Palais Schaumburg
Encyclopedia
The Palais Schaumburg is a castle-like building in Bonn
which has housed parts of the German Federal Chancellery since 1949 and from 1976 to reunification
was the first official residence and office of the Chancellor. As headquarters of the Federal Chancellery it was simply known as the House of the Federal Chancellor .
The late neoclassical
palais was built between 1858 and 1860 for the cloth manufacturer Wilhelm Loeschigk. Bought by Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe
it was enlarged during the following years. On January 31, 1939, the army bought the palaces from Ernst Wolrad, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
.
After World War II
the Belgian Army
staff used the building until it became official seat of the first Federal chancellor, Konrad Adenauer
, in November 1949. Two months later, he greeted the new republic
’s first state guest Robert Schuman
.
Hans Schwippert rebuilt the building for the use as a Federal Chancellery in 1950. It was also extended by the so-called houses 2 and 3. By 1976 more space was needed, so a new building was planned . Some departments remained, however, in the palais which remained in use for ceremonial purposes. In 1963 the Wohn- und Empfangsgebäude des Bundeskanzlers, the so-called Chancellor bungalow (Kanzlerbungalow), in the modern style of architect Sep Ruf was built in the spacious park as a semi-official residence for the Chancellors.
The Palais Schaumburg became home to the federal ministry for environment, conservation and reactor safety (Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit) when it was formed in 1986. After the reunification of Germany
in 1990 five "Federal Ministers for Special Affairs
" kept offices in the palais.
The palais was used at the signing of the treaty about the creation of a currency, economy and social union in 1990 by representatives of both German states.
Since the government move in 1999 the Palais Schaumburg has served as a second service headquarters of the Federal Chancellery and Chancellor in which different departments are accommodated.
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
which has housed parts of the German Federal Chancellery since 1949 and from 1976 to reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
was the first official residence and office of the Chancellor. As headquarters of the Federal Chancellery it was simply known as the House of the Federal Chancellor .
History
The late neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
palais was built between 1858 and 1860 for the cloth manufacturer Wilhelm Loeschigk. Bought by Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe
Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe
Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe was the regent of the Principality of Lippe from 1895 till 1897.-Early life:He was born in Bückeburg the seventh child of Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Hermine of Waldeck-Pyrmont .Following the death of Prince Woldemar on the 20 March 1895 and...
it was enlarged during the following years. On January 31, 1939, the army bought the palaces from Ernst Wolrad, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
Wolrad, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe
align=right|Ernst Wolrad, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe was a head of the Princely House of Schaumburg-Lippe.-Biography:...
.
After World War II
World 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...
the Belgian Army
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
staff used the building until it became official seat of the first Federal 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,...
, in November 1949. Two months later, he greeted the new republic
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
’s first state guest Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman was a noted Luxembourgish-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat and an independent political thinker and activist...
.
Hans Schwippert rebuilt the building for the use as a Federal Chancellery in 1950. It was also extended by the so-called houses 2 and 3. By 1976 more space was needed, so a new building was planned . Some departments remained, however, in the palais which remained in use for ceremonial purposes. In 1963 the Wohn- und Empfangsgebäude des Bundeskanzlers, the so-called Chancellor bungalow (Kanzlerbungalow), in the modern style of architect Sep Ruf was built in the spacious park as a semi-official residence for the Chancellors.
The Palais Schaumburg became home to the federal ministry for environment, conservation and reactor safety (Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit) when it was formed in 1986. After the reunification of Germany
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
in 1990 five "Federal Ministers for Special Affairs
Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany
A Federal Minister for Special Affairs is a federal minister without portfolio of Germany.Currently, the title is commonly given to the head of the Chancellery to provide him with a vote in cabinet meetings...
" kept offices in the palais.
The palais was used at the signing of the treaty about the creation of a currency, economy and social union in 1990 by representatives of both German states.
Since the government move in 1999 the Palais Schaumburg has served as a second service headquarters of the Federal Chancellery and Chancellor in which different departments are accommodated.
Park
A tree has been planted for every former Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic in the Park Schaumburg in memory of his periods of office:Chancellor | Party | Term of Office | Tree | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
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,... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
1949–1953 1953–1957 1957–1961 1961–1962 1962–1963 |
Blue bell tree | Replaced in 1992 after storm |
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... |
CDU | 1963–1965 1965–1966 |
Sequoia Sequoia Sequoia sempervirens is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia in the cypress family Cupressaceae . Common names include coast redwood, California redwood, and giant redwood. It is an evergreen, long-lived, monoecious tree living 12001800 years or more... |
|
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:... |
CDU | 1966–1969 | Pomeranian maple | Planted 1978 |
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.... |
SPD Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany... |
1969–1972 1972–1974 |
Ginkgo | Planted 1979 |
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... |
SPD | 1974–1976 1976–1980 1980–1982 |
Weeping willow | |
Helmut Kohl Helmut Kohl Helmut 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... |
CDU | >1983–1987 1987–1991 1991–1994 1994–1998 |
Red Beech | Planted 1987 |
Gerhard Schröder Gerhard Schröder Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder is a German politician, and was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , he led a coalition government of the SPD and the Greens. Before becoming a full-time politician, he was a lawyer, and before becoming Chancellor... |
SPD | 1998–2002 2002–2005 |
Oak Oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus... |
Planted 2006 |