Walter Hallstein
Encyclopedia
Walter Hallstein was a German politician and professor.
He was one of the key figures of European integration after World War II, becoming the first President of the Commission of the European Economic Community
, serving from 1958 to 1967. He famously defined his position as "a kind of Prime Minister of Europe". His name is associated with the Hallstein Doctrine
, a key doctrine in West German foreign policy during the Cold War
.
, Germany, the son of a government building officer. He studied law in Bonn
, Munich and Berlin and graduated in 1925 with a doctoral dissertation on the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles
with regard to insurance policies. From 1926 he worked at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Foreign Private and International Private Law in Berlin. In 1930, at the age of 28, he was appointed professor for private law and company law at the University of Rostock
(Rostock
), where he remained until 1941. During Nazism
Hallstein was a member of National Socialist People's Welfare
and national socialist professional associations for lawyers and judges. In 1941 he was appointed professor of civil law at the University of Frankfurt
(Frankfurt am Main). He was also, at the same time, director of the university's Institute for Comparative Law and Commercial Law.
as a first lieutenant
(Oberleutnant) in Northern France. He was taken prisoner in 1944. While in a prisoner-of-war camp in Mississippi
(1944–1946), he started a "camp university", where he held law courses for the prisoners.
In 1946 he returned to Frankfurt University, where he was elected rector of the university. From 1948 he spent a year in the United States as guest professor at Georgetown University
(Washington DC), teaching International Relations.
, Konrad Adenauer
, appointed him state secretary (a top-ranking civil servant) in the Federal Chancellery
(Kanzleramt) and made him head of the German delegation for the Schuman Plan
negotiations. A few months later he was made state secretary at the foreign ministry. In September 1955 he was responsible for the policy that bears his name, the Hallstein Doctrine
, though much of the work formulating this is said to have actually been done by his deputy Wilhelm Grewe
.
Hallstein remained at the foreign ministry until the beginning of 1958 and played a major part in the negotiations on the European Economic Community
and Euratom treaties. In 1955, he was one of the participants of the Messina Conference
in 1955, which would lead to the Treaty of Rome
in 1957.
) in Brussels
, a post he was to retain until 1967.
In 1961 he was awarded the Charlemagne prize (Karlspreis
) by the City of Aachen
for his efforts in the cause of European federation.
In 1962, when the United Kingdom and Ireland were applying to join the European Economic Community, he startled an Irish journalist by saying that he had not thought it necessary even to open, let alone read Ireland's application. He then memorably summed up Ireland's dilemma "If the UK goes in, you go also; if not you too will stay out. Britain can possibly come in without Ireland but Ireland cannot come in without Britain " He was proved entirely right: the French veto on the United Kingdom made it effectively impossible for Ireland to join until the removal of the French veto made it possible for both to join in 1972.
As a proponent of a federal Europe with a strong Commission and Parliament, he was opposed to de Gaulle
's vision of a "Europe des États" (Europe of States) with more power retained by national governments, and in September 1967 he was forced to resign as president of the Commission.
(the German federal parliament) for the CDU.
From 1968 to 1974 he was president of the council of the European Movement
.
Im 1968, he was awarded the Robert Schuman Prize
.
He died in Stuttgart
on 29 March 1982, at the age of 80.
In 1961 he was awarded the Charlemagne prize (Karlspreis
) by the City of Aachen
for his efforts in the cause of European federation.
In 1997, the Walter Hallstein Institute for European Constitutional Law at the Humboldt University in Berlin was named in his honour.
The Walter Hallstein Prize is awarded annually in November by the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main
, the town of Frankfurt am Main
and the Dresdner Bank
for special services to European integration
.
He was one of the key figures of European integration after World War II, becoming the first President of the Commission of the European Economic Community
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, serving from 1958 to 1967. He famously defined his position as "a kind of Prime Minister of Europe". His name is associated with the Hallstein Doctrine
Hallstein Doctrine
The Hallstein Doctrine, named after Walter Hallstein, was a key doctrine in the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Germany after 1955. It established that the Federal Republic would not establish or maintain diplomatic relations with any state that recognized the German Democratic Republic...
, a key doctrine in West German foreign policy during the 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...
.
Early life
Hallstein was born in MainzMainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, Germany, the son of a government building officer. He studied law in Bonn
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....
, Munich and Berlin and graduated in 1925 with a doctoral dissertation on the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
with regard to insurance policies. From 1926 he worked at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Foreign Private and International Private Law in Berlin. In 1930, at the age of 28, he was appointed professor for private law and company law at the University of Rostock
University of Rostock
The University of Rostock is the university of the city Rostock, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.Founded in 1419, it is the oldest and largest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area...
(Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
), where he remained until 1941. During Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
Hallstein was a member of National Socialist People's Welfare
National Socialist People's Welfare
The Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt , meaning "National Socialist People's Welfare" was a social welfare organization during the Third Reich. The NSV was established in 1933, shortly after the NSDAP took power in Germany...
and national socialist professional associations for lawyers and judges. In 1941 he was appointed professor of civil law at the University of Frankfurt
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main
The Goethe University Frankfurt was founded in 1914 as a Citizens' University, which means that, while it was a State university of Prussia, it had been founded and financed by the wealthy and active liberal citizenry of Frankfurt am Main, a unique feature in German university history...
(Frankfurt am Main). He was also, at the same time, director of the university's Institute for Comparative Law and Commercial Law.
