Karl Theodor Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg
Encyclopedia
Karl Theodor Maria Georg Achaz Eberhardt Josef Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg (born 23 May 1921, Schloss Weisendorf — died 4 October 1972, Stadtsteinach
) was a German politician of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria
(CSU). He was Secretary of State
in the Chancellor's Office
in the government of Kurt Georg Kiesinger
from 1967 until 1969, as well as the foreign policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU
group in the Bundestag
. Guttenberg was perceived as a hardline conservative anticommunist as well as a convinced proponent of European integration. His work was mostly within the field of foreign policy.
Guttenberg served as an officer during World War II, but was punished for anti-Nazi statements and became, through his uncle Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg
, a member of the anti-Nazi resistance in the German army. While his uncle was imprisoned after the July 20 plot
and executed shortly before the war's end, Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg was taken prisoner of war by the British, and soon after started to work for British propaganda, including the Soldatensender Calais
.
Guttenberg owned large estates in Franconia, several hotels as well as the winery Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl
in the Palatinate.Himself a member of the House of Guttenberg
, he married Rosa Sophie Prinzessin von Arenberg, of the House of Arenberg
, in 1943. Their son Enoch zu Guttenberg
became a conductor as well as inherited Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl. His grandson is the politician and former federal government minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
.
He became a member of the CSU in 1946, and was a member of the Bundestag
from 1957 to 1972. In the Bundestag, he was a noted public speaker and was for several years the foreign policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU group. Guttenberg was a fierce critic of the Ostpolitik
of Willy Brandt
. After Brandt's government had recognized the existence of "a second German state" (the German Democratic Republic
), he called it a "dark hour". While most of the CDU/CSU group abstained during the vote on the Basic Treaty, 1972, Guttenberg voted against. In a speech, he stated: "The "GDR" must be revealed to the world for what it is: Not a state, but a caricature of a state".
A Roman Catholic, Guttenberg became a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
in 1957. He received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
in 1972.
Stadtsteinach
Stadtsteinach is a town in the district of Kulmbach, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the Frankenwald, 8 km northeast of Kulmbach.It is known for its proximity to mountains, fields and nature reserves.-City arrangement:...
) was a German politician of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
(CSU). He was Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
in the Chancellor's Office
German Chancellery
The German Chancellery is a federal agency serving the executive office of the Chancellor, the head of the German federal government. The chief of the Chancellery holds the rank of either a Secretary of State or a Federal Minister ...
in the government of 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:...
from 1967 until 1969, as well as the foreign policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU
CDU/CSU
CDU/CSU, unofficially also referred to as the Union parties or the Union, is the name of the Bundestag parliamentary faction comprising the Christian Democratic Union of Germany and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria , considered to be sister parties...
group in the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
. Guttenberg was perceived as a hardline conservative anticommunist as well as a convinced proponent of European integration. His work was mostly within the field of foreign policy.
Guttenberg served as an officer during World War II, but was punished for anti-Nazi statements and became, through his uncle Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg
Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg
Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg The von Guttenberg family originates back to 1149 in Franconia in the southern part of Germany. Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg studied law and history in Munich and graduated in 1929...
, a member of the anti-Nazi resistance in the German army. While his uncle was imprisoned after the July 20 plot
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
and executed shortly before the war's end, Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg was taken prisoner of war by the British, and soon after started to work for British propaganda, including the Soldatensender Calais
Soldatensender Calais
Soldatensender Calais was a British black propaganda broadcaster during the Second World War operated by the Political Warfare Executive. It pretended to be a station of the German military broadcasting network...
.
Guttenberg owned large estates in Franconia, several hotels as well as the winery Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl
Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl
The Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl is the largest winery estate in Deidesheim in the Palatinate wine region. It produces mainly Riesling wines. The estate is affiliated with the Verband Deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter e.V....
in the Palatinate.Himself a member of the House of Guttenberg
House of Guttenberg
The House of Guttenberg is a prominent Franconian family which traces its origins back to 1149 with a Gundeloh v. Blassenberg . Though, the first mention in a document is dated 1158. The name Guttenberg is derived from Guttenberg and was adopted by a Heinrich von Blassenberg around 1310...
, he married Rosa Sophie Prinzessin von Arenberg, of the House of Arenberg
House of Arenberg
The House of Arenberg is an aristocratic lineage that is constituted by three successive families who took their name from Arenberg, a small principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the Eifel. The inheritance of the House of Croÿ-Aarschot made the Arenbergs the most influential and most wealthy...
, in 1943. Their son Enoch zu Guttenberg
Enoch zu Guttenberg
Georg Enoch Robert Prosper Philipp Franz Karl Theodor Maria Heinrich Johannes Luitpold Hartmann Gundeloh Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg , known as Enoch zu Guttenberg, is a German conductor...
became a conductor as well as inherited Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl. His grandson is the politician and former federal government minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg is a German politician of the Christian Social Union ....
.
He became a member of the CSU in 1946, and was a member of the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
from 1957 to 1972. In the Bundestag, he was a noted public speaker and was for several years the foreign policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU group. Guttenberg was a fierce critic of the Ostpolitik
Ostpolitik
Neue Ostpolitik , or Ostpolitik for short, refers to the normalization of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and Eastern Europe, particularly the German Democratic Republic beginning in 1969...
of Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
. After Brandt's government had recognized the existence of "a second German state" (the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
), he called it a "dark hour". While most of the CDU/CSU group abstained during the vote on the Basic Treaty, 1972, Guttenberg voted against. In a speech, he stated: "The "GDR" must be revealed to the world for what it is: Not a state, but a caricature of a state".
A Roman Catholic, Guttenberg became a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
in 1957. He received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
in 1972.
Publications
- Gemeinsame Außenpolitik? Eine Antwort auf Herbert Wehner, Bonn 1960
- Wenn der Westen will. Plädoyer für eine mutige Politik, Stuttgart 1964
- Deutschland in der atlantischen Partnerschaft, Düsseldorf 1965
- Wege zur Wiedervereinigung. Brauchen wir eine neue Deutschlandpolitik?, Hamburg 1965
- Die Zukunft Europas. Wirtschaftliche, politische und weltanschauliche Aspekte, Düsseldorf 1970
- Im Interesse der Freiheit, Stuttgart 1970
- Fußnoten, Stuttgart 1971
- Die neue Ostpolitik. Wege und Irrwege, Osnabrück 1972