat, Partei und Konfession, H-German, H-Net Reviews, March, 2004.
- Photograph (Gerhard Schröder is the second person from the right).