Military service and post-war academic career
From 1942 he served in the WehrmachtWehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
as a first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
(Oberleutnant) in Northern France. He was taken prisoner in 1944. While in a prisoner-of-war camp in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
(1944–1946), he started a "camp university", where he held law courses for the prisoners.
In 1946 he returned to Frankfurt University, where he was elected rector of the university. From 1948 he spent a year in the United States as guest professor at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
(Washington DC), teaching International Relations.
Political career in Germany
In June 1951 the German ChancellorChancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
, 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,...
, appointed him state secretary (a top-ranking civil servant) in the Federal Chancellery
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 ...
(Kanzleramt) and made him head of the German delegation for the Schuman Plan
Schuman Declaration
The Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 was a governmental proposal by then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to create a new form of organization of States in Europe called a supranational Community. Following the experiences of two world wars, France recognized that certain values such as...
negotiations. A few months later he was made state secretary at the foreign ministry. In September 1955 he was responsible for the policy that bears his name, the Hallstein Doctrine
Hallstein Doctrine
The Hallstein Doctrine, named after Walter Hallstein, was a key doctrine in the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Germany after 1955. It established that the Federal Republic would not establish or maintain diplomatic relations with any state that recognized the German Democratic Republic...
, though much of the work formulating this is said to have actually been done by his deputy Wilhelm Grewe
Wilhelm Grewe
Wilhelm Georg Grewe was a German diplomat and professor of international law. He played a major role in formulating the Hallstein Doctrine...
.
Hallstein remained at the foreign ministry until the beginning of 1958 and played a major part in the negotiations on the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
and Euratom treaties. In 1955, he was one of the participants of the Messina Conference
Messina Conference
The Messina Conference was held from 1 to 3 June 1955 at the Italian city of Messina, Sicily. The conference of the Foreign Ministers of the six Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community would lead to the creation of the European Economic Community in 1958...
in 1955, which would lead to the Treaty of Rome
Treaty of Rome
The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany...
in 1957.
President of the Commission of the European Economic Community
On 7 January 1958 Hallstein was appointed first president of the Commission of the European Economic Community (now the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
) in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, a post he was to retain until 1967.
In 1961 he was awarded the Charlemagne prize (Karlspreis
Karlspreis
- See also :*Charlemagne*European integration*Leipzig Human Rights Award, originally called the "Alternative Charlemagne Award", formed in opposition to Clinton's recognition with the award- External links :* http://www.karlspreis.de/ *...
) by the City of Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
for his efforts in the cause of European federation.
In 1962, when the United Kingdom and Ireland were applying to join the European Economic Community, he startled an Irish journalist by saying that he had not thought it necessary even to open, let alone read Ireland's application. He then memorably summed up Ireland's dilemma "If the UK goes in, you go also; if not you too will stay out. Britain can possibly come in without Ireland but Ireland cannot come in without Britain " He was proved entirely right: the French veto on the United Kingdom made it effectively impossible for Ireland to join until the removal of the French veto made it possible for both to join in 1972.
As a proponent of a federal Europe with a strong Commission and Parliament, he was opposed to de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
's vision of a "Europe des États" (Europe of States) with more power retained by national governments, and in September 1967 he was forced to resign as president of the Commission.
Later life
From 1967 onward, he wrote and was active in German politics. From 1969 to 1972 he was a member of the BundestagBundestag
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...
(the German federal parliament) for the CDU.
From 1968 to 1974 he was president of the council of the European Movement
European Movement
The European Movement International is a lobbying association that coordinates the efforts of associations and national councils with the goal of promoting European integration, and disseminating information about it.-History:...
.
Im 1968, he was awarded the Robert Schuman Prize
Robert Schuman Prize
The Robert Schuman Prize for European unity was a prize awarded annually by the Hamburg Alfred Toepfer Foundation, in memory of former French Prime Minister, Robert Schuman. The award, first given in 1966, was discontinued in 2000....
.
He died in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
on 29 March 1982, at the age of 80.
Honours
During his lifetime Walter Hallstein received honorary doctorates from nine European and nine American universities, including the universities of Hamburg, Padua, Columbia, Georgetown, and Harvard.In 1961 he was awarded the Charlemagne prize (Karlspreis
Karlspreis
- See also :*Charlemagne*European integration*Leipzig Human Rights Award, originally called the "Alternative Charlemagne Award", formed in opposition to Clinton's recognition with the award- External links :* http://www.karlspreis.de/ *...
) by the City of Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
for his efforts in the cause of European federation.
In 1997, the Walter Hallstein Institute for European Constitutional Law at the Humboldt University in Berlin was named in his honour.
The Walter Hallstein Prize is awarded annually in November by the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main
The Goethe University Frankfurt was founded in 1914 as a Citizens' University, which means that, while it was a State university of Prussia, it had been founded and financed by the wealthy and active liberal citizenry of Frankfurt am Main, a unique feature in German university history...
, the town of Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and the Dresdner Bank
Dresdner Bank
Dresdner Bank AG was one of Germany's largest banking corporations and was based in Frankfurt. It was acquired by competitor Commerzbank in December 2009.- 19th century :...
for special services to European integration
European integration
European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
.
External links
- The History of the European Union: A chronology from 1946 to 2003 Biography of Walter Hallstein at a semi-official French web site Biography of Walter Hallstein at the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation Brief portrait of Walter Hallstein at the official web site for Charlemagne Prize awards
- Konrad-Adenauer Foundation Walter Hallstein Institute Charlemagne prize foundation; includes a list of recipients